2,000,000 Units
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
__________, 1999
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Investment Company, Inc.
As Representative of the
Several Underwriters
▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Gentlemen:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇, a California corporation (the "Company"), proposes to sell
to the several underwriters (the "Underwriters") named in Schedule I hereto for
whom you are acting as Representative (the "Representative") an aggregate of
1,750,000 Units (the "Firm Units"). Each Unit will consist of one share of the
Company's Common Stock ("Common Stock") and one Purchase Warrant substantially
in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (hereinafter
defined) ("Warrants"). The respective number of the Firm Units to be so
purchased by the several Underwriters are set forth opposite their names in
Schedule I hereto. The Company also proposes to grant to the Representative an
option to purchase in aggregate up to 262,500 additional Units, identical to the
Firm Units (the "Option Units"), as set forth below.
As the Representative, you have advised the Company (a) that you are
authorized to enter into this Agreement for yourself as Representative and 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 Units
set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I. The Firm Units and the
Option Units (to the extent the aforementioned option is exercised) are herein
collectively called the "Units."
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:
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1. Representations and Warranties of the Company.
The Company represents and warrants to each of the Underwriters as follows:
(a) A registration statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 333-_______) with
respect to the Units has been carefully 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. 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, 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 (a) the form of prospectus first
filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) or (b) the last preliminary
prospectus included in the Registration Statement filed prior to the time it
becomes effective or filed pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Act that is
delivered by the Company to the Underwriters for delivery to purchasers of the
Units, together with the term sheet or abbreviated term sheet filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)(7) under the Act. Each preliminary prospectus
included in the Registration Statement prior to the time it becomes effective is
herein referred to as a "Preliminary Prospectus."
(b) The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of California, with
corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its
business as described in the Registration Statement. The Company does not own
and never has owned a controlling interest in any other corporation or other
business entity that has or ever has had any material assets, liabilities or
operations. The Company is duly qualified to transact business in all
jurisdictions in which the conduct of its business requires such qualification.
(c) The outstanding shares of each class or series of capital stock of
the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and
non-assessable and, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, have been
issued and sold by the Company in compliance in all material respects with
applicable securities laws; the issuance and sale of the Units have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action and, when issued and paid for as
contemplated herein, the Units will be validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable; and no preemptive rights of shareholders exist with respect to
any security of the Company or the issue and sale thereof. Neither the filing of
the Registration Statement nor the offering or sale of the Units as contemplated
by this
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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 or
other securities of the Company.
(d) The information set forth under the caption "Capitalization" in
the Prospectus is true and correct. The Common Stock conforms and the Warrants
and the Representative's Warrant will conform to the description thereof
contained in the Registration Statement. The forms of certificates for the
securities comprising the Units conform to the requirements of the corporate law
of California.
(e) The Commission has not issued an order preventing or suspending
the use of any Prospectus relating to the proposed offering of the Units 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, to the
requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations. 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 Representative, specifically for use in the
preparation thereof.
(f) The financial statements of the Company, together with related
notes and schedules as set forth in the Registration Statement, present fairly
the financial position and the results of operations and cash flows of the
Company 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 herein, and all adjustments necessary for a fair
presentation of results for such periods have been made. The summary financial
and statistical data of the Company included in the Registration Statement
presents fairly the information shown therein and such data has been compiled on
a basis consistent with the financial statements presented therein and the books
and records of the Company.
(g) ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Minsk, ▇▇▇▇ & Fastovsky, who have certified certain of
the financial statements filed with the Commission as part of the Registration
Statement, are independent public accountants as required by the Act and the
Rules and Regulations.
(h) There is no action, suit, claim or proceeding pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company before any court or
administrative agency or otherwise
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which if determined adversely to the Company might result in any material
adverse change in the earnings, business, management, properties, assets,
rights, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the
Company or to prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby,
except as set forth in the Registration Statement.
(i) The Company has good and marketable title to all properties and
assets, tangible and intangible, 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. The Company's ownership rights in its patents, patent
licenses and other material technology is consistent with (i) the description
thereof in the Registration Statement, and (ii) the business needs of the
Company. All of the leases and subleases under which the Company holds
properties are in full force and effect (with only such exceptions as are
commonly accepted by prudent companies engaged in the Company's business) and
the Company has not received notice of any material claim of any sort that has
been asserted by anyone materially adverse to the rights of the Company under
any of such leases or subleases, or affecting or questioning the rights of the
Company to the continued possession of the leased or subleased premises or
property under any such lease or sublease.
(j) The Company has filed all federal, state, local and foreign income
tax returns which have been required to be filed and have paid all taxes
indicated by said returns and all assessments received by it to the extent that
such taxes have become due and are not being contested in good faith. All tax
liabilities have been adequately provided for in the financial statements of the
Company.
(k) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
Registration Statement, as it may have been amended or supplemented, there has
not been any material adverse change or any development involving a prospective
material adverse change in or affecting the earnings, business, management,
properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or otherwise), or
prospects of the Company, whether or not occurring in the ordinary course of
business, and there has not been any material transaction entered into or any
material transaction that is probable of being entered into by the Company,
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 has no material contingent obligations which are not
disclosed in the Company's financial statements or elsewhere in the Prospectus
which are included in the Registration Statement.
(l) The Company is not, nor, with the giving of notice or lapse of
time or both, will it be, in violation of or in default under its Articles of
Incorporation or Bylaws 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 is of material significance in
respect of the condition, financial or otherwise of the Company or the business,
management, properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or
otherwise) or prospects of the Company. The
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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 any member of the Company is a party, or of the
Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company or any order, rule or
regulation applicable to the Company of any court or of any regulatory body or
administrative agency or other governmental body having jurisdiction.
(m) 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 Units 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.
(n) The Company holds all material patents, patent rights trademarks,
trade names, copyrights, trade secrets and licenses of any of the foregoing
(collectively, "Intellectual Property Rights") that are necessary to the conduct
of its businesses; there is no claim pending or, to the best knowledge of the
Company, threatened against any member of the Company alleging any infringement
of Intellectual Property Rights, or any violation of the terms of any license
relating to Intellectual Property Rights, nor does the Company know of any basis
for any such claim. The Company knows of no material infringement by others of
Intellectual Property Rights owned by or licensed to any member of the Company.
The Company has obtained, is in compliance in all material respect with and
maintains in full force and effect all material licenses, certificates, permits,
orders or other, similar authorizations granted or issued by any governmental
agency (collectively "Government Permits") required to conduct its business as
it is presently conducted. No proceeding to revoke, limit or otherwise
materially change any Government Permit has been commenced or, to the Company's
best knowledge, is threatened against the Company, and the Company has no reason
to anticipate that any such proceeding will be commenced against the Company.
Except as disclosed or contemplated in the Prospectus, the Company has no reason
to believe that any pending application for a Government Permit will be denied
or limited in a manner inconsistent with the Company's business plan as
described in the Prospectus.
(o) The Company is in all material respects in compliance with all
applicable Environmental Laws. The Company has no knowledge of any past, present
or, as anticipated by the Company, future events, conditions, activities,
investigation, studies, plans or proposals that (i) would interfere with or
prevent compliance with any Environmental Law by the Company or (ii) could
reasonably be expected to give rise to any common law or other liability, or
otherwise form the basis of a claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing or
investigation, involving the Company and related in any way to Hazardous
Substances or Environmental Laws. Except for the prudent and safe use and
management of Hazardous Substances in the ordinary course of the Company's
business, (i) no Hazardous Substance is or has been used, treated, stored,
generated, manufactured or otherwise
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handled on or at any Facility and (ii) to the Company's best knowledge, no
Hazardous Substance has otherwise come to be located in, on or under any
Facility. No Hazardous Substances are stored at any Facility except in
quantities necessary to satisfy the reasonably anticipated use or consumption by
the Company. No litigation, claim, proceeding or governmental investigation is
pending regarding any environmental matter for which the Company has been served
or otherwise notified or, to the knowledge of the Company threatened or asserted
against the Company, or the officers or directors of any such member in their
capacities as such, or any Facility or the Company's business. There are no
orders, judgments or decrees of any court or of any governmental agency or
instrumentality under any Environmental Law which specifically apply to the
Company, any Facility or any of the Company's operations. The Company has not
received from a governmental authority or other person (i) any notice that it is
a potentially responsible person for any Contaminated site or (ii) any request
for information about a site alleged to be Contaminated or regarding the
disposal of Hazardous Substances. There is no litigation or proceeding against
any other person by the Company regarding any environmental matter. The Company
has disclosed in the Prospectus or made available to the Underwriters and their
counsel true, complete and correct copies of any reports, studies,
investigations, audits, analysis, tests or monitoring in the possession of or
initiated by the Company pertaining to any environmental matter relating to the
Company, its past or present operations or any Facility.
For the purposes of the foregoing paragraph, "Environmental Laws" means any
applicable federal, state or local statute, regulation, code, rule, ordinance,
order, judgment, decree, injunction or common law pertaining in any way to the
protection of human health or the environment, including without limitation, the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation and Liability Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the
Clean Air Act, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and any similar or
comparable state or local law; "Hazardous Substance" means any hazardous, toxic,
radioactive or infectious substance, material or waste as defined, listed or
regulated under any Environmental Law; "Contaminated" means the actual existence
on or under any real property of Hazardous Substances, if the existence of such
Hazardous Substances triggers a requirement to perform any investigatory,
remedial, removal or other response action under any Environmental Laws or if
such response action legally could be required by any governmental authority;
"Facility" means any property currently owned, leased or occupied by the
Company.
(p) Neither the Company, nor to the Company's best knowledge, any of
its affiliates, has taken or intends to 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
Units.
(q) The Company is not an "investment company" within the meaning of
such term under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations
of the Commission thereunder.
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(r) 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.
(s) The Company carries, or is covered by, insurance in such amounts
and covering such risks as is adequate for the conduct of their respective
businesses and the value of their respective properties and as is customary for
companies engaged in similar industries.
(t) 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.
(u) The Company confirms as of the date hereof that it is in
compliance with all provisions of Section 1 of Laws of Florida, Chapter 92-198,
An Act Relating to Disclosure of doing Business with Cuba, and the Company
further agrees that if it commences engaging in business with the government of
Cuba or with any person or affiliate located in Cuba after the date the
Registration Statement becomes or has become effective with the Commission or
with the Florida Department of Banking and Finance (the "Department"), whichever
date is later, or if the information reported or incorporated by reference in
the Prospectus, if any, concerning the Company's business with Cuba or with any
person or affiliate located in Cuba changes in any material way, the Company
will provide the Department notice of such business or change, as appropriate,
in a form acceptable to the Department.
(v) The Company is in material compliance with all laws, rules,
regulations, orders of any court or administrative agency, operating licenses or
other requirements imposed by any governmental body applicable to it, including,
without limitation, all applicable laws, rules, regulations, licenses or other
governmental standards applicable to the its business; and the conduct of the
business of the Company, as described in the Prospectus, will not cause the
Company to be in violation of any such requirements.
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(w) Each of the Warrants and the Representative's Warrants (as defined
in Paragraph (d) of Section 2 hereof) have been authorized for issuance to the
purchasers thereof or to the Representative or its designees, as the case may
be, and will, when issued, possess rights, privileges, and characteristics as
represented in the most recent form of Warrants or Representative's Warrants, as
the case may be, filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; the
securities to be issued upon exercise of the Warrants and the Representative's
Warrants, when issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with
the terms thereof, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable
and free of preemptive rights, and all corporate action required to be taken for
the authorization and issuance of the Warrants and the Representative's
Warrants, and the securities to be issued upon their exercise, have been validly
and sufficiently taken.
(x) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any
of its officers, directors or affiliates have caused any person, other than the
Underwriters, to be entitled to reimbursement of any kind, including, without
limitation, any compensation that would be includable as underwriter
compensation under the NASD's Corporate Financing Rule with respect to the
offering of the Units, as a result of the consummation of such offering based on
any activity of such person as a finder, agent, broker, investment adviser or
other financial service provider.
(y) Except as described in the Prospectus, the Company does not
directly or indirectly control or have a material interest in any other business
entity.
2. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Units.
(a) On the basis of the representations, warranties and covenants
herein contained, and subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Company
agrees to sell to the Underwriters and each Underwriter agrees, severally and
not jointly, to purchase, at a price of $____ per Unit, the number of Firm Units
set forth opposite the name of each Underwriter in Schedule I hereof, subject to
adjustments in accordance with Section 9 hereof.
(b) Payment for the Firm Units to be sold hereunder is to be made in
New York Clearing House funds and, at the option of the Representative, by
certified or bank cashier's checks drawn to the order of the Company or bank
wire to an account specified by the Company against either uncertificated
delivery of Firm Units or of certificates therefor (which delivery, if
certificated, shall take place in such location in New York, New York as may be
specified by the Representative) to the Representative for the several accounts
of the Underwriters. Such payment is to be made at the offices of the
Representative at the address set forth on the first page of this agreement, at
7:00 a.m., Pacific 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 and the Company 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.) Except to the extent uncertificated Firm Units are
delivered at closing, the certificates for the Firm Units will be delivered
8
in such denominations and in such registrations as the Representative requests
in writing not later than the second full business day prior to the Closing
Date, and will be made available for inspection by the Representative at least
one business day prior to the Closing Date.
(c) In addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties
herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the
Company hereby grants an option to the Representative to purchase the Option
Units at the price per Unit as set forth in the first paragraph of this Section
2. 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 45 days after the date of this Agreement, by the
Representative to the Company setting forth the number of Option Units as to
which the Representative is exercising the option, the names and denominations
in which the Option Units are to be registered and the time and date at which
certificate representing such Units are to be delivered. The time and date at
which certificates for Option Units are to be delivered shall be determined by
the Representative 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
Closing Date, the notice of exercise shall set the Closing Date as the Option
Closing Date. The option with respect to the Option Units granted hereunder may
be exercised only to cover over-allotments in the sale of the Firm Units by the
Underwriters. The Representative may cancel such option at any time prior to its
expiration by giving written notice of such cancellation to the Company. To the
extent, if any, that the option is exercised, payment for the Option Units shall
be made on the Option Closing Date in New York Clearing House funds and, at the
option of the Representative, by certified or bank cashier's check drawn to the
order of the Company for the Option Units to be sold by the Company or bank wire
to an account specified by the Company in consideration either of uncertificated
delivery of Option Units or delivery of certificates therefor at the offices of
the Representative set forth on the first page of this Agreement. Except to the
extent uncertificated Option Units are delivered at closing, the certificates
for the Option Units will be delivered in such denominations and in such
registrations as the Representative requests in writing not later than the
second full business day prior to the Option Closing Date, and will be made
available for inspection by the Representative at least one business day prior
to the Option Closing Date.
(d) In addition to the sums payable to the Representative as provided
elsewhere herein, the Representative shall be entitled to receive at the
Closing, for themselves alone and not as Representative of the Underwriters, as
additional compensation for their services, purchase warrants (the
"Representative's Warrants") for the purchase of up to 200,000 Units at a price
of $___ per Unit, upon the terms and subject to adjustment and conversion as
described in the form of Representative's Warrants filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.
3. Offering by the Underwriters.
It is understood that the several Underwriters are to make a public
offering of the Firm Units as soon as the Representative deems it advisable to
do so. The Firm Units are to be
9
initially offered to the public at the initial public offering price set forth
in the Prospectus. The Representative may from time to time thereafter change
the public offering price and other selling terms. To the extent, if at all,
that any Option Units are purchased pursuant to Section 2 hereof, the
Representative will offer them to the public on the foregoing terms.
It is further understood that you will act as the Representative for
the Underwriters in the offering and sale of the Units in accordance with an
Agreement Among Underwriters entered into by you and the several other
Underwriters.
4. Covenants of the Company.
The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that:
(a) The Company will (A) use its best efforts to cause the
Registration Statement to become effective or, if the procedure in Rule 430A of
the Rules and Regulations is followed, to prepare and timely file with the
Commission under Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations a Prospectus in a form
approved by the Representative 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 of which the Representative shall not
previously have been advised and furnished with a copy or to which the
Representative shall have reasonably objected in writing or which is not in
compliance with the Rules and Regulations.
(b) The Company will advise the Representative promptly (A) when the
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto shall have become
effective, (B) of receipt of any comments from the Commission, (C) of any
request of the Commission for amendment of the Registration Statement or for
supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, and (D) 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.
(c) The Company will cooperate with the Representative in endeavoring
to qualify the Units for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as
the Representative 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 Representative may
reasonably request for distribution of the Units.
10
(d) The Company will deliver to, or upon the order of, the
Representative, from time to time, as many copies of any Preliminary Prospectus
as the Representative may reasonably request. The Company will deliver to, or
upon the order of, the Representative 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 Representative may
reasonably request. The Company will deliver to the Representative at or before
the Closing Date, four signed copies of the Registration Statement and all
amendments thereto including all exhibits filed therewith, and will deliver to
the Representative such number of copies of the Registration Statement
(including such number of copies of the exhibits filed therewith that may
reasonably be requested), and of all amendments thereto, as the Representative
may reasonably request.
(e) The Company will comply with the Act and the Rules and
Regulations, and the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder, so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the
Units 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 prepare and file with the Commission an appropriate amendment to the
Registration Statement or supplement to 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.
(f) 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.
(g) The Company will, for a period of five years from the Closing
Date, deliver to the Representative copies of annual reports and copies of all
other documents, reports and information furnished by the Company to its
stockholders or filed with any securities exchange pursuant to the requirements
of such exchange or with the Commission pursuant to the Act or the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company will deliver to the Representative
similar reports with respect to significant subsidiaries, as that term is
defined in the Rules and Regulations, which are not consolidated in the
Company's financial statements.
11
(h) 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 derivatives of Common
Stock (or agreement therefor) will be made for a period of one year after the
date of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, by the Company otherwise than
hereunder, or pursuant to contractual obligations existing on the date hereof
for pursuant to employee benefit plans in effect on the date hereof, or with the
prior written consent of the Representative, which consent will not be
unreasonably withheld.
(i) The Company will use its best efforts to list, subject to notice
of issuance, the Common Stock and Warrants on The Nasdaq National Market.
(j) The Company has caused each officer and director and each person
who owns, beneficially or of record, 5% or more of the shares of the Common
Stock outstanding immediately prior to this offering 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 ("Lockup Agreements"), pursuant to which each
such person shall agree (A) not to offer, sell, sell short or otherwise dispose
of any shares of Common Stock or other capital stock of the Company, or any
other securities convertible, exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock or
derivatives of Common Stock 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 one year after the date of
this Agreement, directly or indirectly, except with the prior written consent of
the Representative; and (B) to give prior written notice to the Representative
for a period of five years from the effective date of the Registration
Statement, with respect to any sales of Common Stock of the Company pursuant to
Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any similar rule.
(k) The Company shall apply the net proceeds of its sale of the Units
as set forth in the Prospectus and shall file such reports with the Commission
with respect to the sale of the Units and the application of the proceeds
therefrom as may be required in accordance with Rule 463 under the Act.
(l) The Company shall not invest, or otherwise use the proceeds
received by the Company from its sale of the Units in such a manner as would
require the Company to register as an investment company under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").
(m) The Company will maintain a transfer agent and, if necessary under
the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company, a registrar for the Common
Stock and a Warrant Agent for the Warrants.
(n) 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 constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any
securities of the Company.
12
5. Costs and Expenses.
(a) The Representative shall be entitled to reimbursement from the
Company, for itself alone and not as Representative of the Underwriters, to a
non-accountable expense allowance equal to 2% of the aggregate initial public
offering price of the Firm Units and any Option Units purchased by the
Underwriters. The Representative shall be entitled to withhold this allowance on
the Closing Date related to the purchase of the Firm Units or the Option Units,
as the case may be.
(b) In addition to the payment described in Paragraph (a) of this
Section 5, the Company will pay all costs, expenses and fees incident to the
performance of the obligations of the Company 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; 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 costs of due diligence investigation of the
principals of the Company, 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 NASD Regulation, Inc.) of the terms of the sale of the Units; the
Listing Fee of The Nasdaq Stock Market; and the expenses, including the fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters, incurred in connection with the
qualification of the Units under state securities or Blue Sky laws. Any transfer
taxes imposed on the sale of the Units to the several Underwriters will be paid
by the Company. The Company agrees 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 Units by the
Underwriters to employees and persons having business relationships with the
Company. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay for any of the
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, then the Company shall reimburse the several
Underwriters for accountable out-of-pocket expenses, including fees and
disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred in connection with investigating,
marketing and proposing to market the Units or in contemplation of performing
their obligations hereunder; but the Company 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 Units.
6. Conditions of Obligations of the Underwriters.
The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Firm Units
on the Closing Date and the Option Units, 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, of the representations and warranties of the Company contained
herein, and to the performance by the Company of their covenants and obligations
hereunder and to the following additional conditions:
(a) The Registration Statement and all post-effective amendments
thereto shall have become effective and any and all filings required by Rule 424
and Rule 430A of the Rules and
13
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 Representative 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, 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 Units.
(b) The Representative shall have received on the Closing Date or the
Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the opinion of Stoel Rives LLP, counsel
for the Company, 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 California,
with corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct
its business as described in the Registration Statement; the Company is duly
qualified to transact business in all jurisdictions in which the conduct of its
business requires such qualification, or in which the failure to qualify would
have a materially adverse effect upon the business of the Company.
(ii) The Company has authorized and outstanding capital stock as
set forth under the caption "Capitalization" in the Prospectus; the outstanding
shares of Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and are
fully paid and non-assessable; all of the securities of the Company conform to
the description thereof contained in the Prospectus; the certificates for the
Common Stock and Warrants are in due and proper form; the shares of Common Stock
to be sold by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, including shares of Common
Stock to be sold as a part of the Option Units, have been duly authorized and,
upon issuance and delivery thereof as contemplated in this Agreement and the
Registration Statement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable;
no preemptive rights of shareholders exist with respect to any of the Common
Stock or the issuance or sale thereof pursuant to any applicable statute or the
provisions of the Company's Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws or, to such
counsel's best knowledge, pursuant to any contractual obligation. The Warrants
and the Representative's Warrants have been authorized for issuance to the
purchasers of Units or the Representative, as the case may be, and will, when
issued, possess rights, privileges, and characteristics as represented in the
most recent form of Warrants or Representative's Warrants, as the case may be,
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; the securities to be issued
upon exercise of the Warrants and the Representative's Warrants, as the case may
be, when issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with the
terms of the Representative's Warrants, will be duly and validly issued, fully
paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights, and all corporate action
required to be taken for the authorization and issuance of the Warrants, the
Representative's Warrants, and the securities to be issued upon their exercise,
has been validly and sufficiently taken.
14
(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
Units or the right to have any Common Stock 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 comply as to form in all material respects with the
requirements of the Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder
(except that such counsel need express no opinion as to the financial statements
and related schedules therein).
(vi) The statements under the captions "Shares Eligible for
Future Sale" and "Description of Securities" in the Prospectus and in Items 24
and 26 of the Registration Statement, 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 the Registration Statement or described in
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which are not so filed 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.
(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 Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the
Company, or any agreement or instrument known to such counsel to which the
Company is a party or by which the Company may be bound.
15
(x) Each of this Agreement and the Warrant Agreement by and among
the Company, the Warrantholders (defined therein) and Interwest Transfer
Company, as Warrant Agent, 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.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely as to matters
governed by the laws of states other than California or Federal laws on local
counsel in such jurisdictions, provided that in each case such counsel 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, the opinion
of Stoel Rives LLP shall also include a statement to the effect that nothing has
come to the attention of such counsel that has caused 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, 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).
(c) The Representative shall have received from ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
P.C., counsel for the Underwriters, an opinion dated the Closing Date or the
Option Closing Date, as
16
the case may be, substantially to the effect specified in subparagraphs (i),
(iv) and (v) of Paragraph (b) of this Section 6. In rendering such opinion
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, P.C. may rely as to all matters governed other than by the
laws of the State of California 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 that has caused 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, 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, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, P.C. may state that their belief is based upon
the procedures set forth therein, but is without independent check and
verification.
(d) The Representative shall have received at or prior to the Closing
Date from ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, P.C. a memorandum or summary, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Representative, with respect to the qualification
for offering and sale by the Underwriters of the Units under the state
securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative may
reasonably have designated to the Company.
(e) The Representative, on behalf of the several Underwriters, 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
satisfactory to the Representative, of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Minsk, ▇▇▇▇ & Fastovsky
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 Representative 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 hereof are true and correct as of the Closing Date or the Option
Closing Date, as the case may be;
17
(iii) All filings required to have been made pursuant to Rules
424 or 430A under the Act have been made;
(iv) He has carefully examined the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus and, in his or her opinion, as of the effective date of the
Registration Statement, the statements contained in the Registration Statement
were true and correct, and such Registration Statement and Prospectus did not
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 or any development involving a prospective material adverse
change in or affecting the condition, financial or otherwise, of the Company or
the earnings, business, management, properties, assets, rights, operations,
condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company, whether or not
arising in the ordinary course of business.
(g) The Company shall have furnished to the Representative such
further certificates and documents confirming the representations and
warranties, covenants and conditions contained herein and related matters as the
Representative may reasonably have requested.
(h) The Common Stock and Warrants have been approved for quotation
upon notice of issuance on the Nasdaq National Market.
(i) The Lockup Agreements described in Section 4(j) 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 satisfactory to the Representative and to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, P.C., counsel for the Underwriters.
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 Representative by notifying the Company 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 Company and the Underwriters shall not be under any
obligation to each other (except to the extent provided in Sections 5 and 8
hereof).
18
7. Conditions of the Obligations of the Company.
The obligations of the Company to sell and deliver the portion of the
Units 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.
(a) The Company agrees 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, or (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; and will reimburse each Underwriter and
each such controlling person upon demand for any legal or other 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 Units, whether or not such Underwriter or
controlling person is a party to any action or proceeding; 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 Representative
specifically for use in the preparation thereof. This indemnity agreement will
be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.
(b) 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 and each person, if any, who controls the
Company within the meaning of the Act, against any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities to which the Company or any such director, officer 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
19
Company or any such director, officer 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 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 by or through the Representative
specifically for use in the preparation thereof. This indemnity agreement will
be in addition to any liability which such Underwriter may otherwise have.
(c) 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) or (b) shall be available to any party who shall fail to give notice as
provided in this Section 8(c) 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) or (b). 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 you in the case of parties indemnified
pursuant to Section 8(a) and by the Company in the case of parties indemnified
pursuant to Section 8(b). 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
20
indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether or not any indemnified party is
an actual or potential party to such claim, action or proceeding) unless such
settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each
indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action or
proceeding.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is
unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
Section 8(a) or (b) 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 on the
one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Units. 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 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 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 bears 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
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 and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contributions 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 above in this Section 8(d). 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(d) 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 (d), (i) no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in
excess of the underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the Units
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. The Underwriters' obligations in this Section 8(d) to
contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting
obligations and not joint.
21
(e) 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.
(f) 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 Units 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 Units
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), you, as
Representative 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 such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the
terms set forth herein, the Firm Units or Option Units, as the case may be,
which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to purchase. If during
such 36 hours you, as such Representative, shall not have procured such other
Underwriters, or any others, to purchase the Firm Units or Option Units, as the
case may be, agreed to be purchased by the defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters, then (a) if the aggregate number of Units with respect to which
such default shall occur does not exceed 10% of the Firm Units or Option Units,
as the case may be, covered hereby, the other Underwriters shall be obligated,
severally, in proportion to the respective numbers of Firm Units or Option
Units, as the case may be, which they are obligated to purchase hereunder, to
purchase the Firm Units or Option Units, as the case may be, which such
defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to purchase, or (b) if the
aggregate number of Firm Units or Option Units, as the case may be, with respect
to which such default shall occur exceeds 10% of the Firm Units or Option Units,
as the case may be, covered hereby, the Company or you as the Representative 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 except to the extent provided in Section 8 hereof. In the event of a
default by any Underwriter or
22
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 Representative, 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 ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Investment Company,
Inc., ▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇; with a copy to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, P.C., ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇; if to the
Company, to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇,
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Weisdorn; with copy to Stoel Rives LLP, ▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇.
11. Termination.
This Agreement may be terminated by you by notice to the Company as
follows:
(a) at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the time the Units are
released by you for sale by notice to the Underwriters, or (ii) 11:30 a.m. on
the first business day following the date of this Agreement;
(b) 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 or any
development involving a prospective material adverse change in or affecting the
condition, financial or otherwise, of the Company, the earnings, business,
management, properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or
otherwise) or prospects of the Company, 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 to market the Units or to enforce contracts for
the sale of the Units, (iii) the Dow ▇▇▇▇▇ Industrial Average shall have fallen
by 15 percent or more from its closing price on the day immediately preceding
the date that the Registration Statement is declared effective by the
Commission, (iv) suspension of trading in securities generally on the New York
Stock Exchange or the American Stock Exchange or limitation on prices (other
than limitations on hours or numbers of days of trading) for securities on
either such Exchange, (v) the enactment, publication, decree or other
promulgation of any statute, regulation,
23
rule or order of any court or other governmental authority which in your opinion
materially and adversely affects or may materially and adversely affect the
business or operations of the Company, (vi) declaration of a banking moratorium
by United States or New York State authorities, (vii) any 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); (viii) the suspension of trading of the Common Stock or the
Warrants by the Commission on the Nasdaq Stock Market or (ix) 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
(c) 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 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 Units from any Underwriter
shall be deemed a successor or assign merely because of such purchase.
13. Information Provided by Underwriters.
The Company 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 set forth in the last paragraph on the front cover page (insofar as
such information relates to the Underwriters), legends required by Item 502(d)
of Regulation S-B under the Act and the information under the caption
"Underwriting" 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 and (c) delivery of and payment for the Units 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.
This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with,
the laws of the State of Oregon. All disputes relating to this Underwriting
Agreement shall be adjudicated before
24
a court located in Multnomah County, Oregon to the exclusion of all other courts
that might have jurisdiction.
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 Company and the several
Underwriters in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇
By:
-------------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Weisdorn, President
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the
date first above written.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INVESTMENT COMPANY, INC.
As Representative of the several
Underwriters listed on Schedule I
By: ___________________________________
Authorized Officer
25
SCHEDULE I
Schedule of Underwriters
Number of Firm Units
Underwriter to be Purchased
----------- ---------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Investment Company, Inc.
Total 1,750,000
=========
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