Exhibit 1
CATERPILLAR INC.
BASIC TERMS OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
[ ]
as Representative(s) of the several Underwriters
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Caterpillar Inc. (the "Company"), confirms its agreement with
_____________________________ ("_____________") and each of the other
Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the "Underwriters",
which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter
provided in Section 10 hereof), for whom _____________ is acting as
representative(s) (in such capacity, the "Representative(s)"), with respect to
the issue and sale by the Company and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting
severally and not jointly, of the respective principal amounts set forth in
said Schedule A of $500 million aggregate principal amount of the Company's
debt securities (the "Debt Securities"), and with respect to the grant by the
Company to the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the option
described in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any part of an additional
principal amount of Debt Securities to cover over-allotments, if any. The
aforesaid principal amount of Debt Securities (the "Initial Securities") to
be purchased by the Underwriters and all or any part of the principal amount
of Debt Securities subject to the option described in Section 2(b) hereof (the
"Option Securities") are hereinafter called, collectively, the "Securities".
The Securities are to be issued pursuant to an indenture dated as of May 1,
1987, as supplemented (the "Indenture") between the Company and Citibank,
N.A., as trustee (the "Trustee"). The term "Indenture," as used herein,
includes the Officer's Certificate (as defined in the Indenture) establishing
the form and terms of the Securities pursuant to Section 201 of the Indenture.
The Company understands that the Underwriters propose to make a public
offering of the Securities as soon as the Representative(s) deem(s) advisable
after this Agreement has been executed and delivered.
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 33-_________) covering
the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "1933 Act"), including the related preliminary prospectus or
prospectuses. Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
Company will either (i) prepare and file a prospectus in accordance with the
provisions of Rule 430A ("Rule 430A") of the rules and regulations of the
Commission under the 1933 Act (the "1933 Act Regulations") and paragraph (b)
of Rule 424 ("Rule 424(b)") of the 1933 Act Regulations or (ii) if the Company
has elected to rely upon Rule 434 ("Rule 434") of the 1933 Act Regulations,
prepare and file a term sheet (a "Term Sheet") in accordance with the
provisions of Rule 434 and Rule 424(b). The information included in such
prospectus or in such Term Sheet, as the case may be, that was omitted from
such registration statement at the time it became effective but that is deemed
to be part of such registration statement at the time it became effective (a)
pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 430A is referred to as "Rule 430A
Information" or (b) pursuant to paragraph (d) of Rule 434 is referred to as
"Rule 434 Information." Each prospectus used before such registration
statement became effective, and any prospectus that omitted, as applicable,
the Rule 430A Information or the Rule 434 Information, that was used after
such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
is herein called a "preliminary prospectus." Such registration statement,
including the exhibits thereto, schedules thereto, if any, and the documents
incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the
1933 Act, at the time it became effective and including the Rule 430A
Information and the Rule 434 Information, as applicable, is herein called the
"Registration Statement." Any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule
462(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations is herein referred to as the "Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement," and after such filing the term "Registration
Statement" shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. The final
prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant
to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act, in the form first furnished to the
Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of the Securities is
herein called the "Prospectus." If Rule 434 is relied on, the term
"Prospectus" shall refer to the preliminary prospectus dated ________, 1997
together with the Term Sheet and all references in this Agreement to the date
of the Prospectus shall mean the date of the Term Sheet. For purposes of this
Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus, the Prospectus or any Term Sheet or any amendment or supplement to
any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the
Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval
system ("XXXXX").
All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules
and other information which is "contained," "included" or "stated" in the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or other
references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such
financial statements and schedules and other information which is incorporated
by reference in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the
Prospectus, as the case may be; and all references in this Agreement to
amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of
any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act") which
is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, such preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be.
SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties.
(a) Representations and Warranties by the Company. The Company
represents and warrants to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, as of the
Closing Time referred to in Section 2(c) hereof, and as of each Date of
Delivery (if any) referred to in Section 2(b) hereof, and agrees with each
Underwriter, as follows:
(i) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Company meets
the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act. Each of the
Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has become
effective under the 1933 Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness
of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has
been issued under the 1933 Act and no proceedings for that purpose have been
instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are
contemplated by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission
for additional information has been complied with.
At the respective times the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto became
effective and at the Closing Time (and, if any Option Securities are
purchased, at the Date of Delivery), the Registration Statement, the Rule
462(b) Registration Statement and any amendments and supplements thereto
complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the
1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations and the 1939 Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission under the 1939 Act (the "1939 Act Regulations"),
and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading. Neither the Prospectus nor any
amendments or supplements thereto, at the time the Prospectus or any such
amendment or supplement was issued and at the Closing Time (and, if any Option
Securities are purchased, at the Date of Delivery), included or will include
an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will 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. If Rule 434
is used, the Company will comply with the requirements of Rule. The
representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to
statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or Prospectus made
in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company
in writing by any Underwriter through ______________ expressly for use in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus.
Each preliminary prospectus and the prospectus filed as part of the
Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment
thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act, complied when so
filed in all material respects with the 1933 Act Regulations and each
preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for
use in connection with this offering was identical to the electronically
transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to XXXXX, except
to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(ii) Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated or deemed
to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission,
complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the
1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (the
"1934 Act Regulations"), and, when read together with the other information in
the Prospectus, at the time the Registration Statement became effective, at
the time the Prospectus was issued and at the Closing Time (and if any Option
Securities are purchased, at the Date of Delivery), did not and will not
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading.
(iii) Independent Accountants. The accountants who certified the
financial statements and supporting schedules included in the Registration
Statement are independent public accountants as required by the 1933 Act and
the 1933 Act Regulations.
(iv) Financial Statements. The financial statements included in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules
and notes, present fairly the financial position of the Company and its
consolidated subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the statement of
operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows of the Company and its
consolidated subsidiaries for the periods specified; said financial statements
have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
("GAAP") applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The
supporting schedules, if any, included in the Registration Statement present
fairly in accordance with GAAP the information required to be stated therein.
The selected financial data and the summary financial information included in
the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein and have been
compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements
included in the Registration Statement.
(v) No Material Adverse Change in Business. Since the respective
dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, (A) there has been no material
adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings,
business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries
considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of
business (a "Material Adverse Effect"), (B) there have been no transactions
entered into by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than those in
the ordinary course of business, which are material with respect to the
Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, and (C) except for
regular quarterly dividends on the Common Stock in amounts per share that are
consistent with past practice, there has been no dividend or distribution of
any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital
stock.
(vi) Good Standing of the Company. The Company has been duly
organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the
laws of the State of Delaware and has corporate power and authority to own,
lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in
the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this
Agreement; and the Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to
transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which
such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing
of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify
or to be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(vii) Good Standing of Subsidiaries. Each "significant subsidiary"
of the Company (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) has
been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing
under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has corporate power
and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its
business as described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified as a foreign
corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction
in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or
leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to
qualify or to be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse
Effect; except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, all of
the issued and outstanding capital stock of each such Subsidiary has been duly
authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable and is owned
by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any
security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity; none
of the outstanding shares of capital stock of any Subsidiary was issued in
violation of the preemptive or similar rights of any securityholder of such
Subsidiary. The only subsidiaries of the Company are the subsidiaries listed
on Schedule C hereto.
(viii) Capitalization. The shares of issued and outstanding capital
stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are
fully paid and non-assessable; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock
of the Company was issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar
rights of any securityholder of the Company.
(ix) Authorization of Agreement. This Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(x) Authorization of the Indenture. The Indenture has been duly
authorized by the Company and duly qualified under the 1939 Act and, when duly
executed and delivered by the Company and the Trustee, will constitute a valid
and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating to
fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting
enforcement of creditors' rights generally and except as enforcement thereof
is subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement
is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(xi) Authorization of the Securities. The Securities have been duly
authorized and, at the Closing Time, will have been duly executed by the
Company and, when authenticated, issued and delivered in the manner provided
for in the Indenture and delivered against payment of the purchase price
therefor as provided in this Agreement, will constitute valid and binding
obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with
their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent
transfers), reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting enforcement
of creditors' rights generally and except as enforcement thereof is subject to
general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered
in a proceeding in equity or at law), and will be in the form contemplated by,
and entitled to the benefits of, the Indenture.
(xii) Description of the Securities and the Indenture. The
Securities and the Indenture will conform in all material respects to the
respective statements relating thereto contained in the Prospectus and will be
in substantially the respective forms filed or incorporated by reference, as
the case may be, as exhibits to the Registration Statement.
(xiii) Authorization and Description of Common Stock. The Common
Stock conforms to all statements relating thereto contained or incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus and such description conforms to the rights set
forth in the instruments defining the same. Upon issuance and delivery of the
Securities in accordance with this Agreement and the Indenture, the Securities
will be convertible at the option of the holder thereof for shares of Common
Stock in accordance with the terms of the Securities and the Indenture; the
shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Securities have been
duly authorized and reserved for issuance upon such conversion by all
necessary corporate action and such shares, when issued upon such conversion,
will be validly issued and will be fully paid and non-assessable; no holder of
such shares will be subject to personal liability by reason of being such a
holder; and the issuance of such shares upon such conversion will not be
subject to the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the
Company.
(xiv) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts. Neither the Company nor any
of its subsidiaries is in violation of its charter or by-laws or in default in
the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or
condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan
or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them
may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any
subsidiary is subject (collectively, "Agreements and Instruments") except for
such defaults that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Indenture and the
Securities and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and in
the Registration Statement (including the issuance and sale of the Securities
and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in
the Prospectus under the caption "Use of Proceeds" and the issuance of the
shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Securities) and
compliance by the Company with its obligations hereunder and under the
Indenture and the Securities have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action and do not and will not, whether with or without the giving
of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of,
or default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result in the
creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or
assets of the Company or any subsidiary pursuant to, the Agreements and
Instruments (except for such conflicts, breaches or defaults or liens, charges
or encumbrances that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect), nor will
such action result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-
laws of the Company or any subsidiary or any applicable law, statute, rule,
regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government, government
instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the
Company or any subsidiary or any of their assets, properties or operations.
As used herein, a "Repayment Event" means any event or condition which gives
the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any
person acting on such holder's behalf) the right to require the repurchase,
redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the
Company or any subsidiary.
(xv) Absence of Labor Dispute. No labor dispute with the employees
of the Company or any subsidiary exists or, to the knowledge of the Company,
is imminent, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor
disturbance by the employees of any of its or any subsidiary's principal
suppliers, manufacturers, customers or contractors, which, in either case, may
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xvi) Absence of Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding,
inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or governmental agency
or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company or any subsidiary, which
is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement (other than as
disclosed therein), or which might reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect, or which might reasonably be expected to materially
and adversely affect the properties or assets thereof or the consummation of
the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the performance by the
Company of its obligations hereunder; the aggregate of all pending legal or
governmental proceedings to which the Company or any subsidiary is a party or
of which any of their respective property or assets is the subject which are
not described in the Registration Statement, including ordinary routine
litigation incidental to the business, could not reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xvii) Accuracy of Exhibits. There are no contracts or documents
which are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference therein or to be filed
as exhibits thereto which have not been so described and filed as required.
(xviii) Possession of Intellectual Property. The Company and its
subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate
patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including
trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or
confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks,
trade names or other intellectual property (collectively, "Intellectual
Property") necessary to carry on the business now operated by them, and
neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice or is
otherwise aware of any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of
others with respect to any Intellectual Property or of any facts or
circumstances which would render any Intellectual Property invalid or
inadequate to protect the interest of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
therein, and which infringement or conflict (if the subject of any unfavorable
decision, ruling or finding) or invalidity or inadequacy, singly or in the
aggregate, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xix) Absence of Further Requirements. No filing with, or
authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification
or decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency is necessary or
required for the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, in
connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Securities hereunder,
the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon conversion of Securities or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or for the due
execution, delivery or performance of the Indenture by the Company, except
such as have been already obtained or as may be required under the 1933 Act
or the 1933 Act Regulations or state securities laws and except for the
qualification of the Indenture under the 1939 Act.
(xx) Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Company and its
subsidiaries possess such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other
authorizations (collectively, "Governmental Licenses") issued by the
appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies
necessary to conduct the business now operated by them; the Company and its
subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such
Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not, singly
or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; all of the Governmental
Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, except when the invalidity
of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to
be in full force and effect would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and
neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of
proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such
Governmental Licenses which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an
unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(xxi) Title to Property. The Company and its subsidiaries have good
and marketable title to all real property owned by the Company and its
subsidiaries and good title to all other properties owned by them, in each
case, free and clear of all mortgages, pledges, liens, security interests,
claims, restrictions or encumbrances of any kind except such as (a) are
described in the Prospectus or (b) do not, singly or in the aggregate,
materially affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use
made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries; and all of the leases and subleases material to the business of
the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, and under
which the Company or any of its subsidiaries holds properties described in the
Prospectus, are in full force and effect, and neither the Company nor any
subsidiary has any notice of any material claim of any sort that has been
asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the Company or any subsidiary
under any of the leases or subleases mentioned above, or affecting or
questioning the rights of the Company or such subsidiary to the continued
possession of the leased or subleased premises under any such lease or
sublease.
(xxii) Compliance with Cuba Act. The Company has complied with, and
is and will be in compliance with, the provisions of that certain Florida act
relating to disclosure of doing business with Cuba, codified as Section
517.075 of the Florida statutes, and the rules and regulations thereunder
(collectively, the "Cuba Act") or is exempt therefrom.
(xxiii) Environmental Laws. Except as described in the Registration
Statement and except as would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a
Material Adverse Effect, (A) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries
is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, rule,
regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law or any judicial or
administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial or
administrative order, consent, decree or judgment, relating to pollution or
protection of human health, the environment (including, without limitation,
ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or
wildlife, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the
release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes,
toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum products
(collectively, "Hazardous Materials") or to the manufacture, processing,
distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of
Hazardous Materials (collectively, "Environmental Laws"), (B) the Company and
its subsidiaries have all permits, authorizations and approvals required under
any applicable Environmental Laws and are each in compliance with their
requirements, (C) there are no pending or threatened administrative,
regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens,
notices of noncompliance or violation, investigation or proceedings relating
to any Environmental Law against the Company or any of its subsidiaries and
(D) there are no events or circumstances that might reasonably be expected to
form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or
proceeding by any private party or governmental body or agency, against or
affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries relating to Hazardous
Materials or any Environmental Laws.
(b) Officer's Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries delivered to the Representative(s) or
to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty
by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.
SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing.
(a) Initial Securities. On the basis of the representations and
warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein
set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, severally and not
jointly, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase
from the Company, at the price set forth in Schedule B, the aggregate
principal amount of Initial Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the
name of such Underwriter, plus any additional principal amount of Initial
Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant
to the provisions of Section 10 hereof.
(b) Option Securities. In addition, on the basis of the representations
and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein
set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the Underwriters, severally
and not jointly, to purchase up to an additional principal amount of
Securities at the same price per share set forth in Schedule B for the Initial
Securities, plus accrued interest, if any, from the Closing Date to the date
of Delivery (as defined below). The option hereby granted will expire 30 days
after the date hereof and may be exercised in whole or in part from time to
time only for the purpose of covering over-allotments which may be made in
connection with the offering and distribution of the Initial Securities upon
notice by the Representative(s) to the Company setting forth the number of
Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are then exercising the
option and the time and date of payment and delivery for such Option
Securities. Any such time and date of delivery (a "Date of Delivery") shall
be determined by the Representative(s), but shall not be later than seven full
business days after the exercise of said option, nor in any event prior to the
Closing Time, as hereinafter defined. If the option is exercised as to all or
any portion of the Option Securities, each of the Underwriters, acting
severally and not jointly, will purchase that proportion of the total number
of Option Securities then being purchased which the number of Initial
Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter
bears to the total number of Initial Securities.
(c) Payment. Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of
certificates for, the Initial Securities shall be made at the offices of
underwriters' counsel, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the
Representative(s) and the Company, at 9:00 A.M. (Eastern time) on the third
(fourth, if the pricing occurs after 4:30 P.M. (Eastern time) on any given
day) business day after the date hereof (unless postponed in accordance with
the provisions of Section 10), or such other time not later than ten business
days after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Representative(s) and the
Company (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called
"Closing Time").
In addition, in the event that any or all of the Option Securities are
purchased by the Underwriters, payment of the purchase price for, and delivery
of certificates for, such Option Securities shall be made at the above-
mentioned offices, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the
Representative(s) and the Company, on each Date of Delivery as specified in
the notice from the Representative(s) to the Company.
Payment shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to a bank account designated by the Company, against delivery
to the Representative(s) for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of
certificates for the Securities to be purchased by them. It is understood
that each Underwriter has authorized the Representative(s), for its account,
to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price
for, the Initial Securities and the Option Securities, if any, which it has
agreed to purchase. ______________, individually and not as representative of
the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the
purchase price for the Initial Securities or the Option Securities, if any, to
be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the
Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, but such
payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.
(d) Denominations; Registration. Certificates for the Initial
Securities and the Option Securities, if any, shall be in such denominations
($1,000 or integral multiples thereof) and registered in such names as the
Representative(s) may request in writing at least one full business day before
the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be. The
certificates [,which may be in temporary form,] for the Initial Securities
and the Option Securities, if any, will be made available for examination and
packaging by the Representative(s) in The City of New York not later than
10:00 A.M. (Eastern time) on the business day prior to the Closing Time or the
relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be.
SECTION 3. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants with each
Underwriter as follows:
(a) Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests. The
Company, subject to Section 3(b), will comply with the requirements of Rule
430A or Rule 434, as applicable, and will notify the Representative(s)
immediately, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective, or any
supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus shall have been filed,
(ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission, (iii) of any request
by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any
amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or for additional information, and
(iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any order preventing or
suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus, or of the suspension of the
qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or
of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes.
The Company will promptly effect the filings necessary pursuant to Rule 424(b)
and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether
the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) was received
for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will
promptly file such prospectus. The Company will make every reasonable effort
to prevent the issuance of any stop order and, if any stop order is issued, to
obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.
(b) Filing of Amendments The Company will give the Representative(s)
notice of its intention to file or prepare any amendment to the Registration
Statement (including any filing under Rule 462(b)), any Term Sheet or any
amendment, supplement or revision to either the prospectus included in the
Registration Statement at the time it became effective or to the Prospectus,
whether pursuant to the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, will furnish the
Representative(s) with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of
time prior to such proposed filing or use, as the case may be, and will not
file or use any such document to which the Representative(s) or counsel for
the Underwriters shall object.
(c) Delivery of Registration Statements. The Company has furnished or
will deliver to the Representative(s) and counsel for the Underwriters,
without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally
filed and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or
incorporated by reference therein and documents incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference therein) and signed copies of all consents and
certificates of experts, and will also deliver to the Representative(s),
without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally
filed and of each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the
Underwriters. The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment
thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically
transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to XXXXX,
except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(d) Delivery of Prospectuses. The Company has delivered to each
Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each preliminary prospectus as
such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Company hereby consents to the
use of such copies for purposes permitted by the 1933 Act. The Company will
furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, during the period when the
Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act,
such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such
Underwriter may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any amendments or
supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the
electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant
to XXXXX, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(e) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. The Company will comply
with the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act
Regulations and the 1939 Act and the 1939 Act Regulations so as to permit
the completion of the distribution of the Securities as contemplated in this
Agreement and in the Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus is required
by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities,
any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is
necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters or for the Company,
to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in
order that the Prospectus will not include any untrue statements of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing
at the time it is delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary, in
the opinion of such counsel, at any such time to amend the Registration
Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the
requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, the Company will
promptly prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 3(b), such
amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or
omission or to make the Registration Statement or the Prospectus comply with
such requirements, and the Company will furnish to the Underwriters such
number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may
reasonably request.
(f) Blue Sky Qualifications. The Company will use its best efforts, in
cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify the Securities and the shares of
Common Stock issuable upon conversion of Securities for offering and sale
under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions as
the Representative(s) may designate and to maintain such qualifications in
effect for a period of not less than one year from the later of the effective
date of the Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to file
any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign
corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is
not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing
business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject. In
each jurisdiction in which the Securities have been so qualified, the Company
will file such statements and reports as may be required by the laws of such
jurisdiction to continue such qualification in effect for a period of not
less than one year from the effective date of the Registration Statement and
any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. The Company will also supply the
Underwriters with such information as is necessary for the determination of
the legality of the Securities for investment under the laws of such
jurisdictions as the Underwriters may request.
(g) Rule 158. The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the
1934 Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its
securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for the purposes
of, and to provide the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section
11(a) of the 1933 Act.
(h) Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the net proceeds received by
it from the sale of the Securities in the manner specified in the Prospectus
under "Use of Proceeds".
(i) Reporting Requirements. The Company, during the period when the
Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act,
will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to
the 1934 Act within the time periods required by the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act
Regulations.
SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses.
(a) Expenses. The Company will pay all expenses incident to the
performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the
preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including
financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and of each amendment
thereto, (ii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of
this Agreement, any Agreement among Underwriters, the Indenture and such other
documents as may be required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale,
issuance or delivery of the Securities or the issuance or delivery of the
Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof, (iii) the preparation,
issuance and delivery of the certificates for the Securities to the
Underwriters and the certificates for the Common Stock issuable upon
conversion thereof, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the Company's counsel,
accountants and other advisors, (v) the qualification of the Securities and
the Common Stock under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of
Section 3(f) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith and in
connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement
thereto, (vi) the printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of each
preliminary prospectus, any Term Sheets and of the Prospectus and any
amendments or supplements thereto, (vii) the preparation, printing and
delivery to the Underwriters of copies of the Blue Sky Survey and any
supplement thereto, (viii) the fees and expenses of the Trustee, including
the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Trustee in connection with the
Indenture and the Securities, (ix) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent
or registrar for the Common Stock, and (x) any fees payable in connection
with the rating of the Securities.
(b) Termination of Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated by the
Representative(s) in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 or Section
9(a)(i) hereof, the Company shall reimburse the Underwriters for all of their
out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Underwriters.
SECTION 5. Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations. The obligations of the
several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the
representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 1 hereof or
in certificates of any officer of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company
delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the
Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the
following further conditions:
(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration
Statement, including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, has become
effective and at Closing Time no stop order suspending the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement shall have been issued under the 1933 Act or
proceedings therefor initiated or threatened by the Commission, and any
request on the part of the Commission for additional information shall have
been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of counsel to the
Underwriters. A prospectus containing the Rule 430A Information shall have
been filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b) (or a post-
effective amendment providing such information shall have been filed and
declared effective in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A) or, if
the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 434, a Term Sheet shall have been
filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b).
(b) Opinion of Counsel for Company. At Closing Time, the
Representative(s) shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of
Closing Time, of Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, counsel for the Company, in form and
substance satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed
or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters to the
effect set forth in Exhibit A hereto and to such further effect as counsel to
the Underwriters may reasonably request.
(c) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters. At Closing Time, the
Representative(s) shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of
Closing Time, of _________________, counsel for the Underwriters, together
with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other
Underwriters with respect to the matters set forth in clauses (i), (ii), (vi)
through (ix), inclusive, (x) (solely as to preemptive or other similar rights
arising by operation of law or under the charter or by-laws of the Company),
(xi) through (xiv), inclusive, (xvii), (xix) (solely as to the information in
the Prospectus under "Description of Capital Stock -- Common Stock") and the
penultimate paragraph of Exhibit A hereto. In giving such opinion such
counsel may rely, as to all matters governed by the laws of jurisdictions
other than the law of the State of New York [and] the federal law of the
United States [and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware],
upon the opinions of counsel satisfactory to the Representative(s). Such
counsel may also state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual
matters, they have relied, to the extent they deem proper, upon certificates
of officers of the Company and its subsidiaries and certificates of public
officials.
(d) Officers' Certificate. At Closing Time, there shall not have been,
since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Prospectus, any material adverse change in the condition,
financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business
prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise,
whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, and the
Representative(s) shall have received a certificate of the President or a
Vice President of the Company and of the chief financial or chief accounting
officer of the Company, dated as of Closing Time, to the effect that (i)
there has been no such material adverse change, (ii) the representations and
warranties in Section 1(a) hereof are true and correct with the same force
and effect as though expressly made at and as of Closing Time, (iii) the
Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its
part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to Closing Time, and (iv) no
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has
been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are
pending or are contemplated by the Commission.
(e) Accountant's Comfort Letter. At the time of the execution of this
Agreement, the Representative(s) shall have received from Price Waterhouse LLP
a letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the
Representative(s), together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter
for each of the other Underwriters containing statements and information of
the type ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" to
underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial
information contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(f) Bring-down Comfort Letter. At Closing Time, the Representative(s)
shall have received from Price Waterhouse LLP a letter, dated as of Closing
Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter
furnished pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section, except that the
specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days
prior to Closing Time.
(g) Maintenance of Rating. At Closing Time, the Securities shall be
rated at least ________ by Moody's Investor's Service Inc. and _________ by
Standard & Poor's Ratings Group, a division of XxXxxx-Xxxx, Inc., and the
Company shall have delivered to the Representative(s) a letter dated the
Closing Time, from each such rating agency, or other evidence satisfactory
to the Representative(s), confirming that the Securities have such ratings;
and since the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred a
downgrading in the rating assigned to the Securities or any of the Company's
other securities by any "nationally recognized statistical rating agency", as
that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under
the 1933 Act, and no such organization shall have publicly announced that it
has under surveillance or review its rating of the Securities or any of the
Company's other securities.
(h) Conditions to Purchase of Option Securities. In the event that the
Underwriters exercise their option provided in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase
all or any portion of the Option Securities, the representations and
warranties of the Company contained herein and the statements in any
certificates furnished by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company
hereunder shall be true and correct as of each Date of Delivery and, at the
relevant Date of Delivery, the Representative(s) shall have received:
(i) Officers' Certificate. A certificate, dated such Date of
Delivery, of the President or a Vice President of the Company and of the chief
financial or chief accounting officer of the Company confirming that the
certificate delivered at the Closing Time pursuant to Section 5(d) hereof
remains true and correct as of such Date of Delivery.
(ii) Opinion of Counsel for Company. The favorable opinion of
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, counsel for the Company, in form and substance
satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery,
relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and
otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(b) hereof.
(iii) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters. The favorable opinion of
________________, counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery,
relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery
and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(c)
hereof.
(iv) Bring-down Comfort Letter. A letter from
_____________________, in form and substance satisfactory to the
Representative(s) and dated such Date of Delivery, substantially in the same
form and substance as the letter furnished to the Representative(s) pursuant
to Section 5(f) hereof, except that the "specified date" in the letter
furnished pursuant to this paragraph shall be a date not more than five days
prior to such Date of Delivery.
(v) No Downgrading. Subsequent to the date of this Agreement, no
downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Securities or of
any of the Company's other securities by any "nationally recognized
statistical rating organization", as that term is defined by the Commission
for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the 1933 Act, and no such organization
shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review its
ratings of any of the Company's securities.
(i) Additional Documents. At Closing Time and at each Date of Delivery,
counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents and
opinions as they may require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the
issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated, or in order to
evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the
fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings
taken by the Company in connection with the issuance and sale of the
Securities as herein contemplated shall be satisfactory in form and substance
to the Representative(s) and counsel for the Underwriters.
(j) Termination of Agreement. If any condition specified in this
Section shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled,
this Agreement, or, in the case of any condition to the purchase of Option
Securities, on a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, the
obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase the relevant Option
Securities, may be terminated by the Representative(s) by notice to the
Company at any time at or prior to Closing Time or such Date of Delivery, as
the case may be, and such termination shall be without liability of any party
to any other party except as provided in Section 4 and except that Sections
1, 6, 7 and 8 shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and
effect.
SECTION 6. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification of Underwriters. The Company agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of
the 1934 Act as follows:
(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any
amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information and the Rule 434
Information, if applicable, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the
omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading;
(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in
settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any
governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim
whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such
alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 6(d)
below) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the
Company; and
(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred
(including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by ______________),
reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any
litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or
body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such
untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or
omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii)
above;
provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss,
liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by
any Underwriter through ______________ expressly for use in the Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information and
the Rule 434 Information, if applicable, or any preliminary prospectus or the
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
(b) Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers. Each
Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its
directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement, and
each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15
of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act against any and all loss,
liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in
subsection (a)[(1)] of this Section, as incurred, but only with respect to
untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions,
made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the
Rule 430A Information and the Rule 434 Information, if applicable, or any
preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished
to the Company by such Underwriter through ______________ expressly for use in
the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or such preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
(c) Actions against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party shall
give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party
of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought
hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve
such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not
materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve
it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this
indemnity agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section
6(a)[(1)] above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by
______________, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section
6(b) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the
Company. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the
defense of any such action; provided, however, that counsel to the
indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified
party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the
indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel
(in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all
indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar
or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general
allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior
written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to
the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation
or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or
any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could
be sought under this Section 6 or Section 7 hereof (whether or not the
indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such
settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of
each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation,
investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to
or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of
any indemnified party.
(d) Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse. If at any time
an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse
the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying
party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature
contemplated by Section 6(a)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i)
such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such
indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party
shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days
prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party
shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such
request prior to the date of such settlement.
SECTION 7. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 6
hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an
indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or
expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses
incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the
one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the
Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by
clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause
(i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of
the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or
omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or
expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the
Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the
Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same
respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the
Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by
the Company and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters,
in each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus, or, if Rule 434 is
used, the corresponding location on the Term Sheet, bear to the aggregate
initial public offering price of the Securities as set forth on such cover.
The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on
the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties' relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission.
The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro
rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of
the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7. The
aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred
by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall be
deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any
litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or
body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such
untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public
were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such
Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of
Section 11(f) of the 0000 Xxx) shall be entitled to contribution from any
person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls an
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of
the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter,
and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the
Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company
within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act
shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. The Underwriters'
respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in
proportion to the principal amount of Initial Securities set forth opposite
their respective names in Schedule A hereto and not joint.
SECTION 8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery.
All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or
in certificates of officers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and
effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any
Underwriter or controlling person, or by or on behalf of the Company, and
shall survive delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters.
SECTION 9. Termination of Agreement.
(a) Termination; General. The Representative(s) may terminate this
Agreement, by notice to the Company, at any time at or prior to Closing Time
(i) if there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since
the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus, any
material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the
earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its
subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the
ordinary course of business, or (ii) if there has occurred any material
adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the
international financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation
thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a
prospective change in national or international political, financial or
economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it,
in the judgment of the Representative(s), impracticable to market the
Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities, or (iii) if
trading in any securities of the Company has been suspended or materially
limited by the Commission or the New York Stock Exchange, Chicago Stock
Exchange, or the Pacific Stock Exchange, or if trading generally on the
American Stock Exchange or the New York Stock Exchange or in the Nasdaq
National Market has been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or
maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have
been required, by any of said exchanges or by such system or by order of the
Commission or any other governmental authority, or (iv) if a banking
moratorium has been declared by either Federal or New York authorities.
(b) Liabilities If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this
Section, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other
party except as provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided further that
Sections 1, 6, 7 and 8 shall survive such termination and remain in full force
and effect.
SECTION 10. Default by One or More of the Underwriters. If one or more of
the Underwriters shall fail at Closing Time or a Date of Delivery to purchase
the Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement
(the "Defaulted Securities"), the Representative(s) shall have the right,
within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-
defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not
less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed
upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representative(s)
shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:
(a) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the
aggregate principal amount of the Securities to be purchased on such date,
each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not
jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their
respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting
obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or
(b) if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the aggregate
principal amount of the Securities to be purchased on such date, this
Agreement or, with respect to any Date of Delivery which occurs after the
Closing Time, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and of the
Company to sell the Option Securities to be purchased and sold on such Date of
Delivery shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting
Underwriter.
No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting
Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.
In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination
of this Agreement or, in the case of a Date of Delivery which is after the
Closing Time, which does not result in a termination of the obligation of the
Underwriters to purchase and the Company to sell the relevant Option
Securities, as the case may be, either the Representative(s) or the Company
shall have the right to postpone Closing Time or the relevant Date of
Delivery, as the case may be, for a period not exceeding seven days in order
to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or
in any other documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term
"Underwriter" includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this
Section 10.
SECTION 11. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be
in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or
transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the
Underwriters shall be directed to the Representative(s) at
________________________________________________________, attention of
__________________; and notices to the Company shall be directed to it at is
corporate offices in Peoria, Illinois, attention of Secretary.
SECTION 12. Parties. This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and
be binding upon the Underwriters and the Company and their respective
successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or
shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the
Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors and the
controlling persons and officers and directors referred to in Sections 6 and 7
and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right,
remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein
contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are
intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters and the
Company and their respective successors, and said controlling persons and
officers and directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the
benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Securities
from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of
such purchase.
SECTION 13. GOVERNING LAW AND TIME. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. SPECIFIED
TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.
SECTION 14. Effect of Headings. The Article and Section headings herein and
the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the
construction hereof.
