Exhibit 1.1
FORM OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
4,000,000 Shares
THE CHILDREN'S PLACE RETAIL STORES, INC.
Common Stock
($.10 Par Value)
_______________, 1999
BT Alex. Xxxxx Incorporated
Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated
Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLC
NationsBanc Xxxxxxxxxx Securities LLC
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Partners LLC
As Representatives of the
Several Underwriters
c/o BT Alex. Xxxxx Incorporated
Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Certain shareholders (the "Selling Shareholders") of The Children's
Place Retail Stores, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), propose to
sell to the several underwriters (the "Underwriters") named in Schedule I hereto
for whom you are acting as representatives (the "Representatives") an aggregate
of 4,000,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, $.10 par value (the "Firm
Shares"). The respective amounts of the Firm Shares to be so purchased by the
several Underwriters are set forth opposite their names in Schedule I hereto,
and the respective amounts to be sold by the Selling Shareholders are set forth
opposite their names in Schedule II hereto. The Selling Shareholders also
propose to sell at the Underwriters' option an aggregate of up to 600,000
additional shares of the Company's Common Stock (the "Option Shares") as set
forth below.
As the Representatives, you have advised the Company and the Selling
Shareholders (a) that you are authorized to enter into this Agreement on behalf
of the several Underwriters, and (b) that the several Underwriters are willing,
acting severally and not jointly, to purchase the
numbers of Firm Shares set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule
I, plus their pro rata portion of the Option Shares if you elect to exercise the
over-allotment option in whole or in part for the accounts of the several
Underwriters. The Firm Shares and the Option Shares (to the extent the
aforementioned option is exercised) are herein collectively called the "Shares."
In consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein and of the
interests of the parties in the transactions contemplated hereby, the parties
hereto agree as follows:
1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY AND THE SELLING
SHAREHOLDERS.
(a) The Company represents and warrants to each of the
Underwriters as follows:
(i) A registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-72897)
with respect to the Shares has been prepared by the Company in conformity with
the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and the
Rules and Regulations (the "Rules and Regulations") of the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") thereunder and has been filed with the
Commission. The Company has complied with the conditions for the use of Form
S-3. Copies of such registration statement, including any amendments thereto,
the preliminary prospectuses (meeting the requirements of the Rules and
Regulations) contained therein and the exhibits, financial statements and
schedules, as finally amended and revised, have heretofore been delivered by the
Company to you. Such registration statement, as amended, together with any
registration statement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 462 (b) of the Act,
herein referred to as the "Registration Statement," which shall be deemed to
include all information omitted therefrom in reliance upon Rule 430A and
contained in the Prospectus referred to below, has become effective under the
Act and no post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed
as of the date of this Agreement. "Prospectus" means the form of prospectus
first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b). Each preliminary
prospectus included in the Registration Statement prior to the time it becomes
effective is herein referred to as a "Preliminary Prospectus." Any reference
herein to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or to the
Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents incorporated by
reference therein, and, in the case of any reference herein to any Prospectus,
also shall be deemed to include any documents incorporated by reference therein,
and any supplements or amendments thereto, filed with the Commission after the
date of filing of the Prospectus under Rules 424(b) or 430A, and prior to the
termination of the offering of the Shares by the Underwriters.
(ii) The Company has been duly organized and is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware, with corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and
conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement. Each of the
subsidiaries of the Company as listed in Exhibit A hereto (collectively, the
"Subsidiaries") has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation
in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, with
corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its
business as described in the Registration
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Statement. The Subsidiaries are the only subsidiaries, direct or indirect, of
the Company. The Company and each of the Subsidiaries are duly qualified to
transact business in all jurisdictions in which the conduct of their business
requires such qualification, except where failure to be so qualified would not
have a material adverse effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole. The outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the Subsidiaries have
been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and
to the extent shown in Exhibit A hereto are owned by the Company or another
Subsidiary free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and equities and claims
except with respect to, in all cases, liens in favor of the Company's senior
lender; and no options, warrants or other rights to purchase, agreements or
other obligations to issue or other rights to convert any obligations into
shares of capital stock or ownership interests in the Subsidiaries are
outstanding.
(iii) The outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company,
including all shares to be sold by the Selling Shareholders, have been duly
authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; and no
preemptive rights of stockholders exist with respect to any of the Shares or the
issue and sale thereof. Neither the filing of the Registration Statement nor the
offering or sale of the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement gives rise to
any rights, other than those which have been waived or satisfied, for or
relating to the registration of any shares of Common Stock.
(iv) The capitalization of the Company is as set forth in the
Company's financial statements. All of the Shares conform in all material
respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement. The
form of certificates for the Shares conforms to the corporate law of the
jurisdiction of the Company's incorporation. The Shares have been authorized for
quotation on the Nasdaq National Market, subject to notice of issuance.
(v) The Commission has not issued an order preventing or
suspending the use of any Prospectus relating to the proposed offering of the
Shares nor instituted proceedings for that purpose. The Registration Statement
contains, and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto will
contain, all statements which are required to be stated therein by, and will
conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Rules
and Regulations. The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, at
the time filed with the Commission, conformed, in all material respects to the
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or the Act, as applicable,
and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. The Registration
Statement and any amendment thereto do not contain, and will not contain, any
untrue statement of a material fact and do not omit, and will not omit, to state
any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus and any amendments and
supplements thereto do not contain, and will not contain, any untrue statement
of material fact; and do not omit, and will not omit, to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
provided, however, that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to
information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon, and in
conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of
any Underwriter through the Representatives, specifically for use in
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the preparation thereof.
(vi) The consolidated financial statements of the Company and
the Subsidiaries, together with related notes and schedules as set forth or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, present fairly the
financial position and the results of operations and cash flows of the Company
and the consolidated Subsidiaries, at the indicated dates and for the indicated
periods. Such financial statements and related schedules have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted principles of accounting, consistently
applied throughout the periods involved, except as disclosed therein. The
summary financial and statistical data included or incorporated by reference in
the Registration Statement presents fairly the information shown therein and
such financial data has been compiled on a basis consistent with the financial
statements presented therein.
(vii) Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP, who have certified certain of the
financial statements filed with the Commission as part of, or incorporated by
reference in, the Registration Statement, are independent public accountants as
required by the Act and the Rules and Regulations.
(viii) There is no action, suit, claim or proceeding pending
or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of
the Subsidiaries before any court or administrative agency or otherwise which if
determined adversely to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries would be
reasonably likely to result in any material adverse change in the earnings,
business, management, properties, assets, rights, operations, condition
(financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company and of the Subsidiaries
taken as a whole or to prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby (collectively, a"Material Adverse Change"), except as set forth in the
Registration Statement.
(ix) The Company and the Subsidiaries have good and marketable
title to all of the properties and assets reflected in the financial statements
(or as described in the Registration Statement) hereinabove described, subject
to no lien, mortgage, pledge, charge or encumbrance of any kind except those
reflected in such financial statements (or as described in the Registration
Statement) or which are not material. Subject to such exceptions as are not
material, the Company and the Subsidiaries do not own any real property. The
Company and the Subsidiaries occupy their leased properties under valid and
binding leases conforming in all material respects to the description thereof
set forth in the Registration Statement.
(x) The Company and the Subsidiaries have filed all Federal,
State, local and foreign tax returns which have been required to be filed except
where failure to do so would not cause a Material Adverse Change and have paid
all taxes indicated by said returns and all assessments received by them or any
of them to the extent that such taxes have become due and are not being
contested in good faith and for which an adequate reserve for accrual has been
established in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. All tax
liabilities have been adequately provided for in the financial statements of the
Company, and the Company does not know of any actual or proposed additional
material tax assessments.
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(xi) Since the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Registration Statement, as it may be amended or supplemented, there
has not been any Material Adverse Change, whether or not occurring in the
ordinary course of business, and there has not been any material transaction
entered into by the Company or the Subsidiaries, other than transactions in the
ordinary course of business and changes and transactions described in the
Registration Statement, as it may be amended or supplemented. The Company and
the Subsidiaries have no material contingent obligations which are not disclosed
in the Registration Statement.
(xii) Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is or
with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, will be, in violation of or
in default under its Charter or By-Laws or under any agreement, lease, contract,
indenture or other instrument or obligation to which it is a party or by which
it, or any of its properties, is bound and which default would not result in a
Material Adverse Change. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions herein contemplated and the fulfillment of the
terms hereof will not conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or
provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of
trust or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Subsidiary is
a party, or of the Charter or By-Laws of the Company or any order, rule or
regulation applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary of any court or of any
regulatory body or administrative agency or other governmental body having
jurisdiction.
(xiii) Each approval, consent, order, authorization,
designation, declaration or filing by or with any regulatory, administrative or
other governmental body necessary in connection with the execution and delivery
by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein
contemplated (except such additional steps as may be required by the Commission,
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") or such
additional steps as may be necessary to qualify the Shares for public offering
by the Underwriters under state securities or Blue Sky laws) has been obtained
or made and is in full force and effect.
(xiv) The Company and each of the Subsidiaries holds all
material licenses, certificates and permits from governmental authorities which
are necessary to the conduct of their businesses.
(xv) Neither the Company, nor to the Company's knowledge, any
of its affiliates, has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action
designed to cause or result in, or which has constituted or which might
reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the
price of the shares of Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of the
Shares. The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters may engage in passive
market making transactions in the Shares on The Nasdaq National Market in
accordance with Rule 10b-6A under the Exchange Act.
(xvi) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is an "investment
company" within the meaning of such term under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended, (the"1940 Act") and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder.
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(xvii) The Company maintains a system of internal accounting
controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are
executed in accordance with management's general or specific authorization; (ii)
transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to
maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in
accordance with management's general or specific authorization; and (iv) the
recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at
reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any
differences.
(xviii) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries carry, or are
covered by, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as the Company
reasonably considers adequate for the conduct of their respective businesses and
the value of their respective properties.
(xix) The Company is in compliance in all material respects
with all presently applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published
interpretations thereunder ("ERISA"); no "reportable event" (as defined in
ERISA) has occurred with respect to any "pension plan" (as defined in ERISA) for
which the Company would have any liability; the Company has not incurred and
does not expect to incur liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to
termination of, or withdrawal from, any "pension plan" or (ii) Sections 412 or
4971 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including the regulations
and published interpretations thereunder (the "Code"); and each "pension plan"
for which the Company would have any liability that is intended to be qualified
under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified in all material respects and
nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause
the loss of such qualification.
(xx) To the Company's knowledge, there are no affiliations or
associations between any member of the NASD and any of the Company's officers,
directors or 5% or greater securityholders, except as set forth in the
Registration Statement.
(xxi) There are no business relationships or related-party
transactions involving the Company or any other person required to be described
in the Prospectus which have not been described as required.
(xxii) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
result in a Material Adverse Change (i) the Company is not in violation of any
federal, state, local or foreign law or regulation relating to pollution or
protection of human health or 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
emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants,
contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum and
petroleum products (collectively,"Materials of Environmental Concern"), or
otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use,
treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Materials of
Environment
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Concern (collectively,"Environmental Laws"), which violation includes, but is
not limited to, noncompliance with any permits or other governmental
authorizations required for the operation of the business of the Company
under applicable Environmental Laws, or noncompliance with the terms and
conditions thereof, nor has the Company received any written communication,
whether from a governmental authority, citizens group, employee or otherwise,
that alleges that the Company is in violation of any Environmental Law; (ii)
there is no claim, action or cause of action filed with a court or
governmental authority, no investigation with respect to which the Company
has received written notice, and no written notice by any person or entity
alleging potential liability for investigatory costs, cleanup costs,
governmental responses costs, natural resources damages, property damages,
personal injuries, attorneys fees or penalties arising out of, based on or
resulting from the presence, or release into the environment, of any Material
of Environmental Concern at any location owned, leased or operated by the
Company, now or in the past (collectively,"Environmental Claims"), pending
or, to the best of the Company s knowledge, threatened against the Company or
any person or entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company
has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law; and
(iii) to the best of the Company s knowledge, there are no past or present
actions, activities, circumstances, conditions, events or incidents,
including, without limitation, the release, emission, discharge, presence or
disposal of any Material of Environmental Concern, that reasonably could
result in a violation of any Environmental Law or form the basis of a
potential Environmental Claim against the Company or against any person or
entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company has retained
or assumed either contractually or by operation of law.
(xxiii) The Company owns or possesses sufficient trademarks,
trade names, patent rights, copyrights, licenses, approvals, trade secrets and
other similar rights (collectively,"Intellectual Property Rights") reasonably
necessary to conduct its business as now conducted; and the expected expiration
of any of such Intellectual Property Rights would not result in a Material
Adverse Change. The Company has not received any notice of infringement or
conflict with asserted Intellectual Property Rights of others, which
infringement or conflict, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, would
result in a Material Adverse Change.
(b) Each of the Selling Shareholders severally represents and
warrants to each of the Underwriters as follows:
(i) Such Selling Shareholder now has and at the Closing Date
and the Option Closing Date, as the case may be (as such dates are hereinafter
defined) will have good and valid title to the Firm Shares and the Option Shares
to be sold by such Selling Shareholder, free and clear of any liens,
encumbrances and claims, and has the requisite right, power and authority to
effect the sale and delivery of such Firm Shares and Option Shares in accordance
with this Agreement; and upon the delivery of, against payment for, such Firm
Shares and Option Shares pursuant to this Agreement, the Underwriters will
acquire good and valid title thereto, free and clear of any liens, encumbrances,
equities and claims.
(ii) Such Selling Shareholder has the requisite right, power
and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, the power of attorney
(the"Power of Attorney"),
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appointing certain individuals named therein as such Selling Shareholder's
attorneys-in-fact (each, an"Attorney-in-Fact") to the extent set forth therein,
relating to the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Prospectus, and the
Custodian Agreement referred to below and to perform its obligations under such
instruments. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation
by such Selling Shareholder of the transactions herein contemplated and the
fulfillment by such Selling Shareholder of the terms hereof will not require any
consent, approval, authorization, or other order of any court, regulatory body,
administrative agency or other governmental body (except as may be required
under the Act, state securities laws or Blue Sky laws) and will not result in a
breach of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under,
organizational documents of such Selling Shareholder, if not an individual, or
any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or instrument to which
such Selling Shareholder is a party, or of any order, rule or regulation
applicable to such Selling Shareholder of any court or of any regulatory body or
administrative agency or other governmental body having jurisdiction.
(iii) Such Selling Shareholder has not taken and will not
take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or which has constituted,
or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or
manipulation of the price of the Common Stock of the Company and, other than as
permitted by the Act, the Selling Shareholder will not distribute any prospectus
or other offering material in connection with the offering of the Shares.
(iv) Such Selling Shareholder does not know that the
Registration Statement or Prospectus includes any untrue statement of a material
fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
2. PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE FIRM SHARES.
(a) On the basis of the representations, warranties and
covenants herein contained, and subject to the conditions herein set forth, the
Selling Shareholders agree to sell to the Underwriters and each Underwriter
agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase, at a price of $_____ net price
per share, the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of each
Underwriter in Schedule I hereof, subject to adjustments in accordance with
Section 9 hereof. The number of Firm Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter
from each Selling Shareholders shall be as nearly as practicable in the same
proportion to the total number of Firm Shares being sold by each Selling
Shareholder as the number of Firm Shares being purchased by each Underwriter
bears to the total number of Firm Shares to be sold hereunder. The obligations
of each of the Selling Shareholders shall be several and not joint.
(b) Certificates in negotiable form for the total number of
the Shares to be sold hereunder by the Selling Shareholders have been placed in
custody with American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as custodian
(the"Custodian") pursuant to a custodian agreement (the"Custodian Agreement")
executed by each Selling Shareholder for delivery of all Firm Shares and any
Option Shares to be sold hereunder by the Selling Shareholders. Each of the
Selling Shareholders specifically agrees that the Firm Shares and any Option
Shares represented
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by the certificates held in custody for the Selling Shareholders under the
Custodian Agreement are subject to the interests of the Underwriters hereunder,
that the arrangements made by the Selling Shareholders for such custody are to
that extent irrevocable, and that the obligations of the Selling Shareholders
hereunder shall not be terminable by any act or deed of the Selling Shareholders
(or by any other person, firm or corporation including the Company, the
Custodian or the Underwriters) or by operation of law (including the death of an
individual Selling Shareholder or the dissolution of a corporate Selling
Shareholder) or by the occurrence of any other event or events, except as set
forth in the Custodian Agreement. If any such event should occur prior to the
delivery to the Underwriters of the Firm Shares or the Option Shares hereunder,
certificates for the Firm Shares or the Options Shares, as the case may be,
shall be delivered by the Custodian in accordance with the terms and conditions
of this Agreement as if such event has not occurred. The Custodian is authorized
to receive and acknowledge receipt of the proceeds of sale of the Shares held by
it against delivery of such Shares.
(c) Payment for the Firm Shares to be sold hereunder is to be
made in Federal (same day) funds to an account designated by the Custodian for
the shares to be sold by the Selling Shareholders, in each case against delivery
of certificates therefor to the Representatives for the several accounts of the
Underwriters. Such payment and delivery are to be made through the facilities of
the Depository Trust Company at 10:00 a.m., New York time, on the third business
day after the date of this Agreement or at such other time and date not later
than five business days thereafter as you, the Company and the Selling
Shareholders shall agree upon, such time and date being herein referred to as
the "Closing Date." (As used herein, "business day" means a day on which the New
York Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which banks in New York are open
for business and not permitted by law or executive order to be closed.)
(d) In addition, on the basis of the representations and
warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set
forth the Selling Shareholders hereby grant an option to the several
Underwriters to purchase the Option Shares at the price per share as set forth
in the first paragraph of this Section 2. The maximum number of Option Shares to
be sold by the Selling Shareholders is set forth opposite their respective names
on Schedule III hereto. The option granted hereby may be exercised in whole or
in part by giving written notice (i) at any time before the Closing Date and
(ii) only once thereafter within 30 days after the date of this Agreement, by
you, as Representatives of the several Underwriters, to the Company, the
Attorney-in-Fact, and the Custodian setting forth the number of Option Shares as
to which the several Underwriters are exercising the option, the names and
denominations in which the Option Shares are to be registered and the time and
date at which such certificates are to be delivered. If the option granted
hereby is exercised in part, the respective number of Option Shares to be sold
by each of the Selling Shareholders listed in Schedule III hereto shall be
determined on a pro rata basis in accordance with the percentages set forth
opposite their names on Schedule II hereto, adjusted by you in such manner as to
avoid fractional shares. The time and date at which certificates for Option
Shares are to be delivered shall be determined by the Representatives but shall
not be earlier than three nor later than 10 full business days after the
exercise of such option, nor in any event prior to the Closing Date (such time
and date being herein referred to as the "Option Closing Date"). If the date of
exercise of the option is three or more days before the
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Closing Date, the notice of exercise shall set the Closing Date as the Option
Closing Date. The number of Option Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter
shall be in the same proportion to the total number of Option Shares being
purchased as the number of Firm Shares being purchased by such Underwriter bears
to the total number of Firm Shares, adjusted by you in such manner as to avoid
fractional shares. The option with respect to the Option Shares granted
hereunder may be exercised only to cover over-allotments in the sale of the Firm
Shares by the Underwriters. You, as Representatives of the several Underwriters,
may cancel such option at any time prior to its expiration by giving written
notice of such cancellation to the Company and the Attorney-in-Fact. To the
extent, if any, that the option is exercised, payment for the Option Shares
shall be made on the Option Closing Date in Federal (same day) funds drawn to
the order of "American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, AS CUSTODIAN" for the
Option Shares to be sold by the Selling Shareholders against delivery of
certificates therefor through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company,
New York, New York.
3. OFFERING BY THE UNDERWRITERS.
It is understood that the several Underwriters are to make a
public offering of the Firm Shares as soon as the Representatives deem it
advisable to do so. The Firm Shares are to be initially offered to the public at
the initial public offering price set forth in the Prospectus. The
Representatives may from time to time thereafter change the public offering
price and other selling terms. To the extent, if at all, that any Option Shares
are purchased pursuant to Section 2 hereof, the Underwriters will offer them to
the public on the foregoing terms.
It is further understood that you will act as the
Representatives for the Underwriters in the offering and sale of the Shares in
accordance with a Master Agreement Among Underwriters entered into by you and
the several other Underwriters.
4. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY AND THE SELLING SHAREHOLDERS.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees with the several
Underwriters that:
(i) The Company will (A) prepare and timely file with the
Commission under Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations a Prospectus in a form
approved by the Representatives containing information previously omitted at the
time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement in reliance on Rule 430A of
the Rules and Regulations, and (B) not file any amendment to the Registration
Statement or supplement to the Prospectus or document incorporated by reference
therein of which the Representatives shall not previously have been advised and
furnished with a copy or to which the Representatives shall have reasonably
objected in writing or which is not in compliance with the Rules and Regulations
and (C) file on a timely basis all reports and any definitive proxy or
information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission
subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and prior to the termination of the
offering of the Shares by the Underwriters.
(ii) The Company will advise the Representatives promptly (A)
when any post-effective amendment thereto shall have become effective, (B) of
any request of the
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Commission for amendment of the Registration Statement or for supplement to the
Prospectus or for any additional information, and (C) of the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or the use of the Prospectus or of the institution of any proceedings
for that purpose. The Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance
of any such stop order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus and to
obtain as soon as possible the lifting thereof, if issued.
(iii) The Company will cooperate with the Representatives in
endeavoring to qualify the Shares for sale under the securities laws of such
jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably have designated in writing
and will make such applications, file such documents, and furnish such
information as may be reasonably required for that purpose, provided the Company
shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general
consent to service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not now so
qualified or required to file such a consent. The Company will, from time to
time, prepare and file such statements, reports, and other documents, as are or
may be required to continue such qualifications in effect for so long a period
as the Representatives may reasonably request for distribution of the Shares.
(iv) The Company will deliver to, or upon the order of, the
Representatives, from time to time, as many copies of any Preliminary Prospectus
as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will deliver to, or
upon the order of, the Representatives during the period when delivery of a
Prospectus is required under the Act, as many copies of the Prospectus in final
form, or as thereafter amended or supplemented, as the Representatives may
reasonably request. The Company will deliver to the Representatives such number
of copies, including originally executed copies, of the Registration Statement
(including such number of copies of the exhibits filed therewith that may
reasonably be requested), including documents incorporated by reference therein,
and of all amendments thereto, as the Representatives may reasonably request.
(v) The Company will comply with the Act and the Rules and
Regulations, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, so as to
permit the completion of the distribution of the Shares as contemplated in this
Agreement and the Prospectus. If during the period in which a prospectus is
required by law to be delivered by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall
occur as a result of which, in the judgment of the Company or in the reasonable
opinion of the Underwriters, it becomes necessary to amend or supplement the
Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances existing at the time the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser,
not misleading, or, if it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the
Prospectus to comply with any law, the Company promptly will either (i) prepare
and file with the Commission an appropriate amendment to the Registration
Statement or supplement to the Prospectus or (ii) prepare and file with the
Commission an appropriate filing under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 which
shall be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus so that the Prospectus as
so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when it
is so delivered, be misleading, or so that the Prospectus will comply with the
law.
11
(vi) The Company will make generally available to its security
holders, as soon as it is practicable to do so, but in any event not later than
15 months after the effective date of the Registration Statement, an earning
statement (which need not be audited) in reasonable detail, covering a period of
at least 12 consecutive months beginning after the effective date of the
Registration Statement, which earning statement shall satisfy the requirements
of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 of the Rules and Regulations and will
advise you in writing when such statement has been so made available.
(vii) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company will furnish to
the Underwriters, as soon as they have been prepared by or are available to the
Company, a copy of any unaudited interim financial statements of the Company for
any period subsequent to the period covered by the most recent financial
statements appearing in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(viii) No offering, sale, short sale or other disposition of
any shares of Common Stock of the Company or other securities convertible into
or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Common Stock or derivative of
Common Stock (or agreement for such) will be made for a period of 90 days after
the date of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, by the Company otherwise
than hereunder or with the prior written consent of BT Alex. Xxxxx Incorporated.
(ix) The Company will use its best efforts to have the Shares
approved for quotation, subject to notice of issuance, on the Nasdaq National
Market.
(x) The Company has caused each officer and director and
specific shareholders of the Company to furnish to you, on or prior to the date
of this agreement, a letter or letters, in form and substance satisfactory to
the Underwriters, pursuant to which each such person shall agree not to offer,
sell, sell short or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock of the
Company or other capital stock of the Company, or any other securities
convertible, exchangeable or exercisable for Common Shares or derivative of
Common Shares owned by such person or request the registration for the offer or
sale of any of the foregoing (or as to which such person has the right to direct
the disposition of) for a period of 90 days after the date of this Agreement,
directly or indirectly, except with the prior written consent of BT Alex. Xxxxx
Incorporated ("Lockup Agreements").
(xi) The Company shall not invest in such a manner as would
require the Company or any of the Subsidiaries to register as an investment
company under the 0000 Xxx.
(xii) The Company will maintain a transfer agent and, if
necessary under the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company, a registrar
for the Common Stock.
(xiii) The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any
action designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or might
reasonably be expected to
12
constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of
the Company.
(b) Each of the Selling Shareholders covenants and agrees with
the several Underwriters that:
(i) No offering, sale, short sale or other disposition of any
shares of Common Stock of the Company or other capital stock of the Company or
other securities convertible, exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock or
derivative of Common Stock owned by the Selling Shareholder or request the
registration for the offer or sale of any of the foregoing (or as to which the
Selling Shareholder has the right to direct the disposition of) will be made for
a period of 90 days after the date of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, by
such Selling Shareholder otherwise than hereunder or with the prior written
consent of BT Alex. Xxxxx Incorporated.
(ii) In order to document the Underwriters' compliance with
the reporting and withholding provisions of the Tax Equity and Fiscal
Responsibility Act of 1982 and the Interest and Dividend Tax Compliance Act of
1983 with respect to the transactions herein contemplated, each of the Selling
Shareholders agrees to deliver to you prior to or at the Closing Date a properly
completed and executed United States Treasury Department Form W-8 or W-9 (or
other applicable form or statement specified by Treasury Department regulations
in lieu thereof).
(iii) Such Selling Shareholder will not take, directly or
indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted
or might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation
of the price of any securities of the Company .
5. COSTS AND EXPENSES.
The Selling Shareholders will pay all costs, expenses and fees
incident to the performance of their and the Company's obligations of the under
this Agreement, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
following: accounting fees of the Company; the fees and disbursements of counsel
for the Company and the Selling Shareholders; the cost of printing and
delivering to, or as requested by, the Underwriters copies of the Registration
Statement, Preliminary Prospectuses, the Prospectus, this Agreement, the
Underwriters' Selling Memorandum, the Underwriters' Invitation Letter, the
Listing Application, the Blue Sky Survey and any supplements or amendments
thereto; the filing fees of the Commission; the filing fees and expenses
(including legal fees and disbursements) incident to securing any required
review by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") of
the terms of the sale of the Shares; the Listing Fee of the Nasdaq National
Market; and the expenses, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for
the Underwriters, incurred in connection with the qualification of the Shares
under State securities or Blue Sky laws. The Selling Shareholders agree to pay
all costs and expenses of the Underwriters, including the fees and disbursements
of counsel for the Underwriters, incident to the offer and sale of directed
shares of the Common Stock by the Underwriters to employees and persons having
business relationships with the Company and its Subsidiaries. The Selling
Shareholders shall not, however, be required to pay for any of the
13
Underwriters expenses (other than those related to qualification under NASD
regulation and State securities or Blue Sky laws) except that, if this Agreement
shall not be consummated because the conditions in Section 6 hereof are not
satisfied, or because this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives
pursuant to Section 11 hereof, or by reason of any failure, refusal or inability
on the part of the Company or the Selling Shareholders to perform any
undertaking or satisfy any condition of this Agreement or to comply with any of
the terms hereof on their part to be performed, unless such failure to satisfy
said condition or to comply with said terms be due to the default or omission of
any Underwriter, then the Selling Shareholders shall reimburse the several
Underwriters for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including fees and
disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred in connection with investigating,
marketing and proposing to market the Shares or in contemplation of performing
their obligations hereunder; but the Company and the Selling Shareholders shall
not in any event be liable to any of the several Underwriters for damages on
account of loss of anticipated profits from the sale by them of the Shares.
6. CONDITIONS OF OBLIGATIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS.
The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the
Firm Shares on the Closing Date and the Option Shares, if any, on the Option
Closing Date are subject to the accuracy, as of the Closing Date or the Option
Closing Date, as the case may be, in all material respects, of the
representations and warranties of the Company and the Selling Shareholders
contained herein, and to the performance by the Company and the Selling
Shareholders in all material respects of their covenants and obligations
hereunder and to the following additional conditions:
(a) Any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement
shall have become effective and any and all filings required by Rule 424 and
Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations shall have been made, and any request of
the Commission for additional information (to be included in the Registration
Statement or otherwise) shall have been disclosed to the Representatives and
complied with to their reasonable satisfaction. No stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, shall
have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been taken or,
to the knowledge of the Company or the Selling Shareholders, shall be
contemplated by the Commission and no injunction, restraining order, or order of
any nature by a Federal or state court of competent jurisdiction shall have been
issued as of the Closing Date which would prevent the issuance of the Shares.
(b) The Representatives shall have received on the Closing
Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the opinion of Stroock &
Stroock & Xxxxx LLP, counsel for the Company and the Selling Shareholders, dated
the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, addressed to
the Underwriters (and stating that it may be relied upon by counsel to the
Underwriters) to the effect that:
(i) The Company has been duly organized and is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware, with corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and
conduct its business as described in the Registration
14
Statement; each of the Subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly
existing as a corporation, or other legal entity, as applicable, in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation,
with corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct
its business as described in the Registration Statement; the Company, each of
the Subsidiaries are duly qualified to transact business in all jurisdictions in
which the conduct of their business requires such qualification, or in which the
failure to qualify would have a materially adverse effect upon the business of
the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole; and the outstanding shares of
capital stock of each of the Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly
issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the Company or a
Subsidiary; and, to the best of such counsel's knowledge, the outstanding shares
of capital stock of each of the Subsidiaries is owned free and clear of all
liens, encumbrances and equities and claims, and no options, warrants or other
rights to purchase, agreements or other obligations to issue or other rights to
convert any obligations into any shares of capital stock or of ownership
interests in the Subsidiaries are outstanding.
(ii) The Company has authorized and outstanding capital stock
as set forth in the Company's financial statements; the authorized shares of the
Company's Common Stock have been duly authorized; the outstanding shares of the
Company's Common Stock, including the Shares to be sold by the Selling
Shareholders, have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid
and non-assessable; all of the Shares conform to the description thereof
contained in the Prospectus; the certificates for the Shares, assuming they are
in the form filed with the Commission, are in due and proper form.
(iii) Except as described in or contemplated by the
Prospectus, to the knowledge of such counsel, there are no outstanding
securities of the Company convertible or exchangeable into or evidencing the
right to purchase or subscribe for any shares of capital stock of the Company
and there are no outstanding or authorized options, warrants or rights of any
character obligating the Company to issue any shares of its capital stock or any
securities convertible or exchangeable into or evidencing the right to purchase
or subscribe for any shares of such stock; and except as described in the
Prospectus, to the knowledge of such counsel, no holder of any securities of the
Company or any other person has the right, contractual or otherwise, which has
not been satisfied or effectively waived, to cause the Company to sell or
otherwise issue to them, or to permit them to underwrite the sale of, any of the
Shares or the right to have any Common Shares or other securities of the Company
included in the Registration Statement or the right, as a result of the filing
of the Registration Statement, to require registration under the Act of any
shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company.
(iv) The Registration Statement has become effective under the
Act and, to the best of the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order proceedings
with respect thereto have been instituted or are pending or threatened under the
Act.
(v) The Registration Statement, the Prospectus and each
amendment or supplement thereto and each document incorporated by reference
therein comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the
Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as applicable, and the applicable
rules and regulations thereunder (except that such counsel need
15
express no opinion as to the financial statements and related schedules included
therein). The conditions for the use of Form S-3, set forth in the General
Instructions thereto, have been satisfied.
(vi) The statements under the captions "Certain Legal
Proceedings," "Shares Eligible for Future Sale" and"Management - Employment
Agreements" in the Prospectus or in insofar as such statements constitute a
summary of documents referred to therein or matters of law, fairly summarize in
all material respects the information called for with respect to such documents
and matters.
(vii) Such counsel does not know of any contracts or documents
required to be filed as exhibits to or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus which are not so filed, incorporated by reference or described as
required, and such contracts and documents as are summarized in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus are fairly summarized in all material respects.
(viii) Such counsel knows of no material legal or governmental
proceedings pending or threatened against the Company, any of the Subsidiaries
or any of the Selling Shareholders except as set forth in the Prospectus.
(ix) The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions herein contemplated do not and will not
conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or
constitute a default under, the Charter or By-Laws of the Company, or any
agreement or instrument known to such counsel to which the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries may
be bound.
(x) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company.
(xi) No approval, consent, order, authorization, designation,
declaration or filing by or with any regulatory, administrative or other
governmental body is necessary in connection with the execution and delivery of
this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated
(other than as may be required by the NASD or as required by State securities
and Blue Sky laws as to which such counsel need express no opinion) except such
as have been obtained or made, specifying the same.
(xii) The Company is not, and will not become, as a result of
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and
application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Prospectus,
required to register as an investment company under the 1940 Act.
(xiii) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered on behalf of the Selling Shareholders.
16
(xiv) Each Selling Shareholder has full legal right, power and
authority, and any approval required by law (other than as required by State
securities and Blue Sky laws as to which such counsel need express no opinion),
to sell, assign, transfer and deliver the portion of the Shares to be sold by
such Selling Shareholder.
(xv) The Custodian Agreement and the Power of Attorney
executed and delivered by each Selling Shareholder is valid and binding.
(xvi) The Underwriters (assuming that they are bona fide
purchasers within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code) have acquired good
and marketable title to the Shares being sold by each Selling Shareholder on the
Closing Date, and the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, free and clear of
all liens, encumbrances, equities and claims.
In rendering such opinion Stroock & Stroock & Xxxxx LLP may
rely as to matters governed by the laws of states other than New York, Delaware
or Federal laws on local counsel in such jurisdictions and on opinions of other
counsel representing the Company or the Selling Shareholders, provided that in
each case Stroock & Stroock & Xxxxx LLP shall state that they believe that they
and the Underwriters are justified in relying on such other counsel. In addition
to the matters set forth above, such opinion shall also include a statement to
the effect that nothing has come to the attention of such counsel which leads
them to believe that (i) the Registration Statement, at the time it became
effective under the Act (but after giving effect to any modifications
incorporated therein pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act) and as of the Closing
Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, contained an 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, and
(ii) the Prospectus, or any supplement thereto, on the date it was filed
pursuant to the Rules and Regulations and as of the Closing Date or the Option
Closing Date, as the case may be, contained an untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading (except that such counsel need express no view as to
financial statements, schedules and statistical information therein). With
respect to such statement, Stroock & Stroock & Xxxxx LLP may state that their
belief is based upon the procedures set forth therein, but is without
independent check and verification.
(c) The Representatives shall have received from Fulbright &
Xxxxxxxx L.L.P., counsel for the Underwriters, an opinion dated the Closing Date
or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, substantially to the effect
specified in subparagraphs (ii), (iii), (iv), and (ix) and (xi) of Paragraph (b)
of this Section 6, and that the Company is a duly organized and validly existing
corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware. In rendering such opinion
Fulbright & Xxxxxxxx L.L.P. may rely as to all matters governed other than by
the laws of the State of Delaware or Federal laws on the opinion of counsel
referred to in Paragraph (b) of this Section 6. In addition to the matters set
forth above, such opinion shall also include a statement to the effect that
nothing has come to the attention of such counsel which leads them to believe
that (i) the Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, as of the time it
became effective under the Act (but after giving effect to any modifications
incorporated therein pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act) as of the Closing Date
or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be,
17
contained an 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, and (ii) the Prospectus, or any supplement thereto, on the date
it was filed pursuant to the Rules and Regulations and as of the Closing Date or
the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, contained an untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact, necessary in order to make
the statements, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
misleading (except that such counsel need express no view as to financial
statements, schedules and statistical information therein). With respect to such
statement, Fulbright & Xxxxxxxx L.L.P. may state that their belief is based upon
the procedures set forth therein, but is without independent check and
verification.
(d) The Representatives shall have received at or prior to the
Closing Date from Fulbright & Xxxxxxxx L.L.P. a memorandum or summary, in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, with respect to
the qualification for offering and sale by the Underwriters of the Shares under
the State securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the
Representatives may reasonably have designated to the Company.
(e) The Representatives shall have received, on each of the
dates hereof, the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, as the case may be,
a letter dated the date hereof, the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as
the case may be, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to you, of Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx LLP confirming that they are independent public accountants within the
meaning of the Act and the applicable published Rules and Regulations thereunder
and stating that in their opinion the financial statements and schedules
examined by them and included in the Registration Statement comply in form in
all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and
the related published Rules and Regulations; and containing such other
statements and information as is ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort
letters" to Underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain
financial and statistical information contained in the Registration Statement
and Prospectus.
(f) The Representatives shall have received on the Closing
Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate or
certificates of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of
the Company to the effect that, as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing
Date, as the case may be, each of them severally represents as follows:
(i) The Registration Statement has become effective under the
Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
has been issued, and no proceedings for such purpose have been taken or are, to
his knowledge, contemplated by the Commission;
(ii) The representations and warranties of the Company
contained in Section 1(a) hereof are true and correct as of the Closing Date or
the Option Closing Date, as the case may be;
(iii) All filings required to have been made pursuant to Rules
424 or 430A under the Act have been made;
18
(iv) He has carefully examined the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus and, in his opinion, as of the effective date of the Registration
Statement, such Registration Statement and Prospectus did not contain any untrue
statement of 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, and since the effective date of the Registration Statement, no event
has occurred which should have been set forth in a supplement to or an amendment
of the Prospectus which has not been so set forth in such supplement or
amendment; and
(v) Since the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, there has not been any
Material Adverse Change.
(g) The Representatives shall have received on the Closing
Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate or
certificates of each Selling Shareholder to the effect that, as of the Closing
Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, he or it represents as
follows:
(i) The representations and warranties of such Selling
Shareholder contained in Section 1(b) hereof are true and correct as of the
Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be; and
(ii) He or it has carefully examined the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus and, in his or its opinion, as of the effective
date of the Registration Statement, such Registration Statement and Prospectus
did not contain any untrue statement of 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, and since the effective date of the
Registration Statement, no event has occurred which should have been set forth
in a supplement to or an amendment of the Prospectus which has not been so set
forth in such supplement or amendment.
(h) The Company and the Selling Shareholders shall have
furnished to the Representatives such further certificates and documents
confirming the representations and warranties, covenants and conditions
contained herein and related matters as the Representatives may reasonably have
requested.
(i) The Firm Shares and Option Shares, if any, have been
approved for quotation upon notice of issuance on the Nasdaq National Market.
(j) The Lockup Agreements described in Section 4(a)(x) are in
full force and effect.
The opinions and certificates mentioned in this Agreement
shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are
in all material respects reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives and to
Fulbright & Xxxxxxxx L.L.P., counsel for the Underwriters.
19
If any of the conditions hereinabove provided for in this
Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement
to be fulfilled, the obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be terminated
by the Representatives by notifying the Company and the Selling Shareholders of
such termination in writing or by telegram at or prior to the Closing Date or
the Option Closing Date, as the case may be.
In such event, the Selling Shareholders, the Company and the
Underwriters shall not be under any obligation to each other (except to the
extent provided in Sections 5 and 8 hereof).
7. CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE SELLING SHAREHOLDER.
The obligations of the Selling Shareholders to sell and
deliver the portion of the Shares required to be delivered as and when specified
in this Agreement are subject to the conditions that at the Closing Date or the
Option Closing Date, as the case may be, no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and in effect
or proceedings therefor initiated or threatened.
8. INDEMNIFICATION. [To be discussed]
(a) The Company agrees:
(1) to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and each
person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the
Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such
Underwriter or any such controlling person may become subject under the
Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of
or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto, (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, or (iii) any act or alleged act, or
any failure to act or alleged failure to act, by any Underwriter in
connection with, or relating in any manner to, the Shares or the
offering contemplated hereby, and which is included as part of or
referred to in any loss, claim, damage, liability or action arising out
of or based upon matters covered by clause (i) or (ii) above (PROVIDED,
that the Company shall not be liable under this clause (iii) to the
extent that it is determined in a final judgment by a court of
competent jurisdiction that such loss, claim, damage, liability or
action resulted directly from any such acts or failures to act
undertaken or omitted to be taken by such Underwriter through its gross
negligence or willful misconduct); provided, however, that the Company
will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss,
claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement, or omission or alleged omission
made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the
Prospectus, or such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or
through the Representatives
20
specifically for use in the preparation thereof. This indemnity
obligation will be in addition to any liability which the Company may
otherwise have.
(2) to reimburse each Underwriter and each such controlling
person upon demand for any legal or other out-of-pocket expenses
reasonably incurred by such Underwriter or such controlling person in
connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage
or liability, action or proceeding or in responding to a subpoena or
governmental inquiry related to the offering of the Shares, whether or
not such Underwriter or controlling person is a party to any action or
proceeding. In the event that it is finally judicially determined that
the Underwriters were not entitled to receive payments for legal and
other expenses pursuant to this subparagraph, the Underwriters will
promptly return all sums that had been advanced pursuant hereto.
(b) The Selling Shareholders agree to indemnify the
Underwriters and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the
meaning of the Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which
such Underwriter or controlling person may become subject under the Act or
otherwise to the same extent as indemnity is provided by the Company pursuant to
Section 8(a) above. In no event, however, shall the liability of any Selling
Shareholder for indemnification under this Section 8(b) exceed the proceeds
received by such Selling Shareholder from the Underwriters in this offering.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (b), each Underwriter
and each person who controls such Underwriter agrees not to assert its rights to
indemnity under this paragraph (b) against the Selling Shareholders for losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof)
unless and until (i) such Underwriter or controlling person has damages or
liabilities (including any legal or other expense reasonably incurred) and (ii)
the Company does not within 90 days of such request (A) agree to so indemnify
such Underwriter or controlling person and (B) reimburse in full such
underwriter or controlling person for any such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (including legal and other expenses) incurred. This indemnity
obligation will be in addition to any liability which the Selling Shareholders
may otherwise have.
(c) Each Underwriter severally and not jointly will indemnify
and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who
have signed the Registration Statement, the Selling Shareholders, and each
person, if any, who controls the Company or the Selling Shareholders within the
meaning of the Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which
the Company or any such director, officer, Selling Shareholder or controlling
person may become subject under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof)
arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto,
or (ii) the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading in the light of the circumstances under which they were made; and
will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or
any such director, officer, Selling Shareholder or controlling person in
connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage,
liability, action or proceeding; provided, however, that each Underwriter will
be liable in each
21
case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission has been made in the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or such
amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company or the Selling Shareholders by or through
the Representatives specifically for use in the preparation thereof. This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Underwriter
may otherwise have.
(d) In case any proceeding (including any governmental
investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which
indemnity may be sought pursuant to this Section 8, such person (the
"indemnified party") shall promptly notify the person against whom such
indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying party") in writing. No
indemnification provided for in Section 8(a), (b) or (c) shall be available to
any party who shall fail to give notice as provided in this Section 8(d) if the
party to whom notice was not given was unaware of the proceeding to which such
notice would have related and was materially prejudiced by the failure to give
such notice, but the failure to give such notice shall not relieve the
indemnifying party or parties from any liability which it or they may have to
the indemnified party for contribution or otherwise than on account of the
provisions of Section 8(a), (b) or (c). In case any such proceeding shall be
brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party
of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to
participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any
other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with
counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party and shall pay as incurred the
fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such
proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel
at its own expense. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnifying party shall
pay as incurred (or within 30 days of presentation) the fees and expenses of the
counsel retained by the indemnified party in the event (i) the indemnifying
party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of
such counsel, (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any
impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party
and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate
due to actual or potential differing interests between them or (iii) the
indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense and employ counsel
acceptable to the indemnified party within a reasonable period of time after
notice of commencement of the action. It is understood that the indemnifying
party shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the
same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than
one separate firm for all such indemnified parties. Such firm shall be
designated in writing by the Underwriters in the case of parties indemnified
pursuant to Section 8(a) or (b) and by the Company and the Selling Shareholders
in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(c). The indemnifying
party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without
its written consent but if settled with such consent or if there be a final
judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the
indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such
settlement or judgment. In addition, the indemnifying party will not, without
the prior written consent of the indemnified party, settle or compromise or
consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action
or proceeding of which indemnification may be sought hereunder unless such
settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of such
indemnified party from all liability arising out of such
22
claim, action or proceeding.
(e) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is
unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
Section 8(a), (b) or (c) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred to therein,
then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by
such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) in such proportion as
is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the
Selling Shareholders on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the
offering of the Shares. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately
preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law then each indemnifying
party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits
but also the relative fault of the Company and the Selling Shareholders on the
one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or
omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, (or
actions or proceedings in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the
Selling Shareholders on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be
deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering
(before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the Selling Shareholders
bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the
Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the
Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Company or the Selling Shareholders on the one hand or the
Underwriters on the other and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company, the Selling Shareholders and the Underwriters
agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this
Section 8(e) 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 8(e). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified
party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or
proceedings in respect thereof) referred to above in this Section 8(e) shall be
deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action
or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (e), (i) no
Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the
underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the Shares purchased by
such Underwriter, and (ii) no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation, and (iii) no Selling Shareholder shall be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the proceeds (net of underwriting discount)
received by such Selling Shareholder from the Underwriters in the offering. The
Underwriters' obligations in this Section 8(e) to contribute are several in
proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.
23
(f) In any proceeding relating to the Registration Statement,
any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any supplement or amendment
thereto, each party against whom contribution may be sought under this Section 8
hereby consents to the jurisdiction of any court having jurisdiction over any
other contributing party, agrees that process issuing from such court may be
served upon him or it by any other contributing party and consents to the
service of such process and agrees that any other contributing party may join
him or it as an additional defendant in any such proceeding in which such other
contributing party is a party.
(g) Any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses for
which an indemnified party is entitled to indemnification or contribution under
this Section 8 shall be paid by the indemnifying party to the indemnified party
as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are incurred. The
indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 8 and the
representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement shall
remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any person controlling
any Underwriter, the Company, its directors or officers or any persons
controlling the Company, (ii) acceptance of any Shares and payment therefor
hereunder, and (iii) any termination of this Agreement. A successor to any
Underwriter, or to the Company, its directors or officers, or any person
controlling the Company, shall be entitled to the benefits of the indemnity,
contribution and reimbursement agreements contained in this Section 8.
9. DEFAULT BY UNDERWRITERS.
If on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case
may be, any Underwriter shall fail to purchase and pay for the portion of the
Shares which such Underwriter has agreed to purchase and pay for on such date
(otherwise than by reason of any default on the part of the Company or a Selling
Shareholder), you, as Representatives of the Underwriters, shall use your
reasonable efforts to procure within 36 hours thereafter one or more of the
other Underwriters, or any others, to purchase from the Company and the Selling
Shareholders such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms set forth
herein, the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, which the
defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to purchase. If during such 36
hours you, as such Representatives, shall not have procured such other
Underwriters, or any others, to purchase the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as
the case may be, agreed to be purchased by the defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters, then (a) if the aggregate number of shares with respect to which
such default shall occur does not exceed 10% of the Firm Shares or Option
Shares, as the case may be, covered hereby, the other Underwriters shall be
obligated, severally, in proportion to the respective numbers of Firm Shares or
Option Shares, as the case may be, which they are obligated to purchase
hereunder, to purchase the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be,
which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to purchase, or (b) if
the aggregate number of shares of Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may
be, with respect to which such default shall occur exceeds 10% of the Firm
Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, covered hereby, the Company and the
Selling Shareholders or you as the Representatives of the Underwriters will have
the right, by written notice given within the next 36-hour period to the parties
to this Agreement, to terminate this Agreement without liability on the part of
the non-defaulting Underwriters or of the Company or of the Selling
24
Shareholders except to the extent provided in Section 8 hereof. In the event of
a default by any Underwriter or Underwriters, as set forth in this Section 9,
the Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the case may be, may be postponed
for such period, not exceeding seven days, as you, as Representatives, may
determine in order that the required changes in the Registration Statement or in
the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. The
term "Underwriter" includes any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter.
Any action taken under this Section 9 shall not relieve any defaulting
Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under
this Agreement.
10. NOTICES.
All communications hereunder shall be in writing and, except
as otherwise provided herein, will be mailed, delivered, telecopied or
telegraphed and confirmed as follows: if to the Underwriters, to BT Alex. Xxxxx
Incorporated, Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: General
Counsel; with a copy to BT Alex. Xxxxx Incorporated, One Bankers Trust Plaza,
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx; if to the Company or the Selling Shareholders, to
The Children's Place Retail Stores, Inc.
Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
with copies to
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn: ______________
11. TERMINATION.
(a) This Agreement may be terminated by you by notice to the
Company and the Selling Shareholders at any time prior to the Closing Date if
any of the following has occurred: (i) since the respective dates as of which
information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, any
Material Adverse Change, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of
business, (ii) any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or declaration of war
or national emergency or other national or international calamity or crisis or
change in economic or political conditions if the effect of such outbreak,
escalation, declaration, emergency, calamity, crisis or change on the financial
markets of the United States would, in your reasonable judgment, make it
impracticable or inadvisable to market the Shares or to enforce contracts for
the sale of the Shares, or (iii) suspension of trading in securities generally
on the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq National Market or the American Stock
Exchange or limitation on
25
prices (other than limitations on hours or numbers of days of trading) for
securities on such Exchange or the Nasdaq National Market, (iv) the enactment,
publication, decree or other promulgation of any statute, regulation, rule or
order of any court or other governmental authority which in your reasonable
opinion materially and adversely affects or may materially and adversely affect
the business or operations of the Company, (v) declaration of a banking
moratorium by United States or New York State authorities, (vi) any downgrading,
or placement on any watch list for possible downgrading, in the rating of the
Company's debt securities by any "nationally recognized statistical rating
organization" (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Exchange Act);
(vii) the suspension of trading of the Company's common stock by the Nasdaq
National Market, the Commission, or any other governmental authority or, (viii)
the taking of any action by any governmental body or agency in respect of its
monetary or fiscal affairs which in your reasonable opinion has a material
adverse effect on the securities markets in the United States; or
(b) as provided in Sections 6 and 9 of this Agreement.
12. SUCCESSORS.
This Agreement has been and is made solely for the benefit of
the Underwriters, the Company and the Selling Shareholders and their respective
successors, executors, administrators, heirs and assigns, and the officers,
directors and controlling persons referred to herein, and no other person will
have any right or obligation hereunder. No purchaser of any of the Shares from
any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign merely because of such
purchase.
13. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY UNDERWRITERS.
The Company, the Selling Shareholders and the Underwriters
acknowledge and agree that the only information furnished or to be furnished by
any Underwriter to the Company for inclusion in any Prospectus or the
Registration Statement consists of the information under the caption "Plan of
Distribution" in the Prospectus.
14. MISCELLANEOUS.
The reimbursement, indemnification and contribution agreements
contained in this Agreement and the representations, warranties and covenants in
this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of (a) any
termination of this Agreement, (b) any investigation made by or on behalf of any
Underwriter or controlling person thereof, or by or on behalf of the Company or
its directors or officers or the Selling Shareholders and (c) delivery of and
payment for the Shares under this Agreement.
This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
26
This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Maryland.
If the foregoing letter is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicates hereof,
whereupon it will become a binding agreement among the Selling Shareholders, the
Company and the several Underwriters in accordance with its terms.
27
Any person executing and delivering this Agreement as Attorney-in-Fact
for a Selling Shareholder represents by so doing that he has been duly appointed
as Attorney-in-Fact by such Selling Shareholder pursuant to a validly existing
and binding Power of Attorney which authorizes such Attorney-in-Fact to take
such action.
Very truly yours,
THE CHILDREN'S PLACE RETAIL STORES, INC.
By
-------------------------------------------
Selling Shareholders listed on Schedule II
By
-------------------------------------------
Attorney-in-Fact
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is
hereby confirmed and accepted as of the
date first above written.
BT ALEX. XXXXX INCORPORATED
XXXXXXX XXXXX, XXXXXX XXXXXX & XXXXX INCORPORATED
XXXXXXXXX & XXXXX LLC
NATIONSBANC XXXXXXXXXX SECURITIES LLC
XXXXXX XXXXXX PARTNERS LLC
As Representatives of the several
Underwriters listed on Schedule I
By: BT Alex. Xxxxx Incorporated
By:
----------------------------
Authorized Officer
28
SCHEDULE I
SCHEDULE OF UNDERWRITERS
UNDERWRITER Number of Firm Shares
to be Purchased
---------------
BT Alex. Xxxxx Incorporated
Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated
Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLC
NationsBanc Montgomary Securities LLC
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Partners LLC
---------
Total 4,000,000
---------
29
SCHEDULE II
SCHEDULE OF SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
Underwriter Number of Firm Shares
----------- to be Sold
----------
The SK Equity Fund, L.P. 2,661,423
SK Investment Fund, L.P. 38,577
Xxxx Xxxxx 600,000
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx 600,000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx 100,000
---------
Total 4,000,000
---------
30
SCHEDULE III
SCHEDULE OF SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
Underwriter Number of Option Shares
----------- to be Sold
----------
The SK Equity Fund, L.P. 399,130
SK Investment Fund, L.P. 5,870
Xxxx Xxxxx 90,000
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx 90,000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx 15,000
-------
Total 600,000
-------
31
EXHIBIT A
