4,600,000 Shares/1/
▇▇▇▇▇ CONSULTING, INC.
Common Stock
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
----------------------
__________, 1999
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LUFKIN & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
SECURITIES CORPORATION
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ BARNEY INC.
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇, INC.
DLJDIRECT INC.
As representatives of the several Underwriters
named in Schedule I hereto
c/▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Dear Sirs:
▇▇▇▇▇ Consulting, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), proposes to
issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the
"Underwriters"), and certain stockholders of the Company named in Schedule II
hereto (the "Selling Stockholders") severally propose to sell to the several
Underwriters, an aggregate of 4,600,000 shares of the Common Stock, par value
$0.001 per share, of the Company (the "Firm Shares"), of which 4,100,000 shares
are to be issued and sold by the Company and 500,000 shares are to be sold by
the Selling Stockholders, each Selling Stockholder selling the amount set forth
opposite such Selling Stockholder's name in Schedule II hereto under the caption
"Number of Firm Shares." The Selling Stockholders also propose to issue and sell
to the several Underwriters not more than an additional 690,000 shares of the
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the "Additional
Shares") if requested by the Underwriters as provided in Section 2 hereof, each
Selling Stockholder selling the amount set forth opposite such Selling
Stockholder's name in Schedule II hereto under the caption "Maximum Number of
Additional Shares." The Firm Shares and the Additional Shares are hereinafter
referred to collectively as the "Shares." The shares of
--------------------
/1/ Plus an option to purchase up to 690,000 Additional Shares from the Selling
Stockholders to cover over-allotments.
common stock of the Company to be outstanding after giving effect to the sales
contemplated hereby are hereinafter referred to as the "Common Stock." The
Company and the Selling Stockholders are hereinafter sometimes referred to
collectively as the "Sellers."
SECTION 1. Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Company has
prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder
(collectively, the "Act"), a registration statement on Form S-1, including a
prospectus, relating to the Shares. The registration statement, as amended at
the time it became effective, including the information (if any) deemed to be
part of the registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule
430A under the Act, is hereinafter referred to as the "Registration Statement";
and the prospectus in the form first used to confirm sales of Shares is
hereinafter referred to as the "Prospectus." If the Company has filed or is
required pursuant to the terms hereof to file a registration statement pursuant
to Rule 462(b) under the Act registering additional shares of Common Stock (a
"Rule 462(b) Registration Statement"), then, unless otherwise specified, any
reference herein to the term "Registration Statement" shall be deemed to include
such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement.
SECTION 2. Agreements to Sell and Purchase and Lock-Up Agreements. On the
basis of the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement, and
subject to its terms and conditions, (i) the Company agrees to issue and sell
4,100,000 Firm Shares, (ii) each Selling Stockholder agrees, severally and not
jointly, to sell the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite such Selling
Stockholder's name in Schedule II hereto under the caption "Number of Firm
Shares" and (iii) each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to
purchase from each Seller at a price per Share of $______ (the "Purchase Price")
the number of Firm Shares (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional
shares as you may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total number
of Firm Shares to be sold by such Seller as the number of Firm Shares set forth
opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto bears to the total
number of Firm Shares.
On the basis of the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement,
and subject to its terms and conditions, (i) certain of the Selling Stockholders
agree, severally and not jointly, to sell up to the number of Additional Shares
set forth opposite such Selling Stockholder's name in Schedule II hereto under
the caption "Maximum Number of Additional Shares," and (ii) the Underwriters
shall have the right to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to 690,000
Additional Shares from those Selling Stockholders who have agreed to sell
Additional Shares at the Purchase Price. Additional Shares may be purchased
solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments made in connection with the
offering of the Firm Shares. The Underwriters may exercise their right to
purchase Additional Shares in whole or in part from time to time by giving
written notice thereof to the Selling Stockholders within 30 days after the date
of this Agreement. You shall give any such notice on behalf of the Underwriters
and such notice shall specify the aggregate number of Additional Shares to be
purchased pursuant to such exercise and the date for payment and delivery
thereof, which date shall be a business day (i) no earlier than two business
days after such notice has been given (and, in any event, no earlier than the
Closing Date (as hereinafter defined)) and (ii) no later than ten business days
after such notice has been given.
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The maximum number of Additional Shares to be purchased from each such Selling
Stockholder is set forth in Schedule II hereto under the caption "Maximum Number
of Additional Shares." If less than the maximum number of Additional Shares is
to be purchased hereunder, each of such Selling Stockholders, severally and not
jointly, agrees to sell to the Underwriters the number of Additional Shares
(subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as you may
determine) that bears the same proportion to the total number of Additional
Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters as the maximum number of Additional
Shares to be sold by each of such Selling Stockholders bears to the total number
of Additional Shares. If any Additional Shares are to be purchased, each
Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from such Selling
Stockholders the number of Additional Shares (subject to such adjustments to
eliminate fractional shares as you may determine) which bears the same
proportion to the total number of Additional Shares to be purchased from such
Selling Stockholders as the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of
such Underwriter in Schedule I bears to the total number of Firm Shares.
Each Seller hereby agrees not to (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell
any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell,
grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose
of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or (ii) enter
into any swap or other arrangement that transfers all or a portion of the
economic consequences associated with the ownership of any Common Stock
(regardless of whether any of the transactions described in clause (i) or (ii)
is to be settled by the delivery of Common Stock, or such other securities, in
cash or otherwise), except to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, for a
period of 180 days after the date of the Prospectus without the prior written
consent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, during such period (i) the Company may grant stock options
pursuant to the Company's existing stock option plans and (ii) the Company may
issue shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the
conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof. The Company also agrees
not to file any registration statement with respect to any shares of Common
Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for
Common Stock for a period of 180 days after the date of the Prospectus without
the prior written consent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities
Corporation. In addition, each Selling Stockholder agrees that, for a period of
180 days after the date of the Prospectus without the prior written consent of
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation, it will not make any demand
for, or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any shares of
Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable
for Common Stock. The Company shall, prior to or concurrently with the execution
of this Agreement, deliver an agreement executed by (i) each Selling
Stockholder, (ii) each of the directors and officers of the Company who is not a
Selling Stockholder and (iii) each stockholder listed on Annex I hereto to the
effect that such person will not, during the period commencing on the date such
person signs such agreement and ending 180 days after the date of the
Prospectus, without the prior written consent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Securities Corporation, (A) engage in any of the transactions described in the
first sentence of this paragraph or (B) make any demand for, or exercise any
right with respect to, the registration of any shares of Common Stock or any
securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock.
3
SECTION 3. Terms of Public Offering. The Sellers are advised by you that
the Underwriters propose (i) to make a public offering of their respective
portions of the Shares as soon after the execution and delivery of this
Agreement as in your judgment is advisable and (ii) initially to offer the
Shares upon the terms set forth in the Prospectus.
SECTION 4. Delivery and Payment. The Shares shall be represented by
definitive certificates and shall be issued in such authorized denominations and
registered in such names as ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation
shall request no later than two business days prior to the Closing Date or the
applicable Option Closing Date (as defined below), as the case may be. The
Shares shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Sellers, with any transfer
taxes thereon duly paid by the respective Sellers, to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin &
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation through the facilities of The Depository Trust
Company ("DTC"), for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters,
against payment to the Sellers of the Purchase Price therefore by wire transfer
of federal or other funds immediately available in New York City. The
certificates representing the Shares shall be made available for inspection not
later than 9:30 A.M., New York City time, on the business day prior to the
Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date (as defined below), as the
case may be, at the office of DTC or its designated custodian (the "Designated
Office"). The time and date of delivery and payment for the Firm Shares shall be
9:00 A.M., New York City time, on ________, 1999 or such other time on the same
or such other date as ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation and
the Company shall agree in writing. The time and date of delivery and payment
for the Firm Shares are hereinafter referred to as the "Closing Date." The time
and date of delivery and payment for any Additional Shares to be purchased by
the Underwriters shall be 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on the date specified
in the applicable exercise notice given by you pursuant to Section 2 or such
other time on the same or such other date as ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Securities Corporation, the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall agree in
writing. The time and date of delivery and payment for any Additional Shares are
hereinafter referred to as the "Option Closing Date."
The documents to be delivered on the Closing Date or any Option Closing Date on
behalf of the parties hereto pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement shall be
delivered at the offices of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Ltd., ▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ and the Shares shall be delivered at the
Designated Office, all on the Closing Date or such Option Closing Date, as the
case may be.
SECTION 5. Agreements of the Company. The Company agrees with you:
a) To advise you promptly and, if requested by you, to confirm such advice
in writing, (i) of any request by the Commission for amendments to the
Registration Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or for
additional information, (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of the suspension
of qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the
initiation of any proceeding for such purposes, (iii) when any amendment to the
Registration Statement becomes effective, (iv) if the Company is required to
file a Rule 462(b) Registration
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Statement after the effectiveness of this Agreement, when the Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement has become effective, and (v) of the happening of any
event during the period referred to in Section 5(d) below which makes any
statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus untrue or which requires any additions to or changes in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein
not misleading. If at any time the Commission shall issue any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the Company will use
its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the
earliest possible time.
b) To furnish to you four (4) signed copies of the Registration Statement
as first filed with the Commission and of each amendment to it, including all
exhibits, and to furnish to you and each Underwriter designated by you such
number of conformed copies of the Registration Statement as so filed and of each
amendment to it, without exhibits, as you may reasonably request.
c) To prepare the Prospectus, the form and substance of which shall be
satisfactory to you, and to file the Prospectus in such form with the Commission
within the applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) under the Act; during the
period specified in Section 5(d) below, not to file any further amendment to the
Registration Statement and not to make any amendment or supplement to the
Prospectus of which you shall not previously have been advised or to which you
shall reasonably object after being so advised; and, during such period, to
prepare and file with the Commission, promptly upon your reasonable request, any
amendment to the Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to the
Prospectus which may be necessary or advisable in connection with the
distribution of the Shares by you, and to use its best efforts to cause any such
amendment to the Registration Statement to become promptly effective.
d) Prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the first business day
after the date of this Agreement and from time to time thereafter for such
period as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus is
required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or a
dealer, to furnish in New York City to each Underwriter and any dealer as many
copies of the Prospectus (and of any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus)
as such Underwriter or dealer may reasonably request.
e) If during the period specified in Section 5(d), any event shall occur
or condition shall exist as a result of which, in the opinion of counsel for the
Underwriters, it becomes necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the
Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the opinion of
counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the
Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare and file with the
Commission an appropriate amendment or supplement to the Prospectus so that the
statements in 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 applicable law, and to furnish to each
Underwriter and to any dealer as many copies thereof as such Underwriter or
dealer may reasonably request.
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f) Prior to any public offering of the Shares, to cooperate with you
and counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the registration or
qualification of the Shares for offer and sale by the several Underwriters and
by dealers under the state securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as
you may request, to continue such registration or qualification in effect so
long as required for distribution of the Shares and to file such consents to
service of process or other documents as may be necessary in order to effect
such registration or qualification; provided, however, that the Company shall
not be required in connection therewith to qualify as a foreign corporation in
any jurisdiction in which it is not now so qualified or to take any action that
would subject it to general consent to service of process or taxation other than
as to matters and transactions relating to the Prospectus, the Registration
Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the offering or sale of the Shares, in
any jurisdiction in which it is not now so subject.
g) To mail and make generally available to its stockholders as soon as
practicable an earnings statement covering the twelve-month period ending
September 30, 2000 that shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the
Act, and to advise you in writing when such statement has been so made
available.
h) During the period of three years after the date of this Agreement, to
furnish to you as soon as available copies of all reports or other
communications furnished to the record holders of Common Stock or furnished to
or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange on which any
class of securities of the Company is listed and such other publicly available
information concerning the Company and its subsidiaries as you may reasonably
request.
i) Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are
consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay or cause to be paid all
expenses incident to the performance of the Sellers' obligations under this
Agreement, including: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company's
counsel, the Company's accountants and any Selling Stockholder's counsel (in
addition to the Company's counsel) in connection with the registration and
delivery of the Shares under the Act and all other fees and expenses in
connection with the preparation, printing, filing and distribution of the
Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits), any
preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to any
of the foregoing, including the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the
Underwriters and dealers in the quantities specified herein, (ii) all costs and
expenses related to the transfer and delivery of the Shares to the Underwriters,
including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (iii) all costs of
printing or producing this Agreement and any other agreements or documents in
connection with the offering, purchase, sale or delivery of the Shares, (iv) all
expenses in connection with the registration or qualification of the Shares for
offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of the several states and
all costs of printing or producing any Preliminary and Supplemental Blue Sky
Memoranda in connection therewith (including the filing fees and fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such
registration or qualification and memoranda relating thereto), (v) the filing
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the
review and clearance of the offering of the Shares by the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc.,
6
(vi) all fees and expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the
registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the Common Stock and all costs
and expenses incident to the listing of the Shares on the Nasdaq National
Market, (vii) the cost of printing certificates representing the Shares, (viii)
the costs and charges of any transfer agent, registrar and/or depositary, and
(ix) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations
of the Company and the Selling Stockholders hereunder for which provision is not
otherwise made in this Section. The provisions of this Section shall not
supersede or otherwise affect any agreement that the Company and the Selling
Stockholders may otherwise have for allocation of such expenses among
themselves.
j) To use its best efforts to list for quotation the Shares on the Nasdaq
National Market and to maintain the listing of the Shares on the Nasdaq National
Market for a period of three years after the date of this Agreement.
k) To use its best efforts to do and perform all things required or
necessary to be done and performed under this Agreement by the Company prior to
the Closing Date or any Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and to satisfy
all conditions precedent to the delivery of the Shares.
l) If the Registration Statement at the time of the effectiveness of this
Agreement does not cover all of the Shares, to file a Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement with the Commission registering the Shares not so covered in
compliance with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 P.M., New York City time, on the date of
this Agreement and to pay to the Commission the filing fee for such Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement at the time of the filing thereof or to give irrevocable
instructions for the payment of such fee pursuant to Rule 111(b) under the Act.
SECTION 6. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company
represents and warrants to each Underwriter that:
a) The Registration Statement has become effective (other than any Rule
462(b) Registration Statement to be filed by the Company after the effectiveness
of this Agreement); any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement filed after the
effectiveness of this Agreement will become effective no later than 10:00 P.M.,
New York City time, on the date of this Agreement; and no stop order suspending
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, and no proceedings
for such purpose are pending before or threatened by the Commission.
b) (i) The Registration Statement (other than any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement to be filed by the Company after the effectiveness of this Agreement),
when it became effective, did not contain and, as amended, if applicable, will
not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, (ii) the Registration Statement (other than any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement to be filed by the Company after the effectiveness of
this Agreement) and the Prospectus comply and, as amended or supplemented, if
applicable, will comply in all material respects with the Act, (iii) if the
Company is required to file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement after the
effectiveness of this Agreement, such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and
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any amendments thereto, when they become effective (A) will not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and
(B) will comply in all material respects with the Act, and (iv) the Prospectus
does not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, 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, except that the representations and
warranties set forth in this paragraph do not apply to statements or omissions
in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus based upon information relating
to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter
through you expressly for use therein.
c) Each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the registration statement
as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed pursuant to
Rule 424 under the Act, complied when so filed in all material respects with the
Act, and did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, except that the representations and warranties set forth
in this paragraph do not apply to statements or omissions in any preliminary
prospectus based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the
Company in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly for use therein.
d) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly incorporated, is
validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation and has the corporate power and authority to carry
on its business as described in the Prospectus and to own, lease and operate its
properties, and each is duly qualified and is in good standing as a foreign
corporation authorized to do business in each jurisdiction in which the nature
of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such
qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a
material adverse effect on the business, prospects, financial condition or
results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
e) Each of the parties to the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 4,
1999 (the "Purchase Agreement"), by and between the Company and Vertex Partners,
a Massachusetts corporation, had, at the time of the execution and delivery of
the Purchaser Agreement and at all times through and including the consummation
of the transactions contemplated thereby, the corporate power and authority to
enter into the Purchase Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated thereby. The Purchase Agreement was duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action on the part of each of the parties thereto and was
duly executed and delivered by each of the parties thereto. The performance of
the Purchase Agreement and the consummation of the transactions therein
contemplated did not (a) result in any violation of the charter or bylaws of any
of the parties thereto or (b) result in a material breach or violation of any of
the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or require the
consent or approval of any person or entity under, any bond, debenture, note or
other evidence of indebtedness, or any lease, contract, indenture, mortgage,
deed of trust, loan agreement, joint venture or other agreement or instrument to
which any party to the Purchase Agreement is or was a party or by which their
respective properties are or were bound, or any applicable statute, rule or
regulation,
8
or any order, writ or decree of any court, government or governmental agency or
body having jurisdiction over any party to the Purchase Agreement or over any of
their respective properties or operations, except for such consents or approvals
as have been duly and timely received or obtained. No consent, approval,
authorization or order of or qualification with any court, government or
governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over any party to the Purchase
Agreement or over any of their respective properties or operations is or was
required for the execution and delivery of the Purchase Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, except for such consents,
approvals, authorizations, orders or qualifications as have been duly and timely
received or obtained. The purchase contemplated by the Purchase Agreement has
been duly and validly consummated and has become effective under applicable law.
f) Each of the parties to the Plan and Agreement of Merger, dated as of
_________, 1999 (the "Migratory Merger Agreement"), by and between the Company
and ▇▇▇▇▇ Consulting, Inc., an Illinois corporation, had, at the time of the
execution and delivery of the Migratory Merger Agreement and at all times
through and including the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby,
the corporate power and authority to enter into the Migratory Merger Agreement
and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby. The Migratory Merger
Agreement was duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of
each of the parties thereto and was duly executed and delivered by each of the
parties thereto. The performance of the Migratory Merger Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions therein contemplated did not (a) result in any
violation of the charter or bylaws of any of the parties thereto or (b) result
in a material breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or
constitute a default under, or require the consent or approval of any person or
entity under, any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness, or
any lease, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, joint
venture or other agreement or instrument to which any party to the Migratory
Merger Agreement is or was a party or by which their respective properties are
or were bound, or any applicable statute, rule or regulation, or any order, writ
or decree of any court, government or governmental agency or body having
jurisdiction over any party to the Migratory Merger Agreement or over any of
their respective properties or operations, except for such consents or approvals
as have been duly and timely received or obtained. No consent, approval,
authorization or order of or qualification with any court, government or
governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over any party to the Migratory
Merger Agreement or over any of their respective properties or operations is or
was required for the execution and delivery of the Migratory Merger Agreement
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, except for such
consents, approvals, authorizations, orders or qualifications as have been duly
and timely received or obtained. The merger contemplated by the Migratory
Merger Agreement has been duly and validly consummated and has become effective
under applicable law.
g) The Company is permitted to account for the acquisition of Vertex
Partners as a pooling of interests and no condition exists that would prevent
the Company from accounting for the acquisition of with Vertex Partners as a
pooling of interests.
9
h) There are no outstanding subscriptions, rights, warrants, options,
calls, convertible securities, commitments of sale or liens granted or issued by
the Company or any of its subsidiaries relating to or entitling any person to
purchase or otherwise to acquire any shares of the capital stock of the Company
or any of its subsidiaries, except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration
Statement.
i) All the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company (including
the Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholders) have been duly authorized and
validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable and not subject to any
preemptive or similar rights; and the Shares to be issued and sold by the
Company have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered to the
Underwriters against payment therefor as provided by this Agreement, will be
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of such Shares
will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights.
j) All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the Company's
subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and
non-assessable, and are owned by the Company, directly or indirectly through one
or more subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, claim, lien,
encumbrance or adverse interest of any nature.
k) The authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to legal
matters to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus.
l) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of its
respective charter or by-laws or in default in the performance of any
obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, loan
agreement, mortgage, lease or other agreement or instrument that is material to
the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to which the Company or any
of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or their respective property is bound.
m) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the
Company, the compliance by the Company with all the provisions hereof and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (i) require any
consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or qualification with, any
court or governmental body or agency (except such as may be required under the
securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states), (ii) conflict with or
constitute a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or a default under,
the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any
indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, lease or other agreement or instrument that
is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to which the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of
its subsidiaries or their respective property is bound, (iii) violate or
conflict with any applicable law or any rule, regulation, judgment, order or
decree of any court or any governmental body or agency having jurisdiction over
the Company, any of its subsidiaries or their respective property or (iv) result
in the suspension, termination or revocation of any Authorization (as defined
below) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any other impairment of the
rights of the holder of any such Authorization.
10
n) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to our
knowledge, threatened to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or
could be a party or to which any of their respective property is or could be
subject that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus and are not so described; nor are there any statutes, regulations,
contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the
Registration Statement that are not so described or filed as required.
o) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has violated any
foreign, federal, state or local law or regulation relating to the protection of
human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or
wastes, pollutants or contaminants ("Environmental Laws"), any provisions of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or any provisions
of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, except for such violations which, singly or in the aggregate, would
not have a material adverse effect on the business, prospects, financial
condition or results of operation of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as
a whole.
p) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has such permits, licenses,
consents, exemptions, franchises, authorizations and other approvals (each, an
"Authorization") of, and has made all filings with and notices to, all
governmental or regulatory authorities and self-regulatory organizations and all
courts and other tribunals, including, without limitation, under any applicable
Environmental Laws, as are necessary to own, lease, license and operate its
respective properties and to conduct its business, except where the failure to
have any such Authorization or to make any such filing or notice would not,
singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business,
prospects, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole. Each such Authorization is valid and in full
force and effect and each of the Company and its subsidiaries is in compliance
with all the terms and conditions thereof and with the rules and regulations of
the authorities and governing bodies having jurisdiction with respect thereto;
and no event has occurred (including, without limitation, the receipt of any
notice from any authority or governing body) which allows or, after notice or
lapse of time or both, would allow, revocation, suspension or termination of any
such Authorization or results or, after notice or lapse of time or both, would
result in any other impairment of the rights of the holder of any such
Authorization; and such Authorizations contain no restrictions that are
burdensome to the Company or any of its subsidiaries; except where such failure
to be valid and in full force and effect or to be in compliance, the occurrence
of any such event or the presence of any such restriction would not, singly or
in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business, prospects,
financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
q) There are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws
(including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required
for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any
Authorization, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential
liabilities to third parties) which would, singly or in the aggregate, have a
material adverse effect on the business, prospects, financial condition or
results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
11
r) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Company.
s) Deloitte & Touche LLP are independent public accountants with respect
to the Company and its subsidiaries as required by the Act.
t) The consolidated financial statements included in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto), together
with related schedules and notes, present fairly the consolidated financial
position, results of operations and changes in financial position of the Company
and its subsidiaries on the basis stated therein at the respective dates or for
the respective periods to which they apply; such statements and related
schedules and notes have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles consistently applied throughout the periods involved,
except as disclosed therein; the supporting schedules, if any, included in the
Registration Statement present fairly in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles the information required to be stated therein; and the
other financial and statistical information and data set forth in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement
thereto) are, in all material respects, accurately presented and prepared on a
basis consistent with such financial statements and the books and records of the
Company.
u) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of
the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the
Prospectus, will not be, an "investment company" as such term is defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
v) Except as described in the Registration Statement, there are no
contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person
granting such person the right to require the Company to file a registration
statement under the Act with respect to any securities of the Company or to
require the Company to include such securities with the Shares registered
pursuant to the Registration Statement.
w) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
Prospectus other than as set forth in the Prospectus (exclusive of any
amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement), (i)
there has not occurred any material adverse change or any development involving
a prospective material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise,
or the earnings, business, management or operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) there has not been any material adverse
change or any development involving a prospective material adverse change in the
capital stock or in the long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has incurred any
material liability or obligation, direct or contingent.
x) Each certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to
the Underwriters or counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed to be a
representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters
covered thereby.
12
SECTION 7. Representations and Warranties of the Selling Stockholders. Each
Selling Stockholder represents and warrants to each Underwriter that:
a) Such Selling Stockholder is the lawful owner of the Shares to be sold
by such Selling Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement and has, and on the
Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as applicable, will have, good and
clear title to such Shares, free of all restrictions on transfer, liens,
encumbrances, security interests, equities and claims whatsoever.
b) The Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder have been duly
authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
c) Such Selling Stockholder has, and on the Closing Date will have, full
legal right, power and authority, and all authorization and approval required by
law, to enter into this Agreement, the Custody Agreement signed by such Selling
Stockholder and the Company, as Custodian, relating to the deposit of the Shares
to be sold by such Selling Stockholder (the "Custody Agreement") and the Power
of Attorney of such Selling Stockholder appointing certain individuals as such
Selling Stockholder's attorneys-in-fact (the "Attorneys") to the extent set
forth therein, relating to the transactions contemplated hereby and by the
Registration Statement and the Custody Agreement (the "Power of Attorney") and
to sell, assign, transfer and deliver the Shares to be sold by such Selling
Stockholder in the manner provided herein and therein.
d) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by or
on behalf of such Selling Stockholder.
e) The Custody Agreement of such Selling Stockholder has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by such Selling Stockholder and is a valid
and binding agreement of such Selling Stockholder, enforceable in accordance
with its terms.
f) The Power of Attorney of such Selling Stockholder has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by such Selling Stockholder and is a valid
and binding instrument of such Selling Stockholder, enforceable in accordance
with its terms, and, pursuant to such Power of Attorney, such Selling
Stockholder has, among other things, authorized the Attorneys, or any one of
them, to execute and deliver on such Selling Stockholder's behalf this Agreement
and any other document that they, or any one of them, may deem necessary or
desirable in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby
and to deliver the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder pursuant to
this Agreement.
g) Upon delivery of and payment for the Shares to be sold by such Selling
Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement, good and clear title to such Shares will
pass to the Underwriters, free of all restrictions on transfer, liens,
encumbrances, security interests, equities and claims whatsoever.
13
h) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney of such Selling Stockholder by or on
behalf of such Selling Stockholder, the compliance by such Selling Stockholder
with all the provisions hereof and thereof and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not (i) require any consent,
approval, authorization or other order of, or qualification with, any court or
governmental body or agency (except such as may be required under the securities
or Blue Sky laws of the various states), (ii) conflict with or constitute a
breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or a default under, the
organizational documents of such Selling Stockholder, if such Selling
Stockholder is not an individual, or any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage,
lease or other agreement or instrument to which such Selling Stockholder is a
party or by which such Selling Stockholder or any property of such Selling
Stockholder is bound, or (iii) violate or conflict with any applicable law or
any rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court or any governmental
body or agency having jurisdiction over such Selling Stockholder or any property
of such Selling Stockholder.
i) The information in the Registration Statement under the caption
"Principal and Selling Stockholders" which specifically relates to such Selling
Stockholder does not, and will not on the Closing Date, contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
j) At any time during the period described in Section 5(d), if there is any
change in the information referred to in Section 7(i), such Selling Stockholder
will immediately notify you of such change.
k) Each certificate signed by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder and
delivered to the Underwriters or counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed to
be a representation and warranty by such Selling Stockholder to the Underwriters
as to the matters covered thereby.
SECTION 8. Indemnification.
a) The Sellers, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless
each Underwriter, its directors, its officers and each person, if any, who
controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section
20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), from
and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments
(including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses incurred in
connection with investigating or defending any matter, including any action,
that could give rise to any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
judgments) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment
thereto), the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any
preliminary prospectus, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or judgments are caused by any such untrue statement or
omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information relating
to any Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by such Underwriter
through you expressly for
14
use therein; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement with
respect to any preliminary prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any
Underwriter who failed to deliver a Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented,
provided by the Company to the several Underwriters in the requisite quantity
and on a timely basis to permit proper delivery on or prior to the Closing Date)
to the person asserting any losses, claims, damages and liabilities and
judgments caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus, or caused by any omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such
material misstatement or omission or alleged material misstatement or omission
was cured in such Prospectus and such Prospectus was required by law to be
delivered at or prior to the written confirmation of sale to such person.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the aggregate liability of any Selling
Stockholder pursuant to this Section 8(a) shall be limited to an amount equal to
the total proceeds (before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and
expenses) received by such Selling Stockholder from the Underwriters for the
sale of the Shares sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder.
b) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who sign 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, each Selling
Stockholder and each person, if any, who controls such Selling Stockholder
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 Sellers to such Underwriter
but only with reference to information relating to such Underwriter furnished in
writing to the Company by such Underwriter through you expressly for use in the
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), the Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto) or any preliminary prospectus.
c) In case any action shall be commenced involving any person in respect of
which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a) or 8(b) (the "indemnified
party"), the indemnified party shall promptly notify the person against whom
such indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying party") in writing and the
indemnifying party shall assume the defense of such action, including the
employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party and the
payment of all fees and expenses of such counsel, as incurred (except that in
the case of any action in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to
both Sections 8(a) and 8(b), the Underwriter shall not be required to assume the
defense of such action pursuant to this Section 8(c), but may employ separate
counsel and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of
such counsel, except as provided below, shall be at the expense of such
Underwriter). Any indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate
counsel in any such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees
and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnified party
unless (i) the employment of such counsel shall have been specifically
authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnifying party
shall have failed to assume the defense of such action or employ counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party or (iii) the named parties to
any such action (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified
party and the indemnifying party, and the indemnified party shall have been
advised by such counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available
to it which are different from or additional to those available to the
indemnifying party (in which case
15
the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such
action on behalf of the indemnified party). In any such case, the indemnifying
party shall not, in connection with any one action or separate but substantially
similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same
general allegations or circumstances, be liable for (i) the fees and expenses of
more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) for
all Underwriters, their officers and directors and all persons, if any, who
control any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act, (ii) the fees and expenses of more than one
separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) for the Company,
its directors, its officers who sign the Registration Statement and all persons,
if any, who control the Company within the meaning of either such Section and
(iii) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in
addition to any local counsel) for all Selling Stockholders and all persons, if
any, who control any Selling Stockholder within the meaning of either such
Section, and all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are
incurred. In the case of any such separate firm for the Underwriters, their
officers and directors and such control persons of any Underwriters, such firm
shall be designated in writing by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities
Corporation. In the case of any such separate firm for the Company and such
directors, officers and control persons of the Company, such firm shall be
designated in writing by the Company. In the case of any such separate firm for
the Selling Stockholders and such control persons of any Selling Stockholders,
such firm shall be designated in writing by the Attorneys. The indemnifying
party shall indemnify and hold harmless the indemnified party from and against
any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments by reason of any
settlement of any action (i) effected with its written consent or (ii) effected
without its written consent if the settlement is entered into more than twenty
business days after the indemnifying party shall have received a request from
the indemnified party for reimbursement for the fees and expenses of counsel (in
any case where such fees and expenses are at the expense of the indemnifying
party) and, prior to the date of such settlement, the indemnifying party shall
have failed to comply with such reimbursement request. No indemnifying party
shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any
settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of judgment with respect
to, any pending or threatened action in respect of which the indemnified party
is or could have been a party and indemnity or contribution may be or could have
been sought hereunder by the indemnified party, unless such settlement,
compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified
party from all liability on claims that are or could have been the subject
matter of such action and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an
admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of the
indemnified party.
d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is
unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to therein, then each
indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result
of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments (i) in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the
Sellers on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering
of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 8(d)(i) above is not
permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not
only the relative benefits referred to in clause 8(d)(i) above but also the
relative fault of
16
the Sellers on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection
with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or judgments, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative benefits received by the Sellers 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 (after deducting
underwriting discounts and commissions, but before deducting expenses) received
by the Sellers, and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by
the Underwriters, bear to the total price to the public of the Shares, in each
case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative
fault of the Sellers on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand
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 Stockholders on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other hand and
the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity
to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Sellers and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable
if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) 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 in the immediately preceding paragraph. The
amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to in the immediately
preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set
forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such indemnified party in
connection with investigating or defending any matter, including any action,
that could have given rise to such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
judgments. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Underwriter
shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the
total price at which the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public
were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such
Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations to contribute
pursuant to this Section 8(d) are several in proportion to the respective number
of Shares purchased by each of the Underwriters hereunder and not joint.
e) The remedies provided for in this Section 8 are not exclusive and shall
not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any
indemnified party at law or in equity.
f) Each Selling Stockholder hereby designates ▇▇▇▇▇ Consulting, Inc., ▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, as its authorized agent, upon
which process may be served in any action which may be instituted in any state
or federal court in the State of New York by any Underwriter, any director or
officer of any Underwriter or any person controlling any Underwriter asserting a
claim for indemnification or contribution under or pursuant to this Section 8,
and each Selling Stockholder will accept the jurisdiction of such court in such
action, and waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any
defense based upon lack of
17
personal jurisdiction or venue. A copy of any such process shall be sent or
given to such Selling Stockholder, at the address for notices specified in
Section 12 hereof.
SECTION 9. Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations. The several obligations
of the Underwriters to purchase the Firm Shares under this Agreement are subject
to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions:
a) All the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this
Agreement shall be true and correct on the Closing Date with the same force and
effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date.
b) If the Company is required to file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement
after the effectiveness of this Agreement, such Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement shall have become effective by 10:00 P.M., New York City time, on the
date of this Agreement; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that
purpose shall have been commenced or shall be pending before or contemplated by
the Commission.
c) You shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate dated the
Closing Date, signed by _______________ and _______________, in their capacities
as the _______________ and _______________ of the Company, confirming the
matters set forth in Sections 6(t), 9(a) and 9(b) and that the Company has
complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions herein
contained and required to be complied with or satisfied by the Company on or
prior to the Closing Date.
d) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
Prospectus other than as set forth in the Prospectus (exclusive of any
amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement), (i)
there shall not have occurred any change or any development involving a
prospective change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or the earnings,
business, management or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as
a whole, (ii) there shall not have been any change or any development involving
a prospective change in the capital stock or in the long-term debt of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries shall have incurred any liability or obligation, direct or
contingent, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause 9(d)(i),
9(d)(ii) or 9(d)(iii), in your judgment, is material and adverse and, in your
judgment, makes it impracticable to market the Shares on the terms and in the
manner contemplated in the Prospectus.
e) All the representations and warranties of each Selling Stockholder
contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct on the Closing Date with
the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date and you shall
have received on the Closing Date a certificate dated the Closing Date from each
Selling Stockholder to such effect and to the effect that such Selling
Stockholder has complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the
conditions herein contained and required to be complied with or satisfied by
such Selling Stockholder on or prior to the Closing Date.
18
f) You shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion (satisfactory
to you and counsel for the Underwriters), dated the Closing Date, of ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel for the Company and the Selling Stockholders, to the
effect that:
i) each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly
incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under
the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and has the corporate power
and authority to carry on its business as described in the Prospectus and
to own, lease and operate its properties;
ii) each of the Company and its subsidiaries is duly qualified and
is in good standing as a foreign corporation authorized to do business in
each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or its ownership or
leasing of property requires such qualification, except where the failure
to be so qualified would not have a material adverse effect on the
business, prospects, financial condition or results of operations of the
Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
iii) all the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company
(including the Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholders) have been
duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable and
not subject to any preemptive or similar rights;
iv) the Shares to be issued and sold by the Company hereunder have
been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered to the Underwriters
against payment therefor as provided by this Agreement, will be validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of such Shares will
not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights;
v) all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the
Company's subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued and are
fully paid and non-assessable, and are owned by the Company, directly or
indirectly through one or more subsidiaries, free and clear of any security
interest, claim, lien, encumbrance or adverse interest of any nature;
vi) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by the Company and by or on behalf of each Selling Stockholder;
vii) the authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to
legal matters to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus;
viii) the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act,
no stop order suspending its effectiveness has been issued and no
proceedings for that purpose are, to the best of such counsel's knowledge
after due inquiry, pending before or contemplated by the Commission;
19
ix) the statements under the captions "Risk Factors--Risks related
to eSolutions market--We have various mechanisms in place to discourage
takeover attempts," "Description of Capital Stock" and "Shares Eligible for
Future Sale" in the Prospectus and Items 14 and 15 of Part II of the
Registration Statement, insofar as such statements constitute a summary of
the legal matters, documents or proceedings referred to therein, fairly
present the information called for with respect to such legal matters,
documents and proceedings;
x) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation
of its respective charter or by-laws and, to the best of such counsel's
knowledge after due inquiry, neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries is in default in the performance of any obligation, agreement,
covenant or condition contained in any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage,
lease or other agreement or instrument that is material to the Company and
its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries
or their respective property is bound;
xi) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by
the Company, the compliance by the Company with all the provisions hereof
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (A)
require any consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or
qualification with, any court or governmental body or agency (except such
as may be required under the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various
states), (B) conflict with or constitute a breach of any of the terms or
provisions of, or a default under, the charter or by-laws of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries or any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, lease
or other agreement or instrument that is material to the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries
or their respective property is bound, (C) violate or conflict with any
applicable law or any rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any
court or any governmental body or agency having jurisdiction over the
Company, any of its subsidiaries or their respective property or (D) result
in the suspension, termination or revocation of any Authorization of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or any other impairment of the rights of
the holder of any such Authorization;
xii) after due inquiry, such counsel does not know of any legal or
governmental proceedings pending or threatened to which the Company or any
of its subsidiaries is or could be a party or to which any of their
respective property is or could be subject that are required to be
described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not so
described, or of any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents
that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that
are not so described or filed as required;
xiii) to the best of such counsel's knowledge, neither the Company
nor any of its subsidiaries has violated any Environmental Law, any
provisions of the Employee
20
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or any provisions of
the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, except for such violations which, singly or in the aggregate,
would not have a material adverse effect on the business, prospects,
financial condition or results of operation of the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
xiv) to the best of such counsel's knowledge, each of the Company
and its subsidiaries has such Authorizations of, and has made all filings
with and notices to, all governmental or regulatory authorities and self-
regulatory organizations and all courts and other tribunals, including,
without limitation, under any applicable Environmental Laws, as are
necessary to own, lease, license and operate its respective properties and
to conduct its business, except where the failure to have any such
Authorization or to make any such filing or notice would not, singly or in
the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business, prospects,
financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole; each such Authorization is valid and in
full force and effect and each of the Company and its subsidiaries is in
compliance with all the terms and conditions thereof and with the rules and
regulations of the authorities and governing bodies having jurisdiction
with respect thereto; and no event has occurred (including, without
limitation, the receipt of any notice from any authority or governing body)
which allows or, after notice or lapse of time or both, would allow,
revocation, suspension or termination of any such Authorization or results
or, after notice or lapse of time or both, would result in any other
impairment of the rights of the holder of any such Authorization; and such
Authorizations contain no restrictions that are burdensome to the Company
or any of its subsidiaries; except where such failure to be valid and in
full force and effect or to be in compliance, the occurrence of any such
event or the presence of any such restriction would not, singly or in the
aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business, prospects,
financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
xv) the Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and
sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described
in the Prospectus, will not be, an "investment company" as such term is
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;
xvi) to the best of such counsel's knowledge after due inquiry,
except as described in the Registration Statement, there are no contracts,
agreements or understandings between the Company and any person granting
such person the right to require the Company to file a registration
statement under the Act with respect to any securities of the Company or to
require the Company to include such securities with the Shares registered
pursuant to the Registration Statement;
xvii) (A) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any
supplement or amendment thereto (except for the financial statements and
other financial data included therein as to which no opinion need be
expressed) comply as to form with the Act, (B) such counsel has no reason
to believe that at the time the Registration Statement became
21
effective or on the date of this Agreement, the Registration Statement and the
prospectus included therein (except for the financial statements and other
financial data as to which such counsel need not express any belief) 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, and (C) such counsel has no reason to believe that the Prospectus,
as amended or supplemented, if applicable (except for the financial statements
and other financial data, as aforesaid) contains any untrue statement of a
material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading;
xviii) each Selling Stockholder is the lawful owner of the Shares to be
sold by such Selling Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement and has good and
clear title to such Shares, free of all restrictions on transfer, liens,
encumbrances, security interests, equities and claims whatsoever;
xix) each Selling Stockholder has full legal right, power and authority,
and all authorization and approval required by law, to enter into this Agreement
and the Custody Agreement and the Power of Attorney of such Selling Stockholder
and to sell, assign, transfer and deliver the Shares to be sold by such Selling
Stockholder in the manner provided herein and therein;
xx) the Custody Agreement of each Selling Stockholder has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by such Selling Stockholder and is a valid
and binding agreement of such Selling Stockholder, enforceable in accordance
with its terms;
xxi) the Power of Attorney of each Selling Stockholder has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by such Selling Stockholder and is a valid
and binding instrument of such Selling Stockholder, enforceable in accordance
with its terms, and, pursuant to such Power of Attorney, such Selling
Stockholder has, among other things, authorized the Attorneys, or any one of
them, to execute and deliver on such Selling Stockholder's behalf this Agreement
and any other document they, or any one of them, may deem necessary or desirable
in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and to
deliver the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder pursuant to this
Agreement;
xxii) upon delivery of and payment for the Shares to be sold by each
Selling Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement, good and clear title to such
Shares will pass to the Underwriters, free of all restrictions on transfer,
liens, encumbrances, security interests, equities and claims whatsoever; and
xxiii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney of each Selling Stockholder by such
Selling Stockholder, the compliance by such Selling Stockholder with all the
provisions hereof and thereof and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby will not (A) require any consent, approval,
authorization or other order of, or qualification
22
with, any court or governmental body or agency (except such as may be required
under the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states), (B) conflict with
or constitute a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or a default under,
the organizational documents of such Selling Stockholder, if such Selling
Stockholder is not an individual, or any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage,
lease or other agreement or instrument to which such Selling Stockholder is a
party or by which any property of such Selling Stockholder is bound, or (C)
violate or conflict with any applicable law or any rule, regulation, judgment,
order or decree of any court or any governmental body or agency having
jurisdiction over such Selling Stockholder or any property of such Selling
Stockholder.
The opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ LLP described in Section 9(f) above (and any
local counsel of ▇▇▇▇▇ Liddell & ▇▇▇▇ LLP) shall be rendered to you at the
request of the Company and the Selling Stockholders and shall so state therein.
g) You shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion, dated the
Closing Date, of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Ltd., counsel for the Underwriters, as to
the matters referred to in Sections 9(f)(iv), 9(f)(vi) (but only with respect to
the Company), 9(f)(ix) (but only with respect to the statements under the
caption "Description of Capital Stock" and "Underwriting") and 9(f)(xvii).
In giving such opinions with respect to the matters covered by Section
9(f)(xvii), counsel for the Company and the Selling Stockholders and counsel for
the Underwriters may state that their opinion and belief are based upon their
participation in the preparation of the Registration Statement and Prospectus
and any amendments or supplements thereto and review and discussion of the
contents thereof, but are without independent check or verification except as
specified.
h) You shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the Closing
Date, a letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, in
form and substance satisfactory to you, from Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent
public accountants, containing the information and statements of the type
ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" to Underwriters with
respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
i) The Company shall have delivered to you the agreements specified in
Section 2 hereof which agreements shall be in full force and effect on the
Closing Date.
j) The Shares shall have been duly listed for quotation on the Nasdaq
National Market.
k) The Company and the Selling Stockholders shall not have failed on or
prior to the Closing Date to perform or comply with any of the agreements herein
contained and required to be performed or complied with by the Company or the
Selling Stockholders, as the case may be, on or prior to the Closing Date.
23
l) You shall have received on the Closing Date, a certificate of each
Selling Stockholder who is not a U.S. Person (as defined under applicable U.S.
federal tax legislation) to the effect that such Selling Stockholder is not a
U.S. Person, which certificate may be in the form of a properly completed and
executed United States Treasury Department Form W-8 (or other applicable form or
statement specified by Treasury Department regulations in lieu thereof).
The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase any Additional Shares
hereunder are subject to the delivery to you on the applicable Option Closing
Date of such documents as you may reasonably request with respect to the good
standing of the Company, the due authorization and issuance of such Additional
Shares and other matters related to the issuance of such Additional Shares.
SECTION 10. Effectiveness of Agreement and Termination. This Agreement
shall become effective upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the
parties hereto.
This Agreement may be terminated at any time on or prior to the Closing Date by
you by written notice to the Sellers if any of the following has occurred: (i)
any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or other national or international
calamity or crisis or change in economic conditions or in the financial markets
of the United States or elsewhere that, in your judgment, is material and
adverse and, in your judgment, makes it impracticable to market the Shares on
the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus, (ii) the suspension
or material limitation of trading in securities or other instruments on the New
York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the Chicago Board of Options
Exchange, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the Chicago Board of Trade or the
Nasdaq National Market or limitation on prices for securities or other
instruments on any such exchange or the Nasdaq National Market, (iii) the
suspension of trading of any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the
over-the-counter market, (iv) the enactment, publication, decree or other
promulgation of any federal or state statute, regulation, rule or order of any
court or other governmental authority which in your opinion materially and
adversely affects, or will materially and adversely affect, the business,
prospects, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (v) the declaration of a banking moratorium by
either federal or New York State authorities, or (vi) the taking of any action
by any federal, state or local government or agency in respect of its monetary
or fiscal affairs which in your opinion has a material adverse effect on the
financial markets in the United States.
If on the Closing Date or on an Option Closing Date, as the case may be, any one
or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase the Firm Shares or
Additional Shares, as the case may be, which it has or they have agreed to
purchase hereunder on such date and the aggregate number of Firm Shares or
Additional Shares, as the case may be, which such defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth
of the total number of Firm Shares or Additional Shares, as the case may be, to
be purchased on such date by all Underwriters, each non-defaulting Underwriter
shall be obligated severally, in the proportion which the number of Firm Shares
set forth opposite its name in Schedule I bears to the total number of Firm
Shares which all the non-defaulting Underwriters have agreed to
24
purchase, or in such other proportion as you may specify, to purchase the Firm
Shares or Additional Shares, as the case may be, which such defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such
date; provided that in no event shall the number of Firm Shares or Additional
Shares, as the case may be, which any Underwriter has agreed to purchase
pursuant to Section 2 hereof be increased pursuant to this Section 10 by an
amount in excess of one-ninth of such number of Firm Shares or Additional
Shares, as the case may be, without the written consent of such Underwriter. If
on the Closing Date any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to
purchase Firm Shares and the aggregate number of Firm Shares with respect to
which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Firm
Shares to be purchased by all Underwriters and arrangements satisfactory to you,
the Company and the Selling Stockholders for 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 or
the Selling Stockholders. In any such case which does not result in termination
of this Agreement, either you or the Sellers 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
any other documents or arrangements may be effected. If, on an Option Closing
Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase
Additional Shares and the aggregate number of Additional Shares with respect to
which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of
Additional Shares to be purchased on such date, the non-defaulting Underwriters
shall have the option to (i) terminate their obligation hereunder to purchase
such Additional Shares or (ii) purchase not less than the number of Additional
Shares that such non-defaulting Underwriters would have been obligated to
purchase on such date in the absence of such default. Any action taken under
this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in
respect of any default of any such Underwriter under this Agreement.
SECTION 11. Agreements of the Selling Stockholders. Each Selling
Stockholder agrees with you and the Company:
a) To pay or to cause to be paid all transfer taxes payable in connection
with the transfer of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder to the
Underwriters.
b) To do and perform all things to be done and performed by such Selling
Stockholder under this Agreement prior to the Closing Date and to satisfy all
conditions precedent to the delivery of the Shares to be sold by such Selling
Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement.
SECTION 12. Miscellaneous. Notices given pursuant to any provision of this
Agreement shall be addressed as follows: (i) if to the Company, to ▇▇▇▇▇
Consulting, Inc., ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, (ii) if to
the Selling Stockholders, to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ Consulting, Inc., ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ and (iii) if to any Underwriter or to
you, to you c/▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: Syndicate Department, or in any
case to such other address as the person to be notified may have requested in
writing.
25
The respective indemnities, contribution agreements, representations, warranties
and other statements of the Company, the Selling Stockholders and the several
Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement shall remain
operative and in full force and effect, and will survive delivery of and payment
for the Shares, regardless of any investigation, or statement as to the results
thereof, made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the officers or directors of
any Underwriter, any person controlling any Underwriter, the Company, the
officers or directors of the Company, any person controlling the Company, any
Selling Stockholder or any person controlling such Selling Stockholder,
acceptance of the Shares and payment for them hereunder and termination of this
Agreement.
If for any reason the Shares are not delivered by or on behalf of any Seller as
provided herein (other than as a result of any termination of this Agreement
pursuant to Section 10), the Sellers agree, jointly and severally, to reimburse
the several Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and
disbursements of counsel) incurred by them. Notwithstanding any termination of
this Agreement, the Company shall be liable for all expenses which it has agreed
to pay pursuant to Section 5(i) hereof. The Sellers also agree, jointly and
severally, to reimburse the several Underwriters, their directors and officers
and any persons controlling any of the Underwriters for any and all fees and
expenses (including, without limitation, the fees disbursements of counsel)
incurred by them in connection with enforcing their rights hereunder (including,
without limitation, pursuant to Section 8 hereof).
Except as otherwise provided, this Agreement has been and is made solely for the
benefit of and shall be binding upon the Company, the Selling Stockholders, the
Underwriters, the Underwriters' directors and officers, any controlling persons
referred to herein, the Company's directors and the Company's officers who sign
the Registration Statement and their respective successors and assigns, all as
and to the extent provided in this Agreement, and no other person shall acquire
or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. The term "successors
and assigns" shall not include a purchaser of any of the Shares from any of the
several Underwriters merely because of such purchase.
This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of New York.
This Agreement may be signed in various counterparts which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
26
Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement among the
Company, the Selling Stockholders and the several Underwriters.
Very truly yours,
▇▇▇▇▇ CONSULTING, INC.
By:_______________________________
Title:____________________________
THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS NAMED IN SCHEDULE II HERETO, ACTING SEVERALLY
By:_______________________________
Attorney-in-fact
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
SECURITIES CORPORATION
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ BARNEY INC.
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇, INC.
DLJDIRECT INC.
Acting severally on behalf of
themselves and the several
Underwriters named in
Schedule I hereto
By: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LUFKIN & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
SECURITIES CORPORATION
By:________________________________
Its:_______________________________
27
SCHEDULE I
----------
Number of Firm Shares
Underwriters to be Purchased
------------------------------------ -------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Securities Corporation
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Barney Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇, Inc.
DLJdirect Inc.
Total 4,600,000
28
SCHEDULE II
-----------
Maximum Number of
Name Number of Firm Shares Additional Shares
---- --------------------- ------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Total 500,000 690,000
29
Annex I
[Insert names of stockholders of the Company who will be required to sign lock
ups]
30
