EXHIBIT 1.1
Draft of June 17, 1998
_______________ SHARES
CITYSEARCH, INC.
COMMON STOCK
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
DATED _________, 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION 1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES....................................................... 2
COMPLIANCE WITH REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS................................................... 2
OFFERING MATERIALS FURNISHED TO UNDERWRITERS................................................ 2
DISTRIBUTION OF OFFERING MATERIAL BY THE COMPANY............................................ 3
THE UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT.................................................................. 3
AUTHORIZATION OF THE COMMON SHARES.......................................................... 3
NO APPLICABLE REGISTRATION OR OTHER SIMILAR RIGHTS.......................................... 3
NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE.................................................................. 3
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS..................................................................... 3
PREPARATION OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS..................................................... 3
INCORPORATION AND GOOD STANDING OF THE COMPANY AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES......................... 4
CAPITALIZATION AND OTHER CAPITAL STOCK MATTERS.............................................. 4
STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING;..................................................................... 5
NON-CONTRAVENTION OF EXISTING INSTRUMENTS; NO FURTHER AUTHORIZATIONS
OR APPROVALS REQUIRED....................................................................... 5
NO MATERIAL ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS.......................................................... 5
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS................................................................ 5
ALL NECESSARY PERMITS, ETC.................................................................. 6
TITLE TO PROPERTIES......................................................................... 6
TAX LAW COMPLIANCE.......................................................................... 6
COMPANY NOT AN INVESTMENT COMPANY........................................................... 6
INSURANCE................................................................................... 6
NO PRICE STABILIZATION OR MANIPULATION...................................................... 7
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS.................................................................. 7
NO UNLAWFUL CONTRIBUTIONS OR OTHER PAYMENTS................................................. 7
COMPANY'S ACCOUNTING SYSTEM................................................................. 7
COMPLIANCE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS.......................................................... 7
ERISA COMPLIANCE............................................................................ 8
SECTION 2. PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF COMMON SHARES......................................... 8
THE FIRM COMMON SHARES...................................................................... 8
THE FIRST CLOSING DATE...................................................................... 8
THE OPTIONAL COMMON SHARES; THE SECOND CLOSING DATE......................................... 9
PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE COMMON SHARES........................................................ 9
PAYMENT FOR THE COMMON SHARES............................................................... 9
DELIVERY OF THE COMMON SHARES............................................................... 10
DELIVERY OF PROSPECTUS TO THE UNDERWRITERS.................................................. 10
SECTION 3. ADDITIONAL COVENANTS [OF THE COMPANY]................................................ 10
REPRESENTATIVE'S REVIEW OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS.............................. 10
SECURITIES ACT COMPLIANCE................................................................... 10
AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO THE PROSPECTUS AND OTHER SECURITIES ACT MATTERS............... 11
COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO THE PROSPECTUS.................................. 11
BLUE SKY COMPLIANCE......................................................................... 11
USE OF PROCEEDS............................................................................. 11
TRANSFER AGENT.............................................................................. 12
EARNINGS STATEMENT.......................................................................... 12
PERIODIC REPORTING OBLIGATIONS.............................................................. 12
AGREEMENT NOT TO OFFER OR SELL ADDITIONAL SECURITIES........................................ 12
FUTURE REPORTS TO THE REPRESENTATIVE........................................................ 00
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XXXXXXX 0. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES.................................................................. 13
SECTION 5. CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS.................................... 13
ACCOUNTANTS' COMFORT LETTER................................................................. 13
COMPLIANCE WITH REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS; NO STOP ORDER, NO OBJECTION FROM NASD............ 14
NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE OR RATINGS AGENCY CHANGE......................................... 14
OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR THE COMPANY.......................................................... 14
OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR THE UNDERWRITERS..................................................... 14
OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE....................................................................... 15
BRING-DOWN COMFORT LETTER................................................................... 15
LOCK-UP AGREEMENT FROM CERTAIN STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY.................................. 15
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS........................................................................ 15
SECTION 6. REIMBURSEMENT OF UNDERWRITERS' EXPENSES.............................................. 16
SECTION 7. EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS AGREEMENT...................................................... 16
SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION...................................................................... 16
INDEMNIFICATION OF THE UNDERWRITERS......................................................... 16
INDEMNIFICATION OF THE COMPANY, ITS DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.................................. 17
NOTIFICATIONS AND OTHER INDEMNIFICATION PROCEDURES.......................................... 18
SETTLEMENTS................................................................................. 19
SECTION 9. CONTRIBUTION......................................................................... 19
SECTION 10. DEFAULT OF ONE OR MORE OF THE SEVERAL UNDERWRITERS............................. 20
SECTION 11. TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT.................................................. 21
SECTION 12. REPRESENTATIONS AND INDEMNITIES TO SURVIVE DELIVERY............................ 21
SECTION 13. NOTICES............................................................................. 22
SECTION 14. SUCCESSORS..................................................................... 23
SECTION 15. PARTIAL UNENFORCEABILITY............................................................ 23
SECTION 16. GOVERNING LAW PROVISIONS....................................................... 23
SECTION 17. GENERAL PROVISIONS.................................................................. 24
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UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
___________, 1998
NATIONSBANC XXXXXXXXXX SECURITIES LLC
XXXXXXXXX, LUFKIN & XXXXXXXX SECURITIES CORPORATION
BANCAMERICA XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o NATIONSBANC XXXXXXXXXX SECURITIES LLC
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
INTRODUCTORY. CitySearch, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in
Schedule A (the "Underwriters") an aggregate of [___] shares (the "Firm Common
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Shares") of its Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock").
In addition, the Company has granted to the Underwriters an option to purchase
up to an additional [___] shares (the "Optional Common Shares") of Common Stock,
as provided in Section 2. The Firm Common Shares and, if and to the extent such
option is exercised, the Optional Common Shares are collectively called the
"Common Shares". Nationsbanc Xxxxxxxxxx Securities LLC ("NMS"), Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation ("DLJ") and BancAmerica Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx ("BRS") have agreed to act as representatives of the several
Underwriters (in such capacity, the "Representatives") in connection with the
offering and sale of the Common Shares.
The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No.
333-[___]), which contains a form of prospectus to be used in connection with
the public offering and sale of the Common Shares. Such registration statement,
as amended, including the financial statements, exhibits and schedules thereto,
in the form in which it was declared effective by the Commission under the
Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder
(collectively, the "Securities Act"), including any information deemed to be a
part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 434
under the Securities Act, is called the "Registration Statement". Any
registration statement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the
Securities Act is called the "Rule 462(b) Registration Statement", and from and
after the date and time of filing of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement the
term "Registration Statement" shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement. Such prospectus, in the form first used by the Underwriters to
confirm sales of the Common Shares, is called the "Prospectus"; provided,
however, if the Company has, with the consent of the Representatives, elected to
rely upon Rule 434 under the Securities Act, the term "Prospectus" shall mean
the Company's prospectus subject to completion (each, a "preliminary
prospectus") dated [___] (such preliminary prospectus is called the "Rule 434
preliminary prospectus"), together with the
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applicable term sheet (the "Term Sheet") prepared and filed by the Company with
the Commission under Rules 434 and 424(b) under the Securities Act and all
references in this Agreement to the date of the Prospectus shall mean the date
of the Term Sheet. All references in this Agreement to the Registration
Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, a preliminary prospectus, the
Prospectus or the Term Sheet, or any amendments or supplements to any of the
foregoing, shall include any copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to
its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System ("XXXXX").
The Company hereby confirms its agreements with the Underwriters
as follows:
SECTION 1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
The Company hereby represents, warrants and covenants to each
Underwriter as follows :
(a) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Registration
Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement have been declared
effective by the Commission under the Securities Act. The Company has
complied to the Commission's satisfaction with all requests of the
Commission for additional or supplemental information. No stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule
462(b) Registration Statement is in effect and no proceedings for such
purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the best knowledge of
the Company, are contemplated or threatened by the Commission.
Each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus when filed complied in
all material respects with the Securities Act and, if filed by electronic
transmission pursuant to XXXXX (except as may be permitted by Regulation S-
T under the Securities Act), was identical to the copy thereof delivered to
the Underwriters for use in connection with the offer and sale of the
Common Shares. Each of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the
time it became effective and at all subsequent times, complied and will
comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and did not and
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. The Prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, as of its date and at all subsequent times, did not and will
not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The
representations and warranties set forth in the two immediately preceding
sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration
Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or any post-effective
amendment thereto, or the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements
thereto, made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating
to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by the
Representatives expressly for use therein. There are no contracts or other
documents required to be described in the Prospectus or to be filed as
exhibits to the Registration Statement which have not been described or
filed as required.
(b) Offering Materials Furnished to Underwriters. The Company has
delivered to the Representatives three complete manually signed copies of
the Registration Statement and of each consent and certificate of experts
filed as a part thereof, and conformed copies of the Registration Statement
(without exhibits) and preliminary prospectuses and the Prospectus,
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as amended or supplemented, in such quantities and at such places as the
Representatives have reasonably requested for each of the Underwriters.
(c) Distribution of Offering Material By the Company. The Company has
not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of the Second
Closing Date (as defined below) and the completion of the Underwriters'
distribution of the Common Shares, any offering material in connection with
the offering and sale of the Common Shares other than a preliminary
prospectus, the Prospectus or the Registration Statement.
(d) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by, and is a valid and binding agreement
of, the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights
to indemnification hereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as
the enforcement hereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting
the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles.
(e) Authorization of the Common Shares. The Common Shares to be
purchased by the Underwriters from the Company have been duly authorized
for issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and
delivered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, will be validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights. There are no
persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or
debt securities registered for sale under the Registration Statement or
included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement, except for such
rights as have been duly waived.
(g) No Material Adverse Change. Except as otherwise disclosed in the
Prospectus, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Prospectus: (i) there has been no material adverse change, or
any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a material
adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the
earnings, business, operations or prospects, whether or not arising from
transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company and its
subsidiaries, considered as one entity (any such change is called a
"Material Adverse Change"); (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries,
considered as one entity, have not incurred any material liability or
obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, not in the ordinary course of
business nor entered into any material transaction or agreement not in the
ordinary course of business; and (iii) there has been no dividend or
distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company or, except
for dividends paid to the Company or other subsidiaries, any of its
subsidiaries on any class of capital stock or repurchase or redemption by
the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any class of capital stock.
(h) Independent Accountants. Ernst & Young LLP, which has expressed
its opinion with respect to the financial statements (which term as used in
this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) and supporting schedules
filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and
included in the Prospectus, are independent certified public accountants as
required by the Securities Act.
(i) Preparation of the Financial Statements. The financial statements
filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and
included in the Prospectus present
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fairly the consolidated financial position of the Company and its
subsidiaries as of and at the dates indicated and the results of their
operations and cash flows for the periods specified. The supporting
schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly the
information required to be stated therein. Such financial statements and
supporting schedules have been prepared in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the
periods involved, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes
thereto. No other financial statements or supporting schedules are required
to be included in the Registration Statement. The financial data set forth
in the Prospectus under the captions "Prospectus Summary--Summary Selected
Financial Data", "Selected Financial Data" and "Capitalization" fairly
present the information set forth therein on a basis consistent with that
of the audited financial statements contained in the Registration
Statement.
(j) Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company and its
Subsidiaries. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly
incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing
under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has corporate
power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct
its business as described in the Prospectus and, in the case of the
Company, to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement.
Each of the Company and each subsidiary is duly qualified as a foreign
corporation to transact business and is in good standing in the State of
California and each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is
required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the
conduct of business, except for such jurisdictions (other than the State of
California) where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would
not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change.
All of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each subsidiary has been
duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and nonassessable and is
owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of
any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or claim. The
Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation,
association or other entity other than the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit
____ to the Registration Statement.
(k) Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters. The authorized,
issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the
Prospectus under the caption "Capitalization" (other than for subsequent
issuances, if any, pursuant to employee benefit plans described in the
Prospectus or upon exercise of outstanding options or warrants described in
the Prospectus). The Common Stock (including the Common Shares) conforms in
all material respects to the description thereof contained in the
Prospectus. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock have
been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable
and have been issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws.
None of the outstanding shares of Common Stock were issued in violation of
any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to
subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company. There are no
authorized or outstanding options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of
first refusal or other rights to purchase, or equity or debt securities
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any capital stock of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries other than those accurately
described in the Prospectus. The description of the Company's stock option,
stock bonus and other stock plans or arrangements, and the options or other
rights granted thereunder, set forth in the Prospectus accurately and
fairly presents the information required to be shown with respect to such
plans, arrangements, options and rights.
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(l) Stock Exchange Listing. The Common Shares have been approved for
inclusion on the Nasdaq National Market, subject only to official notice of
issuance.
(m) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further
Authorizations or Approvals Required. Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries is in violation of its charter or by-laws or is in default
(or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, would be in default)
("Default") under any indenture, mortgage, loan or credit agreement, note,
contract, franchise, lease or other instrument to which the Company or any
of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound
or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is subject (each, an "Existing Instrument"), except for such
Defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a
Material Adverse Change. The Company's execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
and by the Prospectus (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action and will not result in any violation of the provisions of
the charter or by-laws of the Company or any subsidiary, (ii) will not
conflict with or constitute a breach of, or Default under, or result in the
creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property
or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, or require
the consent of any other part to, any Existing Instrument, except for such
conflicts, breaches, Defaults, liens, charges or encumbrances as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change and
(iii) will not result in any violation of any law, administrative
regulation or administrative or court decree applicable to the Company or
any subsidiary. No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or
registration or filing with, any court or other governmental or regulatory
authority or agency, is required for the Company's execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and by the Prospectus, except such as have been
obtained or made by the Company and are in full force and effect under the
Securities Act, applicable state securities or blue sky laws and from the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD").
(n) No Material Actions or Proceedings. There are no legal or
governmental actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the best of the
Company's knowledge, threatened (i) against or affecting the Company or any
of its subsidiaries, (ii) which has as the subject thereof any officer or
director of, or property owned or leased by, the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or (iii) relating to environmental or discrimination matters,
where in any such case (A) there is a reasonable possibility that such
action, suit or proceeding might be determined adversely to the Company or
such subsidiary and (B) any such action, suit or proceeding, if so
determined adversely, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Change or adversely affect the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. No material labor dispute with the
employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the best
of the Company's knowledge, is threatened or imminent.
(o) Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its subsidiaries
own or possess sufficient trademarks, trade names, patent rights,
copyrights, licenses, approvals, trade secrets and other similar rights
(collectively, "Intellectual Property Rights") reasonably necessary to
conduct their businesses as now conducted; and the expected expiration of
any of such Intellectual Property Rights would not result in a Material
Adverse Change. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has
received any notice of infringement or conflict with asserted Intellectual
Property Rights of others, which infringement or conflict, if the subject
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of an unfavorable decision, would result in a Material Adverse Change.
(p) All Necessary Permits, etc. The Company and each subsidiary
possess such valid and current certificates, authorizations or permits
issued by the appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or
bodies necessary to conduct their respective businesses, and neither the
Company nor any subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating
to the revocation or modification of, or non-compliance with, any such
certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if
the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, could result in
a Material Adverse Change.
(q) Title to Properties. The Company and each of its subsidiaries has
good and marketable title to all the properties and assets reflected as
owned in the financial statements referred to in Section 1(i) above (or
elsewhere in the Prospectus), in each case free and clear of any security
interests, mortgages, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims and other
defects, except such as do not materially and adversely affect the value of
such property and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed
to be made of such property by the Company or such subsidiary. The real
property, improvements, equipment and personal property held under lease by
the Company or any subsidiary are held under valid and enforceable leases,
with such exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere
with the use made or proposed to be made of such real property,
improvements, equipment or personal property by the Company or such
subsidiary.
(r) Tax Law Compliance. The Company and its subsidiaries have filed
all necessary federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns
and have paid all taxes required to be paid by any of them and, if due and
payable, any related or similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against
any of them. The Company has made adequate charges, accruals and reserves
in the applicable financial statements referred to in Section 1 (i) above
in respect of all federal, state and foreign income and franchise taxes for
all periods as to which the tax liability of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries has not been finally determined.
(s) Company Not an "Investment Company". The Company has been advised
of the rules and requirements under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "Investment Company Act"). The Company is not, and after
receipt of payment for the Common Shares will not be, an "investment
company" within the meaning of Investment Company Act and will conduct its
business in a manner so that it will not become subject to the Investment
Company Act.
(t) Insurance. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries are insured
by recognized, financially sound and reputable institutions with policies
in such amounts and with such deductibles and covering such risks as are
generally deemed adequate and customary for their businesses including, but
not limited to, policies covering real and personal property owned or
leased by the Company and its subsidiaries against theft, damage,
destruction, acts of vandalism and earthquakes. The Company has no reason
to believe that it or any subsidiary will not be able (i) to renew its
existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to
obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or
appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that
would not result in a Material Adverse Change. Neither of the Company nor
any subsidiary has been denied any insurance coverage which it has sought
or for which it has applied.
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(u) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company has not taken
and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that
might be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or
manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the
sale or resale of the Common Shares.
(v) Related Party Transactions. There are no business relationships
or related-party transactions involving the Company or any subsidiary or
any other person required to be described in the Prospectus which have not
been described as required.
(w) No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments. Neither the Company
nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the best of the Company's knowledge,
any employee or agent of the Company or any subsidiary, has made any
contribution or other payment to any official of, or candidate for, any
federal, state or foreign office in violation of any law or of the
character required to be disclosed in the Prospectus.
(x) Company's Accounting System. The Company maintains a system of
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.
(y) Compliance with Environmental Laws. Except as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change (i)
neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any
federal, state, local or foreign law or regulation relating to pollution or
protection of human health or the environment (including, without
limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or
subsurface strata) or wildlife, including without limitation, laws and
regulations relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened
releases of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances,
hazardous substances, petroleum and petroleum products (collectively,
"Materials of Environmental Concern"), or otherwise relating to the
manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal,
transport or handling of Materials of Environment Concern (collectively,
"Environmental Laws"), which violation includes, but is not limited to,
noncompliance with any permits or other governmental authorizations
required for the operation of the business of the Company or its
subsidiaries under applicable Environmental Laws, or noncompliance with the
terms and conditions thereof, nor has the Company or any of its
subsidiaries received any written communication, whether from a
governmental authority, citizens group, employee or otherwise, that alleges
that the Company or any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any
Environmental Law; (ii) there is no claim, action or cause of action filed
with a court or governmental authority, no investigation with respect to
which the Company has received written notice, and no written notice by any
person or entity alleging potential liability for investigatory costs,
cleanup costs, governmental responses costs, natural resources damages,
property damages, personal injuries, attorneys' fees or penalties arising
out of, based on or resulting from the presence, or release into the
environment, of any Material of Environmental Concern at any location
owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, now or
in the past (collectively, "Environmental Claims"), pending or, to the best
of the Company's knowledge, threatened
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against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any person or entity
whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company or any of its
subsidiaries has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation
of law; and (iii) to the best of the Company's knowledge, there are no past
or present actions, activities, circumstances, conditions, events or
incidents, including, without limitation, the release, emission, discharge,
presence or disposal of any Material of Environmental Concern, that
reasonably could result in a violation of any Environmental Law or form the
basis of a potential Environmental Claim against the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or against any person or entity whose liability for any
Environmental Claim the Company or any of its subsidiaries has retained or
assumed either contractually or by operation of law.
(z) ERISA Compliance. The Company and its subsidiaries and any
"employee benefit plan" (as defined under the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations and published
interpretations thereunder (collectively, "ERISA")) established or
maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or their "ERISA Affiliates" (as
defined below) are in compliance in all material respects with ERISA.
"ERISA Affiliate" means, with respect to the Company or a subsidiary, any
member of any group of organizations described in Sections 414(b),(c),(m)
or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the
regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the "Code") of which
the Company or such subsidiary is a member. No "reportable event" (as
defined under ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with
respect to any "employee benefit plan" established or maintained by the
Company, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates. No "employee
benefit plan" established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or
any of their ERISA Affiliates, if such "employee benefit plan" were
terminated, would have any "amount of unfunded benefit liabilities" (as
defined under ERISA). Neither the Company, its subsidiaries nor any of
their ERISA Affiliates has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any
liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or
withdrawal from, any "employee benefit plan" or (ii) Sections 412, 4971,
4975 or 4980B of the Code. Each "employee benefit plan" established or
maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA
Affiliates that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the
Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure
to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification.
Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and delivered to
the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed to be a
representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters
set forth therein.
SECTION 2. PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE COMMON SHARES.
(a) The Firm Common Shares. The Company agrees to issue and sell to
the several Underwriters the Firm Common Shares upon the terms herein set forth.
On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained,
and upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the
Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the
respective number of Firm Common Shares set forth opposite their names on
Schedule A. The purchase price per Firm Common Share to be paid by the several
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Underwriters to the Company shall be $[___] per share.
(b) The First Closing Date. Delivery of certificates for the Firm
Common
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Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters and payment therefor shall be made at
the offices of NMS, 000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx (or such
other place as may be agreed to by the Company and the Representatives) at 6:00
a.m. San Francisco time, on [___], or such other time and date not later than
10:30 a.m. San Francisco time , on [___] as the Representatives shall designate
by notice to the Company (the time and date of such closing are called the
"First Closing Date"). The Company hereby acknowledges that circumstances under
which the Representatives may provide notice to postpone the First Closing Date
as originally scheduled include, but are in no way limited to, any determination
by the Company or the Representatives to recirculate to the public copies of an
amended or supplemented Prospectus or a delay as contemplated by the provisions
of Section 10.
(c) The Optional Common Shares; the Second Closing Date. In addition,
on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained,
and upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Company
hereby grants an option to the several Underwriters to purchase, severally and
not jointly, up to an aggregate of [___] Optional Common Shares from the Company
at the purchase price per share to be paid by the Underwriters for the Firm
Common Shares. The option granted hereunder is for use by the Underwriters
solely in covering any over-allotments in connection with the sale and
distribution of the Firm Common Shares. The option granted hereunder may be
exercised at any time (but not more than once) upon notice by the
Representatives to the Company, which notice may be given at any time within 30
days from the date of this Agreement. Such notice shall set forth (i) the
aggregate number of Optional Common Shares as to which the Underwriters are
exercising the option, (ii) the names and denominations in which the
certificates for the Optional Common Shares are to be registered and (iii) the
time, date and place at which such certificates will be delivered (which time
and date may be simultaneous with, but not earlier than, the First Closing Date;
and in such case the term "First Closing Date" shall refer to the time and date
of delivery of certificates for the Firm Common Shares and the Optional Common
Shares). Such time and date of delivery, if subsequent to the First Closing
Date, is called the "Second Closing Date" and shall be determined by the
Representatives and shall not be earlier than three nor later than five full
business days after delivery of such notice of exercise. If any Optional Common
Shares are to be purchased, each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly,
to purchase the number of Optional Common Shares (subject to such adjustments to
eliminate fractional shares as the Representatives may determine) that bears the
same proportion to the total number of Optional Common Shares to be purchased as
the number of Firm Common Shares set forth on Schedule A opposite the name of
----------
such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Common Shares. The
Representatives may cancel the option at any time prior to its expiration by
giving written notice of such cancellation to the Company.
(d) Public Offering of the Common Shares. The Representatives hereby
advise the Company that the Underwriters intend to offer for sale to the public,
as described in the Prospectus, their respective portions of the Common Shares
as soon after this Agreement has been executed and the Registration Statement
has been declared effective as the Representatives, in their sole judgment, have
determined is advisable and practicable.
(e) Payment for the Common Shares. Payment for the Common Shares
shall be made at the First Closing Date (and, if applicable, at the Second
Closing Date) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the order of
the Company.
It is understood that the Representatives have been authorized, for
their own
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account and the accounts of the several Underwriters, to accept delivery of and
receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Firm Common Shares
and any Optional Common Shares the Underwriters have agreed to purchase. NMS,
DLJ or BRS, individually and not as the Representatives of the Underwriters, may
(but shall not be obligated to) make payment for any Common Shares to be
purchased by any Underwriter whose funds shall not have been received by the
Representatives by the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the
case may be, for the account of such Underwriter, but any such payment shall not
relieve such Underwriter from any of its obligations under this Agreement.
(f) Delivery of the Common Shares. The Company shall deliver, or
cause to be delivered, to the Representatives for the accounts of the several
Underwriters certificates for the Firm Common Shares at the First Closing Date,
against the irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately available
funds for the amount of the purchase price therefor. The Company shall also
deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Representatives for the accounts of
the several Underwriters, certificates for the Optional Common Shares the
Underwriters have agreed to purchase at the First Closing Date or the Second
Closing Date, as the case may be, against the irrevocable release of a wire
transfer of immediately available funds for the amount of the purchase price
therefor. The certificates for the Common Shares shall be in definitive form
and registered in such names and denominations as the Representatives shall have
requested at least two full business days prior to the First Closing Date (or
the Second Closing Date, as the case may be) and shall be made available for
inspection on the business day preceding the First Closing Date (or the Second
Closing Date, as the case may be) at a location in New York City as the
Representatives may designate. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at
the time and place specified in this Agreement is a further condition to the
obligations of the Underwriters.
(g) Delivery of Prospectus to the Underwriters. Not later than 12:00
p.m. on the second business day following the date the Common Shares released by
the Underwriters for sale to the public, the Company shall deliver or cause to
be delivered copies of the Prospectus in such quantities and at such places as
the Representatives shall request.
SECTION 3. ADDITIONAL COVENANT.
(a) Representatives' Review of Proposed Amendments and Supplements.
During such period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the later of
the First Closing Date or such date, as in the opinion of counsel for the
Underwriters, the Prospectus is no longer required by law to be delivered
in connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer (the "Prospectus
Delivery Period"), prior to amending or supplementing the Registration
Statement (including any registration statement filed under Rule 462(b)
under the Securities Act) or the Prospectus, the Company shall furnish to
the Representatives for review a copy of each such proposed amendment or
supplement, and the Company shall not file any such proposed amendment or
supplement to which the Representatives reasonably object.
(b) Securities Act Compliance. After the date of this Agreement, the
Company shall promptly advise the Representatives in writing (i) of the
receipt of any comments of, or requests for additional or supplemental
information from, the Commission, (ii) of the time and date of any filing
of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any
amendment or supplement to any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus,
(iii) of the time and date that any post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement becomes effective and (iv) of the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of
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the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or of
any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or
the Prospectus, or of any proceedings to remove, suspend or terminate from
listing or quotation the Common Stock from any securities exchange upon
which the it is listed for trading or included or designated for quotation,
or of the threatening or initiation of any proceedings for any of such
purposes. If the Commission shall enter any such stop order at any time,
the Company will use its best efforts to obtain the lifting of such order
at the earliest possible moment. Additionally, the Company agrees that it
shall comply with the provisions of Rules 424(b), 430A and 434, as
applicable, under the Securities Act and will use its reasonable efforts to
confirm that any filings made by the Company under such Rule 424(b) were
received in a timely manner by the Commission.
(c) Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus and Other Securities
Act Matters. If, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, any event shall
occur or condition exist as a result of which it is 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 the Representatives or counsel for
the Underwriters it is otherwise necessary to amend or supplement the
Prospectus to comply with law, the Company agrees to promptly prepare
(subject to Section 3(a) hereof), file with the Commission and furnish at
its own expense to the Underwriters and to dealers, amendments or
supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus as
so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when
the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the
Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with law.
(d) Copies of any Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus. The
Company agrees to furnish the Representatives, without charge, during the
Prospectus Delivery Period, as many copies of the Prospectus and any
amendments and supplements thereto as the Representatives may request.
(e) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company shall cooperate with the
Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters to qualify or register the
Common Shares for sale under (or obtain exemptions from the application of)
the or state securities or blue sky laws or Canadian provincial securities
laws of those jurisdictions designated by the Representatives, shall comply
with such laws and shall continue such qualifications, registrations and
exemptions in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Common
Shares. The Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign
corporation or to take any action that would subject it to general service
of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not presently qualified or
where it would be subject to taxation as a foreign corporation. The Company
will advise the Representatives promptly of the suspension of the
qualification or registration of (or any such exemption relating to) the
Common Shares for offering, sale or trading in any jurisdiction or any
initiation or threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, and in the
event of the issuance of any order suspending such qualification,
registration or exemption, the Company shall use its best efforts to obtain
the withdrawal thereof at the earliest possible moment.
(f) Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from
the sale of the Common Shares sold by it in the manner described under the
caption "Use of Proceeds" in the Prospectus.
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(g) Transfer Agent. The Company shall engage and maintain, at its
expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Common Stock.
(h) Earnings Statement. As soon as practicable, the Company will make
generally available to its security holders and to the Representatives an
earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering the twelve-month
period ending September 30, 1998 that satisfies the provisions of Section
11(a) of the Securities Act.
(j) Periodic Reporting Obligations. During the Prospectus Delivery
Period the Company shall file, on a timely basis, with the Commission and
the Nasdaq National Market all reports and documents required to be filed
under the Exchange Act. Additionally, the Company shall file with the
Commission all reports on Form SR as may be required under Rule 463 under
the Securities Act.
(l) Agreement Not To Offer or Sell Additional Securities During the
period of 180 days following the date of the Prospectus, the Company will
not, without the prior written consent of NMS (which consent may be
withheld at the sole discretion of NMS), directly or indirectly, sell,
offer, contract or grant any option to sell, pledge, transfer or establish
an open "put equivalent position" within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under
the Exchange Act, or otherwise dispose of or transfer, or announce the
offering of, or file any registration statement under the Securities Act in
respect of, any shares of Common Stock, options or warrants to acquire
shares of the Common Stock or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or
convertible into shares of Common Stock (other than as contemplated by this
Agreement with respect to the Common Shares); provided, however, that the
Company may issue shares of its Common Stock or options to purchase its
Common Stock, or Common Stock upon exercise of options, pursuant to any
stock option, stock bonus or other stock plan or arrangement described in
the Prospectus, but only if the holders of such shares, options, or shares
issued upon exercise of such options, agree in writing not to sell, offer,
dispose of or otherwise transfer any such shares or options during such 180
day period without the prior written consent of NMS (which consent may be
withheld at the sole discretion of the NMS).
(m) Future Reports to the Representatives. During the period of five
years hereafter the Company will furnish to the Representatives at 000
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 Attention: Xxxxx Xxxx, (i) as
soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, copies of the Annual
Report of the Company containing the balance sheet of the Company as of the
close of such fiscal year and statements of income, stockholders' equity
and cash flows for the year then ended and the opinion thereon of the
Company's independent public or certified public accountants; (ii) as soon
as practicable after the filing thereof, copies of each proxy statement,
Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report
on Form 8-K or other report filed by the Company with the Commission, the
NASD or any securities exchange; and (iii) as soon as available, copies of
any report or communication of the Company mailed generally to holders of
its capital stock.
NMS, on behalf of the several Underwriters, may, in its sole
discretion, waive in writing the performance by the Company of any one or more
of the foregoing covenants or extend the time for their performance.
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SECTION 4. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. The Company agrees to pay all
costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its
obligations hereunder and in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby, including without limitation (i) all expenses incident to the issuance
and delivery of the Common Shares (including all printing and engraving costs),
(ii) all fees and expenses of the registrar and transfer agent of the Common
Stock, (iii) all necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection
with the issuance and sale of the Common Shares to the Underwriters, (iv) all
fees and expenses of the Company's counsel, independent certified public
accountants and other advisors, (v) all costs and expenses incurred in
connection with the preparation, printing, filing, shipping and distribution of
the Registration Statement (including financial statements, exhibits, schedules,
consents and certificates of experts), each preliminary prospectus and the
Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto, and this Agreement, (vi)
all filing fees, attorneys' fees and expenses incurred by the Company or the
Underwriters in connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining
exemptions from the qualification or registration of) all or any part of the
Common Shares for offer and sale under the state securities or blue sky laws or
the provincial securities laws of Canada, and, if requested by the
Representatives, preparing and printing a "Blue Sky Survey" or memorandum, and
any supplements thereto, advising the Underwriters of such qualifications,
registrations and exemptions, (vii) the filing fees incident to, and the
reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with,
the NASD's review and approval of the Underwriters' participation in the
offering and distribution of the Common Shares, (viii) the fees and expenses
associated with including the Common Shares on the Nasdaq National Market, and
(ix) all other fees, costs and expenses referred to in Item 13 of Part II of the
Registration Statement. Except as provided in this Section 4, Section 6, Section
8 and Section 9 hereof, the Underwriters shall pay their own expenses, including
the fees and disbursements of their counsel.
SECTION 5. CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS. The
obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Common
Shares as provided herein on the First Closing Date and, with respect to the
Optional Common Shares, the Second Closing Date, shall be subject to the
accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company set
forth in Section 1 hereof as of the date hereof and as of the First Closing Date
as though then made and, with respect to the Optional Common Shares, as of the
Second Closing Date as though then made, to the timely performance by the
Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to each of the
following additional conditions :
(a) Accountants' Comfort Letter. On the date hereof, the
Representatives shall have received from Ernst & Young LLP, independent
certified public accountants for the Company, a letter dated the date
hereof addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance satisfactory to
the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type
ordinarily included in accountant's "comfort letters" to underwriters,
delivered according to Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72 (or any
successor bulletin), with respect to the audited and unaudited financial
statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus (and the Representatives shall have received
an additional [___] conformed copies of such accountants' letter for each
of the several Underwriters).
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(b) Compliance with Registration Requirements; No Stop Order; No
Objection from NASD. For the period from and after effectiveness of this
Agreement and prior to the First Closing Date and, with respect to the
Optional Common Shares, the Second Closing Date:
(i) the Company shall have filed the Prospectus with the
Commission (including the information required by Rule 430A under the
Securities Act) in the manner and within the time period required by Rule
424(b) under the Securities Act; or the Company shall have filed a post-
effective amendment to the Registration Statement containing the
information required by such Rule 430A, and such post-effective amendment
shall have become effective; or, if the Company elected to rely upon Rule
434 under the Securities Act and obtained the Representatives' consent
thereto, the Company shall have filed a Term Sheet with the Commission in
the manner and within the time period required by such Rule 424(b);
(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or any
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, shall be in effect
and no proceedings for such purpose shall have been instituted or
threatened by the Commission; and
(iii) the NASD shall have raised no objection to the fairness
and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.
(c) No Material Adverse Change or Ratings Agency Change. For the
period from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to the First
Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Common Shares, the Second
Closing Date:
(i) in the judgment of the Representatives there shall not
have occurred any Material Adverse Change; and
(ii) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall
any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of
any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of
the possible change, in the rating accorded any securities of the Company
or any of its subsidiaries by any "nationally recognized statistical rating
organization" as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under
the Securities Act.
(d) Opinion of Counsel for the Company. On each of the First Closing
Date and the Second Closing Date the Representatives shall have received
the favorable opinion of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, counsel for the
Company, dated as of such Closing Date, the form of which is attached as
Exhibit A (and the Representatives shall have received an additional [___]
---------
conformed copies of such counsel's legal opinion for each of the several
Underwriters).
(e) Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters. On each of the First
Closing Date and the Second Closing Date the Representatives shall have
received the favorable opinion of Venture Law Group, A Professional
Corporation, counsel for the Underwriters, dated as of such Closing Date,
with respect to the matters set forth in paragraph (i), (vii) (with respect
to subparagraph (i) only), (viii), (ix), (x), (xi), (xii) and (xiii) (with
respect to the captions "Description of Capital Stock" and "Underwriting"
under subparagraph (i) only), and the
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next-to-last paragraph of Exhibit A (and the Representatives shall have
---------
received an additional [___] conformed copies of such counsel's legal
opinion for each of the several Underwriters).
(f) Officers' Certificate. On each of the First Closing Date and the
Second Closing Date the Representatives shall have received a written
certificate executed by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer
or President of the Company and the Chief Financial Officer or Chief
Accounting Officer of the Company, dated as of such Closing Date, to the
effect set forth in subsections (b)(ii) and (c)(ii) of this Section 5, and
further to the effect that:
(i) for the period from and after the date of this Agreement
and prior to such Closing Date, there has not occurred any Material Adverse
Change;
(ii) the representations, warranties and covenants of the
Company set forth in Section 1 of this Agreement are true and correct with
the same force and effect as though expressly made on and as of such
Closing Date; and
(iii) the Company has complied with all the agreements and
satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or
prior to such Closing Date.
(g) Bring-down Comfort Letter. On each of the First Closing Date and
the Second Closing Date the Representatives shall have received from Ernst
& Young LLP, independent certified public accountants for the Company, a
letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the
Representatives, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in
the letter furnished by them pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 5,
except that the specified date referred to therein for the carrying out of
procedures shall be no more than three business days prior to the First
Closing Date or Second Closing Date, as the case may be (and the
Representatives shall have received an additional [___] conformed copies of
such accountants' letter for each of the several Underwriters).
(h) Lock-Up Agreement from Certain Stockholders of the Company. On
the date hereof, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives an
agreement in the form of Exhibit B hereto from each director, officer and
---------
each beneficial owner of more than _____ shares of Common Stock (as
defined and determined according to Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act,
except that a one hundred eighty day period shall be used rather than the
sixty day period set forth therein) and such agreement shall be in full
force and effect on each of the First Closing Date and the Second Closing
Date.
(i) Additional Documents. On or before each of the First Closing Date
and the Second Closing Date, the Representatives and counsel for the
Underwriters shall have received such information, documents and opinions
as they may reasonably require for the purposes of enabling them to pass
upon the issuance and sale of the Common Shares as contemplated herein, or
in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations and
warranties, or the satisfaction of any of the conditions or agreements,
herein contained.
If any condition specified in this Section 5 is not satisfied when and
as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the
Representatives by notice to the Company at any time on or prior to the First
Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Common Shares, at any time prior
to the Second Closing Date, which termination shall be without liability on the
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part of any party to any other party, except that Section 4, Section 6, Section
8 and Section 9 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such
termination.
SECTION 6. REIMBURSEMENT OF UNDERWRITERS' EXPENSES. If this Agreement
is terminated by the Representatives pursuant to Section 5, Section 7, Section
10 or Section 11, or if the sale to the Underwriters of the Common Shares on the
First Closing Date is not consummated because of any refusal, inability or
failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or to comply
with any provision hereof, the Company agrees to reimburse the Representatives
and the other Underwriters (or such Underwriters as have terminated this
Agreement with respect to themselves), severally, upon demand for all out-of-
pocket expenses that shall have been reasonably incurred by the Representatives
and the Underwriters in connection with the proposed purchase and the offering
and sale of the Common Shares, including but not limited to fees and
disbursements of counsel, printing expenses, travel expenses, postage, facsimile
and telephone charges.
SECTION 7. EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS AGREEMENT.
This Agreement shall not become effective until the later of (i) the
execution of this Agreement by the parties hereto and (ii) notification by the
Commission to the Company and the Representatives of the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement under the Securities Act.
Prior to such effectiveness, this Agreement may be terminated by any
party by notice to each of the other parties hereto, and any such termination
shall be without liability on the part of (a) the Company to any Underwriter,
except that the Company shall be obligated to reimburse the expenses of the
Representatives and the Underwriters pursuant to Sections 4 and 6 hereof, (b) of
any Underwriter to the Company, or (c) of any party hereto to any other party
except that the provisions of Section 8 and Section 9 shall at all times be
effective and shall survive such termination.
SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters. The Company agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless each Underwriter, its officers and employees, and each
person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act against any loss, claim, damage, liability
or expense, as incurred, to which such Underwriter or such controlling person
may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other
federal or state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise
(including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected
with the written consent of the Company), insofar as such loss, claim, damage,
liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below)
arises out of or is based (i) upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, or any
amendment thereto, including any information deemed to be a part thereof
pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 434 under the Securities Act, or the omission or
alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (ii) upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment
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or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or (iii) in
whole or in part upon any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of
the Company contained herein; or (iv) in whole or in part upon any failure of
the Company to perform its obligations hereunder or under law; or (v) any act
or failure to act or any alleged act or failure to act by any Underwriter in
connection with, or relating in any manner to, the Common Stock or the
offering contemplated hereby, and which is included as part of or referred to
in any loss, claim, damage, liability or action arising out of or based upon
any matter covered by clause (i) or (ii) above, provided that the Company
shall not be liable under this clause (v) to the extent that a court of
competent jurisdiction shall have determined by a final judgment that such
loss, claim, damage, liability or action resulted directly from any such acts
or failures to act undertaken or omitted to be taken by such Underwriter
through its bad faith or willful misconduct; and to reimburse each Underwriter
and each such controlling person for any and all expenses (including the fees
and disbursements of counsel chosen by NMS) as such expenses are reasonably
incurred by such Underwriter or such controlling person in connection with
investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss,
claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided, however, that the
foregoing indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, claim, damage,
liability or expense to the extent, but only to the extent, arising out of or
based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by the Representatives expressly for use
in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus
(or any amendment or supplement thereto); and provided, further, that with
respect to any preliminary prospectus, the foregoing indemnity agreement shall
not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter from whom the person asserting any
loss, claim, damage, liability or expense purchased Common Shares, or any
person controlling such Underwriter, if copies of the Prospectus were timely
delivered to the Underwriter pursuant to Section 2 and a copy of the
Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented if the Company shall have
furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) was not sent or given by or
on behalf of such Underwriter to such person, if required by law so to have
been delivered, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of the
Common Shares to such person, and if the Prospectus (as so amended or
supplemented) would have cured the defect giving rise to such loss, claim,
damage, liability or expense. The indemnity agreement set forth in this
Section 8(a) shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Company may
otherwise have.
(b) Indemnification of the Company, its Directors and Officers. Each
Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless
the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signed the
Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company
within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any
loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which the Company,
or any such director, officer or controlling person may become subject, under
the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal or state statutory law
or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any
litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of such
Underwriter), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or
actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based
upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or
any amendment or supplement thereto), or arises out of or is based upon 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, in
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each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company by the Representatives expressly
for use therein; and to reimburse the Company, or any such director, officer
or controlling person for any legal and other expense reasonably incurred by
the Company, or any such director, officer or controlling person in connection
with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss,
claim, damage, liability, expense or action. The Company hereby acknowledges
that the only information that the Underwriters have furnished to the Company
expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or
the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) are the statements set
forth (A) as the last two paragraphs on the inside front cover page of the
Prospectus concerning stabilization and passive market making by the
Underwriters and (B) in the table in the first paragraph and as the [second
and eighth paragraphs] under the caption "Underwriting" in the Prospectus; and
the Underwriters confirm that such statements are correct. The indemnity
agreement set forth in this Section 8(b) shall be in addition to any
liabilities that each Underwriter may otherwise have.
(c) Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures. Promptly after
receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the
commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 8,
notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof, but the
omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any
liability which it may have to any indemnified party for contribution or
otherwise than under the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 8 or to
the extent it is not prejudiced as a proximate result of such failure. In
case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and such
indemnified party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying
party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in, and, to the
extent that it shall elect, jointly with all other indemnifying parties
similarly notified, by written notice delivered to the indemnified party
promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to
assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such
indemnified party; provided, however, if the defendants in any such action
include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the
indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that a conflict may arise
between the positions of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in
conducting the defense of any such action or that there may be legal defenses
available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or
additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the indemnified party
or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to assume such
legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on
behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the
indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying party's
election so to assume the defense of such action and approval by the
indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to
such indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel
in accordance with the proviso to the next preceding sentence (it being
understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the
expenses of more than one separate counsel (together with local counsel),
approved by the indemnifying party (NMS in the case of Section 8(b) and
Section 9), representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such
action) or (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel
satisfactory to the
-18-
indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time
after notice of commencement of the action, in each of which cases the fees
and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party.
(d) Settlements. The indemnifying party under this Section 8 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 against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such
settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time
an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse
the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by
Section 8(c) hereof, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for
any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i)
such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such
indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party
shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such
request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall,
without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any
settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or
threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified
party is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been
sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise
or consent includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from
all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or
proceeding.
SECTION 9. CONTRIBUTION.
If the indemnification provided for in Section 8 is for any reason
held to be unavailable to or otherwise insufficient to hold harmless an
indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
the aggregate amount paid or payable by such indemnified party, as incurred, as
a result of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to
therein (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the
other hand, from the offering of the Common Shares pursuant to this Agreement or
(ii) if the allocation provided by clause (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 (i) above but also the relative fault of
the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in
connection with the statements or omissions or inaccuracies in the
representations and warranties herein which resulted in such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand,
and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the
Common Shares pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same
respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Common
Shares pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the
Company, and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, in
each case as set forth on the front cover page of the Prospectus (or, if Rule
434 under the Securities Act is used, the corresponding location on the Term
Sheet) bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Common Shares
as set forth on such cover. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand,
and the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to,
among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact or omission or
-19-
alleged omission to state a material fact or any such inaccurate or alleged
inaccurate representation or warranty relates to information supplied by the
Company, 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 amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to
include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 8(c), any legal or
other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with
investigating or defending any action or claim. The provisions set forth in
Section 8(c) with respect to notice of commencement of any action shall apply if
a claim for contribution is to be made under this Section 9; provided, however,
that no additional notice shall be required with respect to any action for which
notice has been given under Section 8(c) for purposes of indemnification.
The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9 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 this Section 9.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, no Underwriter shall
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting commissions
received by such Underwriter in connection with the Common Shares underwritten
by it and distributed to the public. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities 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 9 are several, and not joint, in proportion to their
respective underwriting commitments as set forth opposite their names in
Schedule A. For purposes of this Section 9, each officer and employee of an
----------
Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the
meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to
contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer
of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any,
who controls the Company with the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.
SECTION 10. DEFAULT OF ONE OR MORE OF THE SEVERAL UNDERWRITERS. If, on
the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, any one
or more of the several Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Common
Shares that it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the
aggregate number of Common Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase does not exceed 10% of the
aggregate number of the Common Shares to be purchased on such date, the other
Underwriters shall be obligated, severally, in the proportions that the number
of Firm Common Shares set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A
----------
bears to the aggregate number of Firm Common Shares set forth opposite the names
of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as may be
specified by the Representatives with the consent of the non-defaulting
Underwriters, to purchase the Common Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date. If, on the
First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or
more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Common Shares and the
aggregate number of Common Shares with respect to
-20-
which such default occurs exceeds 10% of the aggregate number of Common Shares
to be purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to the
Representatives and the Company for the purchase of such Common Shares are not
made within 48 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without
liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section
4, Section 8 and Section 9 shall at all times be effective and shall survive
such termination. In any such case either the Representatives or the Company
shall have the right to postpone the First Closing Date or the Second Closing
Date, as the case may be, but in no event for longer than seven days in order
that the required changes, if any, to the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus or any other documents or arrangements may be effected.
As used in this Agreement, the term "Underwriter" shall be deemed to
include any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter under this Section
10. Any action taken under this Section 10 shall not relieve any defaulting
Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under
this Agreement.
SECTION 11. TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT. Prior to the First Closing
Date this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice given to
the Company if at any time (i) trading or quotation in any of the Company's
securities shall have been suspended or limited by the Commission or by the
Nasdaq Stock Market, or trading in securities generally on either the Nasdaq
Stock Market or the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or
limited, or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on
any of such stock exchanges by the Commission or the NASD; (ii) a general
banking moratorium shall have been declared by any of federal, New York,
Delaware or California authorities; (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak
or escalation of national or international hostilities or any crisis or
calamity, or any change in the United States or international financial markets,
or any substantial change or development involving a prospective substantial
change in United States' or international political, financial or economic
conditions, as in the judgment of the Representatives is material and adverse
and makes it impracticable to market the Common Shares in the manner and on the
terms described in the Prospectus or to enforce contracts for the sale of
securities; (iv) in the judgment of the Representatives there shall have
occurred any Material Adverse Change; or (v) the Company shall have sustained a
loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity of such
character as in the judgment of the Representatives may interfere materially
with the conduct of the business and operations of the Company regardless of
whether or not such loss shall have been insured. Any termination pursuant to
this Section 11 shall be without liability on the part of (a) the Company to any
Underwriter, except that the Company shall be obligated to reimburse the
expenses of the Representatives and the Underwriters pursuant to Sections 4 and
6 hereof, (b) any Underwriter to the Company, or (c) of any party hereto to any
other party except that the provisions of Section 8 and Section 9 shall at all
times be effective and shall survive such termination.
SECTION 12. REPRESENTATIONS AND INDEMNITIES TO SURVIVE DELIVERY. The
respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other
statements of the Company, of its officers and of the several Underwriters set
forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and
effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter
or the Company or any of its or their partners, officers or directors or any
controlling person, as the case may be, and will survive delivery of and payment
for the Common Shares sold hereunder and any termination of this Agreement.
-21-
SECTION 13. NOTICES. All communications hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the parties
hereto as follows:
If to the Representatives:
NationsBanc Xxxxxxxxxx Securities LLC
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
with a copy to:
NationsBanc Xxxxxxxxxx Securities LLC
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
-22-
If to the Company:
CitySearch, Inc.
000 X. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx. 000
Xxxxxxxx, XX _________
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Chief Financial Officer
Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving
written notice to the others.
SECTION 14. SUCCESSORS. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the parties hereto, including any substitute Underwriters
pursuant to Section 10 hereof, and to the benefit of the employees, officers and
directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 8 and Section 9, and in
each case their respective successors, and personal representatives, and no
other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. The term "successors"
shall not include any purchaser of the Common Shares as such from any of the
Underwriters merely by reason of such purchase.
SECTION 15. PARTIAL UNENFORCEABILITY. The invalidity or
unenforceability of any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall
not affect the validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or
provision hereof. If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is
for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed
to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to
make it valid and enforceable.
SECTION 16. (A) GOVERNING LAW PROVISIONS. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE
GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE.
(b) Consent to Jurisdiction. Any legal suit, action or proceeding
arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby ("Related Proceedings") may be instituted in the federal courts of the
United States of America located in the City and County of San Francisco or the
courts of the State of California in each case located in the City and County of
San Francisco (collectively, the "Specified Courts"), and each party irrevocably
submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in
regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any such court (a "Related
Judgment"), as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such courts in
any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or
document by mail to such party's address set forth above shall be effective
service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such
court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the
laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts
and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any
such court that any such suit, action or other
-23-
proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
SECTION 17. GENERAL PROVISIONS. This Agreement constitutes the
entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior
written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and
negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be
executed in two or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original,
with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same
instrument. This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by
all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be
waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to
benefit. The Table of Contents and the Section headings herein are for the
convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or
interpretation of this Agreement.
Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that it is a sophisticated
business person who was adequately represented by counsel during negotiations
regarding the provisions hereof, including, without limitation, the
indemnification provisions of Section 8 and the contribution provisions of
Section 9, and is fully informed regarding said provisions. Each of the parties
hereto further acknowledges that the provisions of Sections 8 and 9 hereto
fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to investigate
the Company, its affairs and its business in order to assure that adequate
disclosure has been made in the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus and the Prospectus (and any amendments and supplements thereto), as
required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
-24-
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement,
kindly sign and return to the Company the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this
instrument, along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement
in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
CITYSEARCH, INC.
By:__________________________
Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Chief Executive Officer
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by
the Representatives in San Francisco, California as of the date first above
written.
NATIONSBANC XXXXXXXXXX SECURITIES LLC
XXXXXXXXX, XXXXXX & XXXXXXXX SECURITIES CORPORATION
BANCAMERICA XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
Acting as Representatives of the
several Underwriters named in
the attached Schedule A.
By NATIONSBANC XXXXXXXXXX SECURITIES LLC
By: _____________________________
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Managing Director
-25-
SCHEDULE A
NUMBER OF FIRM
COMMON SHARES
UNDERWRITERS TO BE PURCHASED
NationsBanc Xxxxxxxxxx Securities LLC.............. [___]
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx Securities............ [___]
Corporation
BancAmerica Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx..................... [___]
[___].............................................. [___]
[___].............................................. [___]
Total..................................... [___]
A-1
EXHIBIT A
The final opinion in draft form should be attached as Exhibit A at the time this
Agreement is executed.
Opinion of counsel for the Company to be delivered pursuant to
Section 5(d) of the Underwriting Agreement.
References to the Prospectus in this Exhibit A include any
---------
supplements thereto at the Closing Date.
(i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.
(ii) The Company has corporate power and authority to own, lease and
operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under the
Underwriting Agreement.
(iii) The Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to
transact business and is in good standing in the State of California and in
each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by
reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business,
except for such jurisdictions (other than the State of California) where the
failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in
the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change.
(iv) Each significant subsidiary (as defined in Rule 405 under the
Securities Act) has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation, has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its
properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and, to
the best knowledge of such counsel, is duly qualified as a foreign corporation
to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which
such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing
of property or the conduct of business, except for such jurisdictions where
the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or
in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change.
(v) All of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each such
significant subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully
paid and non-assessable and is owned by the Company, directly or through
subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien,
encumbrance or, to the best knowledge of such counsel, any pending or
threatened claim.
(vi) The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company
(including the Common Stock) conform to the descriptions thereof set forth or
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus. All of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and
nonassessable and, to the best of such counsel's knowledge, have been issued
in compliance with the registration and qualification requirements of federal
and state securities laws. The form of certificate used to evidence the
A-1
Common Stock is in due and proper form and complies with all applicable
requirements of the charter and by-laws of the Company and the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. The description of the Company's
stock option, stock bonus and other stock plans or arrangements, and the
options or other rights granted and exercised thereunder, set forth in the
Prospectus accurately and fairly presents the information required to be shown
with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and rights.
(vii) No stockholder of the Company or any other person has any
preemptive right, right of first refusal or other similar right to subscribe
for or purchase securities of the Company arising (i) by operation of the
charter or by-laws of the Company or the General Corporation Law of the State
of Delaware or (ii) to the best knowledge of such counsel, otherwise, except
for such rights as have been duly waived.
(viii) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by, and is a valid and binding agreement of, the Company,
enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnification
thereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as the enforcement
thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally or
by general equitable principles.
(ix) The Common Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters from the
Company have been duly authorized for issuance and sale pursuant to the
Underwriting Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company pursuant
to the Underwriting Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth
therein, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(x) Each of the Registration Statement and the Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement, if any, has been declared effective by the Commission
under the Securities Act. To the best knowledge of such counsel, no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of either of the Registration Statement or the
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, has been issued under the
Securities Act and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are
pending or are contemplated or threatened by the Commission. Any required
filing of the Prospectus and any supplement thereto pursuant to Rule 424(b)
under the Securities Act has been made in the manner and within the time
period required by such Rule 424(b).
(xi) The Registration Statement, including any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement, the Prospectus including any document incorporated by
reference therein, and each amendment or supplement to the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus including any document incorporated by reference
therein, as of their respective effective or issue dates (other than the
financial statements and supporting schedules included or incorporated by
reference therein or in exhibits to or excluded from the Registration
Statement, as to which no opinion need be rendered) comply as to form in all
material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act.
(xii) The Common Shares have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq
National Market.
B-2
(xiii) The statements (i) in the Prospectus under the captions "Risk
Factors-", "Description of Capital Stock", "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations--Liquidity and
Capital Resources", "Business--Proprietary Rights", "Certain Relationships and
Related Transactions", "Shares Eligible for Future Sale", "Certain United
States Income Tax Considerations" and "Underwriting" and (ii) in Item 14 and
Item 15 of the Registration Statement, insofar as such statements constitute
matters of law, summaries of legal matters, the Company's charter or by-law
provisions, documents or legal proceedings, or legal conclusions, have been
reviewed by such counsel and fairly present and summarize, in all material
respects, the matters referred to therein.
(xiv) To the best knowledge of such counsel, there are no legal or
governmental actions, suits or proceedings pending or threatened which are
required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, other than those
disclosed therein.
(xv) To the best knowledge of such counsel, there are no Existing
Instruments required to be described or referred to in the Registration
Statement or to be filed as exhibits thereto other than those described or
referred to therein or filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits thereto;
and the descriptions thereof and references thereto are correct in all
material respects.
(xvi) No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or
registration or filing with, any court or other governmental authority or
agency, is required for the Company's execution, delivery and performance of
the Underwriting Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated
thereby and by the Prospectus, except as required under the Securities Act,
applicable state securities or blue sky laws and from the NASD.
(xvii) The execution and delivery of the Underwriting Agreement by the
Company and the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder
(other than performance by the Company of its obligations under the
indemnification section of the Underwriting Agreement, as to which no opinion
need be rendered) (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
action on the part of the Company; (ii) will not result in any violation of
the provisions of the charter or by-laws of the Company or any subsidiary;
(iii) will not to the best knowledge of such counsel constitute a breach of,
or Default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge
or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries pursuant to, any material Existing Instrument; or (iv) to the
best knowledge of such counsel, will not result in any violation of any law,
administrative regulation or administrative or court decree applicable to the
Company or any subsidiary.
(xviii) The Company is not, and after receipt of payment for the Common
Shares will not be, an "investment company" within the meaning of Investment
Company Act.
(xix) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus under the caption "Shares
Eligible for Future Sale", to the best knowledge of such counsel, there are no
persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt
securities registered for sale under the
B-3
Registration Statement or included in the offering contemplated by the
Underwriting Agreement, except for such rights as have been duly waived.
(xx) To the best knowledge of such counsel, neither the Company nor any
subsidiary is in violation of its charter or by-laws or any law,
administrative regulation or administrative or court decree applicable to the
Company or any subsidiary or is in Default in the performance or observance of
any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any material
Existing Instrument, except in each such case for such violations or Defaults
as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse
Change.
In addition, such counsel shall state that they have participated in
conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company,
representatives of the independent public or certified public accountants for
the Company and with representatives of the Underwriters at which the contents
of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and any supplements or
amendments thereto, and related matters were discussed and, although such
counsel is not passing upon and does not assume any responsibility for the
accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus (other than as specified above), and
any supplements or amendments thereto, on the basis of the foregoing, nothing
has come to their attention which would lead them to believe that either the
Registration Statement or any amendments thereto, at the time the Registration
Statement or such amendments became effective, 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 or that the
Prospectus, as of its date or at the First Closing Date or the Second Closing
Date, as the case may be, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading (it being understood that such counsel need express no belief as to
the financial statements or schedules or other financial or statistical data
derived therefrom, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto).
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters
involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the General Corporation Law of the
State of California or the federal law of the United States, to the extent they
deem proper and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion (which shall be
dated the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be,
shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Underwriters, shall expressly
state that the Underwriters may rely on such opinion as if it were addressed to
them and shall be furnished to the Representatives) of other counsel of good
standing whom they believe to be reliable and who are satisfactory to counsel
for the Underwriters; provided, however, that such counsel shall further state
that they believe that they and the Underwriters are justified in relying upon
such opinion of other counsel, and (B) as to matters of fact, to the extent they
deem proper, on certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public
officials.
B-4
EXHIBIT B
[Date]
NationsBanc Xxxxxxxxxx Securities LLC
Xxxxxxxxx, Lufkin & Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation
BancAmerica Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
As Representatives of the Several Underwriters
c/o NationsBanc Xxxxxxxxxx Securities LLC
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
RE: CitySearch, Inc. (the "Company")
Ladies & Gentlemen:
The undersigned is an owner of record or beneficially of certain shares of
Common Stock of the Company ("Common Stock") or securities convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock. The Company proposes to carry out
a public offering of Common Stock (the "Offering") for which you will act as the
representatives of the underwriters. The undersigned recognizes that the
Offering will be of benefit to the undersigned and will benefit the Company by,
among other things, raising additional capital for its operations. The
undersigned acknowledges that you and the other underwriters are relying on the
representations and agreements of the undersigned contained in this letter in
carrying out the Offering and in entering into underwriting arrangements with
the Company with respect to the Offering.
In consideration of the foregoing, the undersigned hereby agrees that the
undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of NMS (which consent
may be withheld in its sole discretion), directly or indirectly, sell, offer,
contract or grant any option to sell (including without limitation any short
sale), pledge, transfer, establish an open "put equivalent position" within the
meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or otherwise
dispose of any shares of Common Stock, options or warrants to acquire shares of
Common Stock, or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into
shares of Common Stock currently or hereafter owned either of record or
beneficially (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended) by the undersigned, or publicly announce the undersigned's intention to
do any of the foregoing, for a period commencing on the date hereof and
continuing through the close of trading on the date 180 days after the date of
the Prospectus. The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop
transfer instructions with the Company's transfer agent and registrar against
the transfer of shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock held by the undersigned except in
compliance with the foregoing restrictions.
With respect to the Offering only, the undersigned waives any registration
rights relating to registration under the Securities Act of any Common Stock
owned either of record or beneficially by the undersigned, including any rights
to receive notice of the Offering.
This agreement is irrevocable and will be binding on the undersigned and the
respective successors, heirs, personal representatives, and assigns of the
undersigned.
_____________________________________
Printed Name of Holder
By:__________________________________
Signature
_____________________________________
Printed Name of Person Signing
(and indicate capacity of person signing if
signing as custodian, trustee, or on behalf
of an entity)
