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Exhibit 1.1
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Form of Underwriting Agreement
August __, 2000
FleetBoston Robertson Stephens Inc.
U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Inc.
Chase Securities Inc.
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o FleetBoston Robertson Stephens Inc.
555 California Street, Suite 2600
San Francisco, CA 94104
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Introductory. Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in
Schedule A (the "Underwriters") an aggregate of 6,000,000 shares (the "Firm
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Shares") of its Common Stock, par value $.001 per share (the "Common Shares").
In addition, the Company has granted to the Underwriters an option to purchase
up to an additional 900,000 Common Shares (the "Option Shares") as provided in
Section 2. The Firm Shares and, if and to the extent such option is exercised,
the Option Shares are collectively called the "Shares." FleetBoston Robertson
Stephens Inc. ("Robertson Stephens") U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray, Inc. ("Piper
Jaffray") and Chase H&Q ("H&Q") have agreed to act as representatives of the
several Underwriters (in such capacity, the "Representatives") in connection
with the offering and sale of the Shares. As a part of the offering contemplated
by this Agreement, Robertson Stephens has agreed to reserve out of the Shares
set forth opposite its name on Schedule A to this Agreement, up to 7% of the
Firm Shares, for sale to the Company's employees, officers, and directors and
other parties associated with the Company (collectively, "Participants"), as set
forth in the Prospectus under the heading "Underwriting" (the "Directed Share
Program"). The Shares to be sold by Robertson Stephens pursuant to the Directed
Share Program (the "Directed Shares") will be sold by Robertson Stephens
pursuant to this Agreement at the public offering price set forth on the cover
page of the Prospectus (as defined). Any Directed Shares not orally confirmed
for purchase by any Participants as of 7:00 a.m. New York time on the first day
trading of the shares commences will be offered to the public by Robertson
Stephens as set forth in the Prospectus.
The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement on Form S-1
(File No. 333-31032), which contains a form of prospectus, subject to
completion, to be used in connection with the public offering and sale of the
Shares. Each such prospectus, subject to completion, used in connection with
such public offering is called a "preliminary prospectus". Such registration
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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 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 Shares, is called the "Prospectus". All references in this
Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement,
a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus 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
("EDGAR").
The Company hereby confirms its agreements with the Underwriters as
follows:
Section 1. Representations and Warranties of the Company. 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 EDGAR (except as may be permitted by Regulation S-T
under the Securities Act), was identical in all material respects to the copy
thereof delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offer and
sale of the 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.
Each preliminary prospectus, as of its date, and the Prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, as of its date and at all subsequent times through the 30th day of
the date hereof, 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
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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 one complete conformed copy 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, 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 Shares, any offering material in connection with the
offering and sale of the 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 and contribution 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 Shares. The Shares 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 with respect to the Shares included
in the Registration Statement, except for such rights as have been duly waived.
(g) No Material Adverse Change. Subsequent to the respective dates as
of which information is given in the Prospectus: (i) other than continuing
operating losses in such amounts and resulting from such factors as are
consistent with past periods, 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 or effect, where the context so requires, is called
a "Material Adverse Change" or a "Material Adverse Effect"); (ii) except as
disclosed in the Prospectus, 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
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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. Arthur Andersen L.L.P. ("Arthur
Andersen"), who have expressed their opinion with respect to the Company's
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
public or certified public accountants as required by the Securities Act and the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Goldenberg
Rosenthal, LLP ("Goldenberg"), who have expressed their opinion with respect to
Talaria Therapeutics, Inc.'s ("Talaria") financial statements and supporting
schedules filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and
included in the Prospectus, are independent public or certified accountants as
required by the Securities Act and the Exchange 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 fairly the consolidated financial position of the
Company and its subsidiaries and of Talaria, as applicable, as of and at the
dates indicated and the results of their respective 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 as applied in the United States
applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be
expressly stated in the related notes thereto and except for the omission of
certain footnote data from the financial statements for the periods ended March
31, 1999 and March 31, 2000. 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 "Summary--Summary
Financial Data", "Selected Consolidated 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.
The unaudited pro forma combined and consolidated financial statements
of the Company and Talaria and the related notes thereto set forth in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and any supplement or amendment
thereto) have been prepared on a basis consistent with the historical financial
statements and the books and records of the Company and its subsidiaries, give
effect to the assumptions used in the preparation thereof described in the
Registration Statement and such assumptions are reasonable and the adjustments
used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and
circumstances referred to therein, and present fairly the transactions
contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. Such unaudited
pro forma combined financial statements have been prepared in accordance with
the applicable requirements of Rule 11-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the
Commission. The other pro forma financial and statistical information and data
set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and any supplement
or amendment thereto) are, in all material respects, accurately presented and
prepared on a basis consistent with the unaudited pro forma combined financial
statements.
(j) Company's Accounting System. The Company and each of its
subsidiaries maintain a system of accounting controls sufficient to provide
reasonable assurances that
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(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 as applied in the United States 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.
(k) Subsidiaries of the Company. The Company does not own or control,
directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than
the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21 to the Registration Statement.
(l) Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company and its
Subsidiaries. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly organized
and is validly existing as a corporation or limited liability company, as the
case may be, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is
organized with full corporate power and authority to own its properties and
conduct its business as described in the prospectus, and is duly qualified to do
business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of each
jurisdiction which requires such qualification, except where the failure to do
so would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(m) Capitalization of the Subsidiaries. All the outstanding shares of
capital stock of each subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and
issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and, except as otherwise set forth
in the Prospectus, all outstanding shares of capital stock of the subsidiaries
are owned directly by the Company free and clear of any security interests,
claims, liens or encumbrances.
(n) No Prohibition on Subsidiaries from Paying Dividends or Making
Other Distributions. No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited,
directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making
any other distribution on such subsidiary's capital stock, from repaying to the
Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from
transferring any of such subsidiary's property or assets to the Company or any
other subsidiary of the Company, except as described in or contemplated by the
Prospectus, or as provided under the corporate laws of the Kingdom of Sweden.
(o) 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 described in the Prospectus).
The Common Shares (including the Shares) conform in all material respects to the
description thereof contained in the Prospectus. All of the issued and
outstanding Common Shares 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 Common Shares 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
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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.
(p) Stock Exchange Listing. The Shares have been approved for listing
on the Nasdaq National Market, subject only to official notice of issuance.
(q) No Consents, Approvals or Authorizations Required. No consent,
approval, authorization, filing with or order of any court or governmental
agency or regulatory body is required in connection with the transactions
contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained or made under the
Securities Act and such as may be required (i) under the blue sky laws of any
jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by
the Underwriters in the manner contemplated here and in the Prospectus, (ii) by
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and (iii) by the federal
and provincial laws of Canada.
(r) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments Agreements. Neither the
issue and sale of the Shares nor the consummation of any other of the
transactions herein contemplated nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof will
conflict with, result in a breach or violation or imposition of any lien, charge
or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries pursuant to, (i) the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage,
deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation,
condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or bound or to which its or their property is subject or
(iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable
to the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body,
administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having
jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of its or their
properties.
(s) No Defaults or Violations. Except in respect of any violation or
default which would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material
Adverse Change, or as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus, neither the Company
nor any subsidiary is in violation or default of (i) any provision of its
charter or by-laws, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage,
deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation,
condition, covenant or instrument to which it is a party or bound or to which
its property is subject or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment,
order or decree of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency,
governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the
Company or such subsidiary or any of its properties, as applicable.
(t) No Actions, Suits or Proceedings. Except as otherwise disclosed in
the Prospectus, no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or
governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company
or any of its subsidiaries or its or their property is pending or, to the best
knowledge of the Company, threatened that (i) could reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect on the performance of this Agreement or the
consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby or (ii) could
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
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(u) All Necessary Permits, Etc. Except as otherwise disclosed in the
Prospectus, and except to the extent that failure to do so would not have a
Material Adverse Effect, 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.
(v) Title to Properties. Except as otherwise disclosed in the
Prospectus, 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, other than liens granted to
Silicon Valley Bank, doing business as Silicon Valley East pursuant to the
Company's credit facility dated March 31, 1999, 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.
(w) Tax Law Compliance. To the Company's knowledge, the Company and its
consolidated 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 consolidated subsidiaries has not been finally determined. The
Company is not aware of any tax deficiency that has been or might be asserted or
threatened against the Company that could result in a Material Adverse Change.
(x) Intellectual Property Rights. Each of the Company and its
subsidiaries owns or possesses adequate rights to use all patents, patent rights
or licenses, inventions, collaborative research agreements, trade secrets,
know-how, trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights which are
necessary to conduct its businesses as described in the Registration Statement
and Prospectus. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company has not
received any notice of, nor is the Company aware of any facts that would form a
reasonable basis for any such claim of, any infringement of or conflict with
asserted rights of the Company by others with respect to any patent, patent
rights, inventions, trade secrets, know-how, trademarks, service marks, trade
names or copyrights; and except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company has
not received any notice of, and has no knowledge of, any infringement of or
conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any patent, patent
rights, inventions, trade secrets, know-how, trademarks, service marks, trade
names or copyrights which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an
unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, might, in the reasonable belief of the
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Company's management, have a Material Adverse Change. Except as disclosed in the
Prospectus, there is no claim being made against the Company regarding patents,
patent rights or licenses, inventions, collaborative research, trade secrets,
know-how, trademarks, service marks, trade names or copyrights. Except as
disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries do not in the
conduct of their business as described in the Prospectus infringe or conflict
with any right or patent of any third party, or any discovery, invention,
product or process which is the subject of a patent application filed by any
third party, known to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which such
infringement or conflict is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse
Change.
(y) Y2K. There are no Y2K issues related to the Company, or any of its
subsidiaries, that (i) are of a character required to be described or referred
to in the Registration Statement or Prospectus by the Securities Act which have
not been accurately described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or
(ii) might reasonably be expected to result in any Material Adverse Change or
that might materially affect their properties, assets or rights.
(z) No Transfer Taxes or Other Fees. There are no transfer taxes or
other similar fees or charges under Federal law or the laws of any state, or any
political subdivision thereof, required to be paid in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance and sale by the Company
of the Shares.
(aa) 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 Shares will not be, an "investment company" or an entity
"controlled" by an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment
Company Act and will conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become
subject to the Investment Company Act.
(bb) Insurance. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus, each
of the Company and its subsidiaries are insured by recognized, financially sound
and reputable institutions with general liability and property damage 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, general liability and Directors and Officers liability. 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.
(cc) Labor Matters. To the Company's knowledge, no labor disturbance by
the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or is imminent;
and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by
the employees of any of its principal suppliers, including without limitation,
subcontractors and third party manufacturers that might be expected to result in
a Material Adverse Change.
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(dd) 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 the Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.
(ee) Lock-Up Agreements. Each officer and director of the company and
each beneficial owner of one or more percent of the outstanding issued share
capital of the Company has agreed to sign an agreement substantially in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Lock-up Agreements"). The Company has
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provided to counsel for the Underwriters a complete and accurate list of all
securityholders of the Company and the number and type of securities held by
each securityholder. The Company has provided to counsel for the Underwriters
true, accurate and complete copies of all of the Lock-up Agreements presently in
effect or effected hereby. The Company hereby represents and warrants that it
will not release any of its officers, directors or other stockholders from any
Lock-up Agreements currently existing or hereafter effected without the prior
written consent of Robertson Stephens.
(ff) 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.
(gg) No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments. Except as otherwise
disclosed in the Prospectus, 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.
(hh) Environmental Laws. Except as otherwise disclosed in the
Prospectus, (i) the Company is in compliance with all rules, laws and
regulations relating to the use, treatment, storage and disposal of toxic
substances and protection of health or the environment ("Environmental Laws")
which are applicable to its business, except where the failure to comply would
not result in a Material Adverse Change, (ii) the Company has received no notice
from any governmental authority or third party of an asserted claim under
Environmental Laws, which claim is required to be disclosed in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, (iii) the Company is not currently aware that it
will be required to make future material capital expenditures to comply with
Environmental Laws and (iv) no property which is owned, leased or occupied by
the Company has been designated as a Superfund site pursuant to the
Comprehensive Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42
U.S.C. ss. 9601, et seq.), or otherwise designated as a contaminated site under
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applicable state or local law.
(ii) ERISA Compliance. Except as otherwise disclosed in the
Prospectus, 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
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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.
(jj) Consents Required in Connection with the Directed Share Program.
No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any
governmental body or agency, other than those obtained, is required in
connection with the offering of the Directed Shares in any jurisdiction where
the Directed Shares are being offered.
(kk) No Improper Influence in Connection with the Directed Share
Program. The Company has not offered, or caused Robertson Stephens to offer,
Shares to any person pursuant to the Directed Share Program with the specific
intent to unlawfully influence (i) a customer or supplier of the Company to
alter the customer's or supplier's level or type of business with the Company or
(ii) a trade journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information
about the Company or its products.
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 Shares.
(a) The Firm Shares. The Company agrees to issue and sell to the
several Underwriters the Firm 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 Shares set forth opposite their names on Schedule A. The purchase
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price per Firm Share to be paid by the several Underwriters to the Company shall
be $[___] per share.
(b) The First Closing Date. Delivery of the Firm Shares to be
purchased by the Underwriters and payment therefor shall be made by the Company
and the Representatives at 6:00 a.m. San Francisco time, at the offices of
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, 1701 Market Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103-2921 (or
at such other place as may be agreed upon among the Representatives and the
Company), (i) on the third (3rd) full business day following the first day that
Shares are traded, (ii) if this Agreement is executed and delivered after 1:30
P.M., San
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Francisco time, the fourth (4th) full business day following the day that this
Agreement is executed and delivered or (iii) at such other time and date not
later that seven (7) full business days following the first day that Shares are
traded as the Representatives and the Company may determine (or at such time and
date to which payment and delivery shall have been postponed pursuant to Section
8 hereof), such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called the
"Closing Date;" provided, however, that if the Company has not made available to
the Representatives copies of the Prospectus within the time provided in Section
2(g) and 3(e) hereof, the Representatives may, in their sole discretion,
postpone the Closing Date until no later that two (2) full business days
following delivery of copies of the Prospectus to the Representatives.
(c) The Option 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 900,000 Option Shares from the Company at the
purchase price per share to be paid by the Underwriters for the Firm 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 Shares.
The option granted hereunder may be exercised at any time 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. The time and date of delivery of the
Option Shares, 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 Option Shares are to be purchased, each Underwriter
agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the number of Option Shares
(subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the
Representatives may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total
number of Option Shares to be purchased as the number of Firm Shares set forth
on Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of
----------
Firm 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 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 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 Shares. Payment for the Shares shall be made at the
First Closing Date (and, if applicable, at the Second Closing Date) by wire
transfer in immediately available-funds to the order of the Company.
It is understood that the Representatives have been authorized, for
their own 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 Shares and any Option Shares the Underwriters have agreed to purchase.
Robertson Stephens, individually and not as the Representative of the
Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment for any Shares to
be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds shall not have been received by the
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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 Shares. The Company shall deliver, or cause to be
delivered, a credit representing the Firm Shares to an account or accounts at
The Depository Trust Company, as designated by the Representatives for the
accounts of the Representatives and the several Underwriters 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, a credit representing the Option Shares
the Underwriters have agreed to purchase at the First Closing Date (or the
Second Closing Date, as the case may be), to an account or accounts at The
Depository Trust Company as designated by the Representatives for the accounts
of the Representatives and the several Underwriters, against the irrevocable
release of a wire transfer of immediately available funds for the amount of the
purchase price therefor. 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
noon New York time on the second business day following the date the Shares are
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. Covenants of the Company.
The Company further covenants and agrees with each Underwriter as
follows:
(a) Registration Statement Matters. The Company will (i) use its best
efforts to cause a registration statement on Form 8-A (the "Form 8-A
Registration Statement") as required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
"Exchange Act") to become effective simultaneously with the Registration
Statement, (ii) use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to
become effective or, if the procedure in Rule 430A of the Securities Act is
followed, to prepare and timely file with the Commission under Rule 424(b) under
the Securities Act a Prospectus in a form approved by the Representatives
containing information previously omitted at the time of effectiveness of the
Registration Statement in reliance on Rule 430A of the Securities Act and (iii)
not file any amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the
Prospectus of which the Representatives shall not previously have been advised
and furnished with a copy or to which the Representatives shall have reasonably
objected in writing or which is not in compliance with the Securities Act. If
the Company elects to rely on Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, the Company
shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in
compliance with Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act prior to the time
confirmations are sent or given, as specified by Rule 462(b)(2) under the
Securities Act, and shall pay the applicable fees in accordance with Rule 111
under the Securities Act.
(b) Securities Act Compliance. The Company will advise the
Representatives promptly (i) when the Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment thereto shall have become effective, (ii) of receipt of
any comments from the Commission, (iii) of any request of the Commission for
amendment of the Registration Statement or for supplement to the
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Prospectus or for any additional information and (iv) of the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or the use of the Prospectus or of the institution of any proceedings
for that purpose. The Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance
of any such stop order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus and to
obtain as soon as possible the lifting thereof, if issued.
(c) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company will cooperate with the
Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters in endeavoring to qualify the
Shares for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions (both national
and foreign) as the Representatives may reasonably have designated in writing
and will make such applications, file such documents, and furnish such
information as may be reasonably required for that purpose, provided the Company
shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general
consent to service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not now so
qualified or required to file such a consent. The Company will, from time to
time, prepare and file such statements, reports and other documents, as are or
may be required to continue such qualifications in effect for so long a period
as the Representatives may reasonably request for distribution of the Shares.
(d) Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus and Other Securities
Act Matters. The Company will comply with the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, so as to permit
the completion of the distribution of the Shares as contemplated in this
Agreement and the Prospectus. If during the period in which a prospectus is
required by law to be delivered by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall
occur as a result of which, in the judgment of the Company or in the reasonable
opinion of the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters, it becomes
necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time the Prospectus
is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or, if it is necessary at any time
to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with any law, the Company
promptly will prepare and file with the Commission, and furnish at its own
expense to the Underwriters and to dealers, an appropriate amendment to the
Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus so that the Prospectus as
so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when it
is so delivered, be misleading, or so that the Prospectus will comply with the
law.
(e) Copies of any Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus. The
Company agrees to furnish the Representatives, without charge, during the 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"), as many copies of the
Prospectus and any amendments and supplements thereto as the Representatives may
request.
(f) Insurance. The Company shall (i) obtain Directors and Officers
liability insurance in the minimum amount of $10 million which shall apply to
the offering contemplated hereby and (ii) cause Robertson Stephens to be added
to such policy such that up to $500,000 of its expenses pursuant to section 7(a)
shall be paid directly by such insurer.
(g) Notice of Subsequent Events. If at any time during the ninety (90)
day period after the Registration Statement becomes effective, any rumor,
publication or event relating to or
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affecting the Company shall occur as a result of which, in your opinion, the
market price of the Company Shares has been or is likely to be materially
affected (regardless of whether such rumor, publication or event necessitates a
supplement to or amendment of the Prospectus), the Company will, after written
notice from you advising the Company to the effect set forth above, forthwith
prepare, consult with you concerning the substance of and disseminate a press
release or other public statement, reasonably satisfactory to you, responding to
or commenting on such rumor, publication or event.
(h) Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the
sale of the Shares sold by it in the manner described under the caption "Use of
Proceeds" in the Prospectus.
(i) Transfer Agent. The Company shall engage and maintain, at its
expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Company Shares.
(j) 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, 2001 that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the
Securities Act.
(k) 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.
(l) Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional Securities. Without the
consent of Robertson Stephens, the Company will not offer, sell or contract to
sell, or otherwise dispose of or enter into any transaction which is designed
to, or could be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual
disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or
otherwise by the Company or any affiliate of the Company or any person in
privity with the Company or any affiliate of the Company) directly or
indirectly, or announce the offering of, any other Common Shares or any
securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, Common Shares; provided,
however, that the Company may (i) issue and sell Common Shares (and options and
other rights to acquire Common Shares) pursuant to any stock option plan, stock
purchase plan or other equity compensation plan of the Company in effect at the
date of the Prospectus and described in the Prospectus; (ii) issue Common Shares
issuable upon the conversion of securities or the exercise of options or
warrants outstanding at the date of the Prospectus and described in the
Prospectus; (iii) issue Common Shares in connection with the potential
acquisition of Talaria Therapeutics, Inc. and (iv) issue Common Shares in
connection with a strategic relationship, so long as the recipient of any such
shares issued pursuant to (iii) or (iv) hereof shall be subject to the
provisions of a Lock-Up Agreement. These restrictions terminate after the close
of trading of the Shares on the 180th day of (and including) the day the Shares
commenced trading on the Nasdaq National Market (the "Lock-Up Period").
(m) Future Reports to the Representatives. During the period of five
years hereafter the Company will furnish or make available to the
Representatives (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
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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 National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. 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.
Directed Share Program. The Company (i) will indemnify Robertson
Stephens for any losses incurred in connection with the Directed Share Program,
(ii) will comply with all applicable securities and other applicable laws, rules
and regulations in each jurisdiction in which the Directed Shares are offered in
connection with the Directed Share Program and (iii) will pay all reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel incurred by the Underwriters in connection
with the Directed Share Program and any stamp duties, similar taxes or duties or
other taxes, if any, incurred by the underwriters in connection with the
Directed Share Program.
Section 4. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters. The
obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Shares as
provided herein on the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Option
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 Option 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) Compliance with Registration Requirements; No Stop Order; No
Objection from the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. The
Registration Statement shall have become effective prior to the execution of
this Agreement, or at such later date as shall be consented to in writing by
you; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness thereof shall have been
issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or, to the
knowledge of the Company or any Underwriter, threatened by the Commission, and
any request of the Commission for additional information (to be included in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise) shall have been complied
with to the satisfaction of Underwriters' Counsel; and the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc. shall have raised no objection to the fairness and
reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.
(b) Corporate Proceedings. All corporate proceedings and other legal
matters in connection with this Agreement, the form of Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, and the registration, authorization, issue, sale and
delivery of the Shares, shall have been reasonably satisfactory to Underwriters'
Counsel, and such counsel shall have been furnished with such papers and
information as they may reasonably have requested to enable them to pass upon
the matters referred to in this Section.
(c) No Material Adverse Change. Subsequent to the execution and
delivery of this Agreement and prior to the First Closing Date, or the Second
Closing Date, as the case may be, other than continuing operating losses in such
amounts and resulting from such factors as are consistent with past periods,
there shall not have been any Material Adverse Change in the condition
(financial or otherwise), earnings, operations, business or business prospects
of the
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Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise from that set forth in
the Registration Statement or Prospectus, which, in your sole judgment, is
material and adverse and that makes it, in your sole judgment, impracticable or
inadvisable to proceed with the public offering of the Shares as contemplated by
the Prospectus.
(d) Opinion of Counsel for the Company. You shall have received on the
First Closing Date, or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, an opinion
of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, counsel for the Company substantially in the
form previously agreed upon dated the First Closing Date, or the Second Closing
Date, addressed to the Underwriters and with reproduced copies or signed
counterparts thereof for each of the Underwriters.
(e) Opinion of Intellectual property Counsel for the Company. You shall
have received on the First Closing Date, or the Second Closing Date, as the case
may be, opinions of Pennie & Edmonds LLP and Arnall Golden & Gregory,
intellectual property counsel for the Company substantially in the form
previously agreed upon.
(f) Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters. You shall have received on
the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, an
opinion of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP, substantially in the form previously
agreed upon. The Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as
they may have requested for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such
matters.
(g) Accountants' Comfort Letters. You shall have received on the First
Closing Date and on the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, a letter from
Arthur Andersen addressed to the Underwriters, dated the First Closing Date or
the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, confirming that they are
independent certified public accountants with respect to the Company within the
meaning of the Securities Act and the applicable published Rules and Regulations
and based upon the procedures described in such letter delivered to you
concurrently with the execution of this Agreement (herein called the "Original
Letter"), but carried out to a date not more than four (4) business days prior
to the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, (i)
confirming, to the extent true, that the statements and conclusions set forth in
the Original Letter are accurate as of the First Closing Date or the Second
Closing Date, as the case may be, and (ii) setting forth any revisions and
additions to the statements and conclusions set forth in the Original Letter
which are necessary to reflect any changes in the facts described in the
Original Letter since the date of such letter, or to reflect the availability of
more recent financial statements, data or information. The letter shall disclose
any change in the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, operations,
business or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as
one enterprise from that set forth in the Registration Statement or Prospectus,
which, in your sole judgment, is material and adverse and that makes it, in your
sole judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering
of the Shares as contemplated by the Prospectus. The Original Letter from Arthur
Andersen shall be addressed to or for the use of the Underwriters in form and
substance satisfactory to the Underwriters and shall (i) represent, to the
extent true, that they are independent certified public accountants with respect
to the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and the applicable
published Rules and Regulations, (ii) set forth their opinion with respect to
their examination of the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of
December 31, 1999 and related consolidated statements of operations,
shareholders' equity, and cash flows for the twelve (12) months ended
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December 31, 1999;(iii) state that Arthur Andersen has performed the procedures
set out in Statement on Auditing Standards No. 71 ("SAS 71") for a review of
interim financial information and providing the report of Arthur Andersen as
described in SAS 71 on the financial statements for the one-quarter period ended
March 31, 2000 (the "Quarterly Financial Statements"), (iv) state that the pro
forma financial statements presented in the Registration Statement or Prospectus
comply in all material respects with Rule 11-02 of Regulation S-X, (v) state
that in the course of such review, nothing came to their attention that leads
them to believe that any material modifications need to be made to any of the
financial statements in order for them to be in compliance with generally
accepted accounting principles consistently applied across the periods
presented, and address other matters agreed upon by Arthur Andersen and you. In
addition, you shall have received from Arthur Andersen a letter addressed to the
Company and made available to you for the use of the Underwriters stating that
their review of the Company's system of internal accounting controls, to the
extent they deemed necessary in establishing the scope of their examination of
the Company's consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2000, did not
disclose any weaknesses in internal controls that they considered to be material
weaknesses.
You shall also have received on the First Closing Date and on the
Second Closing Date, as the case may be, a letter from Goldenberg addressed to
the Underwriters, dated the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as
the case may be, confirming that they are independent certified public
accountants with respect to Talaria within the meaning of the Securities Act and
the applicable published Rules and Regulations and based upon the procedures
described in such letter delivered to you concurrently with the execution of
this Agreement (herein called the "Goldenberg Original Letter"), but carried out
to a date not more than four (4) business days prior to the First Closing Date
or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, (i) confirming, to the extent
true, that the statements and conclusions set forth in the Goldenberg Original
Letter are accurate as of the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as
the case may be, and (ii) setting forth any revisions and additions to the
statements and conclusions set forth in the Goldenberg Original Letter which are
necessary to reflect any changes in the facts described in the Goldenberg
Original Letter since the date of such letter, or to reflect the availability of
more recent financial statements, data or information. The letter shall disclose
any change in the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, operations,
business or business prospects of Talaria and its subsidiaries considered as one
enterprise from that set forth in the Registration Statement or Prospectus,
which, in your sole judgment, is material and adverse and that makes it, in your
sole judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering
of the Shares as contemplated by the Prospectus. The Goldenberg Original Letter
from Goldenberg shall be addressed to or for the use of the Underwriters in form
and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters and shall (i) represent, to the
extent true, that they are independent certified public accountants with respect
to Talaria within the meaning of the Securities Act and the applicable published
Rules and Regulations, (ii) set forth their opinion with respect to their
examination of the consolidated balance sheet of Talaria as of December 31, 1999
and related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity, and
cash flows for the twelve (12) months ended December 31, 1999;(iii) state that
Goldenberg has performed the procedures set out in Statement on Auditing
Standards No. 71 ("SAS 71") for a review of interim financial information and
providing the report of Goldenberg as described in SAS 71 on the financial
statements for the one-quarter period ended March 31, 2000 (the "Quarterly
Financial Statements"), (iv) state that in the course of such review, nothing
came to their attention that
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leads them to believe that any material modifications need to be made to any of
the financial statements in order for them to be in compliance with generally
accepted accounting principles consistently applied across the periods
presented, and address other matters agreed upon by Goldenberg and you. In
addition, you shall have received from Goldenberg a letter addressed to the
Company and made available to you for the use of the Underwriters stating that
their review of Talaria's system of internal accounting controls, to the extent
they deemed necessary in establishing the scope of their examination of
Talaria's consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2000, did not
disclose any weaknesses in internal controls that they considered to be material
weaknesses.
(h) Officers' Certificate. You shall have received on the First
Closing Date and the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate of
the Company, dated the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the
case may be, signed by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
of the Company, to the effect that, and you shall be satisfied that:
(i) The representations and warranties of the Company in this
Agreement are true and correct, as if made on and as of the First
Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, and 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 the
First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be;
(ii) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been
instituted or are pending or threatened under the Securities Act;
(iii) When the Registration Statement became effective and at all times
subsequent thereto up to the delivery of such certificate, the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and any amendments or
supplements thereto, contained all material information required to be
included therein by the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and the
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, as the
case may be, and in all material respects conformed to the requirements
of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder, as the case may be, the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and any amendments or
supplements thereto, did not and does not include any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading; and, since the effective date of the Registration
Statement, there has occurred no event required to be set forth in an
amended or supplemented Prospectus which has not been so set forth; and
(iv) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, except as
specifically addressed in the Prospectus, there has not been (a) other
than continuing operating losses in such amounts and resulting from
such factors as are consistent with past periods, any material adverse
change in the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, operations,
business or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries
considered as one enterprise, (b) any transaction that is material to
the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, except
transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business, (c) any
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obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and
its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, incurred by the Company
or its subsidiaries, except obligations incurred in the ordinary course
of business, (d) any change in the capital stock or outstanding
indebtedness of the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is material
to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, (e)
any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made on the
capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except a
dividend paid to the Company by any of its subsidiaries, or (f) any
loss or damage (whether or not insured) to the property of the Company
or any of its subsidiaries which has been sustained or will have been
sustained which has a material adverse effect on the condition
(financial or otherwise), earnings, operations, business or business
prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
enterprise.
(i) Lock-up Agreement from Certain Stockholders of the Company. The
Company shall have obtained and delivered to you an agreement substantially in
the form of Exhibit A attached hereto from each officer and director of the
Company, and each beneficial owner of one or more percent of the outstanding
issued share capital of the Company.
(j) Stock Market Listing. The Shares shall have been approved for
listing on the Nasdaq National Market, subject only to official notice of
issuance.
(k) Compliance with Prospectus Delivery Requirements. The Company shall
have complied with the provisions of Sections 2(g) and 3(e) hereof with respect
to the furnishing of Prospectuses.
(l) Additional Documents. On or before each of the First Closing Date
and the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, 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 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 4 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 Option Shares, at any time prior to the
Second Closing Date, which termination shall be without liability on the part of
any party to any other party, except that Section 5 (Payment of Expenses),
Section 6 (Reimbursement of Underwriters' Expenses), Section 7 (Indemnification
and Contribution) and Section 10 (Representations and Indemnities to Survive
Delivery) shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.
Section 5. 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
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sale of the Shares to the Underwriters, (iv) all fees and expenses of the
Company's counsel, independent public or certified public accountants and other
advisors, (v) all reasonable 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 costs and
expenses incurred by Underwriters counsel in connection with the Directed Share
Program, (vii) all filing fees, reasonable 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 Shares for offer and sale under the state securities or blue sky
laws or the provincial securities laws of Canada or any other country, and, if
requested by the Representatives, preparing and printing a "Blue Sky Survey", an
"International Blue Sky Survey" or other memorandum, and any supplements
thereto, advising the Underwriters of such qualifications, registrations and
exemptions, (viii) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and
expenses of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with, the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. review and approval of the Underwriters'
participation in the offering and distribution of the Common Shares, (ix) the
fees and expenses associated with listing the Common Shares on the Nasdaq
National Market, (x) all costs and expenses incident to the travel and
accommodation of the Company's employees on the "roadshow", and (xi) all other
fees, costs and expenses referred to in Item 13 of Part II of the Registration
Statement. Except as provided in this Section 5 and Sections 6 and 7 hereof, the
Underwriters shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and disbursements
of their counsel.
Section 6. Reimbursement of Underwriters' Expenses. If this Agreement
is terminated by the Representatives pursuant to Section 4, Section 8 or Section
9, or if the sale to the Underwriters of the 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 Shares,
including but not limited to fees and disbursements of counsel, printing
expenses, travel and accommodation expenses, postage, facsimile and telephone
charges.
Section 7. Indemnification and Contribution.
(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, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld),
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,
20
<PAGE>
or any amendment thereto, including any information deemed to be a part thereof
pursuant to Rule 430A 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 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 untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of any material fact contained in any audio or visual materials provided by the
Company or based upon written information furnished by or on behalf of the
Company including, without limitation, slides, videos, films or tape recordings,
used in connection with the marketing of the Shares, including without
limitation, statements communicated by the Company, or statements consistent
with those communicated by the Company, to securities analysts employed by the
Underwriters; or (vi) in whole or in part upon 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 Shares or the offering contemplated hereby, and which is
included as part of or referred to in any loss, claim, damage, liability or
action arising out of or based upon any matter covered by clause (i), (ii),
(iii), (iv) or (v) above, provided that the Company shall not be liable under
this clause (vi) to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction shall have
determined by a 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 Robertson
Stephens) 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 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, 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 7(a) shall be in addition to
any liabilities that the Company may otherwise have.
(b) Indemnification of the Company and its Directors, 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
21
<PAGE>
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 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 indemnity agreement set forth in this
Section 7(b) shall be in addition to any liabilities that each Underwriter may
otherwise have.
(c) Information Provided by the Underwriters. The Company and each
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities
Act or the Exchange Act, 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 in the second, third and tenth
paragraphs and the table following the first paragraph, each under the caption
"Underwriting" in the Prospectus; and the Underwriters confirm that such
statements are correct.
(d) Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures. Promptly after
receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 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 7, 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 7 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
22
<PAGE>
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 7 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 (Robertson Stephens in the case of
Section 7(b) and Section 8), representing the indemnified parties who are
parties to such action), (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed
counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party
within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action, or (iii)
the indemnifying party has authorized the employment of counsel for the
indemnified party at the expense of the indemnifying party, in each of which
cases the fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the
indemnifying party.
(e) Settlements. The indemnifying party under this Section 7 shall not
be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written
consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, 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 7(d) 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 60 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 (i) an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all
liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or
proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault,
culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(f) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section
7 is applicable by its terms but unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless
an indemnified party under Section 7(a) or (b) above in respect of any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof)
then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount paid or
payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is
23
<PAGE>
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by such party on the one
hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Shares. If,
however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not
permitted by applicable law then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative
fault of the such party on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in
connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities, (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof),
as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault shall
be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state
a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand
or the Underwriters on the other and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission.
The Company and Underwriters agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 7(f) were determined by pro
rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7(f). The amount paid
or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred to above in
this Section 7(f) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating
or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
subsection (f), (i) no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in
excess of the underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the Shares
purchased by such Underwriter and (ii) no person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations in this Section 7(f)
to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting
obligations and not joint.
(g) Timing of Any Payments of Indemnification. Any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses for which an indemnified party is entitled to
indemnification or contribution under this Section 7 shall be paid by the
indemnifying party to the indemnified party as such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses are incurred, but in all cases, no later than forty-five
(45) days of invoice to the indemnifying party.
(h) Survival. The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in
this Section 7 and the representation and warranties set forth in this Agreement
shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any person controlling
any Underwriter, the Company, its directors or officers or any persons
controlling the Company, (ii) acceptance of any Shares and payment therefor
hereunder, and (iii) any termination of this Agreement. A successor to any
Underwriter, or to the Company, its directors or officers, or any person
controlling the Company, shall be entitled to the benefits of the indemnity,
contribution and reimbursement agreements contained in this Section 7.
(i) Acknowledgements of Parties. The parties to this Agreement hereby
acknowledge that they are sophisticated business persons who were represented by
counsel during the negotiations regarding the provisions hereof including,
without limitation, the provisions of this Section 7, and are fully informed
regarding said provisions. They further acknowledge that the provisions of this
Section 7 fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to
investigate the Company and its business in order to assure that adequate
disclosure is made in
24
<PAGE>
the Registration Statement and Prospectus as required by the Securities Act and
the Exchange Act.
Indemnification for Directed Share Program. The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless Robertson Stephens and its affiliates and each
person, if any, who controls Robertson Stephens or its affiliates within the
meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act ("Robertson Stephens Entities"), from and against any and all losses,
claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating
any such action or claim) (i) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any material prepared by or with the
consent of the Company for distribution to participants in connection with the
Directed Share Program, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading; (ii) the failure of any participant to pay
for and accept delivery of Directed Shares that the participant has agreed to
purchase; or (iii) related to, arising out of, or in connection with the
Directed Share Program other than losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
expenses relating thereto) that are judicially determined to have resulted from
the bad faith or gross negligence of Robertson Stephens Entities.
Section 8. 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 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 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 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 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 Shares and the aggregate number of Shares with respect to
which such default occurs exceeds 10% of the aggregate number of Shares to be
purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and
the Company for the purchase of such 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 5, and Section 7 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 8. Any action taken under this Section 8 shall not relieve any
defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such
Underwriter under this Agreement.
25
<PAGE>
Section 9. Termination of this Agreement. This Agreement may be
terminated by the Representatives by notice given to the Company if (a) at any
time after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the First
Closing Date (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 National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., (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 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 or inadvisable to market the Common Shares in the manner and on
the terms contemplated 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 or (b) in the case of any of
the events specified in 9(a)(i)-(v), such event singly or together with any
other event, makes it, in your judgement, impracticable or inadvisable to market
the Common Shares in the manner and on the terms contemplated in the Prospectus.
Any termination pursuant to this Section 9 shall be without liability on the
part of (x) 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 5 and 6 hereof, (y) any Underwriter to the Company or any
person controlling the Company, or (z) of any party hereto to any other party
except that the provisions of Section 7 shall at all times be effective and
shall survive such termination.
Section 10. Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery. The
respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other
statements of the Company or any person controlling 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 Shares sold hereunder and any
termination of this Agreement.
Section 11. 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:
FLEETBOSTON ROBERTSON STEPHENS INC.
555 California Street
San Francisco, California 94104
Facsimile: (415) 676-2675
Attention: General Counsel
26
<PAGE>
If to the Company:
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
3621 S. State Street
695 KMS Place
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Facsimile: 734-622-8333
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving
written notice to the others.
Section 12. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the parties hereto, including any substitute Underwriters
pursuant to Section 8 hereof, and to the benefit of the employees, officers and
directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 7, and to their
respective successors, and no other person will have any right or obligation
hereunder. The term "successors" shall not include any purchaser of the Shares
as such from any of the Underwriters merely by reason of such purchase.
Section 13. 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 14. Governing Law Provisions.
(a) Governing Law. This agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the internal laws of the state of New York 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 proceeding brought in any such
court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each party not located in the
United States irrevocably appoints CT Corporation System, which currently
27
<PAGE>
maintains a San Francisco office at 49 Stevenson Street, San Francisco,
California 94105, United States of America, as its agent to receive service of
process or other legal summons for purposes of any such suit, action or
proceeding that may be instituted in any state or federal court in the City and
County of San Francisco.
Section 15. 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.
Section headings herein are for the convenience of the parties only and shall
not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
[The remainder of this page has been intentionally left blank.]
28
<PAGE>
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of
our agreement, please 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,
ESPERION THERAPEUTICS, INC.
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and
accepted by the Representatives as of the date first above written.
FLEETBOSTON ROBERTSON STEPHENS INC.
FLEETBOSTON ROBERTSON STEPHENS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
U.S. BANCORP PIPER JAFFRAY INC.
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
On their behalf and on behalf of each of the several underwriters named in
Schedule A hereto.
----------
By FLEETBOSTON ROBERTSON STEPHENS INC.
FLEETBOSTON ROBERTSON STEPHENS
INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
By:
---------------------------
G. Mitchell Whiteford
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE A
Number of Firm Common
Underwriters Shares To be Purchased
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FleetBoston Robertson Stephens Inc. ........................ [___]
U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Inc. ............................ [___]
Chase Securities Inc. ...................................... [___]
[___]....................................................... [___]
[___]....................................................... [___]
Total.............................................. [___]
S-A
<PAGE>
Exhibit A
Lock-Up Agreement
FleetBoston Robertson Stephens Inc.
U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Inc.
Chase Securities Inc.
As Representatives of the Several Underwriters
c/o FleetBoston Robertson Stephens Inc.
555 California Street, Suite 2600
San Francisco, California 94104
RE: Esperion Therapeutics, 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 (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 offer to sell, contract to sell, or
otherwise sell, dispose of, loan, pledge or grant any rights with respect to
(collectively, a "Disposition") any shares of Common Stock, any options or
warrants to purchase any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible
into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock (collectively, "Securities") now
owned or hereafter acquired directly by such person or with respect to which
such person has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition, otherwise than
(i) as a bona fide gift or gifts, provided the donee or donees thereof agree in
writing to be bound by this restriction, (ii) as a distribution to partners or
shareholders of such person, provided that the distributees thereof agree in
writing to be bound by the terms of this restriction, (iii) with respect to
sales or purchases of Common Stock acquired on the open market or (iv) with the
prior written consent of FleetBoston Robertson Stephens Inc. The foregoing
restrictions will terminate after the close of trading of the Common Stock on
the 180th day of (and including) the day the Common Stock commenced trading on
the Nasdaq National Market (the "Lock-Up" Period). The foregoing restriction has
been expressly agreed to preclude the holder of the Securities from engaging in
any hedging or other transaction which is designed to or reasonably expected to
lead to or result in a Disposition of Securities during the Lock-up Period, even
if such Securities would be disposed of by someone other than such holder. Such
prohibited hedging or other transactions would include, without limitation, any
short sale (whether or not against the box) or any purchase, sale or grant of
any right
<PAGE>
(including, without limitation, any put or call option) with respect to any
Securities or with respect to any security (other than a broad-based market
basket or index) that included, relates to or derives any significant part of
its value from Securities. 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 held by the
undersigned except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.
This agreement is irrevocable and will be binding on the
undersigned and the respective successors, heirs, personal representatives, and
assigns of the undersigned. In the event the Offering has not occurred on or
before September 30, 2000, this Lock-Up Agreement shall be of no further force
or effect.
Dated
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Printed Name of Holder
By:
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Signature
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Printed Name of Person Signing
(and indicate capacity of person signing
if signing as custodian, trustee, or on
behalf of an entity)
