<PAGE>
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 10, 1999
Registration No. 333-89489
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
----------------
AMENDMENT NO. 2
TO
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under
The Securities Act of 1933
----------------
ASYST TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
California 94-2942251
(State of Incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
</TABLE>
48761 Kato Road
Fremont, CA 94538
(510) 661-5000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code of Registrant's principal executive offices)
----------------
Douglas J. McCutcheon
Asyst Technologies, Inc.
48761 Kato Road
Fremont, CA 94538
(510) 661-5000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of agent for service)
----------------
Copies to:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
James C. Kitch, Esq. Bruce Alan Mann, Esq.
Michael L. Weiner, Esq. James H. Laws, Esq.
Cooley Godward LLP Morrison & Foerster LLP
Five Palo Alto Square 425 Market Street
3000 El Camino Real San Francisco, CA 94105
Palo Alto, CA 94306 (415) 268-7000
(650) 843-5000
</TABLE>
----------------
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration
Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the
following box. [_]
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered
on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act
of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or
interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. [_]
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [_]
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [_]
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule
434, please check the following box. [_]
----------------
The registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or
dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant
shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this
Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with
Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement
shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said
Section 8(a), may determine.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The following table sets forth all expenses, other than the underwriting
discounts and commissions, payable by Asyst in connection with the sale of the
common stock being registered. All the amounts shown are estimates except for
the registration fee.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
SEC Registration fee............................................... $ 19,604
NASD Filing fee.................................................... 7,552
Nasdaq additional listing fee...................................... 17,500
Printing and engraving expenses.................................... 200,000
Legal fees and expenses............................................ 200,000
Accounting fees and expenses....................................... 100,000
Transfer Agent and Registrar Fees and expenses..................... 25,000
Blue Sky Fees and expenses......................................... 5,000
Miscellaneous...................................................... 125,344
--------
Total............................................................ $700,000
========
</TABLE>
Item 15. Indemnification of Officers and Directors.
The Company's Bylaws provide that Asyst will indemnify its directors and
officers to the fullest extent not prohibited by California law. The Company is
also empowered under its Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws to enter into
indemnification contracts with its directors, officers, employees and agents
and to purchase insurance on behalf of any person whom it is required or
permitted to indemnify. Pursuant to this provision, Asyst has entered into
indemnity agreements with each of its directors and officers.
In addition, Asyst's Articles of Incorporation provide that, to the
fullest extent permitted by California law, Asyst's directors will not be
liable for monetary damages for breach of the directors' fiduciary duty of care
to Asyst and its shareholders. This provision in the Articles of Incorporation
does not eliminate the duty of care, and in appropriate circumstances,
equitable remedies such as an injunction or other forms of non- monetary relief
would remain available under California law. Each director will continue to be
subject to liability for breach of the director's duty of loyalty to Asyst, for
acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct or
knowing and culpable violations of law, that the director believes to be
contrary to the best interests of Asyst or its shareholders, involving a
reckless disregard for the director's duty to Asyst or its shareholders when
the director was aware or should have been aware of a risk of serious injury to
Asyst or its shareholders, or an unexcused pattern of inattention that amounts
to an abdication of the director's duty to Asyst or its shareholders, for
improper transactions between the director and Asyst and for improper
distributions to shareholders and loans to directors and officers or for acts
or omissions by the director as an officer. This provision also does not affect
a director's responsibilities under any other laws, such as the federal
securities laws or state or federal environmental laws.
There is no pending litigation or proceeding involving a director,
officer, employee or other agent of Asyst as to which indemnification is being
sought, nor is Asyst aware of any pending or threatened litigation that may
result in claims for indemnification by any director, officer, employee or
other agent.
II-1
<PAGE>
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit
Number Description of Document
------------- -----------------------
<C> <S>
1.1 Form of Underwriting Agreement.
2.1(iv) Stock Purchase Agreement among the Company, Hine Design
Incorporated and the Shareholders of Hine Design Incorporated,
dated July 2, 1998.
2.2(vi) Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization among the
Company, PSTI Merger Sub Acquisition Corp., Progressive System
Technologies, Inc., Advent International Investor II, Envirotech
Fund I and Global Private Equity II, dated as of June 2, 1999.
2.3(xii) Stock Purchase Agreement among the Company, Palo Alto
Technologies, Inc. ("PAT"),
the shareholders of PAT and the optionholders of PAT, dated
August 27, 1999.
2.4* Agreement for Sale and Purchase of Common Stock between MECS
Corporation and the Company, dated September 27, 1999.
3.1(i) Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company.
3.2(xii) Certificate of Amendment of the Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation.
3.3(i) Bylaws of the Company.
4.1(iii) Common Stock Purchase Agreement, dated September 25, 1997.
4.2(v) Rights Agreement among the Company and Bank of Boston, N. A., as
Rights Agents, dated June 25, 1995.
4.3(vi) Common Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 26, 1999.
5.1* Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP.
10.1(i) Form of Indemnity Agreement entered into between the Company and
its directors and officers.
10.2(i)(x) Company's 1993 Stock Option Plan and related form of stock
option agreement.
10.3(i)(x) Company's 1993 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and related offering
document.
10.4(i)(x) Company's 1993 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan and
related offering document.
10.5(i) Hewlett-Packard SMIF License Agreement dated June 6, 1984.
10.6(viii) Lease Agreement between the Company and the Kato Road Partners
dated February 16, 1995.
10.7(viii) Sublease Agreement between the Company and the Kato Road
Partners dated February 16, 1995.
10.8(vii) Asset Purchase Agreement between Palo Alto Technologies, Inc.,
the Company and Asyst Automation, Inc., dated September 30,
1997.
10.9(ix)(x) Loan Agreement A and Promissory Note Secured by Deed of Trust
between the Company and Terry Moshier, all dated August 1, 1997.
10.10(ix)(x) Loan Agreement B, Promissory Note, and Loan Pledge Agreement
between the Company and Terry Moshier, all dated August 1, 1997.
10.11(x)(xiv) Secured Promissory Note between the Company and Dennis Riccio,
dated November 16, 1998.
10.12(x)(xiv) Secured Promissory Note between the Company and Dennis Riccio,
dated February 1, 1999.
10.13(xi) Employment and Compensation Agreement between the Company and
Mihir Parikh dated April 1, 1999.
10.14(xii) Lease Agreement between Aetna Life Insurance Company and Hine
Design, Inc., dated August 4, 1995.
10.15(xii) Industrial Space Lease Agreement between PEN Associates and the
Company, dated November 13, 1995, as amended.
10.16(xii) Lease Agreement between SL-6 Partners, Ltd. and Progressive
System Technologies, Inc., dated November 20, 1995, as amended.
10.17(xii) Sublease Agreement between Progressive System Technologies, Inc.
and Group, Inc., dated December 3, 1996.
</TABLE>
II-2
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit Number Description of Document
-------------- -----------------------
<C> <S>
10.18(xii) Industrial Space Lease Agreement between PEN Associates and the
Company, dated December 14, 1997.
10.19(xii) Separation Agreement between the Company and William R.
Leckonby, dated November 9, 1998.
10.20(xii) Amendment to Lease between Kato Road Partners and the Company,
dated July 30, 1999.
10.21(xii) Cooperation Agreement between MECS Corporation and the Company,
dated August 5, 1999.
10.22(x)(xiii) Long-term Incentive Compensation Plan.
21.1* Subsidiaries of the Company.
23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.
23.2 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
23.3* Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.1 to
this registration statement.
24.1* Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages to this
registration statement.
</TABLE>
- --------
+To be filed by amendment.
*Previously filed.
(i) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (No. 33-66184), as amended.
(ii) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (No. 33-88246), as amended.
(iii) Incorporated by reference to the Company's 8-K filed with the Securities
Exchange Commission on October 10, 1997.
(iv) Incorporated by reference to the Company's 8-K filed with the Securities
Exchange Commission on August 14, 1998.
(v) Incorporated by reference to the Company's 8-K filed with the Securities
Exchange Commission on June 29, 1998.
(vi) Incorporated by reference to the Company's 8-K filed with the Securities
Exchange Commission on June 18, 1999.
(vii) Incorporated by reference to the Company's 10-Q; quarter ended September
30, 1997 (Confidential treatment granted).
(viii) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1995.
(ix) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended March 31, 1998.
(x) Management contract/compensation plan, contract or arrangement.
(xi) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
June 30, 1999.
(xii) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended September 30, 1999.
(xiii) Incorporated by reference to the Company's DEF 14A filed with the SEC on
July 29, 1998.
(xiv) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K405
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1999.
Item 17. Undertakings.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to deliver or cause to be
delivered with the prospectus, to each person to whom the prospectus is sent or
given, the latest annual report to security holders that is incorporated by
reference in the prospectus and furnished pursuant to and meeting the
requirements of Rule 14-3
II-3
<PAGE>
or Rule 14c-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and, where interim
financial information required to be presented by Article 3 of Regulation S-X
are not set forth in the prospectus, to deliver, or cause to be delivered to
each person to whom the prospectus is sent or given, the latest quarterly
report that is specifically incorporated by reference in the prospectus to
provide such interim financial information.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to provisions described in Item 15, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933,
the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of
prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h)
under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration
statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.
II-4
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
Asyst duly certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Fremont, County of Alameda, State of
California, on November 10, 1999.
Asyst Technologies, Inc.
/s/ Douglas J. McCutcheon
By: _________________________________
Douglas J. McCutcheon
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in
the capacities and on the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature Title Date
--------- ----- ----
<S> <C> <C>
* Chairman of the Board, Chief November 10,
____________________________________ Executive Officer and 1999
Mihir Parikh Director (Principal
Executive Officer)
/s/ Douglas J. McCutcheon Senior Vice President and November 10,
____________________________________ Chief Financial Officer 1999
Douglas J. McCutcheon (Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer)
* Director November 10,
____________________________________ 1999
Walter W. Wilson
Director
____________________________________
Tsuyoshi Kawanishi
* Director November 10,
____________________________________ 1999
Stanley Grubel
* Director November 10,
____________________________________ 1999
Ashok K. Sinha
Director
____________________________________
Robert McNamara
*/s/ Douglas J. McCutcheon
____________________________________
Douglas J. McCutcheon
Attorney-in-Fact
</TABLE>
II-5
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Sequential
Exhibit Page
Number Document Description Number
------- -------------------- ----------
<C> <S> <C>
1.1 Form of Underwriting Agreement.
2.1(iv) Stock Purchase Agreement among the Company, Hine
Design Incorporated and the Shareholders of Hine
Design Incorporated, dated July 2, 1998.
2.2(vi) Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization
among the Company, PSTI Merger Sub Acquisition
Corp., Progressive System Technologies, Inc.,
Advent International Investor II, Envirotech Fund I
and Global Private Equity II, dated as of June 2,
1999.
2.3(xii) Stock Purchase Agreement among the Company, Palo
Alto Technologies, Inc. ("PAT"), the shareholders
of PAT and the optionholders of PAT, dated August
27, 1999.
2.4* Agreement for Sale and Purchase of Common Stock
between MECS Corporation and the Company, date
September 27, 1999.
3.1(i) Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of
the Company.
3.2(xii) Certificate of Amendment of the Amended and
Restated Articles of Incorporation.
3.3(i) Bylaws of the Company.
4.1(iii) Common Stock Purchase Agreement, dated September
25, 1997.
4.2(v) Rights Agreement among the Company and Bank of
Boston, N. A., as Rights Agents, dated June 25,
1995.
4.3(vi) Common Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of May
26, 1999.
5.1* Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP.
10.1(i) Form of Indemnity Agreement entered into between
the Company and its directors and officers.
10.2(i)(x) Company's 1993 Stock Option Plan and related form
of stock option agreement.
10.3(i)(x) Company's 1993 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and
related offering document.
10.4(i)(x) Company's 1993 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option
Plan and related offering document.
10.5(i) Hewlett-Packard SMIF License Agreement dated June
6, 1984.
10.6(viii) Lease Agreement between the Company and the Kato
Road Partners dated February 16, 1995.
10.7(viii) Sublease Agreement between the Company and the Kato
Road Partners dated February 16, 1995.
10.8(vii) Asset Purchase Agreement between Palo Alto
Technologies, Inc., the Company and Asyst
Automation, Inc., dated September 30, 1997.
10.9(ix)(x) Loan Agreement A and Promissory Note Secured by
Deed of Trust between the Company and Terry
Moshier, all dated August 1, 1997.
10.10(ix)(x) Loan Agreement B, Promissory Note, and Loan Pledge
Agreement between the Company and Terry Moshier,
all dated August 1, 1997.
10.11(x)(xiv) Secured Promissory Note between the Company and
Dennis R. Riccio, dated November 16, 1998.
10.12(x)(xiv) Secured Promissory Note between the Company and
Dennis R. Riccio, dated February 1, 1999.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Sequential
Page
Exhibit Number Document Description Number
-------------- -------------------- ----------
<C> <S> <C>
10.13(xi) Employment and Compensation Agreement between the
Company and Mihir Parikh dated April 1, 1999.
10.14(xii) Lease Agreement between Aetna Life Insurance
Company and Hine Design, Inc., dated August 4,
1995.
10.15(xii) Industrial Space Lease Agreement between PEN
Associates and the Company, dated November 13,
1995, as amended.
10.16(xii) Lease Agreement between SL-6 Partners, Ltd. and
Progressive System Technologies, Inc., dated
November 20, 1995, as amended.
10.17(xii) Sublease Agreement between Progressive System
Technologies, Inc. and Group, Inc., dated December
3, 1996.
10.18(xii) Industrial Space Lease Agreement between PEN
Associates and the Company, dated December 14,
1997.
10.19(xii) Separation Agreement between the Company and
William R. Leckonby, dated November 9, 1998.
10.20(xii) Amendment to Lease between Kato Road Partners and
the Company, dated July 30, 1999.
10.21(xii) Cooperation Agreement between MECS Corporation and
the Company, dated August 5, 1999.
10.22(x)(xiii) Long-term Incentive Compensation Plan.
21.1* Subsidiaries of the Company.
23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.
23.2 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
23.3* Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in
Exhibit 5.1 to this registration statement.
24.1* Power of Attorney is contained on the signature
pages to this registration statement.
</TABLE>
- --------
+ To be filed by amendment.
* Previously filed.
(i) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (No. 33-66184), as amended.
(ii) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (No. 33-88246) as amneded.
(iii) Incorporated by reference to the Company's 8-K filed with the Securities
Exchange Commission on October 10, 1997.
(iv) Incorporated by reference to the Company's 8-K filed with the Securities
Exchange Commission on August 14, 1998.
(v) Incorporated by reference to the Company's 8-K filed with the Securities
Exchange Commission on June 29, 1998.
(vi) Incorporated by reference to the Company's 8-K filed with the Securities
Exchange Commission on June 18, 1999.
(vii) Incorporated by reference to the Company's 10-Q; quarter ended September
30, 1997 (Confidential treatment granted).
(viii) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1995.
<PAGE>
(ix) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended March 31, 1998.
(x) Management contract/compensation plan, contract or arrangement.
(xi) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
June 30, 1999.
(xii) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended September 30, 1999.
(xiii) Incorporated by reference to the Company's DEF 14A filed with the SEC on
July 29, 1998.
(xiv) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K405
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1999.
<PAGE>
Exhibit 1.1
================================================================================
ASYST TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
(a California corporation)
2,000,000 Shares of Common Stock
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
Dated: November __, 1999
================================================================================
<PAGE>
Table of Contents
Page
----
PURCHASE AGREEMENT...........................................................1
SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties...................................3
(a) Representations and Warranties by the Company....................3
(i) Compliance with Registration Requirements................3
(ii) Incorporated Documents...................................4
(iii) Independent Accountants..................................4
(iv) Financial Statements.....................................4
(v) No Material Adverse Change in Business...................4
(vi) Good Standing of the Company.............................5
(vii) Good Standing of Subsidiaries............................5
(viii) Capitalization...........................................5
(ix) Authorization of Agreement...............................6
(x) Authorization and Description of Securities..............6
(xi) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts........................6
(xii) Absence of Labor Dispute.................................7
(xiii) Absence of Proceedings...................................7
(xiv) Accuracy of Exhibits.....................................7
(xv) Possession of Intellectual Property......................7
(xvi) Absence of Further Requirements..........................8
(xvii) Possession of Licenses and Permits.......................8
(xviii) Title to Property........................................8
(xix) Compliance with Cuba Act.................................9
(xx) Investment Company Act...................................9
(xxi) Environmental Laws.......................................9
(xxii) Year 2000 Preparedness...................................9
(xxiii) Related Party Transactions..............................10
(b) Officer's Certificates..........................................10
SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing......................10
(a) Initial Securities..............................................10
(b) Option Securities...............................................11
(c) Payment.........................................................11
(d) Denominations; Registration.....................................12
SECTION 3. Covenants of the Company........................................12
(a) Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests..12
(b) Filing of Amendments............................................12
(c) Delivery of Registration Statements.............................13
(d) Delivery of Prospectuses........................................13
(e) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws.......................13
(f) Blue Sky Qualifications.........................................14
(g) Rule 158........................................................14
i
<PAGE>
(h) Use of Proceeds.................................................14
(i) Listing.........................................................14
(j) Restriction on Sale of Securities...............................14
(k) Reporting Requirements..........................................15
SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses.............................................15
(a) Expenses........................................................15
(b) Termination of Agreement........................................15
SECTION 5. Conditions of Underwriters'Obligations..........................16
(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement.........................16
(b) Opinion of Counsel for Company..................................16
(c) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters.............................16
(d) Officers'Certificate............................................17
(e) Accountant's Comfort Letter.....................................17
(f) Bring-down Comfort Letter.......................................17
(g) Approval of Listing.............................................17
(h) No Objection....................................................17
(i) Lock-up Agreements..............................................18
(j) Conditions to Purchase of Option Securities.....................18
(k) Additional Documents............................................18
(l) Termination of Agreement........................................19
SECTION 6. Indemnification.................................................19
(a) Indemnification of Underwriters.................................19
(b) Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers..............20
(c) Actions against Parties; Notification...........................20
(d) Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse..............21
SECTION 7. Contribution....................................................21
SECTION 8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery..22
SECTION 9. Termination of Agreement........................................22
(a) Termination; General............................................22
(b) Liabilities.....................................................23
SECTION 10. Default by One or More of the Underwriters......................23
SECTION 11. Notices.........................................................23
SECTION 12. Parties.........................................................24
SECTION 13. Governing Law And Time..........................................24
SECTION 14. Effect of Headings..............................................24
ii
<PAGE>
SCHEDULES
Schedule A - List of Underwriters...............................Sch A-1
Schedule B - Pricing Information................................Sch B-1
Schedule C - List of Persons subject to Lock-up.................Sch C-1
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A - Form of Opinion of Company's Counsel.....................A-1
Exhibit B - Form of Lock-up Letter...................................B-1
iii
<PAGE>
ASYST TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
(a California corporation)
2,000,000 Shares of Common Stock
(No Par Value Per Share)
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
November __, 1999
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
Lehman Brothers Inc.
Adams, Harkness & Hill, Inc.
Needham & Company
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:
Asyst Technologies, Inc., a California 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, Lehman Brothers Inc., Adams, Harkness & Hill,
Inc. and Needham & Company are acting as representatives (in such capacity, the
"Representatives"), with respect to the issue and sale by the Company and the
purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the
respective numbers of shares of Common Stock, no par value, of the Company
("Common Stock") set forth in said Schedule A, and with respect to 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 300,000
additional shares of Common Stock to cover over-allotments, if any. The
aforesaid 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock (the "Initial Securities") to be
purchased by the Underwriters and all or any part of the 300,000 shares of
Common Stock subject to the option described in Section 2(b) hereof (the "Option
Securities") are hereinafter called, collectively, the "Securities".
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.
1
<PAGE>
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-89489) covering the
registration of the Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"1933 Act"), including the related preliminary prospectus or prospectuses.
Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will either
(i) prepare and file a prospectus in accordance with the provisions of Rule 430A
("Rule 430A") 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 or (ii) if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule
434 ("Rule 434") of the 1933 Act Regulations, prepare and file a term sheet (a
"Term Sheet") in accordance with the provisions of Rule 434 and Rule 424(b). The
information included in such prospectus or in such Term Sheet, as the case may
be, that was omitted from such registration statement at the time it became
effective but that is deemed to be part of such registration statement at the
time it became effective (a) pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 430A is referred
to as "Rule 430A Information" or (b) pursuant to paragraph (d) of Rule 434 is
referred to as "Rule 434 Information." Each prospectus used before such
registration statement became effective, and any prospectus that omitted, as
applicable, the Rule 430A Information or the Rule 434 Information, that was used
after such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, is herein called a "preliminary prospectus." 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 and including the Rule 430A
Information and the Rule 434 Information, as applicable, 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 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." If Rule 434 is relied on, the term "Prospectus" shall refer to the
preliminary prospectus dated October 29, 1999 together with the Term Sheet and
all references in this Agreement to the date of the Prospectus shall mean the
date of the Term Sheet. For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or any Term
Sheet 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.
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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:
(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. Neither the Prospectus nor any amendments or supplements
thereto, at the time the Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement
was issued and at the Closing Time (and, if any Option Securities are
purchased, at the Date of Delivery), included or will include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state a material
fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If Rule 434
is used, the Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 434. 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, when they became effective or at the time they were or
hereafter are filed with the Commission,
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complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of
the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations or the 1934 Act and the rules
and regulations of the Commission thereunder (the "1934 Act Regulations"),
as applicable, 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.
(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 (as defined herein) 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. 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.
(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) 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 California 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
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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 of Progressive System
Technologies, Inc., Hine Design Incorporated and Palo Alto Technologies,
Inc. (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 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 Exhibit
21.1 of the Registration Statement 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 in the
column entitled "Actual" under the caption "Capitalization" (except for
subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to this Agreement, pursuant to
reservations, agreements or employee benefit plans 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; 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.
(ix) Authorization of Agreement. This Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(x) Authorization and Description of Securities. The Securities 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, 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.
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(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 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, and the Company is not aware of any existing or
imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its or any
Subsidiary's principal suppliers, manufacturers, customers or contractors,
which, in either case, 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), 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,
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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.
(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 (i) such as have been already
obtained or as may be required under the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act
Regulations or state securities laws or (ii) such as may be required by
the rules and regulations of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD").
(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; 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.
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(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 owned by them, 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
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 (except where the failure to be in full force and effect
would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse
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 that would result in a
Material Adverse Effect.
(xix) Compliance with Cuba Act. The Company has complied with, and
is and will be in compliance with, the provisions of that certain Florida
act relating to disclosure of doing business with Cuba, codified as
Section 517.075 of the Florida statutes, and the rules and regulations
thereunder (collectively, the "Cuba Act") or is exempt therefrom.
(xx) 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").
(xxi) 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 material 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 material
compliance with their requirements, (C) there are no pending or 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
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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.
(xxii) Year 2000 Preparedness. There are no issues related to the
Company's preparedness for the Year 2000 that (i) are of a character
required to be described or referred to in the Registration Statement or
Prospectus by the Securities Act which have not been accurately described
in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or (ii) might reasonably be
expected to result in any Material Adverse Effect. Except where the
failure to meet Y2K Qualification Requirements would not have a Material
Adverse Effect, all internal computer systems and each Constituent
Component (as defined below) of those systems and all computer-related
products and each Constituent Component (as defined below) of those
products of the Company fully comply with Year 2000 Qualification
Requirements. "Year 2000 Qualifications Requirements" means that the
internal computer systems and each Constituent Component (as defined
below) of those systems and all computer-related products and each
Constituent Component (as defined below) of those products of the Company
(i) have been reviewed to confirm that they store, process (including
sorting and performing mathematical operations, calculations and
computations), input and output data containing date and information
correctly regardless of whether the date contains dates and times before,
on or after January 1, 2000, (ii) have been designated to ensure date and
time entry recognition and calculations, and date data interface values
that reflect the century, (iii) accurately manage and manipulate data
involving dates and times, including single century formulas and
multi-century formulas, and will not cause an abnormal ending scenario
within the application or generate incorrect values or invalid results
involving such dates, (iv) accurately process any date rollover, and (v)
accept and respond to two-digit year date input in a manner that resolves
any ambiguities as to the century. "Constituent Component" means all
software (including operating systems, programs, packages and utilities),
firmware, hardware, networking components, and peripherals provided as
part of the configuration. The Company has inquired of material vendors as
to their preparedness for the Year 2000 and has disclosed in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus any issues that might reasonably be
expected to result in any Material Adverse Effect.
(xxiii) Related Party Transactions. There are no business
relationships or related-party transactions involving the company or any
other person required to be described in the Prospectus which have not
been described as required.
(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 B, 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.
(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 grants an option to the
Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase up to an additional 300,000
shares of Common Stock at the price per share set forth in Schedule B, 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, and delivery of
certificates for, the Initial Securities shall be made at the offices of Cooley
Godward LLP, Five Palo Alto Square, 3000 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306, or
at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the
Company, at 7:00 A.M. (California time) on the third (fourth, if the pricing
occurs after 4:30 P.M. (Eastern time) on any given day) 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 upon by the Representatives
and the Company, on each Date of Delivery as specified in the notice from the
Representatives to the Company.
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Payment shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to a bank account 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 San Francisco not later than 7:00 A.M. (Pacific
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 or Rule 434, 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.
(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)), any Term Sheet 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
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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 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
(domestic or foreign) as the Representatives may designate and to maintain such
qualifications in effect for a period of not
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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
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 or (D) any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to any non-employee
director stock plan or dividend reinvestment plan.
(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.
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SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses. Expenses. The Company will pay 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, any Term Sheets 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 filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel to the Underwriters in connection with, the review by the NASD of the
terms of the sale of the Securities and (x) 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 or Section
9(a)(i) hereof, the Company 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 the Rule 430A Information shall have been filed with the Commission
in accordance with Rule 424(b) (or a post-effective amendment providing such
information shall have been filed and declared effective in accordance with the
requirements of Rule 430A) or, if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 434,
a Term Sheet shall have been filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule
424(b).
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(b) Opinion of Counsel for Company. At Closing Time, the
Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of Closing
Time, of Cooley Godward LLP, counsel for 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 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 rely, as to all matters governed by the
laws of jurisdictions other than the law of the State of California, the federal
law of the United States and the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware, upon the opinions of counsel satisfactory to the Representatives. Such
counsel may also 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 Morrison & Foerster 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), (ii), (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) through (x), inclusive, (xiii), (xv)
(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 California and the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, upon the opinions of counsel
satisfactory to the Representatives. Such counsel may also 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.
(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 event which constitutes a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries considered as one enterprise,
whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, and the
Representatives shall have received a certificate of the Chief Executive Officer
or a Vice President of the Company and 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 change, (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 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.
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(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) No Objection. The NASD has confirmed that it has not raised any
objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting
terms and arrangements.
(i) Lock-up Agreements. At the date of this Agreement, the
Representatives shall have received an agreement substantially in the form of
Exhibit B hereto signed by the persons listed on Schedule C hereto.
(j) 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 or 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 Chief Executive Officer or a Vice President
of the Company and 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.
(ii) Opinion of Counsel for Company. The favorable opinion of
Cooley Godward LLP, counsel for 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
Morrison & Foerster 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
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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.
(k) 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.
(l) 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 contained in the
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the
Rule 430A Information and the Rule 434 Information, 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, as set forth in Section 6(a)(i) 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
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(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including
the 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 and
the Rule 434 Information, 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 and
the Rule 434 Information, 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).
(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
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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)(ii) 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 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, or, if Rule 434 is used, the
corresponding location on the Term Sheet, 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.
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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 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 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, 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
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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 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, New York, or California 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 Representative(s) shall have the right, but
not the obligation, 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
Representative(s) shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour
period, then this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any
non-defaulting Underwriter.
No action 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, either the Representative(s) or the Company shall have the right
to postpone the Closing Time or a Date of Delivery 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 arrangement.
SECTION 11. 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 101 California Street,
Suite 1420, San Francisco California 94111 / 10900 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite
900, Los Angeles, California 90024, attention of o; and notices to the Company
shall be directed to it at 48761 Kato Road, Fremont, California 94538, attention
of Chief Financial Officer.
SECTION 12. Parties. This Agreement shall 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
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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 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 13. GOVERNING LAW AND TIME. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY
AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EXCEPT AS
OTHERWISE SET FORTH HEREIN, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.
SECTION 14. 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.
22
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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
between the Underwriters and the Company in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
ASYST TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By
-------------------------------------
Title:
CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,
as of the date first above written:
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
INCORPORATED
LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
ADAMS, HARKNESS & HILL, INC.
NEEDHAM & COMPANY
By: MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
INCORPORATED
By
--------------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
For themselves and as Representatives of the other Underwriters named in
Schedule A hereto.
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SCHEDULE A
Number of
Initial
Name of Underwriter Securities
------------------- ----------
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated.....................................
Lehman Brothers Inc.........................................
Adams, Harkness & Hill, Inc.................................
Needham & Company, Inc......................................
---------
Total....................................................... 2,000,000
=========
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SCHEDULE B
ASYST TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
2,000,000 Shares of Common Stock
(No Par Value Per Share)
1. The initial public offering price per share for the Securities,
determined as provided in said Section 2, shall be $o.
2. The purchase price per share for the Securities to be paid by the
several Underwriters shall be $o, being an amount equal to the initial public
offering price set forth above less $o 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.
25
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26
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[SCHEDULE C]
[List of persons and entities
subject to lock-up]
27
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Exhibit A
FORM 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 California.
(ii) The Company has corporate power and authority to own, lease and
operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under the 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 in the column entitled "Actual" under the
caption "Capitalization" (except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to
the Purchase Agreement or pursuant to reservations, agreements or employee
benefit plans 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 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 of the Securities is not subject to the preemptive or,
to the best of our knowledge, after due inquiry, other similar rights of any
securityholder of the Company.
(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
28
<PAGE>
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 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, to the best of our knowledge, after due inquiry, 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, including any Rule 462(b) 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 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 threatened
by the Commission.
(x) The Registration Statement, including any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement, the Rule 430A Information and the Rule 434 Information, as
applicable, 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,
schedules and other financial data included or incorporated by reference 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, schedules and other financial data included or
incorporated by reference therein or omitted therefrom, as to which we need
express no opinion), when they became effective or were filed with the
Commission, as the case may be, complied as to form in all material respects
with the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, as applicable, and the
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(xii) The form of certificate used to evidence the Common Stock filed as
an exhibit to the Registration Statement complies in all material respects with
all applicable statutory requirements, with any applicable requirements of the
charter and by-laws of the Company.
(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
29
<PAGE>
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 "Business--Facilities",
"Business--Intellectual Property", "Certain Transactions with Related Parties"
and in the Registration Statement under Item 15, to the extent that it
constitutes matters of law, summaries of legal matters, summaries of 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) To the best of our knowledge, there are no statutes or regulations
that are required under the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations to be described
in the Prospectus that are not described as required.
(xvi) 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 to which the Company is a party required to be described in
the Registration Statement or to be filed as exhibits thereto, that are not
described therein or filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits thereto as
required.
(xvii) 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.
(xviii) 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.
(xix) 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
30
<PAGE>
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, filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Staement, 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 Articles of Incorporation or by-laws of the Company or any
Subsidiary, or any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation (other than the
State securities or Blue Sky laws, as to which we express no opinion), 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.
(xx) The Company is not an "investment company" or an entity controlled by
an "investment company" as such terms are defined in the 1940 Act.
We have participated in conferences with officials of the Company, the
Representatives, counsel for the Underwriters and the Company's independent
accountants, at which conferences the contents of the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus and related matters were discussed, and although we have not
verified and are not passing upon the accuracy or completeness of the statements
contained in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, on the basis of the
foregoing, as facts have come to our attention that would lead us to believe
that the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, including the Rule
430A Information and Rule 434 Information (if applicable), (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 statement),
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 statement), 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.
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).
31
<PAGE>
[Form of lock-up from directors, officers or other stockholders pursuant to
Section 5(i)]
Exhibit B
o, 1999
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
Lehman Brothers Inc.
Adams, Harkness & Hill, Inc.
Needham & Company
as Representative(s) of the several
Underwriters to be named in the
within-mentioned Purchase Agreement
c/o Merrill Lynch & Co.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
North Tower
World Financial Center
New York, New York 10281-1209
Re: Proposed Public Offering by Asyst Technologies, Inc.
Dear Sirs:
The undersigned, a stockholder and an officer and/or director of Asyst
Technologies, Inc., a California corporation (the "Company"), understands that
Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
("Merrill Lynch"), Lehman Brothers Inc., Adams, Harkness & Hill, Inc. and
Needham & Company propose to enter into a Purchase Agreement (the "Purchase
Agreement") with the Company providing for the public offering of shares (the
"Securities") of the Company's common stock, no par value (the "Common Stock").
In recognition of the benefit that such an offering will confer upon the
undersigned as a stockholder and an officer and/or director of the Company, and
for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which
are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned agrees with each underwriter to be
named in the Purchase Agreement that, during a period of 90 days from the date
of the Purchase Agreement, the undersigned will not, without the prior written
consent of Merrill Lynch, directly or indirectly, (i) 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 for the sale of, or
otherwise dispose of or transfer any shares of the Company's Common Stock or any
securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock,
whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned or with respect to
which the undersigned has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition, or
file any registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
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 is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or
other securities, in cash or
32
<PAGE>
otherwise, other than (A) as a bona fide gift or gifts (whether by will or
intestacy or to a trust the beneficiaries of which are exclusively the
undersigned and/or a member or members of his or her immediate family), provided
the donee or donees thereof agree in writing to be bound by this restriction,
(B) with respect to dispositions of Common Stock acquired on the open market,
(C) as a distribution to limited partners, constituent members or shareholders
of the undersigned, provided the transferee or transferees thereof agree in
writing to be bound by this restriction or (D) with the prior written consent of
Merrill Lynch.
This agreement shall terminate and be of not further effect if the registration
statement for the offering of the Securities is not declared effective by the
Securities and Exchange Commission by December 31, 1999.
Very truly yours,
Signature:
-----------------------------
Print Name:
33
<PAGE>
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation
by reference in this registration statement of our report dated August 12, 1999
included in Asyst Technologies, Inc.'s Form 8-K/A for the year ended March 31,
1999 and to all references to our Firm included in this registration statement.
/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP
San Jose, California
November 10, 1999
<PAGE>
Exhibit 23.2
CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" and
to the use of our report dated May 7, 1999, with respect to the financial
statements and schedules of Progressive System Technologies, Inc. incorporated
by reference from the Asyst Technologies, Inc. Current Report on Form 8-K/A
dated August 16, 1999 in Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement (Form S-
3 No. 333-89489) and related Prospectus of Asyst Technologies, Inc. for the
registration of 2,000,000 shares of its common stock.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Austin, Texas
November 10, 1999
