Shares ADDUS HOMECARE CORPORATION COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $0.001 PER SHARE UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

Contract Categories: Business Finance - Underwriting Agreements
EX-1.1 2 dex11.htm FORM OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT Form of Underwriting Agreement

Exhibit 1.1

Shares

ADDUS HOMECARE CORPORATION

COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $0.001 PER SHARE

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

            , 2009

ROBERT W. BAIRD & CO. INCORPORATED

OPPENHEIMER & CO. INC.

As Representatives of the several Underwriters

c/o Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated

777 East Wisconsin Avenue

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Introductory. Addus HomeCare Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule A (the “Underwriters”) an aggregate of — shares of its common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Shares”). The — Shares to be sold by the Company are called the “Firm Shares.” In addition, the Company has granted to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional — Shares as provided in Section 2. The additional — Shares to be sold by the Company pursuant to such option are called the “Optional Shares.” The Firm Shares and, if and to the extent such option is exercised, the Optional Shares are collectively called the “Offered Shares.” Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated (“Baird”) and Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. have agreed to act as representatives of the several Underwriters (in such capacity, the “Representatives”) in connection with the offering and sale of the Offered Shares.

The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-160634), which contains a form of prospectus to be used in connection with the public offering and sale of the Offered Shares. Such registration statement, as amended, including the financial statements, exhibits and schedules thereto, in the form in which it was declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), including any information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act, is called the “Registration Statement.” Any registration statement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act is called the “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement,” and from and after the date and time of filing of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement the term “Registration Statement” shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. Such prospectus, in the form first made available to the Underwriters by the Company to confirm sales of the Offered Shares or to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act, is called the “Prospectus.” As used herein, “Applicable Time” is — _m (New York time) on —, 2009. As used herein, “free writing prospectus” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act,


Time of Sale Prospectus” means the preliminary prospectus, as amended or supplemented immediately prior to the Applicable Time, together with any free writing prospectus or information identified in Schedule B hereto, if any, and “road show” means each road show (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act (“Rule 433”)), if any, related to the offering of the Shares contemplated hereby that is a “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act). As used herein, the terms “Registration Statement,” “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement,” “preliminary prospectus,” “Time of Sale Prospectus” and “Prospectus” shall, to the extent applicable, include the documents incorporated and deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, or the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing, shall include any copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to its next generation Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”). “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, relating to the Shares that (i) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (ii) is a “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i) whether or not required to be filed with the Commission or (iii) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Shares or of the offering that does not reflect the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g).

The Company hereby confirms its agreements with the Underwriters as follows:

Section 1. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby represents, warrants and covenants to each Underwriter, as of the date of this Agreement, as of the First Closing Date (as hereinafter defined) and as of each Option Closing Date (as hereafter defined), if any, as follows:

(a) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement have been declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act. Any request of the Commission made to the Company for inclusion of additional information in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise has been complied with, to the best knowledge of the Company, to the Commission’s satisfaction. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement is in effect and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or threatened by the Commission. The Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus when filed complied or will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act 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. Each of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became effective and through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Offered Shares, complied, complies and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and did not, does not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not

 

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misleading. As of the Applicable Time, the Time of Sale Prospectus (including any preliminary prospectus wrapper) did not, and at the time of each sale of the Offered Shares and at the First Closing Date (as defined in Section 2), the Time of Sale Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented by the Company, if applicable, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the Time of Sale Prospectus, did not, and at the time of each sale of the Offered Shares and at the First Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Prospectus (including any preliminary prospectus wrapper) as amended or supplemented, as of its date and through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Offered Shares, did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The representations and warranties set forth in the four immediately preceding sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment thereto, or the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by the Representatives expressly for use therein it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Representatives to the Company consists of the information described in Section 8(b) below. There are no contracts or other documents required to be described in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which have not been described or filed as required.

The Company is not an “ineligible issuer” in connection with the offering of the Offered Shares pursuant to Rules 164, 405 and 433 under the Securities Act. Any free writing prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act has been, or will be, filed with the Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Offered Shares, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, and any preliminary or other prospectus deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified. Except for the free writing prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule B hereto, and road shows, if any, furnished to you before first use, the Company has not prepared, used or referred to, and will not, without your prior consent, prepare, use or refer to, any free writing prospectus.

(b) Distribution of Offering Material By the Company. The Company has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the latest of (i) the expiration or termination of the option granted to the several Underwriters in Section 2, (ii) the completion of the Underwriters’ distribution of the Offered Shares and (iii) the expiration of 25 days after the date of the Prospectus, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale

 

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of the Offered Shares other than a preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, any road show, any free writing prospectus reviewed and consented to by the Representatives or the Registration Statement.

(c) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(d) Authorization of the Offered Shares. The Offered Shares have been duly authorized for issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement and paid for as provided herein, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and the issuance and sale of the Offered Shares is not subject to any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase the Offered Shares.

(e) New Credit Facility. The $50,000,000 Revolving Credit Facility proposed to be entered into among Fifth Third Bank, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries (the “New Credit Facility”) has been duly authorized and, assuming the due execution and delivery by the parties thereto other than the Company and its subsidiaries, when executed and delivered by the Company and its subsidiaries, will constitute a valid and binding agreement of, the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles. The description of the commitment letter for, and the proposed terms of, the New Credit Facility contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus conform in all material respects to such commitment letter and proposed terms, and the New Credit Facility will conform in all material respects to such proposed terms.

(f) No Applicable Registration Rights. There are no persons with registration rights to have any equity or debt securities registered for sale under the Registration Statement or included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement, except for such rights as have been duly waived.

(g) No Material Adverse Change. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in Time of Sale Prospectus: (i) there has been no material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity (any such change is called a “Material Adverse Change”); (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity, have not incurred any material liability or obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, not in the ordinary course of business nor entered into any material transaction or agreement not in the ordinary course of business; and (iii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company or, except for dividends paid to the Company or other subsidiaries, any of its subsidiaries on any class of capital stock or repurchase or redemption by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any class of capital stock.

 

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(h) Independent Accountants. Each of BDO Seidman, LLP and Dixon Hughes PLLC, who have expressed their respective opinions with respect to the financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) and supporting schedules filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included in the Prospectus and Time of Sale Prospectus (each, an “Applicable Prospectus” and collectively, the “Applicable Prospectuses”), are independent registered public accounting firms with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and as set forth under Rule 2-01 of Commission Regulation S-X.

(i) Preparation of the Financial Statements. The financial statements filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company, its subsidiaries and each other entity for which financial statements are included as of and at the dates indicated and the results of their operations and cash flows for the periods specified. The supporting schedules to the financial statements included in the Registration Statement present fairly in all material respects the information required to be stated therein. Such financial statements and supporting schedules have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto. No other financial statement or supporting schedules to the financial statements are required to be included in the Registration Statement or any Applicable Prospectus. The financial data (other than the pro forma financial information and the related notes thereto) set forth in each Applicable Prospectus under the captions “Prospectus Summary—Summary Historical and Pro Forma Consolidated Financial and Other Data,” “Selected Historical Consolidated Financial and Other Data” and “Capitalization” fairly present in all material respects the information set forth therein on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements contained in the Registration Statement and each Applicable Prospectus. The pro forma financial information and the related notes thereto included in each Applicable Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the information contained therein, have been prepared in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, and the assumptions underlying such pro forma financial information are reasonable and are set forth in each such Applicable Prospectus.

(j) Company’s Accounting System. The Company and each of its subsidiaries make and keep accurate books and records in all material respects and maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP as applied in the United States and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. To the Company’s knowledge, there has not been and is no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated).

 

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(k) Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Each of the Company and each of its “significant subsidiaries” (as such term is defined under Rule 1-02(w) of Commission Regulation S-X) (“Significant Subsidiaries”) has been duly incorporated or organized, as the case may be, and is validly existing as a corporation, partnership or limited liability company, as applicable, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and has the power and authority (corporate or other) to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in each Applicable Prospectus and, in the case of the Company, to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement. Each of the Company and each of its Significant Subsidiaries is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign corporation 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, in each case except where the failure to be duly qualified or in good standing would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. All of the issued and outstanding capital stock or other equity or ownership interests of each subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable, are owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Offered Shares and after the application of the proceeds therefrom as described under “Use of Proceeds” in each Applicable Prospectus, and except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus, will be held free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or adverse claim. The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than (i) the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21.1 to the Registration Statement and (ii) such other entities omitted from Exhibit 21.1 which, when such omitted entities are considered in the aggregate as a single subsidiary, would not constitute a Significant Subsidiary.

(l) No Other Significant Subsidiaries. Each of Addus HealthCare, Inc., Addus HealthCare (Nevada), Inc. and Lowell Home Health Agency, Inc. is a Significant Subsidiary of the Company and no other subsidiary of the Company is a Significant Subsidiary.

(m) Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters. The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in each Applicable Prospectus in the column entitled “Actual” under the caption “Capitalization” (other than for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to this Agreement, or agreements or employee benefit plans referred to in the Applicable Prospectus or pursuant to the exercise of convertible securities or options referred to in the Applicable Prospectus). The Shares (including the Offered Shares) conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Time of Sale Prospectus. All of the issued and outstanding Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and have been issued in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws. None of the outstanding Shares was issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal

 

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or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company. There are no authorized or outstanding options, warrants, or equity or debt securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries other than those described in each Applicable Prospectus. No holder of the Company’s capital stock will be entitled to pre-emptive rights or rights of first refusal or other rights to purchase any capital stock of the Company after the First Closing Date. The description of the Company’s stock option, stock bonus and other stock plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights granted thereunder, set forth in each Applicable Prospectus is accurate in all material respects.

(n) Stock Exchange Listing. The Offered Shares have been approved for listing on The Nasdaq Global Market, subject only to official notice of issuance.

(o) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of its charter or bylaws, partnership agreement or operating agreement or similar organizational document, as applicable, or is in default (or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, would be in default) (“Default”) under any indenture, mortgage, loan or credit agreement, note, contract, franchise, lease or other instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound (including, without limitation, any credit agreement, indenture, pledge agreement, security agreement or other instrument or agreement evidencing, guaranteeing, securing or relating to indebtedness of the Company or any of its subsidiaries), or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject (each, an “Existing Instrument”), except for such Defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. The Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the New Credit Facility, and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by each Applicable Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds” and the issuance and sale of the Offered Shares (assuming that such transactions are consummated as so contemplated) (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by laws, partnership agreement or operating agreement or similar organizational document of the Company or any subsidiary, as applicable, (ii) will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or Default under, or, result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to, any Existing Instrument, except to the extent that (x) such creation or imposition is disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus, or (y) such breach, default, creation or imposition would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change, (iii) will not result in any violation of any law or administrative regulation applicable to the Company or any subsidiary, except to the extent that such violation would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in any Material Adverse Change, and (iv) will not result in any violation of any administrative or court decree applicable to the Company or any subsidiary. No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental or regulatory authority or agency, is required for the Company’s execution,

 

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delivery and performance of this Agreement and the New Credit Facility, and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by each Applicable Prospectus, except (1) such as are required under the Securities Act, applicable state securities or blue sky laws and from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and have been obtained or made by the Company and are in full force and effect and (2) such notices, registrations and filings with governmental agencies as are required under Healthcare Laws and are in full force and effect.

(p) No Material Actions or Proceedings. There are no legal or governmental actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened before any court or administrative agency or otherwise that, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would reasonably be expected to either (i) result in a Material Adverse Change or (ii) prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. No material labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, is threatened or imminent.

(q) Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess sufficient trademarks, trade names, patent rights, copyrights, domain names, licenses, approvals, trade secrets and other similar rights (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”) reasonably necessary to conduct their businesses as now conducted and have not received any notice of infringement or conflict with asserted Intellectual Property Rights that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would result in, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Change. The Company is not a party to or bound by any options, licenses or agreements with respect to the Intellectual Property Rights of any other person or entity that are required to be set forth in the Prospectus and are not described therein.

(r) All Necessary Permits, etc. The Company and each subsidiary hold all certificates, authorizations, licenses, provider numbers, permits (including certificate of need approvals), consents, orders and certifications (including certification under the Medicare and Medicaid programs), issued by the appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct their respective businesses in the manner described in the Time of Sale Prospectus (collectively, “Governmental Licenses”), except where the failure to hold any such Governmental License would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change, and neither the Company nor any subsidiary has received, or been a party any communication that would lead it to believe that it will receive, any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of, or non-compliance with, any such Governmental Licenses that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate result in a Material Adverse Change.

(s) Adjustments to Accounts Receivable. To the extent relevant, the accounts receivable of the Company and its subsidiaries have been adjusted to reflect material changes in the reimbursement policies of third party payors such as Medicare, Medicaid programs, private insurance companies, health maintenance organizations, preferred provider organizations, managed care systems and other third party payors. The

 

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Company’s accounts receivable, after giving effect to the allowance for doubtful accounts, relating to such third party payors do not exceed amounts the Company and its subsidiaries are entitled to receive in any material respect.

(t) Title to Properties. The Company and each of its subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all of the real and personal property and other assets necessary and material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one entity reflected as owned in the financial statements referred to in Section 1(i) above, in each case free and clear of any security interests, mortgages, liens, encumbrances, equities, adverse claims and other defects, except such as do not materially and adversely affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Company or such subsidiary. The material real property, improvements, equipment and personal property held under lease by the Company or any subsidiary are held under valid and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such real property, improvements, equipment or personal property by the Company or such subsidiary.

(u) Tax Law Compliance. The Company and its consolidated subsidiaries (i) have filed all federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns which have been required to be filed and (ii) have paid all taxes due and payable and any related interest, penalties or additions to tax, unless such taxes (including any related interest, penalties or additions to tax) are being contested in good faith and for which an adequate reserve or accrual has been established in accordance with GAAP. The Company has made adequate charges, accruals and reserves in the applicable financial statements referred to in Section 1(i) above in respect of all federal, state and foreign income and franchise taxes for all periods as to which the tax liability of the Company or any of its consolidated subsidiaries has not been finally determined.

(v) Company Not an “Investment Company”. The Company is not, and will not be, either after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Offered Shares and after the application of the proceeds therefrom as described under “Use of Proceeds” in each Applicable Prospectus, an “investment company” within the meaning of Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).

(w) Insurance. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries are insured by recognized and reputable institutions with policies in such amounts and covering such risks as are generally deemed adequate and customary for their businesses. The Company does not believe that it or any subsidiary will not be able (i) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not result in a Material Adverse Change. Neither of the Company nor any subsidiary has been denied any insurance coverage which it has sought or for which it has applied.

 

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(x) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Shares to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Shares or otherwise. The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters may engage in passive market making transactions in the Offered Shares on The Nasdaq Global Market in accordance with Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

(y) Related Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or related-party transactions involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any other person required to be described in each Applicable Prospectus which have not been described as required.

(z) FINRA Matters. All of the information provided to the Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters by the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, its officers and directors and the holders of any securities (debt or equity) or options to acquire any securities of the Company in connection with letters, filings or other supplemental information provided to FINRA pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110 or NASD Conduct Rule 2720 is true, complete and correct.

(aa) Parties to Lock-Up Agreements. Each of the persons and entities listed in Exhibit A has executed and delivered to the Representatives a lock-up agreement in the form of Exhibit B hereto. Exhibit A hereto contains a true, complete and correct list of all directors, executive officers and stockholders of the Company. If any additional persons shall become directors or executive officers of the Company prior to the end of the Company Lock-up Period (as defined below), the Company shall cause each such person, prior to or contemporaneously with their appointment or election as a director or executive officer of the Company, to execute and deliver to the Representatives an agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.

(bb) Statistical and Market-Related Data. The statistical, demographic and market-related data included in the Registration Statement and each Applicable Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable and accurate, in all material respects, or represent the Company’s good faith estimates that are made on the basis of data derived from such sources.

(cc) No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any employee or agent of the Company or any subsidiary, has made any contribution or other payment to any official of, or candidate for, any federal, state, local or foreign office in violation of any law which violation is required to be disclosed in each Applicable Prospectus that has not been disclosed in each Applicable Prospectus.

(dd) Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)), which are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer by others within those entities, particularly during the periods in which the periodic reports required under the Exchange Act will be prepared.

 

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(ee) Compliance with Environmental Laws. Except as described in each Applicable Prospectus and except as would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change, (i) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign 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”), (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries have all material permits, authorizations and approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws and are each in compliance with their requirements and (iii) there are no pending or threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance, violations, proceedings or, to the knowledge of the Company, investigations relating to any Environmental Law against the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

(ff) ERISA Compliance. Except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, the Company and its subsidiaries and any “employee benefit plan” (as defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (collectively, “ERISA”)) established or maintained by the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance in all respects with ERISA. “ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to the Company or a subsidiary, any member of any group of organizations described in Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the “Code”) of which the Company or such subsidiary is a member. No “reportable event” as described in Section 4043(c) of ERISA (other than events for which the (30) day reporting requirement has been waived) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company or its subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor its subsidiaries has failed to make or reflect on its financial statements any contribution as required by either Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA. Neither the Company, its subsidiaries nor any of their ERISA Affiliates (as defined above) has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any liability with respect to any “employee benefit plan” that is subject to Title IV of ERISA for which the Company or its subsidiaries is liable or could reasonably be expected to be liable, except such liability as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. Each “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company or its subsidiaries that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service; and to the knowledge of Company nothing has occurred since the date of such determination letter which could reasonably be expected to result in the revocation of such determination letter.

 

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(gg) Brokers. Except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, there is no broker, finder or other party that is entitled to receive from the Company any brokerage or finder’s fee or other fee or commission as a result of any transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(hh) No Outstanding Loans or Other Extensions of Credit. Since the initial filing by the Company of the Registration Statement with the Commission, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has extended or maintained credit, arranged for the extension of credit, or renewed any extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan, to or for any director or executive officer (or equivalent thereof) of the Company and/or such subsidiary except for such extensions of credit as are expressly permitted by Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act.

(ii) Compliance with Medicare and Medicaid Laws. Neither the Company nor its subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any officer, director, stockholder, employee or independent contractor of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, has engaged, directly or indirectly, in (i) any material activities that are prohibited under Medicare and Medicaid statutes or any regulations promulgated pursuant to such statutes, or (ii) any material activities that are prohibited under related state or local statutes or regulations, including the following: (A) knowingly and willfully making or causing to be made a false statement or representation of a material fact in connection with the receipt of or claim for any benefit or payment under the Medicare or Medicaid program or from any other third-party payor; or (B) knowingly and willfully offering, paying, soliciting or receiving any remuneration, in cash or in kind in return for (1) referring an individual to a person for the furnishing or arranging for the furnishing of any item or service for which payment may be made in whole or in part by Medicare or Medicaid or any other third-party payor, or (2) purchasing, leasing or ordering or arranging for, or recommending the purchasing, leasing or ordering of, any good, facility, service, or item for which payment may be made in whole or in part by Medicare or Medicaid or any other third-party payor.

(jj) Compliance with Healthcare Laws. The Company, its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, each of the licensed employees and contractors (other than contracted agencies) of the Company and its subsidiaries in the exercise of their respective duties on behalf of the Company, or its subsidiaries, is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable statutes, laws, ordinances, rules and regulations of any federal, state or local governmental authority with respect to regulatory matters primarily relating to patient healthcare (including without limitation Section 1128B(b) of the Social Security Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Section 1320a-7(b) (Criminal Penalties for Acts Involving Federal Health Care Programs), commonly referred to as the “Federal Anti-Kickback Statute,” and the Social Security Act, as amended, Section 1877, 42 U.S.C Section 1395nn (Limitation on Certain Physician Referrals), commonly referred to as the “Stark Law” (collectively, “Healthcare Laws”)). The Company and its subsidiaries have maintained in all material respects all records required to be maintained by the

 

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federal and state Medicare and Medicaid programs as required by the Healthcare Laws and, to the knowledge of the Company, there are no presently existing circumstances that would result or likely would result in material violations of the Healthcare Laws.

(kk) Compliance with HIPAA. To the extent that and for so long as (i) the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a “covered entity” as defined in 45 C.F.R. Section 160.103, (ii) the Company, its subsidiaries and/or their respective business and operations are subject to or covered by the HIPAA Administrative Requirements codified at 45 C.F.R. Parts 160 and 162 (the “Transactions Rule”) and/or the HIPAA Security and Privacy Requirements codified at 45 C.F.R. Parts 160 and 164 (the “Privacy and Security Rules”), and/or (iii) the Company or any of its subsidiaries sponsors any “group health plans” as defined in 45 C.F.R. Section 160.103, the Company or any of its subsidiaries has: (x) completed, or will complete on or before any applicable compliance date, thorough and detailed surveys, audits, inventories, reviews, analyses and/or assessments, including risk assessments, (collectively “Assessments”) of all areas of its business and operations subject to HIPAA and/or that could be adversely affected by the failure of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to be HIPAA Compliant (as defined below) to the extent these Assessments are appropriate or required for the Company or any of its subsidiaries to be HIPAA Compliant; (y) developed, or will develop on or before any applicable compliance date, a detailed plan and time line for becoming HIPAA Compliant (a “HIPAA Compliance Plan”); and (z) implemented, or will implement on or before any applicable compliance date, those provisions of its HIPAA Compliance Plan necessary to ensure that the Company or any of its subsidiaries is HIPAA Compliant. For purposes of this Agreement, “HIPAA Compliant” shall mean that the Company or any of is subsidiaries (1) is, or on or before any applicable compliance date will be, in compliance in all material respects with any and all of the applicable requirements of HIPAA, including all requirements of the Transactions Rule and the Privacy and Security Rules and (2) is not subject to, and could not reasonably be expected to become subject to, any civil or criminal penalty or any investigation, claim or process that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

(ll) Dividend Restrictions. Except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus, after the First Closing Date no subsidiary of the Company will be prohibited or restricted, directly or indirectly, from paying dividends to the Company, or from repaying to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company any amounts that may from time to time become due under any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any property or assets to the Company.

(mm) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that has resulted or would result in a violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in

 

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furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries conducts business in any country or other foreign jurisdiction outside the United States.

(nn) Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are, and have been conducted at all times, in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar applicable rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(oo) OFAC. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering or the Offered Shares, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters and, for purposes of the opinions to be delivered pursuant to Section 6 hereof, counsel to the Company and counsel to the Underwriters, will rely upon the accuracy and truthfulness of the foregoing representations and hereby consents to such reliance.

Section 2. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Offered Shares.

(a) The Firm Shares. On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the several Underwriters an aggregate of — Firm Shares. On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective number of Firm Shares set forth opposite their names on Schedule A. The purchase price per Firm Share to be paid by the several Underwriters to the Company shall be $— per share, which shall be the public offering price per Firm Share of $— minus an underwriting discount of 7.0%.

 

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(b) The First Closing Date. Delivery of certificates for the Firm Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters and payment therefor shall be made at the offices of Baird, [                            ] (or such other place as may be agreed to by the Company and the Representatives) at 9:00 a.m. New York time, on —, or such other time and date not later than 1:30 p.m. New York time, on — as the Representatives shall designate by written notice to the Company (the time and date of such closing are called the “First Closing Date”). The Company hereby acknowledges that circumstances under which the Representatives may provide notice to postpone the First Closing Date as originally scheduled include, but are in no way limited to, any determination by the Company or the Representatives to recirculate to the public copies of an amended or supplemented Prospectus or a delay as contemplated by the provisions of Section 10.

(c) The Optional Shares; Option Closing Date. In addition, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the several Underwriters to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to an aggregate of — Optional Shares from the Company at the purchase price per share to be paid by the Underwriters for the Firm Shares. The option granted hereunder is for use by the Underwriters solely in covering any over-allotments in connection with the sale and distribution of the Firm Shares. The option granted hereunder may be exercised in whole or in part upon notice by the Representatives to the Company, which notice may be given at any time and from time to time within 30 days from the date of this Agreement. Such notice shall set forth (i) the aggregate number of Optional Shares as to which the Underwriters are exercising the option, (ii) the names and denominations in which the certificates for the Optional Shares are to be registered and (iii) the time, date and place at which such certificates will be delivered (which time and date may be simultaneous with, but not earlier than, the First Closing Date; and in the event that such time and date are simultaneous with the First Closing Date, the term “First Closing Date” shall refer to the time and date of delivery of certificates for the Firm Shares and such Optional Shares). Any such time and date of delivery, if subsequent to the First Closing Date, is called an “Option Closing Date” (and each of the First Closing Date and the Option Closing Date is called a “Closing Date”) and shall be determined by the Representatives and shall not be earlier than one nor later than five full business days after delivery of such notice of exercise. If any Optional Shares are to be purchased, each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the number of Optional Shares (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Representatives may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total number of Optional Shares to be purchased as the number of Firm Shares set forth on Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Shares. The Representatives may cancel the option at any time prior to its expiration by giving written notice of such cancellation to the Company.

(d) Public Offering of the Offered Shares. The Representatives hereby advise the Company that the Underwriters intend to offer for sale to the public, initially on the terms set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, their respective portions of the Offered Shares as soon after this Agreement has been executed and the Registration Statement has been declared effective as the Representatives, in their sole judgment, has determined is advisable and practicable.

 

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(e) Payment for the Offered Shares. Payment for the Firm Shares shall be made at the First Closing Date, and payment for the applicable Option Shares shall be made at each Option Closing Date, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the order of the Company.

It is understood that the Representatives have been authorized, for their own accounts and the accounts of the several Underwriters, to accept delivery of and receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Firm Shares and any Optional Shares the Underwriters have agreed to purchase. Subject to Section 10 of this Agreement, each Representative, individually and not as a Representative of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment for any Offered Shares to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds shall not have been received by the Representatives by the First Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be, for the account of such Underwriter, but any such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from any of its obligations under this Agreement.

(f) Delivery of the Offered Shares. The Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Representatives for the accounts of the several Underwriters certificates for the Firm Shares at the First Closing Date, against the irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately available funds for the amount of the purchase price therefor. The Company shall also deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Representatives for the accounts of the several Underwriters, certificates for the Optional Shares the Underwriters have agreed to purchase at the First Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be, against the irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately available funds for the amount of the purchase price therefor. The certificates for the Offered Shares shall be in definitive form and registered in such names and denominations as the Representatives shall have requested at least two full business days prior to the First Closing Date (or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be) and shall be made available for inspection on the business day preceding the First Closing Date (or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be) at a location in New York City as the Representatives may designate.

Section 3. Additional Covenants. The Company further covenants and agrees with each Underwriter as follows:

(a) Delivery of Registration Statement, Time of Sale Prospectus and Prospectus. The Company shall furnish to you, without charge, three signed copies of the Registration Statement, any amendments thereto and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and for delivery to each other Underwriter a conformed copy of the Registration Statement, any amendments thereto and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto) and shall furnish to you in New York City, without charge, prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and during the period mentioned in Section 3(e) or 3(f) below, as many copies of the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus and any supplements and amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as you may reasonably request.

 

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(b) Representatives’ Review of Proposed Amendments and Supplements. Prior to amending or supplementing the Registration Statement (including any registration statement filed under Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act), any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, the Company shall furnish to the Representatives for review, a reasonable amount of time prior to the proposed time of filing or use thereof, a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement, and the Company shall not file or use any such proposed amendment or supplement without the Representatives’ consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, and shall file with the Commission within the applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act any prospectus required to be filed pursuant to such Rule.

(c) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company shall furnish to the Representatives for review, a reasonable amount of time prior to the proposed time of filing or use thereof, a copy of each proposed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto to be prepared by or on behalf of, or used by or referred to by the Company, and the Company shall not file, use or refer to any proposed free writing prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto without the Representatives’ consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. The Company shall furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as such Underwriter may reasonably request. If at any time when a prospectus is required by the Securities Act (including, without limitation, pursuant to Rule 173(d)) to be delivered in connection with sales of the Offered Shares (but in any event if at any time through and including the First Closing Date) there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company shall promptly amend or supplement such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict or so that the statements in such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at such subsequent time, not misleading, as the case may be; provided, however, that prior to amending or supplementing any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Company shall furnish to the Representatives for review, a reasonable amount of time prior to the proposed time of filing or use thereof, a copy of such proposed amended or supplemented Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Company shall not file, use or refer to any such amended or supplemented Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the Representatives’ consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed; provided further, that this sentence shall not apply to statements in or omissions from any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Representatives to the Company consists of the information described in Section 8(b) below.

 

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(d) Filing of Underwriter Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company shall not to take any action that would result in an Underwriter or the Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of the Underwriter that the Underwriter otherwise would not have been required to file thereunder.

(e) Amendments and Supplements to Time of Sale Prospectus. If the Time of Sale Prospectus is being used to solicit offers to buy the Offered Shares at a time when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus so that the Time of Sale Prospectus does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when delivered to a prospective purchaser, not misleading, or if any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which the Time of Sale Prospectus conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement as amended on such date, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus to comply with applicable law, including the Securities Act, the Company shall (subject to Sections 3(b) and 3(c)) forthwith prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to any dealer upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Time of Sale Prospectus so that the statements in the Time of Sale Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when delivered to a prospective purchaser, not misleading or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will no longer conflict with the Registration Statement, or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law including the Securities Act.

(f) Securities Act Compliance. After the date of this Agreement, the Company shall promptly advise the Representatives in writing (i) of the receipt of any comments of, or requests for additional or supplemental information from, the Commission, (ii) of the time and date of any filing of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any free writing prospectus or the Prospectus, (iii) of the time and date that any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement becomes effective and (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any free writing prospectus or the Prospectus, or of any proceedings to remove, suspend or terminate from listing or quotation the Shares from any securities exchange upon which they are listed for trading or included or designated for quotation, or of the threatening or initiation of any proceedings for any of such purposes. If the Commission shall enter any such stop order at any time, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the lifting of such order as soon as practicable. Additionally, the Company agrees that it shall comply with the provisions of Rule 424(b), Rule 433 and Rule 430A, as applicable, under the Securities Act.

 

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(g) Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus and Other Securities Act Matters. If any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus so that the Prospectus does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if in the opinion of the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters it is otherwise necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable law, including the Securities Act, the Company agrees (subject to Section 3(b) and 3(c)) to promptly prepare, file with the Commission and furnish at its own expense to the Underwriters and to dealers, amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law including the Securities Act.

(h) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company shall cooperate with the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters to qualify or register the Offered Shares for sale under (or obtain exemptions from the application of) the laws of such states and other jurisdictions as may be designated in writing by the Representatives and shall continue such qualifications, registrations and exemptions in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Offered Shares. The Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation, to file any general consent to service of process or take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not presently qualified, or to subject itself to taxation as a foreign corporation. The Company will advise the Representatives promptly of the suspension of the qualification or registration of (or any such exemption relating to) the Offered Shares for offering, sale or trading in any jurisdiction or any initiation or threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, and in the event of the issuance of any order suspending such qualification, registration or exemption, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal thereof as soon as practicable.

(i) Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Offered Shares sold by it in the manner described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in each Applicable Prospectus.

(j) Transfer Agent. The Company shall engage and maintain, at its expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Shares.

(k) Earnings Statement. As soon as practicable, the Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Representatives an earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the date of this Agreement which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

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(l) Periodic Reporting Obligations. During the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, the Company shall file, on a timely basis, with the Commission and the Nasdaq Global Market all reports and documents required to be filed under the Exchange Act.

(m) Listing. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to effect the listing of the Offered Shares on The Nasdaq Global Market.

(n) Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional Shares. During the period commencing on and including the date hereof and ending on and including the 180th day following the date of the Prospectus (as the same may be extended as described below, the “Lock-up Period”), the Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives (which consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of Representatives), directly or indirectly, sell (including, without limitation, any short sale), offer, contract or grant any option to sell, pledge, transfer or establish an open “put equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act, or otherwise dispose of or transfer, or announce the offering of, or file any registration statement under the Securities Act in respect of, any Shares, options, rights or warrants to acquire Shares or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into Shares (other than as contemplated by this Agreement with respect to the Offered Shares) or publicly announce the intention to do any of the foregoing; provided, however, that the Company may issue Shares or options to purchase Shares, or issue Shares upon exercise of options, pursuant to any stock option, stock bonus or other stock plan or arrangement described in each Applicable Prospectus, may file one or more Registration Statements on Form S-8 and may effect the conversion of its preferred stock as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”; provided, further, that the Company may issue Shares or options, rights or warrants to acquire Shares or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into Shares to sellers in connection with acquisitions of assets or entities by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, so long as (i) the aggregate number of Shares issued in all such acquisitions does not exceed 15% of the Shares outstanding following the offering of the Offered Shares and (ii) any recipients of such Shares, options, rights, warrants or securities in any such acquisitions enter into a lock-up agreement, in a form substantially similar to the form of lock-up agreement attached hereto as Exhibit B, for the remainder of the Lock-Up Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i) during the last 17 days of the Lock-up Period, the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs or (ii) prior to the expiration of the Lock-up Period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Lock-up Period, then in each case the Lock-up Period will be extended until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the date of the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event, as applicable, unless the Representatives waive, in writing, such extension (which waiver may be withheld at the sole discretion of the Representatives). The Company will provide the Representatives with prior notice of any such announcement that gives rise to an extension of the Lock-up Period.

 

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(o) Investment Limitation. The Company shall not invest, or otherwise use the proceeds received by the Company from its sale of the Offered Shares in such a manner as would require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.

(p) No Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Shares or any other reference security.

(q) Existing Lock-Up Agreements. During the Lock-up Period, the Company will enforce all existing agreements between the Company and any of its security holders that prohibit the sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation of any of the Company’s securities. In addition, the Company will direct the transfer agent to place stop transfer restrictions upon any such securities of the Company that are bound by such existing “lock-up” agreements for the duration of the periods contemplated in such agreements, including, without limitation, “lock-up” agreements entered into by the Company’s executive officers and directors pursuant to Section 6(h).

Section 4. Payment of Expenses. The Company agrees to pay all costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder and in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation (i) all expenses incident to the issuance and delivery of the Offered Shares (including all printing and engraving costs), (ii) all fees and expenses of the registrar and transfer agent of the Shares, (iii) all necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance and sale of the Offered Shares to the Underwriters, (iv) all fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel, independent public or certified public accountants and other advisors, (v) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, shipping and distribution of the Registration Statement (including financial statements, exhibits, schedules, consents and certificates of experts), the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and each preliminary prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto, and this Agreement, (vi) all filing fees, and attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by the Company or the Underwriters in connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the qualification or registration of) all or any part of the Offered Shares for offer and sale under the laws of such states and other jurisdiction as may be designated in writing by the Representatives and, if requested in writing by the Representatives, preparing and printing a “Blue Sky Survey” or memorandum and a “Canadian wrapper”, and any supplements thereto advising the Underwriters of such qualifications, registrations, determinations and exemptions, (vii) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel (up to $10,000) for the Underwriters in connection with, FINRA’s review, if any, and approval of the Underwriters’ participation in the offering and distribution of the Offered Shares, (viii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Offered Shares, including, without limitation, expenses

 

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associated with the preparation or dissemination of any electronic road show, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations with the prior approval of the Company, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives, employees and officers of the Company and of the Representatives and any such consultants, and the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show with the prior approval of the Company, (ix) the fees and expenses associated with listing the Shares on The Nasdaq Global Market, and (x) all other fees, costs and expenses of the nature referred to in Item 13 of Part II of the Registration Statement. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 4 and Section 7, Section 8 and Section 9 hereof, the Underwriters shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their counsel.

Section 5. Covenant of the Underwriters. Each Underwriter severally and not jointly, covenants with the Company not to take any action that would result in the Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter that otherwise would not be required to be filed by the Company thereunder, but for the action of such Underwriter.

Section 6. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Offered Shares as provided herein on each applicable Closing Date, shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company set forth in Section 1 hereof as of the date hereof and as of each applicable Closing Date as though then made, to the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional conditions:

(a) Accountants’ Comfort Letter. On the date hereof, the Representatives shall have received from BDO Seidman, LLP, independent public or certified public accountants for the Company, (i) a letter dated the date hereof addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountant’s “comfort letters” to underwriters, delivered according to Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72 (or any successor bulletin), with respect to the audited and unaudited financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Prospectus, and each free writing prospectus, if any, and, with respect to each letter dated the date hereof only, the Prospectus (and the Representatives shall have received an additional two conformed copies of such accountants’ letter for each of the several Underwriters), and (ii) confirming that they are (A) independent public or certified public accountants as required by the Securities Act and (B) in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Commission Regulation S-X.

 

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(b) Compliance with Registration Requirements; No Stop Order. For the period from and after effectiveness of this Agreement and prior to each Closing Date:

(i) the Company shall have filed the Prospectus with the Commission (including the information required by Rule 430A under the Securities Act) in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act; or the Company shall have filed a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement containing the information required by such Rule 430A, and such post-effective amendment shall have become effective; and

(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or any post effective amendment to the Registration Statement, shall be in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose shall have been instituted or threatened by the Commission.

(c) No Material Adverse Change. For the period from and after the date of this Agreement and through and including each applicable Closing Date there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Change that in the judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable to market the Offered Shares in the manner and on the terms described in the Time of Sale Prospectus.

(d) Opinion and Negative Assurance Statement of Counsel for the Company. On each of the First Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received the opinion and negative assurance statement of Nixon Peabody LLP, counsel for the Company, dated as of such Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel to the Underwriters.

(e) Opinion and Negative Assurance Statement of Counsel for the Underwriters. On each of the First Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received the opinion and negative assurance statement of White & Case LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated as of such Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters.

(f) Officers’ Certificate. On each of the First Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received a written certificate executed by the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, dated as of such Closing Date, to the effect set forth in subsection (b)(ii) of this Section 6, and further to the effect that:

(i) for the period from and including the date of this Agreement through and including the time of the issuance of the Firm Shares or Optional Shares, as applicable, on such Closing Date, there has not occurred any Material Adverse Change;

(ii) the representations, warranties and covenants of the Company set forth in Section 1 of this Agreement are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made on and as of such Closing Date; and

 

23


(iii) the Company has complied with all the agreements hereunder and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Closing Date.

(g) Bring-down Comfort Letter. On each of the First Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received from BDO Seidman, LLP, independent public or certified public accountants for the Company, a letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished by them pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 6, except that the specified date referred to therein for the carrying out of procedures shall be no more than three business days prior to the First Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be (and the Representatives shall have received one additional conformed copy of such accountants’ letter for each of the several Underwriters).

(h) Lock-Up Agreements from Certain Securityholders of the Company. On or prior to the date hereof, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives an agreement in the form of Exhibit B hereto from each of the persons listed on Exhibit A hereto, and each such agreement shall be in full force and effect on each of the First Closing Date and each Option Closing Date.

(i) Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. In the event that a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement is filed in connection with the offering contemplated by this Agreement, such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have been filed with the Commission on the date of this Agreement and shall have become effective automatically upon such filing.

(j) Additional Documents. On or before each Closing Date, the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters shall have received such information, documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purposes of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Offered Shares as contemplated herein, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties, or the satisfaction of any of the conditions or agreements, herein contained.

If any condition specified in this Section 6 is not satisfied when and as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice to the Company at any time prior to the time of the issuance of the Firm Shares on the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Shares, at any time prior to the time of the issuance of the applicable Optional Shares on the applicable Option Closing Date, which termination shall be without liability on the part of any party to any other party, except that Section 4, Section 7 and Section 8 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.

Section 7. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses. If this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11, or if the sale to the Underwriters of the Offered Shares on the First Closing Date is not consummated because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any

 

24


agreement herein or to comply with any provision hereof, the Company agrees to reimburse the Representatives and the other Underwriters (or such Underwriters as have terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves), severally, upon demand for all out-of-pocket expenses that shall have been reasonably incurred by the Representatives and the Underwriters in connection with the proposed purchase and the offering and sale of the Offered Shares, including but not limited to fees and disbursements of counsel, printing expenses, travel expenses, postage, facsimile and telephone charges.

Section 8. Indemnification.

(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, each of its directors and officers, and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which such Underwriter or such director, officer or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or the laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions where Offered Shares have been offered or sold or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing 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; and to reimburse each Underwriter and each such officer, employee and controlling person for any and all expenses (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Representatives) as such expenses are reasonably incurred by such Underwriter or such officer, employee or controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense to the extent, but only to the extent, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any such free writing prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Representatives to the Company consists of the information described in subsection (b) below. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 8(a) shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Company may otherwise have.

 

25


(b) Indemnification of the Company, its Directors and Officers. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which the Company, or any such director, officer or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or the laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions where Offered Shares have been offered or sold or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any free writing prospectus or the Prospectus (or such amendment or supplement thereto) or prospectus wrapper, or arises out of or is based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, such preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, such free writing prospectus or the Prospectus (or such amendment or supplement thereto) that the Company has used, referred to or filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Representatives expressly for use therein; and to reimburse the Company, or any such director, officer or controlling person for any legal and other expense reasonably incurred by the Company, or any such director, officer or controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action. The Company hereby acknowledges that the only information that the Representatives and the Underwriters have furnished to the Company expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) are the statements set forth in the first paragraph (including the table contained therein), fourth paragraph (beginning “The underwriters propose…”) and eighteenth paragraph (beginning “In connection with the offering…”) under the caption “Underwriting” in the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Prospectus and Prospectus. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 8(b) shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Underwriters may otherwise have.

(c) Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof, but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party, except to the extent the indemnifying party is prejudiced as a result of such failure. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or

 

26


intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall elect, jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that a conflict may arise between the positions of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in conducting the defense of any such action or that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying party’s election so to assume the defense of such action and approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate counsel (together with local counsel), representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such action), which counsel (together with any local counsel) for the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Representatives (in the case of counsel for the indemnified parties referred to in Section 8(a) above) or by the Company (in the case of counsel for the indemnified parties referred to in Section 8(b) above)), (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action or (iii) the indemnifying party has authorized in writing the employment of counsel for the indemnified party at the expense of the indemnifying party, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party and shall be paid as they are incurred.

(d) Settlements. The indemnifying party under this Section 8 shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by Section 9(c) hereof, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit

 

27


or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding.

Section 9. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 8 is for any reason held to be unavailable to or otherwise insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount paid or payable by such indemnified party, as incurred, as a result of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the offering and sale of the Offered Shares pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Offered Shares pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Offered Shares pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth on the front cover page of the Prospectus bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Offered Shares as set forth on such cover. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company, on the one hand, or the Underwriters, on the other hand, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 8(c), any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim. The provisions set forth in Section 8(c) with respect to notice of commencement of any action shall apply if a claim for contribution is to be made under this Section 9; provided, however, that no additional notice shall be required with respect to any action for which notice has been given under Section 8(c) for purposes of indemnification.

The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 9.

 

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Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 9 are several, and not joint, in proportion to their respective underwriting commitments as set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A. For purposes of this Section 9, each director and officer of an Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director, officer and employee of the Company and each person, if any, who controls the Company with the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.

Section 10. Default of One or More of the Several Underwriters. If, on the First Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the several Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Offered Shares that it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate number of Offered Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase does not exceed 10% of the aggregate number of the Offered Shares to be purchased on such Closing Date, the Representatives may make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the purchase of such Offered Shares by other persons, including any of the Underwriters, but if no such arrangements are made by such Closing Date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, in the proportions that the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A bears to the aggregate number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as may be specified by the Representatives with the consent of the non-defaulting Underwriters, to purchase the Offered Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date. If, on the First Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Offered Shares and the aggregate number of Offered Shares with respect to which such default occurs exceeds 10% of the aggregate number of Offered Shares to be purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company for the purchase of such Offered Shares are not made within 48 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 4, Section 7, Section 8 and Section 9 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination. In any such case either the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the First Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be, but in no event for longer than seven days in order that the required changes, if any, to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or any other documents or arrangements may be effected.

 

29


As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” shall be deemed to include any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter under this Section 10. Any action taken under this Section 10 shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

Section 11. Termination of this Agreement. Prior to the purchase of the Firm Shares by the Underwriters on the First Closing Date this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice given to the Company if at any time (i) trading in securities generally on either The Nasdaq Stock Market or the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or limited, or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on any of such stock exchanges by the Commission or FINRA; (ii) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by federal or New York authorities; (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of national or international hostilities or any crisis or calamity, or any change in the United States or international financial markets, or any substantial change in United States’ or international political, financial or economic conditions, or any development involving a prospective substantial change in United States’ or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case as in the judgment of the Representatives is material and adverse and makes it impracticable to market the Offered Shares in the manner and on the terms described in the Time of Sale Prospectus or to enforce contracts for the sale of securities; or (iv) there shall have occurred any Material Adverse Change that in the judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable to market the Offered Shares in the manner and on the terms described in the Time of Sale Prospectus. Any termination pursuant to this Section 11 shall be without liability on the part of (a) the Company to any Underwriter, except that the Company shall be obligated to reimburse the expenses of the Representatives and the Underwriters pursuant to Sections 4 and 7 hereof, (b) any Underwriter to the Company, or (c) of any party hereto to any other party except that, in each such case, the provisions of Section 8 and Section 9 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.

Section 12. No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (a) the purchase and sale of the Offered Shares pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the public offering price of the Offered Shares and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand, (b) in connection with the offering contemplated hereby and the process leading to such transaction each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, or its stockholders, creditors, employees or any other party, (c) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (d) the Underwriters and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company, and (e) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated hereby and the Company has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.

 

30


Section 13. Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company, of its officers and of the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Company or any of its or their partners, officers or directors or any controlling person, as the case may be, and, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, will survive delivery of and payment for the Offered Shares sold hereunder and any termination of this Agreement.

Section 14. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the parties hereto as follows:

 

If to the Representatives:   
   Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
   Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.
  

c/o Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated

777 East Wisconsin Avenue

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

  

Facsimile: (414) 298-7800

Attention: General Counsel

with a copy to:   
   White & Case LLP
   1155 Avenue of the Americas
  

New York, New York 10036

Facsimile: (212) 354-8113

Attention: Colin Diamond, Esq.

If to the Company:   
   Addus HomeCare Corporation
  

2401 South Plum Grove Road

Palantine, Illinois 60067

Facsimile: (847) 303-5376

  

Attention: Mark S. Heaney, Chairman of the Board,

President and Chief Executive Officer

with a copy to:   
  

Nixon Peabody LLP

437 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10022

  

Facsimile: (212) 940-3111

Attention: Dominick DeChiara, Esq.

Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving written notice to the others.

 

31


Section 15. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, including any substitute Underwriters pursuant to Section 10 hereof, and to the benefit of the employees, officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 8 and Section 9, and in each case their respective successors, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. The term “successors” shall not include any purchaser of the Offered Shares as such from any of the Underwriters merely by reason of such purchase.

Section 16. Partial Unenforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

Section 17. Governing Law Provisions. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed in such state. Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America located in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any such court, as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any rights either may have to a trial by jury with respect to any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 18. General Provisions. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto

 

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and hereto were upon the same instrument. This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by the Company, to the extent the condition is meant to benefit the Company, or the Representatives, to the extent the condition is meant to benefit the Representatives or the Underwriters. The section headings herein are for the convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that it is a sophisticated business person who was adequately represented by counsel during negotiations regarding the provisions hereof, including, without limitation, the indemnification provisions of Section 8 and the contribution provisions of Section 9, and is fully informed regarding said provisions. Each of the parties hereto further acknowledges that the provisions of Sections 8 and 9 hereto fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to investigate the Company, its affairs and its business in order to assure that adequate disclosure has been made in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, each free writing prospectus and the Prospectus (and any amendments and supplements thereto), as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,
ADDUS HOMECARE CORPORATION
By:  

 

  [Title]

 

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The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the Representatives in New York, New York as of the date first above written.

ROBERT W. BAIRD & CO. INCORPORATED

OPPENHEIMER & CO. INC.,

Acting as Representatives of the

several Underwriters named in

the attached Schedule A.

 

By ROBERT W. BAIRD & CO. INCORPORATED   
   By:  

 

     
   Name:        
   Title:        
By OPPENHEIMER & CO. INC.   
   By:  

 

     
   Name:        
   Title:        

 

34


SCHEDULE A

 

Underwriters

   Number of
Firm Shares
to be Purchased

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated

   [        ]

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.

   [        ]

Stephens Inc.

   [        ]

Total

   [        ]


SCHEDULE B

[List of Free Writing Prospectuses included in the Time of Sale Information]

[Specify pricing information orally communicated]


EXHIBIT A

LIST OF PERSONS EXECUTING LOCK-UPS

Eos Capital Partners III, L.P.

Eos Partners SBIC III, L.P.

Brian Young

Courtney E. Panzer

Darby Anderson

Francis J. Leonard

Freeport Loan Fund LLC

James A. Wright

Addus Term Trust

Mark L. First

Mark S. Heaney

Paul Diamond

Sharon Rudden

Simon A. Bachleda

W. Andrew Wright

Stephen I. Geringer

 

A-1


EXHIBIT B

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.

As Representatives of the Several Underwriters

c/o Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated

777 East Wisconsin Avenue

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

 

Re: Addus HomeCare Corporation (the “Company”)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned is an owner of record or beneficially of certain shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (“Shares”) or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Shares. The Company proposes to carry out a public offering of Shares (the “Offering”) for which you will act as the representatives (the “Representatives”) of the underwriters (the “Underwriters”). The undersigned recognizes that the Offering will be of benefit to the undersigned and will benefit the Company. The undersigned acknowledges that you and the other Underwriters are relying on the representations and agreements of the undersigned contained in this letter agreement in carrying out the Offering and in entering into underwriting arrangements with the Company with respect to the Offering. In the event of any change in the identity of the Underwriters, this agreement shall inure to the benefit of the representative or representatives of the Underwriters that are party to the Underwriting Agreement whether or not such Underwriters are listed above.

In consideration of the foregoing, the undersigned hereby agrees that the undersigned will not (and, if the undersigned is a natural person, the undersigned will cause any spouse or immediate family member of the spouse or the undersigned living in the undersigned’s household not to), without the prior written consent of the Representatives (which consent may be withheld in their sole discretion), directly or indirectly, sell, offer, contract or grant any option to sell (including without limitation any short sale), pledge, transfer, establish an open “put equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise dispose of any Shares, options or warrants to acquire Shares, or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into Shares currently or hereafter owned either of record or beneficially (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) by the undersigned (or such spouse or family member), or publicly announce an intention to do any of the foregoing, for a period commencing on the date hereof and continuing through the close of trading on the date 180 days after the date of the final prospectus relating to the Offering (the “Lock-up Period”); provided, that if (i) during the last 17 days of the Lock-up Period, the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs or (ii) prior to the expiration of the Lock-up Period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Lock-up Period, then in each case the Lock-up Period will be extended until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the date of the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event, as applicable, unless

 

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the Representatives waive, in writing, such extension; provided, further, that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to:

 

(i) any sale of Shares to the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement relating to the Offering proposed to be entered into between the Company and the Representatives, on behalf of the Underwriters (the “Underwriting Agreement”);

 

(ii) if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company, a transfer of any or all of the Shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Shares owned by such entity to any affiliate of such entity, including its stockholders (if a corporation), partners (if a partnership) or members (if a limited liability company);

 

(iii) if the undersigned is an individual, the transfer of any or all of the Shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Shares owned by the undersigned, either during his lifetime or on death, by bona fide gift, will or intestate succession to the immediate family of the undersigned or to a trust the beneficiaries of which are exclusively the undersigned, a member or members of the undersigned’s immediate family or both; or

 

(iv) transactions relating to Shares acquired in open market transactions after the completion of the Offering;

provided, further, that in any such case, it shall be a condition to a transfer pursuant to subparagraphs (ii) and (iii) that (A) the transferee executes and delivers to the Representatives an agreement stating that the transferee is receiving and holding the Shares subject to the provisions of this letter agreement, and there shall be no further transfer of such Shares, except in accordance with this letter agreement, and (B) no public disclosure and no filing by any party to the transfer (donor, donee, transferor or transferee) under the Exchange Act shall be required or shall be voluntarily made reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of the Shares in connection with such transfer or distribution (other than a filing on a Form 5, Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G (or 13D-A or 13G-A) made after the expiration of the Lock-up Period, as the same may be extended pursuant to the terms hereof).

The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of Shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Shares held by the undersigned except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.

With respect to the Offering only, the undersigned waives any registration rights relating to registration under the Securities Act of any Shares owned either of record or beneficially by the undersigned, including any rights to receive notice of the Offering.

This agreement is irrevocable and will be binding on the undersigned and the respective successors, heirs, personal representatives, and assigns of the undersigned. This agreement shall automatically lapse and become null and void if (i) the Offering shall not have closed on or before December 31, 2009, (ii) the Company notifies the Representatives in writing that it does not intend to proceed with the Offering, or (iii) the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment

 

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for and delivery of the Shares to be sold thereunder or the Representatives notify the Company that the conditions to the obligation of the Underwriters to pay for and accept delivery of the Shares have not been fulfilled and such payment and delivery do not occur. This agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

[Remainder of the page intentionally left blank.]

 

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[Signature Page to Addus HomeCare Corporation Lock-Up Agreement]

 

 

Printed Name of Holder

By:

 

 

 

Signature

 

Printed Name of Person Signing

(and indicate capacity of person signing if signing as custodian, trustee, or on behalf of an entity)