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EXHIBIT 1.1
14,600,000 Shares
GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE, INC.
Common Stock
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
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_________________, 2001
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
U.S. BANCORP PIPER JAFFRAY, INC.
As Representatives of the Several Underwriters,
c/o Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation,
Eleven Madison Avenue,
New York, N.Y. 10010-3629
Dear Sirs:
1. Introductory. Global Knowledge, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("COMPANY"),
proposes to issue and sell 14,600,000 shares ("FIRM SECURITIES") of its common
stock, $.01 par value per share, ("SECURITIES"). The Company also proposes to
issue and sell to the Underwriters, at the option of the Underwriters, an
aggregate of not more than _________________ additional shares of its
Securities, and the stockholders listed in Schedule A hereto ("SELLING
STOCKHOLDERS") propose to sell to the Underwriters, at the option of the
Underwriters, an aggregate of not more than ___ outstanding shares of the
Company's Securities, as set forth below (such __ additional shares being
hereinafter referred to as the "OPTIONAL SECURITIES"). The Firm Securities and
the Optional Securities are herein collectively called the "OFFERED SECURITIES."
As part of the offering contemplated by this Agreement, Credit Suisse First
Boston Corporation (the "DESIGNATED UNDERWRITER") has agreed to reserve out of
the Firm Securities purchased by it under this Agreement, up to 730,000 shares,
for sale to the Company's directors, officers, employees and other parties
associated with the Company (collectively, "PARTICIPANTS"), as set forth in the
Prospectus (as defined herein) under the heading "Underwriting" (the "DIRECTED
SHARE PROGRAM"). The Firm Securities to be sold by the Designated Underwriter
pursuant to the Directed Share Program (the "DIRECTED SHARES") will be sold by
the Designated Underwriter pursuant to this Agreement at the public offering
price. Any Directed Shares not subscribed for by the end of the business day on
which this Agreement is executed will be offered to the public by the
Underwriters as set forth in the Prospectus. The Company and the Selling
Stockholders hereby agrees with the several Underwriters named in Schedule B
hereto ("UNDERWRITERS") as follows:
2. Representations and Warranties of the Company and the Selling
Stockholders. (a) The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the
several Underwriters that:
(i) A registration statement (No. 333-47568) relating to the Offered
Securities, including a form of prospectus, has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("COMMISSION") and either (A) has been
declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933
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("ACT") and is not proposed to be amended or (B) is proposed to be amended
by amendment or post-effective amendment. If such registration statement
("INITIAL REGISTRATION STATEMENT") has been declared effective, either (A)
an additional registration statement ("ADDITIONAL REGISTRATION STATEMENT")
relating to the Offered Securities may have been filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 462(b) ("RULE 462(B)") under the Act and, if so filed, has
become effective upon filing pursuant to such Rule and the Offered
Securities all have been duly registered under the Act pursuant to the
initial registration statement and, if applicable, the additional
registration statement or (B) such an additional registration statement is
proposed to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(b) and will
become effective upon filing pursuant to such Rule and upon such filing the
Offered Securities will all have been duly registered under the Act
pursuant to the initial registration statement and such additional
registration statement. If the Company does not propose to amend the
initial registration statement or if an additional registration statement
has been filed and the Company does not propose to amend it, and if any
post-effective amendment to either such registration statement has been
filed with the Commission prior to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the most recent amendment (if any) to each such registration
statement has been declared effective by the Commission or has become
effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(c) ("RULE 462(C)") under the Act
or, in the case of the additional registration statement, Rule 462(b). For
purposes of this Agreement, "EFFECTIVE TIME" with respect to the initial
registration statement or, if filed prior to the execution and delivery of
this Agreement, the additional registration statement means (A) if the
Company has advised the Representatives that it does not propose to amend
such registration statement, the date and time as of which such
registration statement, or the most recent post-effective amendment thereto
(if any) filed prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, was
declared effective by the Commission or has become effective upon filing
pursuant to Rule 462(c), or (B) if the Company has advised the
Representatives that it proposes to file an amendment or post-effective
amendment to such registration statement, the date and time as of which
such registration statement, as amended by such amendment or post-effective
amendment, as the case may be, is declared effective by the Commission. If
an additional registration statement has not been filed prior to the
execution and delivery of this Agreement but the Company has advised the
Representatives that it proposes to file one, "EFFECTIVE TIME" with respect
to such additional registration statement means the date and time as of
which such registration statement is filed and becomes effective pursuant
to Rule 462(b). "EFFECTIVE DATE" with respect to the initial registration
statement or the additional registration statement (if any) means the date
of the Effective Time thereof. The initial registration statement, as
amended at its Effective Time, including all information contained in the
additional registration statement (if any) and deemed to be a part of the
initial registration statement as of the Effective Time of the additional
registration statement pursuant to the General Instructions of the Form on
which it is filed and including all information (if any) deemed to be a
part of the initial registration statement as of its Effective Time
pursuant to Rule 430A(b) ("RULE 430A(B)") under the Act, is hereinafter
referred to as the "INITIAL REGISTRATION STATEMENT." The additional
registration statement, as amended at its Effective Time, including the
contents of the initial registration statement incorporated by reference
therein and including all information (if any) deemed to be a part of the
additional registration statement as of its Effective Time pursuant to Rule
430A(b), is hereinafter referred to as the "ADDITIONAL REGISTRATION
STATEMENT." The Initial Registration Statement and the Additional
Registration Statement are herein referred to collectively as the
"REGISTRATION STATEMENTS" and individually as a "REGISTRATION STATEMENT."
The form of prospectus relating to the Offered Securities, as first filed
with the Commission pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 424(b) ("RULE
424(B)") under the Act or (if no such filing is required) as included in a
Registration Statement, is hereinafter referred to as the "PROSPECTUS." No
document has been or will be prepared or distributed in reliance on Rule
434 under the Act.
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(ii) If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement is
prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement: (A) on the Effective
Date of the Initial Registration Statement, the Initial Registration
Statement conformed in all respects to the requirements of the Act and the
rules and regulations of the Commission ("RULES AND REGULATIONS") and did
not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, (B) on the Effective Date of the
Additional Registration Statement (if any), each Registration Statement
conformed, or will conform, in all respects to the requirements of the Act
and the Rules and Regulations and did not include, or will not include, any
untrue statement of a material fact and did not omit, or will not omit, to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading and (C) on the date of this
Agreement, the Initial Registration Statement and, if the Effective Time of
the Additional Registration Statement is prior to the execution and
delivery of this Agreement, the Additional Registration Statement each
conforms, and at the time of filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule
424(b) or (if no such filing is required) at the Effective Date of the
Additional Registration Statement in which the Prospectus is included, each
Registration Statement and the Prospectus will conform, in all respects to
the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations, and neither of
such documents includes, or will include, any untrue statement of a
material fact or omits, or will omit, to state any material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading. If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement is
subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement: on the
Effective Date of the Initial Registration Statement, the Initial
Registration Statement and the Prospectus will conform in all respects to
the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations, neither of such
documents will include any untrue statement of a material fact or will omit
to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, and no Additional Registration
Statement has been or will be filed. The two preceding sentences do not
apply to statements in or omissions from a Registration Statement or the
Prospectus based upon written information furnished to the Company by any
Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it
being understood and agreed that the only such information is that
described as such in Section 7(c) hereof.
(iii) The Company has been duly incorporated and is an existing
corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with
power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct
its business as described in the Prospectus; and the Company is duly
qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all
other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the
conduct of its business requires such qualification.
(iv) Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated and is an
existing corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of
its incorporation, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own
its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus; and
each subsidiary of the Company is duly qualified to do business as a
foreign corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which
its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires
such qualification; all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each
subsidiary of the Company has been duly authorized and validly issued and
is fully paid and nonassessable; and the capital stock of each subsidiary
owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, is owned free from
liens, encumbrances and defects.
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(v) The Offered Securities and all other outstanding shares of capital
stock of the Company have been duly authorized; all outstanding shares of
capital stock of the Company are, and, when the Offered Securities have
been delivered and paid for in accordance with this Agreement on each
Closing Date (as defined below), such Offered Securities will have been,
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and will conform to the
description thereof contained in the Prospectus; and the stockholders of
the Company have no preemptive rights with respect to the Securities.
(vi) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there are no contracts,
agreements or understandings between the Company and any person that would
give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any Underwriter for a
brokerage commission, finder's fee or other like payment in connection with
this offering.
(vii) Except as described in the Prospectus (including rights with
respect to this offering which have been validly waived), there are no
contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person
granting such person the right to require the Company to file a
registration statement under the Act with respect to any securities of the
Company owned or to be owned by such person or to require the Company to
include such securities in the securities registered pursuant to a
Registration Statement or in any securities being registered pursuant to
any other registration statement filed by the Company under the Act.
(viii) The Offered Securities have been approved for listing on the
Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market, subject to notice of issuance.
(ix) No consent, approval, authorization, or order of, or filing with,
any governmental agency or body or any court is required for the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in
connection with the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities by the
Company, except such as have been obtained and made under the Act and such
as may be required under state securities laws.
(x) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, and the
issuance and sale of the Offered Securities, will not result in a breach or
violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default
under, any statute, any rule, regulation or order of any governmental
agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over
the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or any of their properties, or
any agreement or instrument to which the Company or any such subsidiary is
a party or by which the Company or any such subsidiary is bound or to which
any of the properties of the Company or any such subsidiary is subject, or
the charter or by-laws of the Company or any such subsidiary, and the
Company has full power and authority to authorize, issue and sell the
Offered Securities as contemplated by this Agreement.
(xi) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
the Company.
(xii) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company and its
subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real properties and all
other properties and assets owned by them, in each case free from liens,
encumbrances and defects that would materially affect the value thereof or
materially interfere with the use made or to be made thereof by them; and
except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries
hold any leased real or personal property under valid and enforceable
leases with no exceptions that would materially interfere with the use made
or to be made thereof by them.
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(xiii) The Company and its subsidiaries possess adequate certificates,
authorities or permits issued by appropriate governmental agencies or
bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them and have not
received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or
modification of any such certificate, authority or permit that, if
determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would
individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the
condition (financial or other), business, properties or results of
operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole ("MATERIAL
ADVERSE EFFECT").
(xiv) No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any
subsidiary exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent that
might have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xv) The Company and its subsidiaries own, possess or can acquire on
reasonable terms, adequate trademarks, trade names and other rights to
inventions, know-how, patents, copyrights, confidential information and
other intellectual property (collectively, "INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS")
necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, or presently
employed by them, and have not received any notice of infringement of or
conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any intellectual
property rights that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(xvi) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of
any statute, any rule, regulation, decision or order of any governmental
agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, relating to the use,
disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or relating to the
protection or restoration of the environment or human exposure to hazardous
or toxic substances (collectively, "ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS"), owns or operates
any real property contaminated with any substance that is subject to any
environmental laws, is liable for any off-site disposal or contamination
pursuant to any environmental laws, or is subject to any claim relating to
any environmental laws, which violation, contamination, liability or claim
would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; and
the Company is not aware of any pending investigation which might lead to
such a claim.
(xvii) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there are no pending
actions, suits or proceedings against or affecting the Company, any of its
subsidiaries or any of their respective properties that, if determined
adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or
in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect, or would materially and
adversely affect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations
under this Agreement, or which are otherwise material in the context of the
sale of the Offered Securities; and no such actions, suits or proceedings
are threatened or, to the Company's knowledge, contemplated.
(xviii) The financial statements included in each Registration Statement
and the Prospectus present fairly the financial position of the Company and
its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates shown and their results of
operations and cash flows for the periods shown, and, except as otherwise
disclosed in the Prospectus, such financial statements have been prepared
in conformity with the generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States applied on a consistent basis, and the schedules included in
each Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be
stated therein; and the assumptions used in preparing the pro forma
financial information included in each Registration Statement and the
Prospectus provide a reasonable basis for presenting the significant
effects directly attributable to the transactions or events described
therein, the related pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those
assumptions, and the pro forma columns therein reflect the proper
application of those adjustments to the corresponding
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historical financial statement amounts; and Arthur Andersen LLP who
certified the financial statements and supporting schedules included in the
Registration Statement are independent public accountants as required by
the Act and the Rules and Regulations.
(xix) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, since the date of the latest
audited financial statements included in the Prospectus there has been no
material adverse change, nor any development or event involving a
prospective material adverse change, in the condition (financial or other),
business, properties or results of operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole, and, except as disclosed in or contemplated
by the Prospectus, there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind
declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock.
(xx) The Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls
sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are
executed in accordance with management's general or specific authorization;
(B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of
financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (C) access to assets
is permitted only in accordance with management's general or specific
authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets in compared
with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is
taken with respect to any differences.
(xxi) All material tax returns required to be filed by the Company and
any of its subsidiaries in any jurisdiction have been filed or have
properly been extended, and all material taxes, including withholding
taxes, penalties and interest, assessments, fees and other charges due
pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the
Company or any of its subsidiaries have been paid, other than those which
are being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been
provided. There are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or charges
under federal law or the laws of any foreign country or state, or any
political subdivision thereof, required to be paid in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company or the issuance or
sale by the Company of the Offered Securities, except for fees or charges
that may be required to be paid in connection with applicable blue sky
laws, which fees and charges the Company hereby agrees to pay.
(xxii) The statements in the Prospectus under the heading "Certain
Relationships and Related Party Transactions" set forth all existing
agreements, arrangements, understandings and transactions, and proposed
agreements, arrangements, understandings and transactions, between or among
the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any officer,
director or stockholder of the Company, or with any partner, affiliate or
associate of any of the forgoing persons or entities, on the other hand,
required to be set forth or described thereunder.
(xxiii) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and
sale of the Offered Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof
as described in the Prospectus, will not be an "investment company" as
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.
(xxiv) The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or
indirectly, any action designed to or that could cause or result in the
stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Offered Securities to
facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Securities.
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(xxv) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of
(i) its charter or by-laws or (ii) except as described in the Prospectus,
any statue, rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or body or
any court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any
such subsidiary or any of their respective properties; and no event of
default (or event which with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or
both, would constitute an event of defaults) exists under any agreement or
instrument to which the Company or any such subsidiary is a party or by
which the Company or any such subsidiary is bound or to which any of the
properties of the Company or any such subsidiary is subject, except, in
each case, for violations or events of default that, individually or in the
aggregate, do not have, and are reasonably likely not to have, a Material
Adverse Effect.
(xxvi) Furthermore, the Company represents and warrants to the
Underwriters that (i) the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any
preliminary prospectus comply, and any further amendments or supplements
thereto will comply, with any applicable laws or regulations of foreign
jurisdictions in which the Prospectus or any preliminary prospectus, as
amended or supplemented, if applicable, are distributed in connection with
the Directed Share Program, and that (ii) no authorization, approval,
consent, license, order, registration or qualification of or with any
government, governmental instrumentality or court, other than such as have
been obtained, is necessary under the securities law and regulations of
foreign jurisdictions in which the Directed Shares are offered outside the
United States.
(xxvii) The Company has not offered, or caused the Underwriters to
offer, any Offered Securities to any person pursuant to the Directed Share
Program with the specific intent to unlawfully influence (A) a customer or
supplier of the Company to alter the customer's or supplier's level or type
of business with the Company or (B) a trade journalist or publication to
write or publish favorable information about the Company or its products.
(b) Each Selling Stockholder severally represents and warrants to, and
agrees with, the several Underwriters that:
(i) Such Selling Stockholder has and on each Closing Date hereinafter
mentioned will have valid and unencumbered title to the Offered Securities
to be delivered by such Selling Stockholder on such Closing Date and full
right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to sell,
assign, transfer and deliver the Offered Securities to be delivered by such
Selling Stockholder on such Closing Date hereunder; and upon the delivery
of and payment for the Offered Securities on each Closing Date hereunder
the several Underwriters will acquire valid and unencumbered title to the
Offered Securities to be delivered by such Selling Stockholder on such
Closing Date.
(ii) If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement is
prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement: (A) on the
Effective Date of the Initial Registration Statement, the Initial
Registration Statement conformed in all respects to the requirements of the
Act and the Rules and Regulations and did not include any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (B) on
the Effective Date of the Additional Registration Statement (if any), each
Registration Statement conformed, or will conform, in all respects to the
requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations did not include, or
will not include, any untrue statement of a material fact and did not omit,
or will not omit, to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and (C) on the
date of this Agreement, the Initial Registration Statement and, if the
Effective Time of the Additional Registration Statement is prior to the
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execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Additional Registration
Statement each conforms, and at the time of filing of the Prospectus
pursuant to Rule 424(b) or (if no such filing is required) at the Effective
Date of the Additional Registration Statement in which the Prospectus is
included, each Registration Statement and the Prospectus will conform, in
all respects to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations,
and neither of such documents includes, or will include, any untrue
statement of a material fact or omits, or will omit, to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading. If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration
Statement is subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement:
on the Effective Date of the Initial Registration Statement, the Initial
Registration Statement and the Prospectus will conform in all respects to
the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations, neither of such
documents will include any untrue statement of a material fact or will omit
to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading. The two preceding sentences do
not apply to statements in or omissions from a Registration Statement or
the Prospectus based upon written information furnished to the Company by
any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein,
it being understood and agreed that the only such information is that
described as such in Section 7(c).
(iii) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
such Selling Stockholder and constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligations of such Selling Stockholder enforceable against such Selling
Stockholder in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that
enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
receivership, moratorium or similar laws relating to creditors' rights
generally.
(iv) Except as described in the Prospectus, no consent, approval,
authorization or order of, or filing with, any governmental agency or body
or any court is required to be obtained or made for the consummation by
such Selling Stockholder of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, except such as have been or will be obtained or made prior to
the First Closing Date.
(v) The execution, delivery and performance by such Selling Stockholder
of the Power of Attorney, the Custody Agreement and this Agreement, the
sale of the Offered Securities to be sold by such Selling Stockholder and
the consummation by such Selling Stockholder of any of the other
transactions herein and therein contemplated, (A) do not and will not
conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and
provisions of, or constitute or will constitute a default (or an event
which with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both would
constitute a default) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any
lien, charge or encumbrance upon the Offered Securities under the case of a
corporate Selling Stockholder, the charter, by-laws or other organizational
documents of such Selling Stockholder, (B) except as described in the
Prospectus, any statute, rule, regulation, requirement, order or decree of
any governmental agency or body of any court having jurisdiction over such
Selling Stockholder or any of its properties, assets or operations or (C)
any indenture, mortgage, loan or credit agreement, note, lease, permit,
license or other agreement or instrument to which such Selling Stockholder
is a party or by which such Selling Stockholder is bound or to which any of
the properties, assets or operations of such Selling Stockholder is
subject.
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(vi) The Power of Attorney and related Custody Agreement with respect to
each Selling Stockholder has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by such Selling Stockholder and constitute valid and legally binding
obligations of each such Selling Stockholder enforceable in accordance with
their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium and similar law of general applicability
relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity
principles.
(vii) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there are no contracts,
agreements or understandings between such Selling Stockholder and any
person that would give rise to a valid claim against such Selling
Stockholder or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder's fee or
other like payment in connection with this offering.
(viii) Such Selling Stockholder has not taken and will not take, directly
or indirectly, any action designed to or that could cause or result in the
stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Offered Securities to
facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Securities.
3. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Offered Securities. On the basis of the
representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to the
terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to the
Underwriters, and the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase
from the Company, at a purchase price of $_______ per share, the respective
numbers of shares of Firm Securities set forth opposite the names of the
Underwriters in Schedule A hereto.
The Company will deliver the Firm Securities to the Representatives for the
accounts of the Underwriters against payment of the purchase price in Federal
(same day) funds by official bank check or checks or wire transfer to an account
at a bank acceptable to Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation ("CSFBC") drawn
to the order of the Company, at the office of ______________________, at _______
A.M., New York time, on ________________________, or at such other time not
later than seven full business days thereafter as CSFBC and the Company
determine, such time being herein referred to as the "FIRST CLOSING DATE". For
purposes of Rule 15c6-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the First
Closing Date (if later than the otherwise applicable settlement date) shall be
the settlement date for payment of funds and delivery of securities for all the
Offered Securities sold pursuant to the offering. The certificates for the Firm
Securities so to be delivered will be in definitive form, in such denominations
and registered in such names as CSFBC requests and will be made available for
checking and packaging at the above office of CSFBC at least 24 hours prior to
the First Closing Date.
In addition, upon written notice from CSFBC given to the Company and the
Selling Stockholders from time to time not more than 30 days subsequent to the
date of the Prospectus, the Underwriters may purchase all or less than all of
the Optional Securities at the purchase price to be paid for the Firm
Securities. The Company and the Selling Stockholders agree, severally and not
jointly, to sell to the Underwriters the respective number of shares of Optional
Securities obtained by multiplying the number of Optional Securities specified
in such notice by a fraction the numerator of which is ___ in the case of the
Company and the number of shares set forth opposite the names of such Selling
Stockholders in Schedule A hereto under the caption "Number of Optional
Securities to be Sold" in the case of the Selling Stockholders and the
denominator of which is the total number of Optional Securities (subject to
adjustment by CSFB to eliminate fractions), and the Underwriters agree,
severally and not jointly, to purchase such Optional Securities. Such Optional
Securities shall be purchased from the Company and each Selling stockholder for
the account of each Underwriter in the same proportion as the number of shares
of Firm Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter's name bears to the total
number of shares of Firm Securities (subject to adjustment by CSFBC to eliminate
fractions) and may be purchased by the
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Underwriters only for the purpose of covering over-allotments made in connection
with the sale of the Firm Securities. No Optional Securities shall be sold or
delivered unless the Firm Securities previously have been, or simultaneously
are, sold and delivered. The right to purchase the Optional Securities or any
portion thereof may be exercised from time to time and to the extent not
previously exercised may be surrendered and terminated at any time upon notice
by CSFBC to the Company and the Selling Stockholders.
Certificates in negotiable form for the Optional Securities to be sold by
the Selling Stockholders hereunder have been placed in custody, for delivery
under this Agreement, under Custody Agreements made with _____________, as
custodian ("CUSTODIAN"). Each Selling Stockholder agrees that the shares
represented by the certificates held in custody for the Selling Stockholders
under such Custody Agreements are subject to the interests of the Underwriters
hereunder, that the arrangements made by the Selling Stockholders for such
custody are to that extent irrevocable, and that the obligations of the Selling
Stockholders hereunder shall not be terminated by operation of law, whether by
the death of any individual Selling Stockholder or the occurrence of any other
event, or in the case of a trust, by the death of any trustee or trustees or the
termination of such trust. If any individual Selling Stockholder or any such
trustee or trustees should die, or if any other such event should occur, or if
any of such trusts should terminate, before the delivery of the Offered
Securities hereunder, certificates for such Offered Securities shall be
delivered by the Custodian in accordance with the terms and conditions of this
Agreement as if such death or other event or termination had not occurred,
regardless of whether or not the Custodian shall have received notice of such
death or other event or termination.
Each time for the delivery of and payment for the Optional Securities,
being herein referred to as an "OPTIONAL CLOSING DATE", which may be the First
Closing Date (the First Closing Date and each Optional Closing Date, if any,
being sometimes referred to as a "CLOSING DATE"), shall be determined by CSFBC
but shall be not later than five full business days after written notice of
election to purchase Optional Securities is given. The Company and the Custodian
will deliver the Optional Securities being purchased on each Optional Closing
Date to the Representatives for the accounts of the several Underwriters against
payment of the purchase price therefor in Federal (same day) funds by official
bank check or checks or wire transfer to an account at a bank acceptable to
CSFBC drawn to the order of the Company, at the above office of
________________________. The certificates for the Optional Securities being
purchased on each Optional Closing Date will be in definitive form, in such
denominations and registered in such names as CSFBC requests upon reasonable
notice prior to such Optional Closing Date and will be made available for
checking and packaging at the above office of CSFBC at a reasonable time in
advance of such Optional Closing Date.
4. Offering by Underwriters. It is understood that the several
Underwriters propose to offer the Offered Securities for sale to the public as
set forth in the Prospectus.
5. Certain Agreements of the Company and the Selling Stockholders. The
Company agrees with the several Underwriters and the Selling Stockholders that:
(a) If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement is prior
to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will file the
Prospectus with the Commission pursuant to and in accordance with
subparagraph (1) (or, if applicable and if consented to by CSFBC,
subparagraph (4)) of Rule 424(b) not later than the earlier of (A) the
second business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement
or (B) the fifteenth business day after the Effective Date of the Initial
Registration Statement.
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The Company will advise CSFBC promptly of any such filing pursuant to Rule
424(b). If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement is
prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and an additional
registration statement is necessary to register a portion of the Offered
Securities under the Act but the Effective Time thereof has not occurred as
of such execution and delivery, the Company will file the additional
registration statement or, if filed, will file a post-effective amendment
thereto with the Commission pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 462(b)
on or prior to 10:00 P.M., New York time, on the date of this Agreement or,
if earlier, on or prior to the time the Prospectus is printed and
distributed to any Underwriter, or will make such filing at such later date
as shall have been consented to by CSFBC.
(b) The Company will advise CSFBC promptly of any proposal to amend or
supplement the initial or any additional registration statement as filed or
the related prospectus or the Initial Registration Statement, the
Additional Registration Statement (if any) or the Prospectus and will not
effect such amendment or supplementation without CSFBC's consent; and the
Company will also advise CSFBC promptly of the effectiveness of each
Registration Statement (if its Effective Time is subsequent to the
execution and delivery of this Agreement) and of any amendment or
supplementation of a Registration Statement or the Prospectus and of the
institution by the Commission of any stop order proceedings in respect of a
Registration Statement and will use its best efforts to prevent the
issuance of any such stop order and to obtain as soon as possible its
lifting, if issued.
(c) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Offered Securities
is required to be delivered under the Act in connection with sales by any
Underwriter or dealer, any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus
as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend the
Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Company will promptly notify CSFBC
of such event and will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, at
its own expense, an amendment or supplement which will correct such
statement or omission or an amendment which will effect such compliance.
Neither CSFBC's consent to, nor the Underwriters' delivery of, any such
amendment or supplement shall constitute a waiver of any of the conditions
set forth in Section 6.
(d) As soon as practicable, but not later than the Availability Date (as
defined below), the Company will make generally available to its
securityholders an earnings statement covering a period of at least 12
months beginning after the Effective Date of the Initial Registration
Statement (or, if later, the Effective Date of the Additional Registration
Statement) which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act.
For the purpose of the preceding sentence, "AVAILABILITY DATE" means the
45th day after the end of the fourth fiscal quarter following the fiscal
quarter that includes such Effective Date, except that, if such fourth
fiscal quarter is the last quarter of the Company's fiscal year,
"AVAILABILITY DATE" means the 90th day after the end of such fourth fiscal
quarter.
(e) The Company will furnish to the Representatives copies of each
Registration Statement, four of which will be signed and will include all
exhibits), each related preliminary prospectus, and, so long as a
prospectus relating to the Offered Securities is required to be delivered
under the Act in connection with sales by any Underwriter or dealer, the
Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to such documents, in each
case in such quantities as CSFBC requests. The Prospectus shall be so
furnished on or prior to 3:00 P.M., New York time, on the business day
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following the later of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the
Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement. All other documents
shall be so furnished as soon as available. The Company and the Selling
Stockholders will pay the expenses of printing and distributing to the
Underwriters all such documents.
(f) The Company will arrange for the qualification of the Offered
Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as CSFBC
designates and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as
required for the distribution.
(g) During the period of ten years hereafter, the Company will furnish
to the Representatives and, upon request, to each of the other
Underwriters, as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, a
copy of its annual report to stockholders for such year; and the Company
will furnish to the Representatives (i) as soon as available, a copy of
each report and any definitive proxy statement of the Company filed with
the Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or mailed to
stockholders, and (ii) from time to time, such other information concerning
the Company as CSFBC may reasonably request.
(h) The Company and each Selling Stockholder agree with the several
Underwriters that the Company and such Selling Stockholder will pay all
expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company and
such Selling Stockholder, as the case may be, under this Agreement, for any
filing fees and other expenses (including fees and disbursements of
counsel) incurred in connection with qualification of the Offered
Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as CSFBC
designates and the printing of memoranda relating thereto, for the filing
fee incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to
the Underwriters in connection with, the review by the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc. of the Offered Securities, for any travel
expenses of the Company's officers and employees and any other expenses of
the Company in connection with attending or hosting meetings with
prospective purchasers of the Offered Securities, for any transfer taxes on
the sale by the Selling Stockholders of the Optional Securities to the
Underwriters and for expenses incurred in distributing preliminary
prospectuses and the Prospectus (including any amendments and supplements
thereto) to the Underwriters.
(i) For a period of 180 days after the date of the initial public
offering of the Offered Securities, the Company will not offer, sell,
contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly,
or file with the Commission a registration statement under the Act relating
to, any additional shares of its Securities or securities convertible into
or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of its Securities, or
publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge,
disposition or filing, without the prior written consent of CSFBC, except
issuances of Securities pursuant to the conversion or exchange of
convertible or exchangeable securities or the exercise of warrants or
options, in each case outstanding on the date hereof, grants of employee
stock options pursuant to the terms of a plan in effect on the date hereof
or issuances of Securities pursuant to the exercise of such options.
(j) Each Selling Stockholder agrees to deliver to CSFBC, attention:
Transactions Advisory Group on or prior to the First Closing Date a
properly completed and executed United States Treasury Department Form W-9
(or other applicable form or statement specified by Treasury Department
regulations in lieu thereof).
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(k) Each Selling Stockholder agrees, for a period of 180 days after the
date of the initial public offering of the Offered Securities, not to
offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or
indirectly, any additional shares of the Securities of the Company or
securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares
of Securities, enter into a transaction which would have the same effect,
or enter into any swap, hedge or other arrangement that transfers, in whole
or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the
Securities, whether any such aforementioned transaction is to be settled by
delivery of the Securities or such other securities, in cash or otherwise,
or publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge, or
disposition, or enter into any such transaction, swap, hedge or other
arrangement, without, in each case, the prior written consent of CSFBC.
(l) In connection with the Directed Share Program, the Company will
ensure that the Directed Shares will be restricted to the extent required
by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") or the
NASD rules from sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation for a
period of three months following the date of the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement. The Designated Underwriter will notify the Company
as to which Participants will need to be so restricted. The Company will
direct the transfer agent to place stop transfer restrictions upon such
securities for such period of time.
(m) The Company will pay all fees and disbursements of counsel incurred
by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Shares Program and
stamp duties, similar taxes or duties or other taxes, if any, incurred by
the underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program.
Furthermore, the Company covenants with the Underwriters that the company
will comply with all applicable securities and other applicable laws, rules
and regulations in each foreign jurisdiction in which the Directed Shares
are offered in connection with the Directed Share Program.
6. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of
the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Firm Securities on the
First Closing Date and the Optional Securities to be purchased on each Optional
Closing Date will be subject to the accuracy of the representations and
warranties on the part of the Company and the Selling Stockholders herein, to
the accuracy of the statements of Company officers made pursuant to the
provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company and the Selling
Stockholders of their obligations hereunder and to the following additional
conditions precedent:
(a) The Representatives shall have received a letter, dated the date of
delivery thereof (which, if the Effective Time of the Initial Registration
Statement is prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, shall
be on or prior to the date of this Agreement or, if the Effective Time of
the Initial Registration Statement is subsequent to the execution and
delivery of this Agreement, shall be prior to the filing of the amendment
or post-effective amendment to the registration statement to be filed
shortly prior to such Effective Time), of Arthur Andersen LLP confirming
that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Act
and the applicable published Rules and Regulations thereunder and stating
to the effect that:
(i) in their opinion the financial statements and schedules examined
by them and included in the Registration Statements comply as to form
in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements
of the Act and the related published Rules and Regulations;
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<PAGE>
(ii) they have performed the procedures specified by the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants for a review of interim
financial information as described in Statement of Auditing Standards
No. 71, Interim Financial Information, on the unaudited financial
statements included in the Registration Statements;
(iii) on the basis of the review referred to in clause (ii) above, a
reading of the latest available interim financial statements of the
Company, inquiries of officials of the Company who have responsibility
for financial and accounting matters and other specified procedures,
nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe that:
(A) the unaudited financial statements included in the
Registration Statements do not comply as to form in all material
respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act
and the related published Rules and Regulations or any material
modifications should be made to such unaudited financial
statements for them to be in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles;
(B) at the date of the latest available balance sheet read
by such accountants, or at a subsequent specified date not more
than three business days prior to the date of this Agreement,
there was any change in the capital stock or any increase in
short-term indebtedness or long-term debt of the Company and its
consolidated subsidiaries or, at the date of the latest available
balance sheet read by such accountants, there was any decrease in
consolidated net assets, as compared with amounts shown on the
latest balance sheet included in the Prospectus; or
(C) for the period from the closing date of the latest
income statement included in the Prospectus to the closing date
of the latest available income statement read by such accountants
there were any decreases, as compared with the corresponding
period of the previous year, in consolidated net sales or net
operating income in the total or per share amounts of
consolidated net income,
except in all cases set forth in clauses (B) and (C) above for
changes, increases or decreases which the Prospectus discloses have
occurred or may occur or which are described in such letter;
(iv) they have read any unaudited pro forma information included in
the Prospectus; inquired of certain officials of the Company who have
responsibility for financial and accounting matters about the basis
for their determination of the pro forma adjustments and whether such
unaudited pro forma financial information complies as to form in all
material respects with the applicable requirements of Rule 11-02 of
Regulation S-X under the Act; and proved the arithmetic accuracy of
the application of the pro forma adjustments to the historical amounts
in the unaudited pro forma financial information.
(v) on the basis of the procedures specified in clause (iv) above,
nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe that the
unaudited pro forma financial information
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referred to in clause (iv) above does not comply as to form in all
material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of Rule
11-02 of Regulation S-X under the Act and that the pro forma
adjustments have not been properly applied to the historical amounts
in the compilation of that information; and
(vi) they have compared specified dollar amounts (or percentages
derived from such dollar amounts) and other financial information
contained in the Registration Statements (in each case to the extent
that such dollar amounts, percentages and other financial information
are derived from the general accounting records of the Company and its
subsidiaries subject to the internal controls of the Company's
accounting system or are derived directly from such records by
analysis or computation) with the results obtained from inquiries, a
reading of such general accounting records and other procedures
specified in such letter and have found such dollar amounts,
percentages and other financial information to be in agreement with
such results, except as otherwise specified in such letter.
For purposes of this subsection, (i) if the Effective Time of the Initial
Registration Statement is subsequent to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, "REGISTRATION STATEMENTS" shall mean the initial registration
statement as proposed to be amended by the amendment or post-effective amendment
to be filed shortly prior to its Effective Time, (ii) if the Effective Time of
the Initial Registration Statement is prior to the execution and delivery of
this Agreement but the Effective Time of the Additional Registration is
subsequent to such execution and delivery, "REGISTRATION STATEMENTS" shall mean
the Initial Registration Statement and the additional registration statement as
proposed to be filed or as proposed to be amended by the post-effective
amendment to be filed shortly prior to its Effective Time, and (iii)
"PROSPECTUS" shall mean the prospectus included in the Registration Statements.
(b) The Representatives shall have received a letter, dated the date of
delivery thereof (which, if the Effective Time of the Initial Registration
Statement is prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, shall
be on or prior to the date of this Agreement or, if the Effective Time of
the Initial Registration Statement is subsequent to the execution and
delivery of this Agreement, shall be prior to the filing of the amendment
or post effective amendment to the registration statement to be filed
shortly prior to such Effective Time), of each of the accounting firms
whose report as to audited financial statements of a company other than the
Company is included in the Registration Statement to the effect that (i)
they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Act and
the applicable published Rules and Regulations thereunder and (ii) in their
opinion of the financial statements and any schedules examined by them and
included in the Registration Statements comply as to form in all material
respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the
related published Rules and Regulations.
(c) If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement is not
prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, such Effective Time
shall have occurred not later than 10:00 P.M., New York time, on the date
of this Agreement or such later date as shall have been consented to by
CSFBC. If the Effective Time of the Additional Registration Statement (if
any) is not prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, such
Effective Time shall have occurred not later than 10:00 P.M., New York
time, on the date of this Agreement or, if earlier, the time the Prospectus
is printed and distributed to any Underwriter, or shall have occurred at
such later date as shall have been consented to by CSFBC. If the Effective
Time of the Initial Registration
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<PAGE>
Statement is prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission in accordance with the
Rules and Regulations and Section 5(a) of this Agreement. Prior to such
Closing Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration
Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall
have been instituted or, to the knowledge of any Selling Stockholder, the
Company or the Representatives, shall be contemplated by the Commission.
(d) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, there
shall not have occurred (i) any change, or any development or event
involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or other),
business, properties or results of operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries taken as one enterprise which, in the judgment of a majority
in interest of the Underwriters including the Representatives, is material
and adverse and makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with
completion of the public offering or the sale of and payment for the
Offered Securities; (ii) any downgrading in the rating of any debt
securities of the Company by any "nationally recognized statistical rating
organization" (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Act), or
any public announcement that any such organization has under surveillance
or review its rating of any debt securities of the Company (other than an
announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading, and no
implication of a possible downgrading, of such rating); (iii) any material
suspension or material limitation of trading in securities generally on the
New York Stock Exchange, or any setting of minimum prices for trading on
such exchange, or any suspension of trading of any securities of the
Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market; (iv) any banking
moratorium declared by U.S. Federal or, New York authorities; or (v) any
outbreak or escalation of major hostilities in which the United States is
involved, any declaration of war by Congress or any other substantial
national or international calamity or emergency if, in the judgment of a
majority in interest of the Underwriters including the Representatives, the
effect of any such outbreak, escalation, declaration, calamity or emergency
makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with completion of the
public offering or the sale of and payment for the Offered Securities.
(e) The Representatives shall have received an opinion, dated such
Closing Date, of Reboul, MacMurray, Hewitt, Maynard & Kristol, counsel for
the Company, to the effect that:
(i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is an existing
corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware,
and each subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated and is
an existing corporation in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation with corporate power and authority to
own its properties and conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus; and the Company and each of its subsidiaries is duly
qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in
all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or
the conduct of its business requires such qualification;
(ii) The Offered Securities delivered on such Closing Date and all
other outstanding shares of the Common Stock of the Company have been
duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable
and conform to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus;
and the stockholders of the Company have no preemptive rights with
respect to the Securities;
(iii) There are no contracts, agreements or understandings known to
such counsel between the Company and any person granting such person
the right to require
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the Company to file a registration statement under the Act with
respect to any securities of the Company owned or to be owned by such
person or to require the Company to include such securities in the
securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or in any
securities being registered pursuant to any other registration
statement filed by the Company under the Act;
(iv) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering
and sale of the Offered Securities and the application of the proceeds
thereof as described in the Prospectus, will not be an "investment
company" as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.
(v) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing
with, any governmental agency or body or any court is required to be
obtained or made by the Company or any Selling Stockholder for the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the
Custody Agreement in connection with the sale of the Offered
Securities, except such as have been obtained and made under the Act
and such as may be required under state securities laws;
(vi) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or
the Custody Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein
or therein contemplated and the issuance and sale of the Offered
Securities will not result in a breach or violation of any of the
terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, any statute,
any rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or body or
any court having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary of
the Company or any of their properties, or any agreement or instrument
to which the Company or any such subsidiary is a party or by which the
Company or any such subsidiary is bound or to which any of the
properties of the Company or any such subsidiary is subject, or the
charter or by-laws of the Company or any such subsidiary, and the
Company has full power and authority to authorize, issue and sell the
Offered Securities as contemplated by this Agreement;
(vii) To the knowledge of such counsel, there is not pending or
threatened any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation, to
which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party, or to which
the property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject,
before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body,
domestic or foreign, which might reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect which is of a character required to be
disclosed in the Registration Statement or Prospectus by the Act or
the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder other than
those described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or which
might reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the
consummation of the transactions contemplated in the Agreement or the
performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder;
(viii) To the knowledge of such counsel, the Company is not in
violation of its charter or bylaws;
(ix) The Initial Registration Statement was declared effective
under the Act as of the date and time specified in such opinion, the
Additional Registration Statement (if any) was filed and became
effective under the Act as of the date and time (if determinable)
specified in such opinion, the Prospectus either was filed with the
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Commission pursuant to the subparagraph of Rule 424(b) specified in
such opinion on the date specified therein or was included in the
Initial Registration Statement or the Additional Registration
Statement (as the case may be), and, to the best of the knowledge of
such counsel, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of a
Registration Statement or any part thereof has been issued and no
proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or
contemplated under the Act, and each Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, and each amendment or supplement thereto, as of their
respective effective or issue dates, complied as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the Act and the Rules and
Regulations; such counsel have no reason to believe that any part of a
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, as of its effective
date or as of such Closing Date, contained any untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading or that the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto, as of its issue date or as of such Closing Date, contained
any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; the descriptions in the Registration Statements and
Prospectus of statutes, legal and governmental proceedings and
contracts and other documents are accurate and fairly present the
information required to be shown; and such counsel do not know of any
legal or governmental proceedings required to be described in a
Registration Statement or the Prospectus which are not described as
required or of any contracts or documents of a character required to
be described in a Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be
filed as exhibits to a Registration Statement which are not described
and filed as required; it being understood that such counsel need
express no opinion as to the financial statements or other financial
data contained in the Registration Statements or the Prospectus; and
(x) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company.
(f) The Representatives shall have received the opinion contemplated
in the Power of Attorney executed and delivered by each Selling Stockholder
and an opinion, dated such Closing Date, of ___________, counsel for the
Selling Stockholders, to the effect that:
(i) Each Selling Stockholder had valid and unencumbered title to
the Offered Securities delivered by such Selling Stockholder on such
Closing Date and had full right, power and authority to sell, assign,
transfer and deliver the Offered Securities delivered by such Selling
Stockholder on such Closing Date hereunder; and the several
Underwriters have acquired valid and unencumbered title to the Offered
Securities purchased by them from the Selling Stockholders on such
Closing Date hereunder;
(ii) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing
with, any governmental agency or body or any court is required to be
obtained or made by any Selling Stockholder for the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by the Custody Agreement or this
Agreement in connection with the sale of the Offered Securities sold
by the Selling Stockholders, except such as have been obtained and
made under the Act and such as may be required under state securities
laws;
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(iii) The execution, delivery and performance of the Custody
Agreement and this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
therein and herein contemplated will not result in a breach or
violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a
default under, any statute, any rule, regulation or order of any
governmental agency or body or any court having jurisdiction over any
Selling Stockholder or any of its properties or any agreement or
instrument to which any Selling Stockholder is a party or by which any
Selling Stockholder is bound or to which any of the properties of any
Selling Stockholder is subject, or the charter or by-laws of any
Selling Stockholder which is a corporation;
(iv) The Power of Attorney and related Custody Agreement with
respect to each Selling Stockholder has been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by such Selling Stockholder and constitute valid and
legally binding obligations of such Selling Stockholder enforceable in
accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of
general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and
to general equity principles; and
(v) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by each Selling Stockholder.
(g) The Representatives shall have received from Katten Muchin Zavis,
counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated such Closing
Date, with respect to the incorporation of the Company, the validity of the
Offered Securities delivered on such Closing Date, the Registration
Statements, the Prospectus and other related matters as the Representatives
may require, and the Selling Stockholders and the Company shall have
furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of
enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(h) The Representatives shall have received a certificate, dated such
Closing Date, of the President or any Vice President and a principal
financial or accounting officer of the Company in which such officers, to
the best of their knowledge after reasonable investigation, shall state
that: the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement
are true and correct; the Company has complied with all agreements and
satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder
at or prior to such Closing Date; no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of any Registration Statement has been issued and no
proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are contemplated by
the Commission; the Additional Registration Statement (if any) satisfying
the requirements of subparagraphs (1) and (3) of Rule 462(b) was filed
pursuant to Rule 462(b), including payment of the applicable filing fee in
accordance with Rule 111(a) or (b) under the Act, prior to the time the
Prospectus was printed and distributed to any Underwriter; and, subsequent
to the respective dates of the most recent financial statements in the
Prospectus, there has been no material adverse change, nor any development
or event involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition
(financial or other), business, properties or results of operations of the
Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole except as set forth in or
contemplated by the Prospectus or as described in such certificate.
(i) The Representatives shall have received a letter, dated such
Closing Date, of Arthur Andersen LLP and each other accounting firm whose
report is included in the Registration Statement which meets the
requirements of subsections (a) and (b) of this Section, except that the
specified date referred to in such subsection will be a date not more than
three days prior to such Closing Date for the purposes of this subsection.
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<PAGE>
(j) On or prior to the date of this Agreement, the Representatives
shall have received lockup letters from each of the executive officers,
directors and specified stockholders and option holders of the Company who
are not Selling Stockholders.
The Selling Stockholders and Company will furnish the Representatives with such
conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and documents as the
Representatives reasonably request. CSFBC may in its sole discretion waive on
behalf of the Underwriters compliance with any conditions to the obligations of
the Underwriters hereunder, whether in respect of an Optional Closing Date or
otherwise.
7. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company will indemnify and
hold harmless each Underwriter, its partners, directors and officers and each
person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15
of the Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or
several, to which such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Registration Statement,
the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any related
preliminary prospectus, or arise out of or are 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, and will reimburse
each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim,
damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred; provided, however,
that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such
loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission from
any of such documents in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the
Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed
that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the
information described as such in subsection (c) below.
The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Designated Underwriter
and each person, if any, who controls the Designated Underwriter within the
meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act (the "DESIGNATED 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) caused by the failure of any Participant
to pay for and accept delivery of Directed Shares that the Participant 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 finally judicially determined to have
resulted from the bad faith or gross negligence of the Designated Entities.
(b) The Selling Stockholders, jointly and severally, will indemnify and hold
harmless each Underwriter, its partners, directors and officers and each person
who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act,
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which
such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out
of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any
material fact contained in any Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, or any related preliminary prospectus, or arise
out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
20
<PAGE>
statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter for any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in connection
with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or
action as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Selling
Stockholders will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such
loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission from
any of such documents in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by an Underwriter through the
Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed
that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the
information described as such in subsection (c) below; provided, further, that
the Selling Stockholders which are "PTS SELLING STOCKHOLDERS", as indicated on
Schedule A hereto, shall only be subject to such liability to the extent that
the untrue statement or alleged statement or omission or alleged omission is
based upon information provided by such PTS Selling Stockholder or contained in
a representation or warranty given by such PTS Selling Stockholder in this
Agreement or the Custody Agreement; and provided, further, that the liability
under this subsection of each Selling Stockholder shall be limited to an amount
equal to the aggregate gross proceeds to such Selling Stockholders from the sale
of securities sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder.
(c) Each Underwriter will severally and not jointly indemnify and hold
harmless the Company, its directors and officers and each person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act, and each
Selling Stockholder against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which
the Company or such Selling Stockholder may become subject, under the Act or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Registration Statement,
the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any related
preliminary prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in 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 reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter
through the Representatives specifically for use therein, and will reimburse any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company and each Selling
Stockholder in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim,
damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred, it being understood
and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists
of (i) the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each
Underwriter: the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the fourth
paragraph under the caption "Underwriting" and the information contained in the
sixth and fourteenth paragraphs under the caption "Underwriting" and (ii) the
information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of Banc of America Securities
LLC: the information contained in the second sentence of the seventh paragraph
under the caption "Underwriting."
(d) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section or
Section 9 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party
will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party
under subsection (a), (b) or (c) above or Section 9, notify the indemnifying
party 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 otherwise than under subsection (a), (b) or (c) above or
Section 9. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and
it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying
party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may
wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume
the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who
shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the
indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such
indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the
indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this
Section or Section 9, as the case
21
<PAGE>
may be, for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable
costs of investigation. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the
contrary, if indemnity may be sought pursuant to the last paragraph in Section 7
(a) hereof in respect of such action or proceeding, then in addition to such
separate firm for the indemnified parties, the indemnifying party shall be
liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of not more than one separate firm
(in addition to any local counsel) for the Designated Underwriter for the
defense of any losses, claims, damages and liabilities arising out of the
Directed Share Program, and all persons, if any, who control the Designated
Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Act of Section 20 of
the Exchange Act. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent
of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened
action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party
and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless
such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party
from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action and
(ii) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability
or a failure to act by or on behalf of an indemnified party.
(e) If the indemnification provided for in this Section is unavailable or
insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a), (b) or
(c) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or
liabilities referred to in subsection (a), (b) or (c) above (i) in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the
Company and the Selling Stockholders on the one hand and the Underwriters on the
other from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by
clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i)
above but also the relative fault of the Company and the Selling Stockholders 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 as
well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits
received by the Company and the Selling Stockholders on the one hand and the
Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the
total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the
Company and the Selling Stockholders bear to the total underwriting discounts
and commissions received by the Underwriters. 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 and the Selling
Stockholders or the Underwriters and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue
statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of
the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of
this subsection (e) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating
or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (e).
Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (e), no Underwriter shall be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public
were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such
Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations in this subsection
(e) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting
obligations and not joint.
(f) The obligations of the Company and the Selling Stockholders under this
Section or Section 9 shall be in addition to any liability which the Company and
the Selling Stockholders may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same
terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter
22
<PAGE>
or the QIU (as hereinafter defined) within the meaning of the Act; and the
obligations of the Underwriters under this Section shall be in addition to any
liability which the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend,
upon the same terms and conditions, to each director of the Company, to each
officer of the Company who has signed a Registration Statement and to each
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act.
8. Default of Underwriters. If any Underwriter or Underwriters default in
their obligations to purchase Offered Securities hereunder on either the First
or any Optional Closing Date and the aggregate number of shares of Offered
Securities that such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to
purchase does not exceed 10% of the total number of shares of Offered Securities
that the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on such Closing Date, CSFBC may
make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the purchase of such Offered
Securities by other persons, including any of the Underwriters, but if no such
arrangements are made by such Closing Date, the non-defaulting Underwriters
shall be obligated severally, in proportion to their respective commitments
hereunder, to purchase the Offered Securities that such defaulting Underwriters
agreed but failed to purchase on such Closing Date. If any Underwriter or
Underwriters so default and the aggregate number of shares of Offered Securities
with respect to which such default or defaults occur exceeds 10% of the total
number of shares of Offered Securities that the Underwriters are obligated to
purchase on such Closing Date and arrangements satisfactory to CSFBC, the
Company and the Selling Stockholders for the purchase of such Offered Securities
by other persons are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement
will terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter,
the Company or the Selling Stockholders, except as provided in Section 10
(provided that if such default occurs with respect to Optional Securities after
the First Closing Date, this Agreement will not terminate as to the Firm
Securities or any Optional Securities purchased prior to such termination). As
used in this Agreement, the term "Underwriter" includes any person substituted
for an Underwriter under this Section. Nothing herein will relieve a defaulting
Underwriter from liability for its default.
9. Qualified Independent Underwriter. The Company hereby confirms that at its
request CSFBC has without compensation acted as "qualified independent
underwriter" (in such capacity, the "QIU") within the meaning of Rule 2710 of
the Conduct Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. in
connection with the offering of the Offered Securities. The Company and the
Selling Stockholders will severally and not jointly indemnify and hold harmless
the QIU against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to
which the QIU may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out
of or are based upon the QIU's acting (or alleged failing to act) as such
"qualified independent underwriter" and will reimburse the QIU for any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by the QIU in connection with investigating
or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses
are incurred; and provided, further, that the liability under this Section of
each Selling Stockholder shall be limited to an amount equal to the aggregate
gross proceeds to such Selling Stockholder from the sale of Securities sold by
such Selling Stockholder hereunder.
10. Survival of Certain Representations and Obligations. The respective
indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the
Selling Stockholders, of the Company or 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, or statement as to the
results thereof, made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, any Selling
Stockholder the Company or any of their respective representatives, officers or
directors or any controlling person, and will survive delivery of and payment
for the Offered Securities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section
8 or if for any reason the purchase of the Offered Securities by the
Underwriters is not consummated, the Company and the Selling Stockholders
23
<PAGE>
shall remain responsible for the expenses to be paid or reimbursed by them
pursuant to Section 5 and the respective obligations of the Company, the Selling
Stockholders and the Underwriters pursuant to Section 7 and the obligations of
the Company and the Selling Stockholders pursuant to Section 9 shall remain in
effect, and if any Offered Securities have been purchased hereunder the
representations and warranties in Section 2 and all obligations under Section 5
shall also remain in effect. If the purchase of the Offered Securities by the
Underwriters is not consummated for any reason other than solely because of the
termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8 or the occurrence of any
event specified in clause (iii), (iv) or (v) of Section 6(c), the Company and
the Selling Stockholders will, jointly and severally, reimburse the Underwriters
for all out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel)
reasonably incurred by them in connection with the offering of the Offered
Securities.
11. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and, if sent to
the Underwriters, will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to the
Representative, c/o Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation, Eleven Madison
Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010-3629, Attention: Investment Banking Department--
Transactions Advisory Group, or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed,
delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to it at ______________________,
Attention: ____________________, or, if sent to the Selling Stockholders or any
of them, will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to _______ at
__________; provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to
Section 7 will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to such
Underwriter.
12. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and
directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 7, and no other person
will have any right or obligation hereunder.
13. Representation of Underwriters. The Representatives will act for the
several Underwriters in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, and any action under this Agreement taken by the Representatives
jointly or by CSFBC will be binding upon all the Underwriters. __________ will
act for the Selling Stockholders in connection with such transactions, and any
action under or in respect of this Agreement taken by ______________ will be
binding upon all the Selling Stockholders.
14. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such
counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.
15. APPLICABLE LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES
OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.
The Company hereby submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal
and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit
or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby.
24
<PAGE>
If the foregoing is in accordance with the Representatives' understanding of
our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company one of the counterparts
hereof, whereupon it will become a binding agreement among the Selling
Stockholders, the Company and the several Underwriters in accordance with its
terms.
Very truly yours,
GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE, INC.
By: ____________________________
[Insert title]
[Selling Stockholders]
By: ____________________________
[Insert title]
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement
is hereby confirmed and accepted as
of the date first above written.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
U.S. BANCORP PIPER JAFFRAY, INC.
Acting on behalf of themselves and as the
Representatives of the several Underwriters
By CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
By: __________________________________
[Insert title]
25
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE A
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
number of
optional
securities to
Selling Stockholder be Sold
------------------- -------------
<S> <C>
-----------
Total..................................................
</TABLE> ===========
____________________
* Denotes PTS Selling Stockholder
26
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE B
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of
Underwriter Firm Securities
----------- ---------------
<S> <C>
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation.....................................
Banc of America Securities LLC.............................................
U.S.Bancorp Piper Jaffray, Inc.............................................
--------------
Total....................................................... 14,600,000
==============
</TABLE>
27
