EXHIBIT 1.1
2,000,000 Shares*
APPLIED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Common Stock
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
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February __, 1999
XXXXXXX & COMPANY, INC.
SOUNDVIEW TECHNOLOGY GROUP, INC.
ADVEST GROUP, INC.
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o Needham & Company, Inc.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Applied Science and Technology, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), proposes to issue and sell 2,000,000 shares (the "Firm Shares") of
the Company's Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share (the "Common Stock"), to
you and to the several other Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto
(collectively, the "Underwriters"), for whom you are acting as representatives
(the "Representatives"). The Company has also agreed to grant to you and the
other Underwriters an option (the "Option") to purchase up to an additional
300,000 shares (the "Option Shares"), respectively, on the terms and for the
purposes set forth in Section 1(b). The Firm Shares and the Option Shares are
referred to collectively herein as the "Shares."
The Company confirms as follows its agreement with the Representatives and
the several other Underwriters.
1. Agreement to Sell and Purchase.
(a) On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements of the
Company herein contained and subject to all the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, (i) the Company agrees to issue and sell the Firm Shares to the
several Underwriters, and (ii) each of the Underwriters, severally and not
jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company the respective number of Firm
Shares set forth opposite that Underwriter's name in Schedule I hereto, at the
purchase price of $____ for each Firm Share.
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* Plus an option to purchase up to an additional 300,000 shares to cover
over-allotments.
(b) Subject to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company
grants the Option to the several Underwriters to purchase, severally and not
jointly, up to the maximum number of Option Shares set forth in the first
paragraph hereof, at the same price per share as the Underwriters shall pay for
the Firm Shares. The Option may be exercised only to cover over-allotments in
the sale of the Firm Shares by the Underwriters and may be exercised in whole or
in part at any time (but not more than once) on or before the 30th day after the
date of this Agreement upon written or telegraphic notice (the "Option Shares
Notice") by the Representatives to the Company no later than 12:00 noon, New
York City time, at least two and no more than five business days before the date
specified for closing in the Option Shares Notice (the "Option Closing Date"),
setting forth the aggregate number of Option Shares to be purchased and the time
and date for such purchase. On the Option Closing Date, the Company will sell to
the Underwriters the number of Option Shares set forth in the Option Shares
Notice, and each Underwriter will purchase such percentage of the Option Shares
as is equal to the percentage of Firm Shares that such Underwriter is
purchasing, as adjusted by the Representatives in such manner as they deem
advisable to avoid fractional shares.
2. Delivery and Payment. Delivery of the Firm Shares shall be made to the
Representatives for the accounts of the Underwriters against payment of the
purchase price by certified or official bank checks or by wire transfers payable
in same-day funds to the order of the Company at the office of Xxxxxxx &
Company, Inc., 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, at 10:00 a.m., New
York City time, on the third (or, if the purchase price set forth in Section
1(a) hereof is determined after 4:30 p.m., Washington D.C. time, the fourth)
business day following the commencement of the offering contemplated by this
Agreement, or at such time on such other date, not later than seven business
days after the date of this Agreement, as may be agreed upon by the Company and
the Representatives (such date is hereinafter referred to as the "Closing
Date").
To the extent the Option is exercised, delivery of the Option Shares
against payment by the Underwriters to the Company in the manner specified above
will take place at the offices specified above for the Closing Date at the time
and date (which may be the Closing Date) specified in the Option Shares Notice.
Certificates evidencing the Shares shall be in definitive form and shall be
registered in such names and in such denominations as the Representatives shall
request at least two business days prior to the Closing Date or the Option
Closing Date, as the case may be, by written notice to the Company. For the
purpose of expediting the checking and packaging of certificates for the Shares,
the Company agrees to make such certificates available for inspection at least
24 hours prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may
be.
The cost of original issue tax stamps, if any, in connection with the
issuance and delivery of the Firm Shares and Option Shares to the respective
Underwriters shall be borne by the Company. The Company will pay and save each
Underwriter and any subsequent holder of the Shares harmless from any and all
liabilities with respect to or resulting from any failure or delay in paying
federal and state stamp and other transfer taxes, if any, which may be payable
or determined to be payable in connection with the original issuance or sale to
such Underwriter of the Shares.
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3. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents,
warrants and covenants to each Underwriter that:
(a) The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 and a
registration statement (Registration No. 333-___) on Form S-3 relating to the
Shares, including a preliminary prospectus and such amendments to such
registration statement as may have been required to the date of this Agreement,
has been prepared by the Company under the provisions of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Act"), and the rules and regulations (collectively
referred to as the "Rules and Regulations") of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") promulgated thereunder, and has been filed with
the Commission. The term "preliminary prospectus" as used herein means a
preliminary prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference
therein, as contemplated by Rule 430 or Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations
included at any time as part of the registration statement. Copies of such
registration statement and amendments and of each related preliminary prospectus
have been delivered to the Representatives. If such registration statement has
not become effective, a further amendment to such registration statement,
including a form of final prospectus, necessary to permit such registration
statement to become effective will be filed promptly by the Company with the
Commission. If such registration statement has become effective, a final
prospectus containing information permitted to be omitted at the time of
effectiveness by Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations will be filed promptly
by the Company with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b) of the Rules
and Regulations. The term "Registration Statement" means the registration
statement as amended at the time it becomes or became effective (the "Effective
Date"), including all documents incorporated by reference therein, financial
statements and all exhibits and any information deemed to be included by Rule
430A, and includes any registration statement relating to the offering
contemplated by this Agreement and filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Rules
and Regulations. The term "Prospectus" means the prospectus, including the
documents incorporated by reference therein, as first filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations or, if no such filing is
required, the form of final prospectus, including the documents incorporated by
reference therein, included in the Registration Statement at the Effective Date.
Any reference herein to the terms "amend," "amendment" or "supplement" with
respect to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the
Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") after
the Effective Date, the date of any preliminary prospectus or the date of the
Prospectus, as the case may be, and deemed to be incorporated therein by
reference.
(b) No order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus
has been issued by the Commission and no stop order suspending the effectiveness
of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been
issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or threatened by
the Commission. On the Effective Date, the date the Prospectus is first filed
with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) (if required), at all times
subsequent to and including the Closing Date and, if later, the Option Closing
Date and when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes
effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus is filed with the
Commission, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (as amended or as
supplemented if the Company shall have filed with the Commission any amendment
or supplement thereto), including the financial statements included in the
Prospectus, did and will comply with all applicable provisions of the Act, the
Exchange Act, the rules and regulations under the Exchange Act (the "Exchange
Act Rules and Regulations"), and
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the Rules and Regulations and will contain all statements required to be stated
therein in accordance with the Act, the Exchange Act, the Exchange Act Rules and
Regulations, and the Rules and Regulations. On the Effective Date and when any
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective, no
part of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any such amendment or
supplement thereto did or will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein not misleading. At the Effective Date, the
date the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus is filed
with the Commission and at the Closing Date and, if later, the Option Closing
Date, the Prospectus did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. The foregoing representations and warranties in this Section 3(b) do
not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance on and in conformity
with information relating to any Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company
by the Representatives specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement
or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto. The Company acknowledges
that the statements set forth under the heading "Underwriting" in the Prospectus
constitute the only information relating to any Underwriter furnished in writing
to the Company by the Representatives specifically for inclusion in the
Registration Statement.
(c) The documents that are incorporated by reference in the preliminary
prospectus and the Prospectus or from which information is so incorporated by
reference, when they became or become effective or were or are filed with the
Commission, as the case may be, complied or will comply in all material respects
with the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the
Rules and Regulations or the Exchange Act Rules and Regulations, as applicable;
and any documents so filed and incorporated by reference subsequent to the
Effective Date shall, when they are filed with the Commission, comply in all
material respects with the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as
applicable, and the Rules and Regulations or the Exchange Act Rules and
Regulations, as applicable.
(d) The Company does not own, and at the Closing Date and, if later, the
Option Closing Date, will not own, directly or indirectly, any shares of stock
or any other equity or long-term debt securities of any corporation or have any
equity interest in any corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture,
association or other entity, other than the subsidiaries listed in Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 27, 1998 (the
"Subsidiaries"). The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is, and at the Closing
Date and, if later, the Option Closing Date, will be, a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has, and
at the Closing Date and, if later, the Option Closing Date, will have, full
power and authority to conduct all the activities conducted by it, to own or
lease all the assets owned or leased by it and to conduct its business as
described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The Company and each
of its Subsidiaries is, and at the Closing Date and, if later, the Option
Closing Date, will be, duly licensed or qualified to do business and in good
standing as a foreign corporation in all jurisdictions in which the nature of
the activities conducted by it or the character of the assets owned or leased by
it makes such license or qualification necessary, except to the extent that the
failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not materially and
adversely affect the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or its business,
properties, business prospects, condition (financial or other) or results of
operations. All of the outstanding shares of
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capital stock of each Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued
and are fully paid and nonassessable, and owned by the Company free and clear of
all claims, liens, charges and encumbrances; there are no securities outstanding
that are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for capital stock of
any Subsidiary. The Company is not, and at the Closing Date and, if later, the
Option Closing Date, will not be, engaged in any discussions or a party to any
agreement or understanding, written or oral, regarding the acquisition of an
interest in any corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, association or
other entity where such discussions, agreements or understandings would require
amendment to the Registration Statement pursuant to applicable securities laws.
Complete and correct copies of the certificate of incorporation and the by-laws
of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries and all amendments thereto have been
delivered to the Representatives, and no changes therein will be made subsequent
to the date hereof and prior to the Closing Date or, if later, the Option
Closing Date.
(e) All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have
been duly authorized, validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and
were issued in compliance with all applicable state and federal securities laws;
the Firm Shares and the Option Shares issued by the Company (if any) have been
duly authorized and when issued and paid for as contemplated herein will be
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable; and no preemptive or similar
rights exist with respect to any of the Shares or the issue and sale thereof.
The Underwriters will receive good and valid title to the Shares purchased from
the Company, free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests, pledges,
charges, encumbrances, preemptive rights, stockholders' agreements, voting
trusts or other defects in title. The description of the capital stock of the
Company in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus is, and at the Closing
Date and, if later, the Option Closing Date, will be, complete and accurate in
all respects. Except as set forth in the Prospectus, the Company does not have
outstanding, and at the Closing Date and, if later, the Option Closing Date,
will not have outstanding, any options to purchase, or any rights or warrants to
subscribe for, or any securities or obligations convertible into, or any
contracts or commitments to issue or sell, any shares of capital stock, or any
such warrants, convertible securities or obligations. No further approval or
authority of stockholders or the Board of Directors of the Company will be
required for the issuance and sale of the Firm Shares and the Option Shares as
contemplated herein.
(f) The financial statements and schedules included or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus present fairly the
financial condition of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the
respective dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows of the
Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the respective periods covered
thereby, all in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied
on a consistent basis throughout the entire period involved, except as otherwise
disclosed in the Prospectus. No other financial statements or schedules of the
Company are required by the Act, the Exchange Act, the Exchange Act Rules and
Regulations or the Rules and Regulations to be included in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus. KPMG Peat Marwick LLP (the "Accountants"), who have
reported on such financial statements and schedules, are independent accountants
with respect to the Company as required by the Act and the Rules and
Regulations. The summary consolidated financial and statistical data included in
the Registration Statement present fairly the information shown therein and have
been compiled on a basis consistent with the financial statements presented
therein.
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(g) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and prior to the Closing Date
and, if later, the Option Closing Date, except as set forth in or contemplated
by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (i) there has not been and
will not have been any change in the capitalization of the Company (other than
in connection with the exercise of options to purchase the Company's Common
Stock granted pursuant to the Company's stock option plans from the shares
reserved therefor as described in the Registration Statement), or any material
adverse change in the business, properties, business prospects, condition
(financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, arising for any reason whatsoever, (ii) neither the Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries has incurred nor will any of them incur, except in the
ordinary course of business as described in the Prospectus, any material
liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, nor has the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries entered into nor will it enter into, except in the ordinary
course of business as described in the Prospectus, any material transactions
other than pursuant to this Agreement and the transactions referred to herein
and (iii) the Company has not and will not have paid or declared any dividends
or other distributions of any kind on any class of its capital stock.
(h) The Company is not, will not become as a result of the transactions
contemplated hereby, and does not intend to conduct its business in a manner
that would cause it to become, an "investment company" or an "affiliated person"
of, or "promoter" or "principal underwriter" for, an "investment company," as
such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(i) Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company, its
Subsidiaries or any of their officers in their capacity as such, nor any basis
therefor, before or by any Federal or state court, commission, regulatory body,
administrative agency or other governmental body, domestic or foreign, wherein
an unfavorable ruling, decision or finding might reasonably be expected to
materially and adversely affect the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or the
business, properties, business prospects, condition (financial or otherwise) or
results of operations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(j) The Company and each Subsidiary has, and at the Closing Date and, if
later, the Option Closing Date, will have, performed all the obligations
required to be performed by it, and is not, and at the Closing Date, and, if
later, the Option Closing Date, will not be, in default, under any contract or
other instrument to which it is a party or by which its property is bound or
affected, which default might reasonably be expected to materially and adversely
affect the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or the business, properties,
business prospects, condition (financial or other) or results of operations of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. To the best knowledge of the Company, no
other party under any contract or other instrument to which it or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party is in default in any respect thereunder, which default
might reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the Company, any
of its Subsidiaries or the business, properties, business prospects, condition
(financial or other) or results of operations of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is, and at the
Closing Date and, if later, the Option Closing Date, will be, in violation of
any provision of its certificate of incorporation or by-laws or other
organizational documents.
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(k) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or any filing or
declaration with, any court or governmental agency or body is required for the
consummation by the Company of the transactions on its part contemplated herein,
except such as have been obtained under the Act or the Rules and Regulations and
such as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws or the by-laws
and rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD")
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in connection with the purchase and distribution by the Underwriters of the
Shares.
(l) The Company has full corporate power and authority to enter into
this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by the Company and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with the terms hereof. The
performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby will not result in the creation or imposition of any lien,
charge or encumbrance upon any of the assets of the Company pursuant to the
terms or provisions of, or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms
or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or give any party a right to
terminate any of its obligations under, or result in the acceleration of any
obligation under, the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, voting trust
agreement, loan agreement, bond, debenture, note agreement or other evidence of
indebtedness, lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company, any of
its Subsidiaries or any of their properties is bound or affected, or violate or
conflict with any judgment, ruling, decree, order, statute, rule or regulation
of any court or other governmental agency or body applicable to the business or
properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(m) The Company or one of its Subsidiaries has good and marketable title
to all properties and assets described in the Prospectus as owned by them, free
and clear of all liens, charges, encumbrances or restrictions, except such as
are described in the Prospectus or are not material to the business of the
Company or its Subsidiaries. The Company or its Subsidiaries has valid,
subsisting and enforceable leases for the properties described in the Prospectus
as leased by them. The Company or one of its Subsidiaries owns or leases all
such properties as are necessary to its operations as now conducted or as
proposed to be conducted, except where the failure to so own or lease would not
materially and adversely affect the business, properties, business prospects,
condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the Company or
its Subsidiaries.
(n) There is no document, contract, agreement, instrument, lease,
license, certificate, permit or other arrangement, whether written or oral, of a
character required to be described in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement which is
not described or filed as required. All such contracts to which the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries is a party have been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company or such Subsidiary, constitute valid and binding
agreements of the Company or such Subsidiary and are enforceable against and by
the Company or such Subsidiary in accordance with the terms thereof.
(o) No statement, representation, warranty or covenant made by the
Company in this Agreement or made in any certificate or document required by
Section 6 of this Agreement to be delivered to the Representatives was or will
be, when made, inaccurate, untrue or incorrect.
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(p) Neither the Company nor any of its directors, officers or
controlling persons has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed, or
which might reasonably be expected, to cause or result, under the Act or
otherwise, in, or which has constituted, stabilization or manipulation of the
price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the
Shares.
(q) No holder of securities of the Company has rights to the
registration of any securities of the Company because of the filing of the
Registration Statement, which rights have not been waived by the holder thereof
as of the date hereof.
(r) The Company has filed an application to list the Shares to be sold
by the Company hereunder on the Nasdaq National Market ("NNM"), and has received
notification that the listing has been approved, subject to notice of issuance
of such Shares.
(s) Except as disclosed in or specifically contemplated by the
Prospectus (i) the Company and its Subsidiaries own or have adequate rights to
use sufficient trademarks, trade names, patent rights, copyrights, licenses,
approvals and governmental authorizations to conduct their businesses as now
conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted, (ii) to the best of the
Company's knowledge, none of the patent rights owned or licensed by the Company
is unenforceable or invalid, (iii) the Company has no knowledge of any
infringement by it or any of its Subsidiaries of trademarks, trade name rights,
patent rights, copyrights, licenses, trade secrets or other similar rights of
others, where such infringement might reasonably be expected to have a material
and adverse effect on the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or the business,
properties, business prospects, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of
operations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and (iv) there is no claim
being made against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or to the best of the
Company's knowledge, any employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
regarding trademark, trade name, patent, copyright, license, trade secret or
other infringement which might reasonably be expected to have a material and
adverse effect on the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or the business,
properties, business prospects, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of
operations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(t) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has filed all federal,
state, local and foreign income tax returns which have been required to be filed
and has paid all taxes and assessments received by it to the extent that such
taxes or assessments have become due. Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has any tax deficiency which has been or, to the best knowledge of
the Company, might be asserted or threatened against it which might reasonably
be expected to have a material and adverse effect on the business, properties,
business prospects, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations
of the Company or its Subsidiaries.
(u) The pro forma financial information set forth in the Registration
Statement reflects, subject to the limitations set forth in the Registration
Statement as to such pro forma financial information, the results of operations
of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries purported to be shown thereby
for the periods indicated and conforms to the requirements of Regulation S-X of
the Rules and Regulations and management of the Company believes (i) the
assumptions underlying the pro forma adjustments are reasonable, (ii) that such
adjustments have been properly applied to the historical amounts in the
compilation of such statements, and (iii) that such statements present fairly,
with respect to the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries, the
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pro forma financial position and results of operations and the other information
purported to be shown therein at the respective dates or for the respective
periods therein specified.
(v) The Company or its Subsidiaries owns or possesses all
authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, registrations, other certificates
and permits of and from all governmental regulatory officials and bodies,
necessary to conduct their respective businesses as contemplated in the
Prospectus, except where the failure to own or possess all such authorizations,
approvals, orders, licenses, registrations, other certificates and permits would
not materially and adversely affect the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or the
business, properties, business prospects, condition (financial or otherwise) or
results of operations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. There is no
proceeding pending or threatened (or any basis therefor known to the Company)
which may cause any such authorization, approval, order, license, registration,
certificate or permit to be revoked, withdrawn, cancelled, suspended or not
renewed; and the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is conducting its business
in compliance with all laws, rules and regulations applicable thereto
(including, without limitation, all applicable federal, state and local
environmental laws and regulations) except where such noncompliance would not
materially and adversely affect the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or the
business, properties, business prospects, condition (financial or otherwise) or
results of operations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(w) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries maintains insurance of the
types and in the amounts generally deemed adequate for its business, including,
but not limited to, insurance covering real and personal property owned or
leased by the Company and its Subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction,
acts of vandalism and all other risks customarily insured against, all of which
insurance is in full force and effect.
(x) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has nor, to the best
of the Company's knowledge, any of their respective employees or agents at any
time during the last five years (i) made any unlawful contribution to any
candidate for foreign office, or failed to disclose fully any contribution in
violation of law, or (ii) made any payment to any federal or state governmental
officer or official, or other person charged with similar public or quasi-public
duties, other than payments required or permitted by the laws of the United
States or any jurisdiction thereof.
(y) The Company has not distributed and will not distribute any
prospectus or other offering material in connection with the offer and sale of
the Shares, other than the preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or other
offering materials permitted by the Act and the Rules and Regulations to be
distributed.
4. Agreements of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with the
several Underwriters as follows:
(a) The Company will not, either prior to the Effective Date or
thereafter during such period as the Prospectus is required by law to be
delivered in connection with sales of the Shares by an Underwriter or dealer,
file any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus, unless a copy thereof shall first have been submitted to the
Representatives within
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a reasonable period of time prior to the filing thereof and the Representatives
shall not have objected thereto in good faith.
(b) The Company will use its best efforts to cause the Registration
Statement to become effective, and will notify the Representatives promptly, and
will confirm such advice in writing, (i) when the Registration Statement has
become effective and when any post-effective amendment thereto becomes
effective, (ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements
to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for additional information,
(iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings
for that purpose or the threat thereof, (iv) of the happening of any event
during the period mentioned in the second sentence of Section 5(e) that in the
judgment of the Company makes any statement made in the Registration Statement
or the Prospectus untrue or that requires the making of any changes in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they are made, not
misleading and (v) of receipt by the Company or any representative or attorney
of the Company of any other communication from the Commission relating to the
Company, the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the
Prospectus. If at any time the Commission shall issue any order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the Company will make every
reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of such order at the earliest
possible moment. If the Company has omitted any information from the
Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations, the
Company will comply with the provisions of and make all requisite filings with
the Commission pursuant to said Rule 430A and notify the Representatives
promptly of all such filings.
(c) The Company will furnish to each Representative, without charge, one
signed copy of the Registration Statement and of any post-effective amendment
thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and all exhibits thereto
and will furnish to the Representatives, without charge, for transmittal to each
of the other Underwriters, a copy of the Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules
but without exhibits.
(d) The Company will comply with all the provisions of any undertakings
contained in the Registration Statement.
(e) On the Effective Date, and thereafter from time to time, the Company
will deliver to each of the Underwriters, without charge, as many copies of the
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto as the Representatives may
reasonably request. The Company consents to the use of the Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto by the several Underwriters and by all dealers
to whom the Shares may be sold, both in connection with the offering or sale of
the Shares and for any period of time thereafter during which the Prospectus is
required by law to be delivered in connection therewith. If during such period
of time any event shall occur which in the judgment of the Company or counsel to
the Underwriters should be set forth in the Prospectus in order to make any
statement therein, in the light of the circumstances under which it was made,
not misleading, or if it is necessary to supplement or amend the Prospectus to
comply with law, the Company will forthwith prepare and duly file with the
Commission an appropriate supplement or amendment thereto, and will deliver to
each of the Underwriters, without charge, such number of copies of such
supplement or amendment to the Prospectus as the Representatives may reasonably
10
request. The Company will not file any document under the Exchange Act or the
Exchange Act Rules and Regulations before the termination of the offering of the
Shares by the Underwriters, if such document would be deemed to be incorporated
by reference into the Prospectus, that is not approved by the Representatives
after reasonable notice thereof.
(f) Prior to any public offering of the Shares, the Company will
cooperate with the Representatives and counsel to the Underwriters in connection
with the registration or qualification of the Shares for offer and sale under
the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may
request; 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 which would subject it to general service of process in any jurisdiction
where it is not now so subject.
(g) The Company will, so long as required under the Rules and
Regulations, furnish to its stockholders as soon as practicable after the end of
each fiscal year an annual report (including a balance sheet and statements of
income, stockholders' equity and cash flow of the Company and its consolidated
Subsidiaries, if any, certified by independent public accountants) and, as soon
as practicable after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal
year (beginning with the fiscal quarter ending after the effective date of the
Registration Statement), consolidated summary financial information of the
Company and its Subsidiaries, if any, for such quarter in reasonable detail.
(h) During the period of five years commencing on the Effective Date,
the Company will furnish to the Representatives and each other Underwriter who
may so request copies of such financial statements and other periodic and
special reports as the Company may from time to time distribute generally to the
holders of any class of its capital stock, and will furnish to the
Representatives and each other Underwriter who may so request a copy of each
annual or other report it shall be required to file with the Commission.
(i) The Company will make generally available to holders of its
securities as soon as may be practicable but in no event later than the last day
of the fifteenth full calendar month following the calendar quarter in which the
Effective Date falls, an earnings statement (which need not be audited but shall
be in reasonable detail) for a period of 12 months ended commencing after the
Effective Date, and satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act
(including Rule 158 of the Rules and Regulations).
(j) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are
consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company will pay or reimburse,
if paid by the Representatives, all costs and expenses incident to the
performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement and in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including but not limited
to costs and expenses of or relating to (i) the preparation, printing and filing
of the Registration Statement and exhibits to it, each preliminary prospectus,
Prospectus and any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or
Prospectus, (ii) the preparation and delivery of certificates representing the
Shares, (iii) the printing of this Agreement, the Agreement Among Underwriters,
any Selected Dealer Agreements, any Underwriters' Questionnaires, any
Underwriters' Powers of Attorney, and any invitation letters to prospective
Underwriters, (iv) furnishing (including costs of shipping and mailing) such
copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any preliminary
prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto, as
11
may be requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares
by the Underwriters or by dealers to whom Shares may be sold, (v) the listing of
the Shares on the NNM, (vi) any filings required to be made by the Underwriters
with the NASD, and the fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel for the
Underwriters in connection therewith, (vii) the registration or qualification of
the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions designated pursuant to Section 5(f), including the fees,
disbursements and other charges of counsel to the Underwriters in connection
therewith, and the preparation and printing of preliminary, supplemental and
final Blue Sky memoranda, (viii) fees, disbursements and other charges of
counsel to the Company (but not those of counsel for the Underwriters, except as
otherwise provided herein) and (ix) the transfer agent for the Shares.
(k) The Company will not at any time, directly or indirectly, take any
action designed or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, or
which will constitute, stabilization of the price of the shares of Common Stock
to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Shares.
(l) The Company will apply the net proceeds from the offering and sale
of the Shares to be sold by the Company in the manner set forth in the
Prospectus under "Use of Proceeds".
(m) During the period beginning from the date hereof and continuing to
and including the date 90 days after the date of the Prospectus, without the
prior written consent of Xxxxxxx & Company, Inc., the Company will not offer,
sell, contract to sell, grant options to purchase or otherwise dispose of any of
the Company's equity securities of the Company or any other securities
convertible into or exchangeable with its Common Stock or other equity security
(other than pursuant to employee stock option plans or the conversion of
convertible securities or the exercise of warrants outstanding on the date of
this Agreement).
(n) During the period of 90 days after the date of the Prospectus, the
Company will not, without the prior written consent of Xxxxxxx & Company, Inc.,
grant options to purchase shares of Common Stock at a price less than the
initial public offering price. During the period of 90 days after the date of
the Prospectus, the Company will not file with the Commission or cause to become
effective any registration statement relating to any securities of the Company
without the prior written consent of Xxxxxxx & Company, Inc.
(o) The Company will cause each of its officers and directors to enter
into lock-up agreements with the Representatives to the effect that they will
not, without the prior written consent of Xxxxxxx & Company, Inc., sell,
contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock or rights to
acquire such shares according to the terms set forth in Schedule III hereto.
5. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations
of each Underwriter hereunder are subject to the following conditions:
(a) Notification that the Registration Statement has become effective
shall be received by the Representatives not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City
time, on the date of this Agreement or at such later date and time as shall be
consented to in writing by the Representatives
12
and all filings required by Rule 424 and Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations
shall have been made.
(b) (i) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall be
pending or threatened by the Commission, (ii) no order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the qualification or registration
of the Shares under the securities or Blue Sky laws of any jurisdiction shall be
in effect and no proceeding for such purpose shall be pending before or
threatened or contemplated by the Commission or the authorities of any such
jurisdiction, (iii) any request for additional information on the part of the
staff of the Commission or any such authorities shall have been complied with to
the satisfaction of the staff of the Commission or such authorities and (iv)
after the date hereof no amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement
or the Prospectus shall have been filed unless a copy thereof was first
submitted to the Representatives and the Representatives do not object thereto
in good faith, and the Representatives shall have received certificates, dated
the Closing Date and, if later, the Option Closing Date and signed by the
President and Treasurer of the Company (who may, as to proceedings threatened,
rely upon the best of their information and belief), to the effect of clauses
(i), (ii) and (iii) of this paragraph.
(c) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (i) there shall not have been a
material adverse change in the general affairs, business, business prospects,
properties, management, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of
operations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, whether or not arising
from transactions in the ordinary course of business, in each case other than as
described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
and (ii) the Company shall not have sustained any material loss or interference
with its business or properties from fire, explosion, flood or other casualty,
whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or any court or
legislative or other governmental action, order or decree, which is not
described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, if in the judgment
of the Representatives any such development makes it impracticable or
inadvisable to consummate the sale and delivery of the Shares by the
Underwriters at the public offering price.
(d) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there shall have been no litigation
or other proceeding instituted against the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or
any of their officers or directors in their capacities as such, before or by any
Federal, state or local court, commission, regulatory body, administrative
agency or other governmental body, domestic or foreign, in which litigation or
proceeding an unfavorable ruling, decision or finding might reasonably be
expected to materially and adversely affect the business, properties, business
prospects, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(e) Each of the representations and warranties of the Company contained
herein shall be true and correct in all material respects at the Closing Date
and, with respect to the Option Shares, at the Option Closing Date, and all
covenants and agreements contained herein to be performed on the part of the
Company and all conditions contained herein to be fulfilled or complied with by
the Company at or prior to the Closing Date and, with respect to the Option
Shares, at or prior to the Option Closing Date, shall have been duly performed,
fulfilled or complied with.
13
(f) The Representatives shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing
Date and, with respect to the Option Shares, the Option Closing Date,
satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the
Underwriters from Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo, P.C., counsel to
the Company, with respect to the following matters:
(i) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation; has full corporate power and authority to
conduct all the activities conducted by it, to own or lease all the assets
owed or leased by it and to conduct its business as described in the
Registration Statement and Prospectus; and is duly licensed or qualified to
do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in all
jurisdictions in which the nature of the activities conducted by it or the
character of the assets owned or leased by it makes such license or
qualification necessary and where the failure to be licensed or qualified
would have a material and adverse effect on the business or financial
condition of the Company.
(ii) All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company
have been duly authorized, validly issued and are fully paid and
nonassessable, to such counsel's knowledge, were issued pursuant to
exemptions from the registration and qualification requirements of federal
and applicable state securities laws, and were not issued in violation of
or subject to any preemptive or, to such counsel's knowledge, similar
rights;
(iii) The specimen certificate evidencing the Common Stock
incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement is in due and
proper form under Delaware law, the Shares to be sold by the Company
hereunder have been duly authorized and, when issued and paid for as
contemplated by this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable; and no preemptive or similar rights exist with respect to
any of the Shares or the issue and sale thereof.
(iv) To such counsel's knowledge, the Company does not own or
control, directly or indirectly, any shares of stock or any other equity or
long-term debt securities of any corporation or have any equity interest in
any corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, association or other
entity, other than the Subsidiaries. All of the outstanding shares of
capital stock of each Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly
issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and owned by the Company free
and clear of all claims, liens, charges and encumbrances; to such counsel's
knowledge, there are no securities outstanding that are convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for capital stock of any Subsidiary.
(v) The authorized and outstanding capital stock of the Company is
as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus in the column
entitled "Actual" under the caption "Capitalization" (except for subsequent
issuances, if any, pursuant to this Agreement or pursuant to reservations,
agreements, employee benefit plans or the exercise of convertible
securities, options or warrants referred to in the Prospectus). To such
counsel's knowledge, except as disclosed in or specifically contemplated by
14
the Prospectus, there are no outstanding options, warrants of other rights
calling for the issuance of, and no commitments, plans or arrangements to
issue, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any security
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for capital stock of the
Company. The description of the capital stock of the Company in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus conforms in all material respects
to the terms thereof.
(vi) To such counsel's knowledge, there are no legal or governmental
proceedings pending or threatened to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party or to which any of their respective properties is
subject that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or
the Prospectus but are not so described.
(vii) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or any filing
or declaration with, any court or governmental agency or body is required
for the consummation by the Company of the transactions on its part
contemplated under this Agreement, except such as have been obtained or
made under the Act or the Rules and Regulations and such as may be required
under state securities or Blue Sky laws or the by-laws and rules of the
NASD in connection with the purchase and distribution by the Underwriters
of the Shares.
(viii) The Company has full corporate power and authority to enter
into this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company.
(ix) The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the compliance by
the Company with all of the terms hereof and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby does not contravene any provision of
applicable law or the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and to the best of such counsel's
knowledge will not result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge
or encumbrance upon any of the assets of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms and provisions of, result in a breach or
violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default
under, or give any party a right to terminate any of its obligations under,
or result in the acceleration of any obligation under, any indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust, voting trust agreement, loan agreement, bond,
debenture, note agreement or other evidence of indebtedness, lease,
contract or other agreement or instrument known to such counsel to which
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company,
any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective properties is bound or
affected, or violate or conflict with (i) any judgment, ruling, decree or
order known to such counsel or (ii) any statute, rule or regulation of any
court or other governmental agency or body applicable to the business or
properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(x) To such counsel's knowledge, there is no document or contract
of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement or
the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement
which is not described or filed or incorporated by reference as required,
and each description of such contracts and documents that is contained in
the Registration Statement and Prospectus fairly
15
presents in all material respects the information required under the Act
and the Rules and Regulations.
(xi) The statements under the captions "Risk Factors -- Your
Investment May Be Subject to Dilution," "Risk Factors -- Our Anti-Takeover
Measures May Affect the Value of Our Stock"; in the Prospectus, insofar as
the statements constitute a summary of documents referred to therein or
matters of law, are accurate summaries and fairly and correctly present, in
all material respects, the information called for with respect to such
documents and matters (provided, however, that such counsel may rely on
representations of the Company with respect to the factual matters
contained in such statements, and provided further that such counsel shall
state that nothing has come to the attention of such counsel which leads
them to believe that such representations are not true and correct in all
material respects).
(xii) The Company is not an "investment company" or an "affiliated
person" of, or "promoter" or "principal underwriter" for, an "investment
company," as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended.
(xiii) The Shares to be issued by the Company have been duly
authorized for listing on the NNM, subject to notice of issuance.
(xiv) To such counsel's knowledge, no holder of securities of the
Company has rights, which have not been waived, to require the register
with the Commission shares of Common Stock or other securities, as part of
the offering contemplated hereby.
(xv) The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act,
and to the best of such counsel's knowledge, no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no
proceeding for that purpose has been instituted or is pending, threatened
or contemplated.
(xvi) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply as to
form in all material respects with the requirement of the Act and the Rules
and Regulations (other than the financial statements, schedules and other
financial data contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus, as to which such counsel need express no
opinion).
(xvii) Such counsel has participated in the preparation of the
Registration Statement and Prospectus and has no reason to believe that, as
of the Effective Date the Registration Statement, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, (other than the financial statements, schedules and
other financial data contained or incorporated by reference therein, as to
which such counsel need express no opinion) contained any untrue statement
of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading
or that the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, as of its
date and the Closing Date and, if later, the Option Closing Date, contained
or contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to
state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
16
misleading (other than the financial statements, schedules and other
financial data contained or incorporated by reference therein, as to which
such counsel need express no opinion).
(xviii) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus
(other than the financial statements, schedules and other financial data
contained therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion), when
they were filed with the Commission, complied as to form in all material
respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act
Rules and Regulations.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely upon as to matters of
local law on opinions of counsel satisfactory in form and substance to the
Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, provided that the opinion of
counsel to the Company shall state that they are doing so, that they have no
reason to believe that they and the Underwriters are not entitled to rely on
such opinions and that copies of such opinions are to be attached to the
opinion.
(g) The Representatives shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing
Date and the Option Closing Date, from Xxxxxx, Xxxx & Xxxxxxx, counsel to the
Underwriters, with respect to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and
this Agreement, which opinion shall be satisfactory in all respects to the
Representatives.
(h) Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
Accountants shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter, dated the date
of its delivery, addressed to the Representatives and in form and substance
satisfactory to the Representatives, confirming that they are independent
accountants with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries as required by the
Act and the Exchange Act and the Rules and Regulations and with respect to
certain financial and other statistical and numerical information contained or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement. At the Closing Date
and, as to the Option Shares, the Option Closing Date, the Accountants shall
have furnished to the Representatives a letter, dated the date of its delivery,
which shall confirm, on the basis of a review in accordance with the procedures
set forth in the letter from the Accountants, that nothing has come to their
attention during the period from the date of the letter referred to in the prior
sentence to a date (specified in the letter) not more than five days prior to
the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, which would
require any change in their letter dated the date hereof if it were required to
be dated and delivered at the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date.
(i) Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and at
the Closing Date and, as to the Option Shares, the Option Closing Date, there
shall be furnished to the Representatives a certificate, dated the date of its
delivery, signed by each of the President and Treasurer of the Company, in form
and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect that:
(i) Each signer of such certificate has carefully examined the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus (including any documents filed
under the Exchange Act and deemed to be incorporated by reference into the
Prospectus) as of the date of such certificate, and (A) such documents are
true and correct in all material respects and do not omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
17
make the statements therein not untrue or misleading and (B) in the case of
the certificate delivered at the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date,
since the Effective Date no event has occurred as a result of which it is
necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the
statements therein not untrue or misleading.
(ii) Each of the representations and warranties of the Company
contained in this Agreement were, when originally made, and are, at the
time such certificate is delivered, true and correct.
(iii) Each of the covenants required to be performed by the Company
herein on or prior to the date of such certificate has been duly, timely
and fully performed and each condition herein required to be satisfied or
fulfilled on or prior to the date of such certificate has been duly, timely
and fully satisfied or fulfilled.
(j) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have
received the executed agreements referred to in Section 4(o).
(k) The Shares shall be qualified for sale in such jurisdictions as the
Representatives may reasonably request and each such qualification shall be in
effect and not subject to any stop order or other proceeding on the Closing Date
or the Option Closing Date.
(l) Prior to the Closing Date, the Shares shall have been duly authorized
for listing on the NNM upon official notice of issuance.
(m) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such
certificates, in addition to those specifically mentioned herein, as the
Representatives may have reasonably requested as to the accuracy and
completeness at the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date of any statement in
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as to the accuracy at the Closing
Date and the Option Closing Date of the representations and warranties of the
Company herein, as to the performance by the Company of its obligations
hereunder, or as to the fulfillment of the conditions concurrent and precedent
to the obligations hereunder of the Representatives.
6. Indemnification.
(a) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, the
directors, officers, employees and agents of each Underwriter and each person,
if any, who controls each Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses,
claims, liabilities, expenses and damages (including any and all investigative,
legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amount
paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted), 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, liabilities, expenses or damages
arise out of or are based on any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus, the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus, or the omission or alleged omission to state in
such document a material fact required to be stated in it or necessary
18
to make the statements in it not misleading in the light of the circumstances in
which they were made, or arise out of or are based in whole or in part on any
inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein
or any failure of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder or under law
in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, that
(i) the Company will not be liable to the extent that such loss, claim,
liability, expense or damage arises from the sale of the Shares in the public
offering to any person by an Underwriter and is based on an untrue statement or
omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance on and in
conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished in writing to
the Company by the Representatives, on behalf of any Underwriter, expressly for
inclusion in the Registration Statement, the preliminary prospectus or the
Prospectus and (ii) the Company will not be liable to any Underwriter, the
directors, officers, employees or agents of such Underwriter or any person
controlling such Underwriter with respect to any loss, claim, liability,
expense, or damage arising out of or based on any untrue statement or omission
or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission to state a material
fact in the preliminary prospectus which is corrected in the Prospectus if the
person asserting any such loss, claim, liability, charge or damage purchased
Shares from such Underwriter but was not sent or given a copy of the Prospectus
at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such Shares to such
person and if copies of the Prospectus were timely delivered to such Underwriter
pursuant to Section 4 hereof. The Company acknowledges that the statements set
forth under the heading "Underwriting" in the preliminary prospectus and the
Prospectus constitute the only information relating to any Underwriter furnished
in writing to the Company by the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters
expressly for inclusion in the Registration Statement, the preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to
any liability that the Company might otherwise have.
(b) Each Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each
director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signs the Registration
Statement, each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, to the same extent as
the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Underwriter, as set forth in
Section 6(a), but only insofar as losses, claims, liabilities, expenses or
damages arise out of or are based on any untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission made in reliance on and in conformity with
information relating to any Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by
the Representatives, on behalf of such Underwriter, expressly for use in the
Registration Statement, the preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus. The
Company acknowledges that the statements set forth under the heading
"Underwriting" in the preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus constitute the
only information relating to any Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company
by the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters expressly for inclusion in
the Registration Statement, the preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus. This
indemnity will be in addition to any liability that each Underwriter might
otherwise have.
(c) Any party that proposes to assert the right to be indemnified under
this Section 6 shall, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any
action against such party in respect of which a claim is to be made against an
indemnifying party or parties under this Section 6, notify each such
indemnifying party in writing of the commencement of such action, enclosing with
such notice a copy of all papers served, but the omission so to notify such
indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability that it may have to
any indemnified party under the foregoing
19
provisions of this Section 6 unless, and only to the extent that, such omission
results in the loss of substantive rights or defenses by the indemnifying party.
If any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the
indemnifying party of its commencement, the indemnifying party will be entitled
to participate in and, to the extent that it elects by delivering written notice
to the indemnified party promptly after receiving notice of the commencement of
the action from the indemnified party, jointly with any other indemnifying party
similarly notified, to assume the defense of the action, with counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice from the indemnifying party
to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense, the indemnifying
party will not be liable to the indemnified party for any legal or other
expenses except as provided below and except for the reasonable costs of
investigation subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with
the defense. The indemnified party will have the right to employ its own counsel
in any such action, but the fees, expenses and other charges of such counsel
will be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the employment of
counsel by the indemnified party has been authorized in writing by the
indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based
on advice of counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it or other
indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to
the indemnifying party, (iii) a conflict or potential conflict exists (based on
advice of counsel to the indemnified party) between the indemnified party and
the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party will not have the
right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party)
or (iv) the indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel to assume the
defense of such action within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the
commencement of the action, in each of which cases the reasonable fees,
disbursements and other charges of counsel will be at the expense of the
indemnifying party or parties. It is understood that the indemnifying party or
parties shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in
the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees, disbursements and
other charges of more than one separate firm admitted to practice in such
jurisdiction at any one time for all such indemnified party or parties. All such
fees, disbursements and other charges will be reimbursed by the indemnifying
party promptly as they are incurred. Any indemnifying party will not be liable
for any settlement of any action or claim effected without its written consent
(which consent will not be unreasonably withheld).
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 6 is applicable
in accordance with its terms but for any reason is held to be unavailable to or
insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under paragraphs (a), (b) and
(c) of this Section 6 in respect of any losses, claims, liabilities, expenses
and damages referred to therein, then each applicable indemnifying party, in
lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid
or payable (including any investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably
incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action,
suit or proceeding or any claim asserted, but after deducting any contribution
received by the Company from persons other than the Underwriters, such as
persons who control the Company within the meaning of the Act, officers of the
Company who signed the Registration Statement and directors of the Company, who
also may be liable for contribution) by such indemnified party as a result of
such losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages in such proportion as
shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company,
on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand. The relative benefits
received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other
hand, shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds
from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to
the total underwriting discounts and
20
commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table
on the cover page of the Prospectus. If, but only if, the allocation provided by
the foregoing sentence is not permitted by applicable law, the allocation of
contribution shall be made in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not
only the relative benefits referred to in the foregoing sentence but also the
relative fault of the Company, on the one and, and the Underwriters, on the
other hand, with respect to the statements or omissions which resulted in such
loss, claim, liability, expense or damage, or action in respect thereof, as well
as any other relevant equitable considerations with respect to such offering.
Such relative fault shall be determined by reference to whether the 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 the
Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters, the intent of the parties and
their relative 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 contributions pursuant to this Section
6(d) were to be 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 into account the equitable considerations referred to
herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the
loss claim, liability, expense or damage, or action in respect thereof, referred
to above in this Section 6(d) shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this
Section 6(d), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action
or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6(d), no Underwriter
shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting
discounts received by it and no person found guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) will be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations to contribute as provided in
this Section 6(d) are several in proportion to their respective underwriting
obligations and not joint. or purposes of this Section 6(d), any person who
controls a party to this Agreement within the meaning of the Act will have the
same rights to contribution as that party, and each officer of the Company who
signed the Registration Statement will have the same rights to contribution as
the Company, subject in each case to the provisions hereof. Any party entitled
to contribution, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action
against any such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made
under this Section 6(d), will notify any such party or parties from whom
contribution may be sought, but the omission so to notify will not relieve the
party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from any other obligation
it or they may have under this Section 6(d). No party will be liable for
contribution with respect to any action or claim settled without its written
consent (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld).
(e) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section
6 and the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this
Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i)
any investigation made by or on behalf of the Underwriters, (ii) acceptance of
any of the Shares and payment therefor or (iii) any termination of this
Agreement.
7. Reimbursement of Certain Expenses. In addition to its other
obligations under Section 6(a) of this Agreement, the Company hereby agrees to
reimburse on a quarterly basis the Underwriters for all reasonable legal and
other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any claim,
action, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding arising out of or based upon,
in whole or in part, any statement or omission or alleged statement or omission,
or any
21
inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein
or failure of the Company to perform its or their respective obligations
hereunder or under law, all as described in Section 6(a), notwithstanding the
absence of a judicial determination as to the propriety and enforceability of
the obligations under this Section 7 and the possibility that such payment might
later be held to be improper; provided, however, that, to the extent any such
payment is ultimately held to be improper, the persons receiving such payments
shall promptly refund them.
8. Termination. The obligations of the several Underwriters under this
Agreement may be terminated at any time on or prior to the Closing Date (or,
with respect to the Option Shares, on or prior to the Option Closing Date), by
notice to the Company from the Representatives, without liability on the part of
any Underwriter to the Company if, prior to delivery and payment for the Firm
Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, in the sole judgment of the
Representatives, (i) trading in any of the equity securities of the Company
shall have been suspended by the Commission or by The Nasdaq National Market,
(ii) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or The
Nasdaq National Market shall have been suspended or limited or minimum or
maximum prices shall have been generally established on such exchange, or
additional material governmental restrictions, not in force on the date of this
Agreement, shall have been imposed upon trading in securities generally by such
exchange, by order of the Commission or any court or other governmental
authority, or by The Nasdaq National Market, (iii) a general banking moratorium
shall have been declared by either federal or Commonwealth of Massachusetts
authorities or (iv) any material adverse change in the financial or securities
markets in the United States or in political, financial or economic conditions
in the United States or any outbreak or material escalation of hostilities or
other calamity or crisis shall have occurred, the effect of which is such as to
make it, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or
inadvisable to proceed with completion of the public offering or the delivery of
and payment for the Shares.
If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 8 or 9 hereof, the
Company nor any Selling Stockholder shall not be under any liability to any
Underwriter except as provided in Sections 4(j), 6 and 7 hereof; but, if for any
other reason the purchase of the Shares by the Underwriters is not consummated
or if for any reason the Company shall be unable to perform its obligations
hereunder, the Company will reimburse the several Underwriters for all
out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees, disbursements and other charges of
counsel to the Underwriters) incurred by them in connection with the offering of
the Shares.
9. Substitution of Underwriters. If any one or more of the Underwriters
shall fail or refuse to purchase any of the Firm Shares which it or they have
agreed to purchase hereunder, and the aggregate number of Firm Shares which such
defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase
is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Firm Shares, the other
Underwriters shall be obligated, severally, to purchase the Firm Shares which
such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to
purchase, in the proportions which the number of Firm Shares which they have
respectively agreed to purchase pursuant to Section 1 bears to the aggregate
number of Firm Shares which all such non-defaulting Underwriters have so agreed
to purchase, or in such other proportions as the Representatives may specify;
provided that in no event shall the maximum number of Firm Shares which any
Underwriter has become obligated to purchase pursuant to Section 1 be increased
pursuant to this Section 9 by more than one-ninth of such number of Firm Shares
without the prior written consent
22
of such Underwriter. If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to
purchase any Firm Shares and the aggregate number of Firm Shares which such
defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase
exceeds one-tenth of the aggregate number of the Firm Shares and arrangements
satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company for the purchase of such
Firm Shares are not made within 48 hours after such default, this Agreement will
terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter, the
Company for the purchase or sale of any Shares under this Agreement. In any such
case either the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone
the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that the
required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in
any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Any action taken pursuant
to this Section 10 shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability
in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.
10. Miscellaneous. Notice given pursuant to any of the provisions of
this Agreement shall be in writing and, unless otherwise specified, shall be
sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, or by nationally
recognized overnight courier, (a) if to the Company, at the office of the
Company, Applied Science and Technology, Inc., 00 Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxx, XX 00000,
Attention: Chief Executive Officer, with a copy to Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq., Mintz,
Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo, P.C., Xxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, XX
00000, or (b) if to the Underwriters, to the Representatives at the offices of
Xxxxxxx & Company, Inc., 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention:
Corporate Finance Department, with a copy to Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq., Xxxxxx,
Xxxx & Xxxxxxx, Exchange Place, 00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, XX 00000. Any such
notice shall be effective only upon receipt. Any notice under such Section 8 or
9 may be made by telex or telephone, but if so made shall be subsequently
confirmed in writing.
This Agreement has been and is made solely for the benefit of the
several Underwriters, the Company and the controlling persons, directors and
officers referred to in Section 6, and their respective successors and assigns,
and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this
Agreement. The term "successors and assigns" as used in this Agreement shall not
include a purchaser, as such purchaser, of Shares from any of the several
Underwriters.
Any action required or permitted to be made by the Representatives under
this Agreement may be taken by them jointly or by Xxxxxxx & Company, Inc.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed
entirely within such State.
This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts with the same
effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
In case any provision in this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining
provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
The Company and the Underwriters each hereby waive any right they may
have to a trial by jury in respect of any claim based upon or arising out of
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
23
Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement
among the Company and the several Underwriters.
Very truly yours,
APPLIED SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY, INC.
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
Confirmed as of the date first
above mentioned:
XXXXXXX & COMPANY, INC.
SOUNDVIEW TECHNOLOGY GROUP, INC.
ADVEST GROUP, INC.
Acting on behalf of themselves
and as the Representatives of
the other several Underwriters
named in Schedule I hereto.
By: XXXXXXX & COMPANY, INC.
By:
-----------------------------
Title:
24
SCHEDULE I
UNDERWRITERS
Number of
Firm
Shares
Underwriters to be Purchased
------------ ---------------
Xxxxxxx & Company, Inc......................................
SoundView Technology Group, Inc.............................
Advest Group, Inc...........................................
---------
Total............................................ 2,000,000
25
SCHEDULE II
Total Number Total Number of
of Firm Shares Option Shares
to be Sold to be Sold
---------- ----------
Applied Science and Technology, Inc. ....
26
SCHEDULE III
FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
The undersigned, a holder of securities of Applied Science and
Technology, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), is entering into this
-------
agreement (the "Lock-Up Agreement") to facilitate the public offering of shares
-----------------
of Common Stock (the "Common Stock") of the Company (the "Offering"). In
------------ --------
connection with the Offering, the Company will enter into an Underwriting
Agreement with the several Underwriters listed on Schedule I to the Underwriting
Agreement (the "Underwriters"), for whom you are acting as representatives (the
------------
"Representatives").
---------------
In consideration of your entering into the Underwriting Agreement and
in order to induce you to act as Representatives in connection with the
Offering, the undersigned hereby agrees that he or she will not, without the
prior written approval of Xxxxxxx & Company, Inc., acting on its own behalf
and/or on behalf of other Representatives of the Underwriters, directly or
indirectly, sell, contract to sell, make any short sale, pledge, or otherwise
dispose of, or enter into any hedging transaction that is likely to result in a
transfer of, any shares of Common Stock, options to acquire shares of Common
Stock or securities exchangeable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock
of the Company which he or she may own, for a period commencing as of the date
hereof and ending on the date which is ninety (90) days after the date of the
final Prospectus relating to the Offering.
The undersigned acknowledges the sufficiency of the consideration for
this Lock-Up Agreement. The undersigned confirms that he or she understands that
the Underwriters and the Company will rely upon the representations set forth in
this Lock-Up Agreement in proceeding with the Offering. The undersigned further
confirms that the agreements of the undersigned are irrevocable and shall be
binding upon the undersigned's heirs, legal representatives, successors and
assigns. The undersigned agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer
instructions with the Company's transfer agent against the transfer of
securities held by the undersigned except in compliance with this Lock-Up
Agreement.
This Lock-Up Agreement shall be binding on the undersigned and his or
her respective successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns.
Very truly yours,
Date:____________, 1999 ______________________
27