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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report: August 13, 1998
SEMCO Energy, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Michigan 0-8503 38-2144267
(State or other (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of File Number) Identification No.)
incorporation)
405 Water Street, Port Huron, Michigan 48060
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code 810-987-2200
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Item 7.(c) Exhibits.
(1) Purchase Agreement between SEMCO Energy, Inc. and Merrill Lynch &
Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, A.G.
Edwards & Sons, Inc. and Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P., as
Representatives of the several Underwriters pertaining to an
offering of 1,600,000 Shares of Common Stock.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
SEMCO Energy, Inc.
(Registrant)
Dated: August 13, 1998 By: /s/ William L. Johnson
--------------------------------
William L. Johnson
President and C.E.O.
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Form 8-K
August 13, 1998
Filed
----------------------------
Exhibit By
No. Description Herewith Reference
- ------- ----------- -------- ---------
1 Purchase Agreement between SEMCO X
Energy, Inc. and Merrill Lynch &
Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner
& Smith Incorporated, A.G. Edwards
& Sons, Inc. and Edward D. Jones &
Co., L.P., as Representatives of the
several Underwriters pertaining to an
offering of 1,600,000 Shares of
Common Stock.
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EXHIBIT 1
================================================================================
SEMCO ENERGY, INC.
(a Michigan corporation)
1,600,000 Shares of Common Stock
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
Dated: August 12, 1998
================================================================================
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
SECTION 1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES................................ 2
SECTION 2. SALE AND DELIVERY TO UNDERWRITERS; CLOSING.................... 9
SECTION 3. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY..................................... 10
SECTION 4. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES.......................................... 13
SECTION 5. CONDITIONS OF UNDERWRITERS' OBLIGATIONS...................... 14
SECTION 6. INDEMNIFICATION.............................................. 16
SECTION 7. CONTRIBUTION................................................. 18
SECTION 8. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS TO
SURVIVE DELIVERY............................................. 20
SECTION 9. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT..................................... 20
SECTION 10. DEFAULT BY ONE OR MORE OF THE UNDERWRITERS.................. 20
SECTION 11. DEFAULT BY THE COMPANY...................................... 21
SECTION 12. NOTICES..................................................... 21
SECTION 13. PARTIES..................................................... 21
SECTION 14. GOVERNING LAW AND TIME...................................... 22
SECTION 15. EFFECT OF HEADINGS.......................................... 22
SCHEDULES
Schedule A - List of Underwriters........................... Sch A-1
Schedule B - List of Shares and Options Being Sold.......... Sch B-1
Schedule C - Pricing Information............................ Sch C-1
Schedule D - List of Subsidiaries........................... Sch D-1
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A - Form of Opinion of Company's Counsel.............. A-1
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SEMCO ENERGY, INC.
(a Michigan corporation)
1,600,000 Shares of Common Stock
(Par Value $1 Per Share)
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
August 12, 1998
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.
Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P.
as Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o Merrill Lynch & Co.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
North Tower
World Financial Center
New York, New York 10281-1209
Ladies and Gentlemen:
SEMCO Energy, Inc., a Michigan corporation (the "Company"), confirms its
agreement with Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated ("Merrill Lynch") and each of the other Underwriters named in
Schedule A hereto (collectively, the "Underwriters", which term shall also
include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 10
hereof), for whom Merrill Lynch, A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. and Edward D. Jones
& Co., L.P. are acting as representatives (in such capacity, the
"Representatives"), with respect to (i) the sale by the Company and the purchase
by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the respective numbers
of shares of Common Stock, par value $1 per share, of the Company ("Common
Stock") set forth in Schedule A aggregating 1,600,000 shares and (ii) the grant
by the Company to the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the
option described in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any part of 240,000
additional shares of Common Stock to cover over-allotments, if any. The
1,600,000 shares of Common Stock (the "Initial Securities") to be purchased by
the Underwriters and all or any part of the 240,000 shares of Common Stock
subject to the option described in Section 2(b) hereof (the "Option Securities")
are hereinafter called, collectively, the "Securities".
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The Company understands that the Underwriters propose to make a public
offering of the Securities as soon as the Representatives deem advisable after
this Agreement has been executed and delivered.
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-58715) covering the
registration of the Securities, and certain other securities, under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and the offering thereof
from time to time in accordance with Rule 415 of the rules and regulations of
the Commission under the 1933 Act (the "1933 Act Regulations") and paragraph (b)
of Rule 424 ("Rule 424(b)") of the 1933 Act Regulations. Such registration
statement has been declared effective. Such registration statement, including
the exhibits thereto, schedules thereto, if any, and the documents incorporated
by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act, at the
time it became effective, is herein called the "Registration Statement." Any
registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations
is herein referred to as the "Rule 462(b) Registration Statement," and after
such filing the term "Registration Statement" shall include the Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement. The final prospectus, including the final prospectus
supplement and the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item
12 of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act, in the form first furnished to the
Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of the Securities is herein
called the "Prospectus." A "preliminary prospectus" shall be deemed to include
any prospectus, including any attached prospectus supplement that omitted the
information to be included upon pricing of the Securities that was used after
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and prior to the execution and
delivery of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, all references to
the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the
copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering,
Analysis and Retrieval system ("EDGAR").
All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and
other information which is "contained," "included" or "stated" in the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or other
references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such
financial statements and schedules and other information which is incorporated
by reference in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the
Prospectus, as the case may be; and all references in this Agreement to
amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of
any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act") which is
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, such preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be.
SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties.
(a) Representations and Warranties by the Company. The Company represents
and warrants to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, as of the Closing Time
referred to in Section 2(c) hereof, and as of each Date of Delivery (if any)
referred to in Section 2(b) hereof, and agrees with each Underwriter, as
follows:
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(i) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Company meets the
requirements for use of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act. Each of the
Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has become
effective under the 1933 Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness
of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has
been issued under the 1933 Act and no proceedings for that purpose have been
instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are
contemplated by the Commission, and any request on the part of the
Commission for additional information has been complied with.
At the respective times the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto became
effective and at the Closing Time (and, if any Option Securities are
purchased, at the Date of Delivery), the Registration Statement, the Rule
462(b) Registration Statement and any amendments and supplements thereto
complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of
the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations and did not and will not contain
an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading. At the date of the Prospectus, at the Closing Time (and, if
any Option Securities are purchased, at the Date of Delivery), the
Prospectus and any amendment and supplements thereto did not and will not
include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact necessary in order to make the statement therein, in the light of the
circumstance under which they were made, not misleading. The representations
and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or
omissions from the Registration Statement or Prospectus made in reliance
upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing
by any Underwriter through Merrill Lynch expressly for use in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus.
Each preliminary prospectus and the prospectus filed as part of the
Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment
thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act, complied when so
filed in all material respects with the 1933 Act Regulations and each
preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for
use in connection with this offering was identical to the electronically
transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR,
except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(ii) Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, complied
and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934
Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (the "1934
Act Regulations"), and, when read together with the other information in the
Prospectus, at the time the Registration Statement became effective, at the
time the Prospectus was issued and at the Closing Time (and, if any Option
Securities are purchased, at the Date of Delivery), did not and will not
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading.
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(iii) Independent Accountants. The accountants who certified the
financial statements and supporting schedules included in the Registration
Statement are independent public accountants as required by the 1933 Act and
the 1933 Act Regulations.
(iv) Financial Statements. The financial statements included in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, together with the related
schedules and notes, present fairly the financial position of the Company
and its consolidated subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the statement
of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows of the Company and its
consolidated subsidiaries for the periods specified; said financial
statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles ("GAAP") applied on a consistent basis throughout the
periods involved, other than as noted therein. The supporting schedules, if
any, included in the Registration Statement present fairly in accordance
with GAAP the information required to be stated therein. The selected
financial data and the summary financial information included in the
Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein and have been
compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements
included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus subject to year
end audit adjustments.
(v) No Material Adverse Change in Business. Since the respective dates
as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, (A) there has been no
material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the
earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its
subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the
ordinary course of business (a "Material Adverse Effect"), (B) there have
been no transactions entered into by the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
other than those in the ordinary course of business, which are material with
respect to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise,
and (C) except for regular quarterly dividends on the Common Stock and
Cumulative Preferred Stock in amounts per share that are consistent with
past practice, there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind
declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock.
(vi) Good Standing of the Company. The Company has been duly organized
and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of
the State of Michigan and has corporate power and authority to own, lease
and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this
Agreement; and the Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to
transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in
which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or
leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so
to qualify or to be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(vii) Good Standing of Subsidiaries. Each "significant subsidiary" of
the Company (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) (each a
"Subsidiary" and, collectively, the "Subsidiaries") has been duly organized
and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of
the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has
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corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and
to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified
as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in
each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason
of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except
where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not result
in a Material Adverse Effect; except as otherwise disclosed in the
Registration Statement, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of
each such Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully
paid and non-assessable and is owned by the Company, directly or through
subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge,
lien, encumbrance, claim or equity; none of the outstanding shares of
capital stock of any Subsidiary was issued in violation of the preemptive or
similar rights of any securityholder of such Subsidiary. The only
subsidiaries of the Company are (a) the Subsidiaries listed on Schedule D
hereto and (b) certain other subsidiaries which considered in the aggregate
as a single subsidiary, do not constitute a "significant subsidiary" as
defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X.
(viii) Capitalization. The authorized, issued and outstanding capital
stock of the Company is as set forth in the Prospectus under the captions
"Description of Capital Stock", "Selected Financial Information" and
"Summary Information - The Offering" (except for subsequent issuances, if
any, pursuant to this Agreement, pursuant to reservations, agreements or
employee benefit plans or the Company's Direct Stock Purchase and Dividend
Reinvestment Plan referred to in the Prospectus or pursuant to the exercise
options referred to in the Prospectus). The shares of issued and outstanding
capital stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully
paid and non-assessable; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock was
issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any
securityholder of the Company.
(ix) Authorization of Agreement. This Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(x) Authorization and Description of Securities. The Securities to be
purchased by the Underwriters from the Company have been duly authorized for
issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and, when
issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement against
payment of the consideration set forth herein, will be validly issued and
fully paid and non-assessable; the Common Stock conforms to all statements
relating thereto contained in the Prospectus and such description conforms
to the rights set forth in the instruments defining the same; no holder of
the Securities will be subject to personal liability by reason of being such
a holder; and the issuance of the Securities is not subject to the
preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.
(xi) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts. Neither the Company nor any of
its subsidiaries is in violation of its charter or by-laws or in default in
the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or
condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust,
loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to
which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by
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which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property or
assets of the Company or any subsidiary is subject (collectively,
"Agreements and Instruments") except for such defaults that would not result
in a Material Adverse Effect; and the execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein
and in the Registration Statement (including the issuance and sale of the
Securities and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as
described in the Prospectus under the caption "Use of Proceeds") and
compliance by the Company with its obligations hereunder have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action and do not and will not,
whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both,
conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as
defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien,
charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any
subsidiary pursuant to, the Agreements and Instruments (except for such
conflicts, breaches or defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances that would
not result in a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any
violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws of the Company or any
subsidiary or any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment,
order, writ or decree of any government, government instrumentality or
court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any
subsidiary or any of their assets, properties or operations. As used herein,
a "Repayment Event" means any event or condition which gives the holder of
any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting
on such holder's behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or
repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any
subsidiary.
(xii) Absence of Labor Dispute. No labor dispute with the employees of
the Company or any subsidiary exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is
imminent which may reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(xiii) Absence of Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding,
inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or governmental
agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of
the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company or any subsidiary,
which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement (other than
as disclosed therein, if any), or which might reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect, or which might reasonably be expected
to materially and adversely affect the properties or assets thereof or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the
performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder; the aggregate of
all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Company or any
subsidiary is a party or of which any of their respective property or assets
is the subject which are not described in the Registration Statement,
including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, could not
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xiv) Accuracy of Exhibits. There are no contracts or documents which
are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus
or the documents incorporated by reference therein or to be filed as
exhibits thereto which have not been so described and filed as required.
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(xv) Possession of Intellectual Property. The Company and its
subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate
patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how
(including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable
proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks,
service marks, trade names or other intellectual property (collectively,
"Intellectual Property") necessary to carry on the business now operated by
them, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any
notice or is otherwise aware of any infringement of or conflict with
asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property or of
any facts or circumstances which would render any Intellectual Property
invalid or inadequate to protect the interest of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries therein, and which infringement or conflict (if the subject of
any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding) or invalidity or inadequacy,
singly or in the aggregate, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xvi) Absence of Further Requirements. No filing with, or
authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration,
qualification or decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency is
necessary or required for the performance by the Company of its obligations
hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the
Securities hereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, except such as have been already obtained or as may be
required under the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations or state securities
laws.
(xvii) Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Company and its
subsidiaries possess such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other
authorizations (collectively, "Governmental Licenses") issued by the
appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies
necessary to conduct the business now operated by them except where the
failure to possess such a Governmental License would not, singly or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; the Company and its subsidiaries
are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental
Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not, singly or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses
are valid and in full force and effect, except when the invalidity of such
Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in
full force and effect would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and neither
the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of
proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such
Governmental Licenses which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of
an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
(xviii) Title to Property. The Company and its subsidiaries have good
and marketable title to all real property owned by the Company and its
subsidiaries and good title to all other properties material to the business
of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, in each
case, free and clear of all mortgages, pledges, liens, security interests,
claims, restrictions or encumbrances of any kind except such as (a) are
described in the Prospectus or (b) do not, singly or in the aggregate,
materially affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the
use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company or any of
its subsidiaries; and all of the leases and
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subleases material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries,
considered as one enterprise, and under which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries holds properties described in the Prospectus, are in full force
and effect, and neither the Company nor any subsidiary has any notice of any
material claim of any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to the
rights of the Company or any subsidiary under any of the leases or subleases
mentioned above, or affecting or questioning the rights of the Company or
such subsidiary to the continued possession of the leased or subleased
premises under any such lease or sublease.
(xix) Investment Company Act. The Company is not, and upon the issuance
and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated and the application of the
net proceeds therefrom as described in the Prospectus will not be, an
"investment company" or an entity "controlled" by an "investment company" as
such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(the "1940 Act").
(xx) Environmental Laws. Except as described in the Registration
Statement and except as would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a
Material Adverse Effect, (A) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries
is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, rule,
regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law or any judicial or
administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial or
administrative order, consent, decree or judgment, relating to pollution or
protection of human health, the environment (including, without limitation,
ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata)
or wildlife, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to
the release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants,
wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum
products (collectively, "Hazardous Materials") or to the manufacture,
processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or
handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively, "Environmental Laws"), (B)
the Company and its subsidiaries have all permits, authorizations and
approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws and are each in
compliance with their requirements, (C) there are no pending or to the
Company's knowledge threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial
actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of
noncompliance or violation, investigation or proceedings relating to any
Environmental Law against the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (D)
there are no events or circumstances that might reasonably be expected to
form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit
or proceeding by any private party or governmental body or agency, against
or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries relating to Hazardous
Materials or any Environmental Laws.
(b) Officer's Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries delivered to the Representatives or to
counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by
the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.
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SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing.
(a) Initial Securities. On the basis of the representations and warranties
herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the
Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, and each
Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company, at
the price per share set forth in Schedule C, that proportion of the number of
Initial Securities which the number of Initial Securities set forth in Schedule
A opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any additional number of Initial
Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to
the provisions of Section 10 hereof, bears to the total number of Initial
Securities, subject, in each case, to such adjustments among the Underwriters as
the Representatives in their sole discretion shall make to eliminate any sales
or purchases of fractional securities.
(b) Option Securities. In addition, on the basis of the representations and
warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set
forth, the Company hereby grant(s) an option to the Underwriters, severally and
not jointly, to purchase up to an additional 240,000 shares of Common Stock, as
set forth in Schedule B, at the price per share set forth in Schedule C, less an
amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company
and payable on the Initial Securities but not payable on the Option Securities.
The option hereby granted will expire 30 days after the date hereof and may be
exercised in whole or in part from time to time only for the purpose of covering
over-allotments which may be made in connection with the offering and
distribution of the Initial Securities upon notice by the Representatives to the
Company setting forth the number of Option Securities as to which the several
Underwriters are then exercising the option and the time and date of payment and
delivery for such Option Securities. Any such time and date of delivery (a "Date
of Delivery") shall be determined by the Representatives, but shall not be later
than seven full business days after the exercise of said option, nor in any
event prior to the Closing Time, as hereinafter defined. If the option is
exercised as to all or any portion of the Option Securities, each of the
Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, will purchase that proportion of
the total number of Option Securities then being purchased which the number of
Initial Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter
bears to the total number of Initial Securities, subject in each case to such
adjustments as the Representatives in their discretion shall make to eliminate
any sales or purchases of fractional shares.
(c) Payment. Payment of the purchase price for the Initial Securities shall
be made by wire transfer as set forth below, and delivery of certificates for,
the Initial Securities shall be made at the offices of Dewey Ballantine LLP at
1301 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10019, or at such other place as
shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company, at 9:00 A.M.
(Eastern time) on the fourth business day after the date hereof (unless
postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10), or such other time
not later than ten business days after such date as shall be agreed upon by the
Representatives and the Company (such time and date of payment and delivery
being herein called "Closing Time").
In addition, in the event that any or all of the Option Securities are
purchased by the Underwriters, payment of the purchase price for, and delivery
of certificates for, such Option Securities shall be made at the above-mentioned
offices, or at such other place as shall be agreed
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upon by the Representatives and the Company, on each Date of Delivery as
specified in the notice from the Representatives to the Company.
Payment shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to [a] bank account(s) designated by the Company against
delivery to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the Underwriters
of certificates for the Securities to be purchased by them. It is understood
that each Underwriter has authorized the Representatives, for its account, to
accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the
Initial Securities and the Option Securities, if any, which it has agreed to
purchase. Merrill Lynch, individually and not as representative of the
Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase
price for the Initial Securities or the Option Securities, if any, to be
purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing
Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, but such payment
shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.
(d) Denominations; Registration. Certificates for the Initial Securities and
the Option Securities, if any, shall be in such denominations and registered in
such names as the Representatives may request in writing at least one full
business day before the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the
case may be. The certificates for the Initial Securities and the Option
Securities, if any, will be made available for examination and packaging by the
Representatives in The City of New York not later than 10:00 A.M. (Eastern time)
on the business day prior to the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery,
as the case may be.
SECTION 3. Covenants of the Company.
The Company covenants with each Underwriter as follows:
(a) Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests. The
Company, subject to Section 3(b), will comply with the requirements of Rule
430A, if and as applicable, and will notify the Representatives immediately,
and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to
the Registration Statement shall become effective, or any supplement to the
Prospectus or any amended Prospectus shall have been filed, (ii) of the
receipt of any comments from the Commission, (iii) of any request by the
Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment
or supplement to the Prospectus or for additional information, and (iv) of
the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any order preventing or
suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus, or of the suspension of
the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any
jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any
of such purposes. The Company will promptly effect the filings necessary
pursuant to Rule 424(b) and will take such steps as it deems necessary to
ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing
under Rule 424(b) was received for filing by the Commission and, in the
event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus. The Company
will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order
and, if any stop order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the
earliest possible moment.
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(b) Filing of Amendments. The Company will give the Representatives
notice of its intention to file or prepare any amendment to the Registration
Statement (including any filing under Rule 462(b)), or any amendment,
supplement or revision to either the prospectus included in the Registration
Statement at the time it became effective or to the Prospectus, whether
pursuant to the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, will furnish the
Representatives with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of
time prior to such proposed filing or use, as the case may be, and will not
file or use any such document to which the Representatives or counsel for
the Underwriters shall object.
(c) Delivery of Registration Statements. The Company has furnished or
will deliver to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters,
without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally
filed and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or
incorporated by reference therein and documents incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference therein) and signed copies of all consents and
certificates of experts, and will also deliver to the Representatives,
without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally
filed and of each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the
Underwriters. The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment
thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the
electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant
to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(d) Delivery of Prospectuses. The Company has delivered to each
Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each preliminary prospectus
as such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Company hereby consents to
the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the 1933 Act. The Company
will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, during the period when the
Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act,
such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such
Underwriter may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any amendments or
supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the
electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant
to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(e) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. The Company will comply
with the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations and the 1934 Act and the 1934
Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the
Securities as contemplated in this Agreement and in the Prospectus. If at
any time when a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in
connection with sales of the Securities, any event shall occur or condition
shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel
for the Underwriters or for the Company, to amend the Registration Statement
or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order that the Prospectus will not
include any untrue statements of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the
light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a
purchaser, or if it shall be necessary, in the opinion of such counsel, at
any such time to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the
Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or the
1933 Act Regulations, the Company will promptly prepare and file with the
Commission, subject to Section 3(b), such
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<PAGE> 14
amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or
omission or to make the Registration Statement or the Prospectus comply with
such requirements, and the Company will furnish to the Underwriters such
number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may
reasonably request.
(f) Blue Sky Qualifications. The Company will use its best efforts, in
cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify the Securities for offering
and sale under the applicable securities laws of such states and other
jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and to maintain such
qualifications in effect for a period of not less than one year from the
later of the effective date of the Registration Statement and any Rule
462(b) Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not
be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify
as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in
which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of
doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.
In each jurisdiction in which the Securities have been so qualified, the
Company will file such statements and reports as may be required by the laws
of such jurisdiction to continue such qualification in effect for a period
of not less than one year from the effective date of the Registration
Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement.
(g) Rule 158. The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the
1934 Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its
securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for the
purposes of, and to provide the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph
of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.
(h) Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the net proceeds received by
it from the sale of the Securities in the manner specified in the Prospectus
under "Use of Proceeds".
(i) Listing. The Company will use its best efforts to effect and
maintain the quotation of the Securities on the Nasdaq National Market and
will file with the Nasdaq National Market all documents and notices required
by the Nasdaq National Market of companies that have securities that are
traded in the over-the-counter market and quotations for which are reported
by the Nasdaq National Market.
(j) Restriction on Sale of Securities. During a period of 90 days from
the date of the Prospectus, the Company will not, without the prior written
consent of Merrill Lynch, (i) directly or indirectly, offer, pledge, sell,
contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any
option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase
or otherwise transfer or dispose of any share of Common Stock or any
securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock
or file any registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect to any of
the foregoing or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any
transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the
economic consequence of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such swap
or transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by
delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. The
foregoing sentence shall not apply to (A) the Securities to be sold
hereunder, (B) any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company upon the
exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a
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<PAGE> 15
security outstanding on the date hereof and referred to in the Prospectus,
(C) any shares of Common Stock issued or options to purchase Common Stock
granted pursuant to existing employee benefit plans of the Company referred
to in the Prospectus, (D) any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to any
non-employee direct stock plan or dividend reinvestment plan, (E) the filing
of any registration statement with respect to the 370,590 shares of Common
Stock issued in connection with the purchase by the Company of Hot Flame
Gas, Inc., provided that the owners of such shares have agreed with the
Company to limit any sale or other transfer or disposal of any such shares
during a period of 90 days from the date of the Prospectus to the sale of
not in excess of 30,000 shares and the pledge of shares as collateral for
borrowings maturing after the end of such 90-day period, or (F) the issuance
of unregistered shares of Common Stock in connection with transactions that
are exempt under the 1933 Act as consideration for any merger or acquisition
of substantially all of the assets of another company or a unit or division
of another company or all of the stock of another company, provided that any
party receiving such shares has agreed with the Company that no registration
statement may be filed with respect to such shares during a period of 90
days from the date of the Prospectus.
(k) Reporting Requirements. The Company, during the period when the
Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act,
will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to
the 1934 Act within the time periods required by the 1934 Act and the 1934
Act Regulations.
SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses.
(a) Expenses. The Company will pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident
to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the
preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including
financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and of each amendment
thereto, (ii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of this
Agreement, any Agreement among Underwriters and such other documents as may be
required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery
of the Securities, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the
certificates for the Securities to the Underwriters, including any stock or
other transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale,
issuance or delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, (iv) the fees and
disbursements of the Company's counsel, accountants and other advisors, (v) the
qualification of the Securities under securities laws in accordance with the
provisions of Section 3(f) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees
and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith and in
connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement
thereto, (vi) the printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of each
preliminary prospectus, and of the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements
thereto, (vii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of
copies of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement thereto, (viii) the fees and
expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Securities and (ix) the fees
and expenses incurred in connection with the inclusion of the Securities in the
Nasdaq National Market.
(b) Termination of Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated by the
Representatives in accordance with the provisions of Section 5, Section 9(a)(i)
or Section 11 hereof, the Company
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shall reimburse the Underwriters for all of their out-of-pocket expenses,
including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters.
SECTION 5. Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations.
The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the
accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in
Section 1 hereof or in certificates of any officer of the Company or any
subsidiary of the Company delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the
performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and
to the following further conditions:
(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration
Statement, including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, has become
effective and at Closing Time no stop order suspending the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement shall have been issued under the 1933 Act or
proceedings therefor initiated or threatened by the Commission, and any
request on the part of the Commission for additional information shall have
been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of counsel to the
Underwriters. A prospectus containing information relating to the
description of the Securities, the specific method of distribution and
similar matters shall have been filed with the Commission in accordance with
Rule 424(b)(1), (2), (3), (4) or (5), as applicable (or any required
post-effective amendment providing such information shall have been filed
and declared effective in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A).
(b) Opinion of Counsel for Company. At Closing Time, the
Representatives shall have received the favorable opinions, dated as of
Closing Time, of Dickinson Wright PLLC, special counsel for the Company,
and Arnold R. Madigan, General Counsel to the Company, in form and
substance satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, together with
signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other
Underwriters, in combination, substantially to the effect set forth in
Exhibit A hereto and to such further effect as counsel to the Underwriters
may reasonably request. Such counsel may state that, insofar as such
opinion involves factual matters, they have relied, to the extent they deem
proper, upon certificates of officers of the Company and its subsidiaries
and certificates of public officials.
(c) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters. At Closing Time, the
Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of
Closing Time, of Dewey Ballantine LLP, counsel for the Underwriters,
together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the
other Underwriters with respect to the matters set forth in clauses (i) (as
to the valid existence of the Company), (ii) (solely as to the Purchase
Agreement), (v), (vi) (solely as to preemptive or other similar rights
arising by operation of law or under the charter or by-laws of the Company),
(viii), (x), (xiv) (solely as to the information in the Prospectus under
"Description of Capital Stock--Common Stock") and the penultimate paragraph
of Exhibit A hereto. In giving such opinion such counsel may rely, as to all
matters governed by the laws of jurisdictions other than the law of the
State of New York and the federal law of the United States, upon the
opinions of counsel to the Company. Such counsel may also state that,
insofar as such opinion involves factual matters, they have
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<PAGE> 17
relied, to the extent they deem proper, upon certificates of officers of the
Company and its subsidiaries and certificates of public officials.
(d) Officers' Certificate. At Closing Time, there shall not have been,
since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information
is given in the Prospectus, any Material Adverse Effect, and the
Representatives shall have received a certificate of the President or a Vice
President of the Company or of the chief financial or chief accounting
officer of the Company, dated as of Closing Time, to the effect that (i)
there has been no such Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the representations and
warranties in Section 1(a) hereof are true and correct with the same force
and effect as though expressly made at and as of Closing Time, (iii) the
Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its
part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to Closing Time, and (iv) no
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has
been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are
pending or, to such officer's knowledge are contemplated by the Commission.
(e) Accountant's Comfort Letter. At the time of the execution of this
Agreement, the Representatives shall have received from Arthur Andersen LLP
a letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the
Representatives, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter
for each of the other Underwriters containing statements and information of
the type ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" to
underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial
information contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(f) Bring-down Comfort Letter. At Closing Time, the Representatives
shall have received from Arthur Andersen LLP a letter, dated as of Closing
Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter
furnished pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section, except that the
specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days
prior to Closing Time.
(g) Approval of Listing. At Closing Time, the Securities shall have
been approved for inclusion in the Nasdaq National Market, subject only to
official notice of issuance.
(h) Conditions to Purchase of Option Securities. In the event that the
Underwriters exercise their option provided in Section 2(b) hereof to
purchase all or any portion of the Option Securities, the representations
and warranties of the Company contained herein and the statements in any
certificates furnished by the Company and any subsidiary of the Company
hereunder shall be true and correct as of each Date of Delivery and, at the
relevant Date of Delivery, the Representatives shall have received:
(i) Officers' Certificate. A certificate, dated such Date of
Delivery, of the President or a Vice President of the Company or of the
chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company confirming
that the certificate delivered at the Closing Time pursuant to Section
5(d) hereof remains true and correct as of such Date of Delivery.
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(ii) Opinion of Counsel for Company. The favorable opinion of
Dickinson Wright PLLC, special counsel for the Company, and Arnold R.
Madigan, General Counsel to the Company, in form and substance
satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date of
Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such
Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion
required by Section 5(b) hereof.
(iii) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters. The favorable opinion
of Dewey Ballantine LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date
of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such
Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion
required by Section 5(c) hereof.
(iv) Bring-down Comfort Letter. A letter from Arthur Andersen LLP,
in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives and dated
such Date of Delivery, substantially in the same form and substance as
the letter furnished to the Representatives pursuant to Section 5(f)
hereof, except that the "specified date" in the letter furnished
pursuant to this paragraph shall be a date not more than five days
prior to such Date of Delivery.
(i) Additional Documents. At Closing Time and at each Date of Delivery
counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents
and opinions as they may require for the purpose of enabling them to pass
upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated, or in
order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties,
or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all
proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the issuance and sale of
the Securities as herein contemplated shall be satisfactory in form and
substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters.
(j) Termination of Agreement. If any condition specified in this
Section shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled,
this Agreement, or, in the case of any condition to the purchase of Option
Securities on a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, the
obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase the relevant Option
Securities, may be terminated by the Representatives by notice to the
Company at any time at or prior to Closing Time or such Date of Delivery, as
the case may be, and such termination shall be without liability of any
party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 and except that
Sections 1, 6, 7 and 8 shall survive any such termination and remain in full
force and effect.
SECTION 6. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification of Underwriters. The Company agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of
the 1934 Act as follows:
(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact
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contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto),
including the Rule 430A Information deemed to be a part thereof, if
applicable, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact included in any preliminary prospectus or the
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or
alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading;
(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in
settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any
governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim
whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such
alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 6(d)
below) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the
Company; and
(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including
the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by Merrill Lynch),
reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any
litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or
body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such
untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or
omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii)
above;
provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss,
liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any
Underwriter through Merrill Lynch expressly for use in the Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information deemed
to be a part thereof, if applicable, or any preliminary prospectus or the
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
(b) Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers. Each Underwriter
severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, each
of its officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any,
who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or
Section 20 of the 1934 Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage
and expense described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this
Section, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions,
or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement
(or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information deemed to be a
part thereof, if applicable, or any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or
any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through Merrill
Lynch expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto)
or such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto).
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(c) Actions against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party shall give
notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any
action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought
hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such
indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not
materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it
from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity
agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(a) above,
counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by Merrill Lynch, and, in
the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(b) above, counsel to the
indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company. An indemnifying party may
participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided,
however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the
consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In
no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more
than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own
counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or
separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of
the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall,
without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or
compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any
litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or
body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which
indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 6 or Section
7 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties
thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an
unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out
of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include
a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by
or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse. If at any time an
indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the
indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party
agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by
Section 6(a) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is
entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the
aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of
the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being
entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such
indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such
settlement.
SECTION 7. Contribution.
If the indemnification provided for in Section 6 hereof is for any reason
unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect
of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein,
then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such
losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified
party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters
on the other hand from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement
or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) 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
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on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection
with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities,
claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations.
The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the
Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Securities
pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective
proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities
pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company
and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, in each case
as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate initial
public offering price of the Securities as set forth on such cover.
The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on
the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether
any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the
Company or by the Underwriters and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission.
The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata
allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7. The aggregate
amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an
indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to
include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any
investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or
threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, 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 any 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 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls an
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of
the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and
each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the
Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall
have the same rights to contribution as the Company. The Underwriters'
respective obligations
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to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to the number
of Initial Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule A
hereto and not joint.
SECTION 8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery.
All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement
or in certificates of officers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect,
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or
controlling person, or by or on behalf of the Company and shall survive delivery
of the Securities to the Underwriters.
SECTION 9. Termination of Agreement.
(a) Termination; General. The Representatives may terminate this Agreement,
by notice to the Company, at any time at or prior to Closing Time (i) if there
has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective
dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus, any Material Adverse
Effect, or (ii) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the
financial markets in the United States, any outbreak of hostilities or
escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development
involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial
or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it,
in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable to market the Securities
or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities, or (iii) if trading in
any securities of the Company has been suspended or materially limited by the
Commission or the Nasdaq National Market, or if trading generally on the
American Stock Exchange or the New York Stock Exchange or in the Nasdaq National
Market has been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices
for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by
any of said exchanges or by such system or by order of the Commission, the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or any other governmental
authority, or (iv) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either Federal
or New York authorities.
(b) Liabilities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section,
such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party
except as provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided further that Sections 1, 6,
7 and 8 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 10. Default by One or More of the Underwriters.
If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail at Closing Time or a Date of
Delivery to purchase the Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase
under this Agreement (the "Defaulted Securities"), the Representatives shall
have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more
of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all,
but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be
agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the
Representatives shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour
period, then:
(a) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the
number of Securities to be purchased on such date, each of the
non-defaulting Underwriters shall be
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<PAGE> 23
obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof
in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder
bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or
(b) if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the number of
Securities to be purchased on such date, this Agreement or, with respect to
any Date of Delivery which occurs after the Closing Time, the obligation of
the Underwriters to purchase and of the Company to sell the Option
Securities to be purchased and sold on such Date of Delivery shall terminate
without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.
No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting
Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.
In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of
this Agreement or, in the case of a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing
Time, which does not result in a termination of the obligation of the
Underwriters to purchase and the Company to sell the relevant Option Securities,
as the case may be, either (i) the Representatives or (ii) the Company shall
have the right to postpone Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the
case may be, for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any
required changes in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any other
documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term "Underwriter" includes any
person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 10.
SECTION 11. Default by the Company.
If the Company shall fail at Closing Time or at the Date of Delivery to sell
the number of Securities that it is obligated to sell hereunder, then this
Agreement shall terminate without any liability on the part of any
non-defaulting party; provided, however, that the provisions of Sections 1, 4,
6, 7 and 8 shall remain in full force and effect. No action taken pursuant to
this Section shall relieve the Company from liability, if any, in respect of
such default.
SECTION 12. Notices.
All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall
be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form
of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to the
Representatives at North Tower, World Financial Center, New York, New York
10281-1201, attention of James R. G. McBurney, notices to the Company shall be
directed to it at 405 Water Street, Port Huron, Michigan 48060.
SECTION 13. Parties.
This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors. Nothing expressed
or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any
person, firm or corporation, other than the Underwriters and the Company and
their respective successors and the controlling persons and officers and
directors referred to in Sections 6 and 7 and their heirs and legal
representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in
respect of this
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<PAGE> 24
Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions
and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of
the Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors, and said
controlling persons and officers and directors and their heirs and legal
representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No
purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor
by reason merely of such purchase.
SECTION 14. GOVERNING LAW AND TIME.
THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY
TIME.
SECTION 15. Effect of Headings.
The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for
convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
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<PAGE> 25
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement,
please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this
instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among
the Underwriters and the Company in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
SEMCO ENERGY, INC.
By /s/ William L. Johnson
---------------------------
Title: President and C.E.O.
CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,
as of the date first above written:
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
INCORPORATED
A.G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC.
EDWARD D. JONES & CO., L.P.
By: MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
INCORPORATED
By /s/ Thomas W. Widener
------------------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
For themselves and as Representatives of the other Underwriters named in
Schedule A hereto.
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SCHEDULE A
Name of Underwriter Number of
------------------- Initial
Securities
----------
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated.................................. 453,334
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc............................... 453,333
Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P............................. 453,333
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated .................... 40,000
Fifth Third/The Ohio Company .......................... 40,000
First of Michigan Corporation ......................... 40,000
J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, Inc. .................... 40,000
NatCity Investments, Inc. ............................ 40,000
Roney Capital Markets A division of First Chicago
Capital Markets, Inc. .............................. 40,000
---------
Total.................................................. 1,600,000
=========
Sch A-1
<PAGE> 27
SCHEDULE B
Number of Initial Maximum Number of Option
Securities to be Sold Securities to Be Sold
--------------------- ---------------------
SEMCO ENERGY, INC. 1,600,000 240,000
--------- -------
Total 1,600,000 240,000
Sch B-1
<PAGE> 28
SCHEDULE C
SEMCO ENERGY, INC.
1,600,000 Shares of Common Stock
(Par Value $1 Per Share)
1. The initial public offering price per share for the Securities,
determined as provided in said Section 2, shall be $15.00.
2. The purchase price per share for the Securities to be paid by the
several Underwriters shall be $14.37, being an amount equal to the initial
public offering price set forth above less $0.63 per share; provided that
the purchase price per share for any Option Securities purchased upon the
exercise of the over-allotment option described in Section 2(b) shall be reduced
by an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the
Company and payable on the Initial Securities but not payable on the Option
Securities.
Sch C-1
<PAGE> 29
SCHEDULE D
List of subsidiaries
SEMCO Energy Gas Company
SEMCO Energy Services, Inc.
SEMCO Energy Ventures, Inc.
Sch D-1
<PAGE> 30
Exhibit A
FORMS OF OPINION OF COMPANY'S COUNSEL
TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 5(b)
(i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Michigan.
(ii) The Company has corporate power to own, lease and operate its
properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and to
enter into and perform its obligations under the Purchase Agreement.
(iii) The Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact
business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such
qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of
property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or
to be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(iv) The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is
as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption "Capitalization" (except for
subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement or pursuant to
reservations, agreements or employee benefit plans or the Company's Direct
Stock Purchase Plan referred to in the Prospectus or pursuant to the exercise
of convertible securities or options referred to in the Prospectus); the shares
of issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company have been duly
authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; and none
of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company was issued in
violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of
the Company.
(v) The Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Company have
been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth in the
Purchase Agreement, will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable and
no holder of the Securities is or will be subject to personal liability by
reason of being such a holder.
(vi) The issuance and sale of the Securities by the Company is not subject
to the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company
contained in the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company or, to our
knowledge, in any other instrument.
(vii) Each Subsidiary has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as
a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation, has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its
properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is
duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good
standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether
by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business,
except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not
result in a Material Adverse Effect; except as otherwise disclosed in the
Registration Statement, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each
Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and
non-assessable
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and, to the best of our knowledge, is owned by the Company, directly or through
subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien,
encumbrance, claim or equity; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of
any Subsidiary was issued in violation of the preemptive or similar rights of
any securityholder of such Subsidiary.
(viii) The Purchase Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company.
(ix) The Registration Statement has been declared effective under the 1933
Act; any required filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) has been
made in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); and,
to the best of our knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act and no proceedings
for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or threatened by the
Commission.
(x) The Registration Statement, the Prospectus, excluding the documents
incorporated by reference therein, and each amendment or supplement to the
Registration Statement and Prospectus, excluding the documents incorporated by
reference therein, as of their respective effective or issue dates (other than
the financial statements and supporting schedules included therein or omitted
therefrom, as to which we need express no opinion) complied as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act
Regulations.
(xi) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus (other than
the financial statements and supporting schedules included therein or omitted
therefrom, as to which we express no opinion), when they were filed with the
Commission complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements
of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(xii) The form of certificate used to evidence the Securities complies in
all material respects with all applicable statutory requirements, with any
applicable requirements of the articles of incorporation and by-laws of the
Company and the requirements of the Nasdaq National Market.
(xiii) To the best of our knowledge, there is not pending or threatened any
action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation, to which the Company or any
subsidiary is a party, or to which the property of the Company or any subsidiary
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, or which might reasonably be expected to materially and
adversely affect the properties or assets thereof or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated in the Purchase Agreement or the performance by the
Company of its obligations thereunder.
(xiv) The information in the Prospectus under the caption "Description of
Capital Stock--Common Stock", and in the Registration Statement under Item 15,
to the extent that it constitutes matters
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<PAGE> 32
of law, summaries of legal matters, the Company's articles of incorporation
and bylaws or legal proceedings, or legal conclusions, has been reviewed by us
and is correct in all material respects.
(xv) All descriptions in the Registration Statement of contracts and other
documents to which the Company or its subsidiaries are a party are accurate in
all material respects; to the best of our knowledge, there are no franchises,
contracts, indentures, mortgages, loan agreements, notes, leases or other
instruments required to be described or referred to in the Registration
Statement or to be filed as exhibits thereto other than those described or
referred to therein or filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits thereto,
and the descriptions thereof or references thereto are correct in all material
respects.
(xvi) To the best of our knowledge, neither the Company nor any subsidiary
is in violation of its charter or by-laws and no default by the Company or any
subsidiary exists in the due performance or observance of any material
obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract,
indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other agreement or
instrument that is described or referred to in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus or filed or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.
(xvii) No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order,
registration, qualification or decree of, any court or governmental authority or
agency, domestic or foreign (other than under the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act
Regulations, which have been obtained, or as may be required under the
securities or blue sky laws of the various states, as to which we need express
no opinion) is necessary or required in connection with the due authorization,
execution and delivery of the Purchase Agreement or for the offering, issuance,
sale or delivery of the Securities.
(xviii) The execution, delivery and performance of the Purchase Agreement
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated in the Purchase Agreement
and in the Registration Statement (including the issuance and sale of the
Securities and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as
described in the Prospectus under the caption "Use Of Proceeds") and compliance
by the Company with its obligations under the Purchase Agreement do not and will
not, whether with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time or both,
conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as
defined in Section 1(a)(xi) of the Purchase Agreement) under or result in the
creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or
assets of the Company or any subsidiary pursuant to any contract, indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or any other
agreement or instrument, known to us, to which the Company or any subsidiary is
a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of the
property or assets of the Company or any subsidiary is subject (except for such
conflicts, breaches or defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not
have a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of
the provisions of the charter or by-laws of the Company or any subsidiary, or
any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree,
known to us, of any government, government instrumentality or court, domestic or
foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary or any of their
respective properties, assets or operations.
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(xix) The Company is not an "investment company" or an entity "controlled"
by an "investment company," as such terms are defined in the 1940 Act.
(xx) The rights created under the Company's Rights Agreement, dated as of
April 15, 1997 by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer &
Trust Company, as Rights Agent, which will accrue to holders of the Securities
have been duly authorized.
Nothing has come to our attention that would lead us to believe that the
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, (except for financial
statements and schedules and other financial data included or incorporated by
reference therein or omitted therefrom, as to which we need make no comment),
at the time such Registration Statement or any such amendment became
effective, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading or that the Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto (except for financial statements and schedules and other
financial data included or incorporated by reference therein or omitted
therefrom, as to which we need make no comment), at the time the Prospectus was
issued, at the time any such amended or supplemented prospectus was issued or
at the Closing Time, included or includes an untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. With respect to the materiality of the description of
the consideration paid for Maverick Pipeline Services, Inc., we have relied to
a large extent upon the statements and representations of officers and
representatives of the Company.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely as to matters of fact (but
not as to legal conclusions), to the extent they deem proper, on certificates of
responsible officers of the Company and public officials. Such opinion shall not
state that it is to be governed or qualified by, or that it is otherwise subject
to, any treatise, written policy or other document relating to legal opinions,
including, without limitation, the Legal Opinion Accord of the ABA Section of
Business Law (1991).
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