6,250,000 CLAYMONT STEEL HOLDINGS, INC.

EX-1.1 2 dex11.htm FORM OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT Form of Underwriting Agreement

Exhibit 1.1

6,250,000

CLAYMONT STEEL HOLDINGS, INC.

Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

December [    ], 2006

JEFFERIES & COMPANY, INC.

CIBC WORLD MARKETS CORP.

KEYBANC CAPITAL MARKETS, division of MCDONALD INVESTMENTS, INC.

MORGAN JOSEPH & CO. INC.

As Representatives of the several Underwriters

c/o JEFFERIES & COMPANY, INC.

520 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Introductory. Claymont Steel Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule A (the “Underwriters”) an aggregate of 6,250,000 shares of its common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Shares”). The 6,250,000 Shares to be sold by the Company are called the “Firm Shares.” In addition, H.I.G. Capital LLC, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Selling Stockholder”) has granted to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 937,500 Shares as set forth on Schedule B, as provided in Section 2. The additional 937,500 Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder 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.” Jefferies & Company, Inc. (“Jefferies”) has agreed to act as representative of the several Underwriters (in such capacity, the “Representative”) in connection with the offering and sale of the Offered Shares.

Jefferies agrees that up to [            ] of the Firm Shares to be purchased by the it (the “Directed Shares”) shall be reserved for sale by Jefferies and its affiliates to certain eligible directors, officers and employees of the Company and persons having business relationships with the Company (collectively, the “Participants”), as part of the distribution of the Offered Shares by Jefferies (the “Directed Share Program”) subject to the terms of this Agreement, the applicable rules, regulations and interpretations of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and all other applicable laws, rule and regulations. To the extent that such Directed Shares are not orally confirmed for purchase by the Participants by the end of the first business day after the date of this Agreement, such Directed Shares may be offered to the public by the Underwriters as part of the public offering contemplated hereby.


The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-136352), 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. The preliminary prospectus describing the Offered Shares and the offering thereof, dated [            ], 2006 is called a “preliminary prospectus” and, together with the final prospectus used by the Underwriters to confirm sales of the Offered Shares or in the form first made available to the Underwriters by the Company 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 [            ], 2006. As used herein, “free writing prospectus” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, and “Time of Sale Prospectus” means the preliminary prospectus, as amended or supplemented immediately prior to the Applicable Time, together with the free writing prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule C hereto, and each “road show” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act), 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) (each such road show, a “Road Show”). As used herein, the terms “Registration Statement,” “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”, “preliminary prospectus”, “Time of Sale Prospectus” and “Prospectus” shall include the documents incorporated and deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. All references in this Agreement to (i) the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement 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 Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”) and (ii) the Prospectus shall be deemed to include the “electronic Prospectus” provided for use in connection with the offering of the Offered Shares as contemplated by Section 3(A)(o) of this Agreement.

In the event that the Company has only one subsidiary, then all references herein to “subsidiaries” of the Company shall be deemed to refer to such single subsidiary, mutatis mutandis.

The Company and the Selling Stockholder hereby confirm their respective 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 defined below) and as of each Option Closing Date (as defined below), 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. The Company has complied with all requests of the Commission for additional or supplemental information. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement is in effect and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, are contemplated or threatened by the Commission.

 

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(i) Each preliminary prospectus when filed complied and the Prospectus when filed will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and, if filed by electronic transmission pursuant to EDGAR (except as may be permitted by Regulation S-T under the Securities Act), will be identical in substance to the copy thereof delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offer and sale of the Offered Shares. Each of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became effective and at all subsequent times, complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. 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 and, if any Optional Shares are purchased, at the Option Closing Date, 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. The Prospectus (including any preliminary prospectus wrapper) as amended or supplemented, as of its date and at all subsequent times, 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 three immediately preceding sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment thereto, or the Prospectus or the Time of Sale 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 Representative expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Representative to the Company consists of the information described in Section 9(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.

(ii) 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 free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or that was prepared by or behalf of or used or referred to by the Company (an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”) complies or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of Rule 433 under the Securities Act including timely filing with the Commission or retention where required and legending, and each such 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, subject to Section 3(A)(c), did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts with or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any preliminary prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein. Except for the free writing prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule C hereto, and electronic 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.

The Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by any Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use therein.

 

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(b) Offering Materials Furnished to Underwriters. The Company has delivered to the Representative one complete copy of the Registration Statement, each amendment thereto and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and of each consent and certificate of experts filed as a part thereof, and conformed copies of the Registration Statement, each amendment thereto and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement (without exhibits) and preliminary prospectuses, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, and any free writing prospectus reviewed and consented to by the Representative, in such quantities and at such places as the Representative has reasonably requested for each of the Underwriters.

(c) Distribution of Offering Material By the Company. The Company has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of (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 of the Offered Shares other than a preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, any free writing prospectus reviewed and consented to by the Representative, or the Registration Statement.

(d) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnification hereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as the enforcement hereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles.

(e) Authorization of the 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 against payment of the consideration set forth 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.

(f) No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights. There are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt securities registered for sale under the Registration Statement or included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement, other than the Selling Stockholder with respect to the Offered Shares included in the Registration Statement, 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 the Time of Sale Prospectus: (i) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has incurred any liabilities, direct or contingent, that are material, individually or in the aggregate, to the Company and its subsidiaries, and none of them have entered into any transactions not in the ordinary course of business, (ii) there has not been any material decrease in the capital stock or any material increase in long-term indebtedness or any material increase in short-term indebtedness of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any payment of or declaration to pay any dividends or any other distribution with respect to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and (iii) there has not been any material adverse change in the properties, business, prospects, operations, earnings, assets, liabilities or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries in the aggregate (each of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), a “Material Adverse Change”).

 

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(h) Independent Accountants. To the knowledge of the Company, Crowe Chizek & Company LLC and Deloitte & Touche LLP, who have expressed their opinion with respect to the financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) 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 (i) independent public or certified public accountants as required by the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (ii) in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X and (iii) a registered public accounting firm as defined by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”) whose registration has not been suspended or revoked and who has not requested such registration to be withdrawn.

(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 and its subsidiaries as of and at the dates indicated and the results of their operations and cash flows for the periods specified. Such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied of the United States, consistently applied (“GAAP”) on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto. No other financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included in the Registration Statement or any Applicable Prospectus. The financial data set forth in each Applicable Prospectus under the captions “Prospectus Summary—Summary Historical and Pro Forma Financial and Operating Data,” “Selected Historical Consolidated Financial and Operating 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 consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries and the related notes thereto included under the caption “Prospectus Summary—Summary Historical and Pro Forma Financial and Operating Data,” and elsewhere in the Prospectus and in the Registration Statement present fairly the information contained therein, have been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and have been properly presented on the bases described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein. No person who has been suspended or barred from being associated with a registered public accounting firm, or who has failed to comply with any sanction pursuant to Rule 5300 promulgated by the PCAOB, has participated in or otherwise aided the preparation of, or audited, the financial statements or other financial data filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included in any Applicable Prospectus.

(j) Company’s Accounting System. The Company and each of its subsidiaries make and keep accurate books and records and maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) material transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (ii) material transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP, and to maintain asset accountability, (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 the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any material differences. Except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, there has not been and is no material weakness in the Company’s or any of its subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and since December 31, 2005, there has been no change in the Company’s or any of its subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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(k) Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries (i) has been duly organized, is validly existing and is in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (ii) has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business and to own, lease and operate its properties and assets, and (iii) is duly qualified or licensed to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation, authorized to do business in each jurisdiction in which the nature of such businesses or the ownership or leasing of such properties requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or result in a material adverse effect on the properties, business, prospects, operations, earnings, assets, liabilities or financial condition of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (a “Material Adverse Effect”). All of the issued and outstanding capital stock or other equity interests of each subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and, except as set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus, are owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, 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 the entities listed in Exhibit 21.1 to the Registration Statement.

(l) Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters. All of the issued and outstanding Shares (including the Shares owned by the Selling Stockholder) have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable, and were not issued in violation of, and are not subject to, any preemptive or similar rights. The table under the caption “Capitalization” in each Applicable Prospectus (including the footnotes thereto) sets forth, as of its date, the cash and cash equivalents and authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company. The Shares (including the Offered Shares) conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Time of Sale Prospectus. Except as descibed in the Time of Sale Prospectus, there are no outstanding (A) options, warrants or other rights to purchase from the Company, (B) agreements, contracts, arrangements or other obligations of the Company to issue or (C) other rights to convert any obligation into or exchange any securities for, in the case of each of clauses (A) through (C), shares of capital stock of or other ownership or equity interests in the Company. The description of the Company’s or its subsidiary’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 accurately and fairly presents the information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and rights. Except as described in the Prospectus, the Company has not sold or issued any Shares during the six-month period preceding the date of the Prospectus, including any sales pursuant to Rule 144A under, or Regulations D or S of, the Securities Act other than Shares issued pursuant to employee benefit plans, qualified stock options plans or other employee compensation plans or pursuant to outstanding options, rights or warrants.

(m) Stock Exchange Listing. The Offered Shares have been approved for inclusion and quotation on the Nasdaq Global Market, subject only to official notice of issuance.

(n) Non-Contravention of Applicable Agreements; No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required. Neither the Company nor any subsidiary is in violation of its respective certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational documents (the “Charter Documents”). The Company and its subsidiaries are not (i) in violation of any Federal, state, local or foreign statute, law (including, without limitation, common law) or ordinance, or any judgment, decree, rule, regulation or order (collectively, “Applicable Law”) of any Federal, state, local and other governmental authority, governmental or regulatory agency or body, court, arbitrator or self-regulatory organization, domestic or foreign (each, a “Governmental Authority”), or (ii) in breach of or default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease or any other agreement or instrument to which any of them is a party or by which any of them or their respective property is bound (collectively, “Applicable Agreements”), other than as disclosed in any Applicable Prospectus and except for any such violations, breaches or defaults that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There exists no condition that, with the passage of time or otherwise, would constitute (a) a violation of such (i) Charter Documents or (ii) Applicable Laws, (b) a breach of or default under any Applicable Agreement or (c) result in the imposition of any penalty or the acceleration of any indebtedness and, in the case of clause (a)(ii), (b) or (c) above, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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The Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by each Applicable Prospectus and the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not result in any violation of the Charter Documents, (ii) except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus, will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or Default or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to, any Applicable Agreement and (iii) will not result in any violation any Applicable Law. No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any Governmental Authority, is required for the Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by each Applicable Prospectus, except such as have been obtained or made by the Company and are in full force and effect under the Securities Act, applicable state securities or blue sky laws and from the NASD. As used herein, a “Debt Repayment Triggering Event” means any event or condition which gives, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would give, the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

(o) No Material Actions or Proceedings. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus, there is no action, claim, suit, demand, hearing, notice of violation or deficiency, or proceeding, domestic or foreign (collectively, “Proceedings”), pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, that either (i) seeks to restrain, enjoin, prevent the consummation of, or otherwise challenge the sale of the Shares, or (ii) would, individually or in the aggregate, have or result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries are subject to any judgment, order, decree, rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority that would, individually or in the aggregate, have or result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(p) Labor Matters. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries are party to or bound by any collective bargaining agreement with any labor organization; (ii) there is no union representation question existing with respect to the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and, to the knowledge of the Company after due inquiry, no union organizing activities are taking place that, could, individually or in the aggregate, have or result in a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) to the Company’s knowledge, no union organizing or decertification efforts are underway or threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (iv) no labor strike, work stoppage, slowdown, or other material labor dispute is pending against the Company, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (v) there is no worker’s compensation liability, experience or matter that would be reasonably expected to have or result in a Material Adverse Effect; (vi) to the knowledge of the Company, after due inquiry, there is no threatened or pending liability against the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act of 1988, as amended (“WARN”), or any similar state or local law; (vii) there is no employment-related charge, complaint, grievance, investigation, unfair labor practice claim, or inquiry of any kind, pending against the Company or any of its subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have or result in a Material Adverse Effect; (viii) to the knowledge of the Company, after due inquiry, no employee or agent of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has committed any act or omission giving rise to liability for any violation identified in subsection (vi) and (vii) above, other than such acts or omissions that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or result in a Material Adverse Effect; and (ix) no term or condition of employment exists through arbitration awards, settlement agreements, or side agreement that is contrary to the express terms of any applicable collective bargaining agreement.

 

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(q) Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its subsidiaries own, or are licensed under, and have the right to use, all patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks and trade names (collectively, “Intellectual Property”) necessary for the conduct of their businesses and, as of the Closing Date, will be free and clear of all liens, other than liens permitted under any Applicable Agreements, except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No claims or notices of any potential claim have been asserted by any person challenging the use of any such Intellectual Property by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or questioning the validity or effectiveness of the Intellectual Property or any license or agreement related thereto (other than any claims that, if successful, would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or result in a Material Adverse Effect). The use of such Intellectual Property by the Company or any of its subsidiaries will not infringe on the Intellectual Property rights of any other person.

(r) All Necessary Permits, etc. The Company and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, permits, certificates, consents, orders, approvals and other authorizations from, and have made all declarations and filings with, all Governmental Authorities, presently required or necessary to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate their respective properties and to carry on their respective businesses as now or proposed to be conducted as set forth in any Applicable Prospectus (“Permits”), except where the failure to possess or file such Permits would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or result in a Material Adverse Effect; the Company and its subsidiaries have fulfilled and performed all of its obligations with respect to such Permits and no event has occurred which allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or results in any other material impairment of the rights of the holder of any such Permit that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor any subsidiary has received any notice of any proceeding relating to revocation or modification of any such Permit, except as otherwise disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus or except where such revocation or modification would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(s) Title to Properties. The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real property owned by each of them and good title to all material personal property owned by each of them and good and indefeasible title to all leasehold estates in real and personal property being leased by each of them and, as of the Closing Date, will be free and clear of all liens (other than liens arising or permitted under Applicable Agreements). All Applicable Agreements to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which either of them are bound are valid and enforceable against the Company and its subsidiaries and are valid and enforceable against the other party or parties thereto and are in full force and effect with only such exceptions as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(t) Tax Law Compliance. All Tax returns required to be filed by the Company and its subsidiaries have been filed and all such returns are true, complete, and correct in all material respects. All material Taxes that are due from the Company and its subsidiaries have been paid other than those (i) currently payable without penalty or interest or (ii) being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP. To the knowledge of the Company, after reasonable inquiry, there are no proposed Tax assessments against the Company or any of its subsidiaries that would, individually or in the aggregate, have or result in a Material Adverse Effect. The accruals and reserves on the books and records of the Company and its subsidiaries in respect of any material Tax liability for any period not finally determined are adequate to meet any assessments of Tax for any such period. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Tax” and “Taxes” shall mean all Federal, state, local and foreign taxes, and other assessments of a similar nature (whether imposed directly or through withholding), including any interest, additions to tax, or penalties applicable thereto.

(u) Company Not an “Investment Company”. The Company is not an open-end investment company, unit investment trust or face-amount certificate company that is or is required to be registered under Section 8 of the United States Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Investment Company Act”); and the Company is not and, after receipt of payment for the Offered Shares or after the application of the proceeds therefrom as described under “Use of Proceeds” in each Applicable Prospectus, will not be an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act.

 

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(v) Insurance. The Company and its subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are adequate and customary for their business. All policies of insurance insuring the Company and its subsidiaries or their respective businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors are in full force and effect. The Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material respects, and there are no claims by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause. The Company and its subsidiaries have not been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for, and the Company has no any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its and its subsidiaries’ existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue their respective businesses at a cost that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(w) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation; Compliance with Regulation M. 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 or any other “reference security” (as defined in Rule 100 of Regulation M under the 1934 Act (“Regulation M”)) whether to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Shares or otherwise, and has taken no action which would directly or indirectly violate Regulation M. 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.

(x) 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. The Time of Sale Prospectus contains in all material respects the same description of the matters set forth in the preceding sentence contained in the Prospectus.

(y) NASD Matters. All of the information provided to the Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters by the Company, 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 NASD Regulation Inc. pursuant to NASD Conduct Rule 2710 or 2720 is true, complete and correct.

(z) Parties to Lock-Up Agreements. Each of the Company’s directors and executive officers and each of the other persons and entities listed in Exhibit C has executed and delivered to Jefferies a lock-up agreement in the form of Exhibit D hereto. Exhibit C hereto contains a true, complete and correct list of all directors and officers 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 Jefferies an agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D.

(aa) No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any employee or agent of the Company or any subsidiary, has made any contribution or other payment to any official of, or candidate for, any federal, state or foreign office in violation of any law or of the character required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement and each Applicable Prospectus.

(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 or represent the Company’s good faith estimates that are made on the basis of data derived from such sources.

 

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(cc) Compliance with Environmental Laws. Except as disclosed in each Applicable Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries are (i) in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment or hazardous or toxic substances of wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”), (ii) have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (iii) have not received notice of any actual or potential liability for the investigation or remediation of any disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, except where such non-compliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive or be in compliance with required permits, licenses or other approvals, or liability would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or result in a Material Adverse Effect, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business. The Company and its subsidiaries have not been named as a “potentially responsible party” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended.

(dd) Periodic Review of Costs of Environmental Compliance. In the ordinary course of their respective businesses, the Company and its subsidiaries periodically review the effects of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries and identify and evaluate associated costs and liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws, or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties). On the basis of such review, the Company has reasonably concluded that such associated costs would not have or result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(ee) ERISA Compliance. Each of the Company, each of its subsidiaries and each ERISA Affiliate (as defined below) has fulfilled in all material respects its obligations, if any, under the minimum funding standards of Section 302 of the United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) with respect to each “pension plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), subject to Section 302 of ERISA which the Company, any subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate sponsors or maintains, or with respect to which it has (or within the last three years had) any obligation to make contributions, and each such plan is in compliance in all material respects with the presently applicable provisions of ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, amended (the “Code”). Neither the Company, any subsidiary nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any unpaid liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (other than for the payment of premiums in the ordinary course) or to any such plan under Title IV of ERISA. “ERISA Affiliate” means a corporation, trade or business that is, along with the Company or any of its subsidiaries, a member of a controlled group of corporations or a controlled group of trades or businesses, as described in Section 414 of the Code or Section 4001 of ERISA. Each “pension plan” (as defined in section 3(2) of ERISA) that is maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries and which is intended to be tax-qualified under section 401(a) of the Code complies in all material respects with Code section 401(a).

(ff) Brokers. Except for the underwriting discounts and commissions payable to the Underwriters 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.

(gg) No Outstanding Loans or Other Extensions of Credit. Since the adoption of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act, 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.

(hh) Compliance with Laws. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has been advised, and has no reason to believe, that they are not conducting business in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations of the jurisdictions in which they are conducting business, except where failure to be so in compliance would not result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

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(ii)Directed Share Program. (i) The Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus and any preliminary prospectus comply, and any further amendments or supplements thereto will comply, with any applicable laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions in which the Prospectus, Time of Sale Prospectus or any Preliminary Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, are distributed in connection with the Directed Share Program, and (ii) no authorization, approval, consent, license, order registration or qualification of or with any government, governmental instrumentality or court, other than such as have been obtained, is necessary under the securities laws and regulations of foreign jurisdictions in which the Directed Shares are offered outside the United States. The Company has not offered, or caused the Underwriters to offer, any Offered Shares to any person pursuant to the Directed Share Program with the intent to unlawfully influence (i) a customer or supplier of the Company to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with the Company or (ii) a trade journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or its products.

(jj) Dividend Restrictions. Except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, as of the Closing Date, there will be no encumbrances or restrictions on the ability of any subsidiary of the Company (x) to pay dividends or make other distributions on such subsidiary’s capital stock or to pay any indebtedness to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, (y) to make loans or advances or pay any indebtedness to, or investments in, the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company or (z) to transfer any of its property or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company.

(kk) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Neither the Company, nor any of its subsidiaries, nor any director, officer, agent, affiliate or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has taken any action which would cause the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of its Affiliates to be in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977.

(ll) 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 best knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(mm) 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 this offering, 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.

(nn)Disclosure Controls and Procedures; Deficiencies in or Changes to Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. The Company and its subsidiaries have established and maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)), which (i) 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; (ii) have been evaluated by management of the Company and its subsidiaries for effectiveness as of the end of the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter; and (iii) are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established. The Company is not aware of (i) any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s or any of its subsidiaries’ ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information or (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s or any of its subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting. The Company is not aware of any change in its internal control over financial reporting that has occurred during its most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s or any of its subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and delivered to the Representative or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company and it subsidiaries to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

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.

B. Representations and Warranties of the Selling Stockholder. The Selling Stockholder represents, warrants and covenants to each Underwriter as follows:

(a) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Selling Stockholder, and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters is a valid and binding agreement of the Selling Stockholder, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnification hereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as the enforcement hereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles.

(b) Title to Offered Shares to be Sold. The Selling Stockholder has, and on the each Option Closing Date (as defined below) will have, good and valid title to all of the Offered Shares which may be sold by the Selling Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement on such date and the legal right and power to sell, transfer and deliver all of the Offered Shares which may be sold by the Selling Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement and to comply with its other obligations hereunder and thereunder.

(c) Delivery of the Offered Shares to be Sold. Delivery of the Offered Shares which are sold by the Selling Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement will pass good and valid title to such Offered Shares, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim.

(d) Non-Contravention; No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required. The execution and delivery by the Selling Stockholder of, and the performance by the Selling Stockholder of its obligations under, this Agreement, the Custody Agreement and the Power of Attorney will not contravene or conflict with, result in a breach of, or constitute a Default under, or require the consent of any other party to, the Charter Documents of the Selling Stockholder or any other agreement or instrument to which the Selling Stockholder is a party or by which it is bound or under which it is entitled to any right or benefit, any provision of Applicable Law or any judgment, order, decree or regulation applicable to the Selling Stockholder of any Governmental Authority. No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any Governmental Authority, is required for the consummation by the Selling Stockholder of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect under the Securities Act, applicable state securities or blue sky laws and from the NASD.

(e) No Registration, Pre-emptive, Co-Sale or Other Similar Rights. The Selling Stockholder (i) does not have any registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt securities registered for sale by the Company under the Registration Statement or included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement, except for such rights as are described in the Time of Sale Prospectus under “Shares Eligible for Future Sale,” (ii) does not have any preemptive right, co-sale right or right of first refusal or other similar right to purchase any of the Offered Shares that are to be sold by the Company to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, except for such rights as the Selling Stockholder has waived prior to the date hereof and as have been described in the Registration Statement and the Time of Sale Prospectus, and (iii) does not own any warrants, options or similar rights to acquire, and does not have any right or arrangement to acquire, any capital stock, right, warrants, options or other securities from the Company, other than those described in the Registration Statement and the Time of Sale Prospectus.

 

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(f) No Further Consents, etc. Except for such consents, approvals and waivers which have been obtained by the Selling Stockholder on or prior to the date of this Agreement, no consent, approval or waiver is required under any instrument or agreement to which the Selling Stockholder is a party or by which it is bound or under which it is entitled to any right or benefit, in connection with the offering, sale or purchase by the Underwriters of any of the Offered Shares which may be sold by the Selling Stockholder under this Agreement or the consummation by the Selling Stockholder of any of the other transactions contemplated hereby.

(g) Disclosure Made by The Selling Stockholder in the Prospectus. All information furnished by or on behalf of the Selling Stockholder in writing expressly for use in the Registration Statement and Time of Sale Prospectus is, and on the First Closing Date and the applicable Option Closing Date will be, true, correct, and complete in all material respects, and does not, and on the First Closing Date and the applicable Option Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make such information not misleading. The Selling Stockholder confirms as accurate the number of Shares set forth opposite the Selling Stockholder’s name in the Time of Sale Prospectus under the caption “Principal and Selling Stockholders” (both prior to and after giving effect to the sale of the Offered Shares).

(h) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation; Compliance with Regulation M. The Selling Stockholder 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 or any other reference security, whether to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Shares or otherwise, and has taken no action which would directly or indirectly violate any provision of Regulation M.

(i) No Transfer Taxes or Other Fees. There are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or charges under Federal law or the laws of any state, or any political subdivision thereof, required to be paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the sale by the Selling Stockholder of the Offered Shares.

(j) Distribution of Offering Materials by the Selling Stockholder. The Selling Stockholder has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of (i) the expiration or termination of the option granted to the several Underwriters under Section 2, (ii) the completion of the Underwriters’ distribution of the Offered Shares, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Offered Shares other than a preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Registration Statement and (iii) the expiration of 25 days after the date of the Prospectus.

Any certificate signed by the Selling Stockholder and delivered to the Representative or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Selling Stockholder to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

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

 

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

(a) The Firm Shares. Upon the terms 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.

(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 Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP, 1675 Broadway, New York, New York (or such other place as may be agreed to by the Company and the Representative) 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 Representative shall designate by 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 Representative 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, the Selling Stockholder or the Representative to recirculate to the public copies of an amended or supplemented Prospectus or a delay as contemplated by the provisions of Section 11.

(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 Selling Stockholder hereby grants an option to the several Underwriters to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to an aggregate of [            ] Optional Shares from the Selling Stockholder at the purchase price per share to be paid by the Underwriters for the Firm Shares. The option granted hereunder is for use by the Underwriters solely in covering any over-allotments in connection with the sale and distribution of the Firm Shares. The option granted hereunder may be exercised at any time and from time to time in whole or in part upon notice by the Representative to the Selling Stockholder (with a copy to the Company), which notice may be given at any 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 shall be determined by the Representative and shall not be earlier than three nor later than five full business days after delivery of such notice of exercise. If any Optional Shares are to be purchased, (a) each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the number of Optional Shares (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Representative 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 and (b) the Selling Stockholder agrees to sell the number of Optional Shares (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Representative may determine) set forth in Schedule B. The Representative may cancel the option at any time prior to its expiration by giving written notice of such cancellation to the Selling Stockholder (with a copy to the Company).

 

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(d) Public Offering of the Offered Shares. The Representative hereby advises the Company and the Selling Stockholder 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 Representative, in its sole judgment, has determined is advisable and practicable.

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

It is understood that the Representative has been authorized, for its own account and the accounts of the several Underwriters, to accept delivery of and receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Firm Shares and any Optional Shares the Underwriters have agreed to purchase. Jefferies, individually and not as the 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 Representative 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.

The Selling Stockholder hereby agrees that (i) it will pay all stock transfer taxes, stamp duties and other similar taxes, if any, payable upon the sale or delivery of the Offered Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder to the several Underwriters, or otherwise in connection with the performance of the Selling Stockholder’s obligations hereunder.

(f) Delivery of the Offered Shares. The Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Representative 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 Selling Stockholder shall also deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Representative 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 Representative 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 Representative may designate. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified in this Agreement is a further condition to the obligations of the Underwriters.

 

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Section 3. Additional Covenants of the Company.

A. Covenants of the Company. 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, 4 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(A)(e) or 3(A)(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.

(b) Representative’s 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 (including any amendment or supplement through incorporation by reference of any report filed under the Exchange Act), the Company shall furnish to the Representative 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 Representative’s consent, and to 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) Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company shall furnish to the Representative for review, a reasonable amount of time prior to the proposed time of filing or use thereof, a copy of each proposed free writing prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto to be prepared by or on behalf of, 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 Representative’s consent. The Company shall furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, or used by the Company, 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 free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company 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 free writing prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict or so that the statements in such 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 free writing prospectus, the Company shall furnish to the Representative 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 free writing prospectus and the Company shall not file, use or refer to any such amended or supplemented free writing prospectus without the Representative’s consent.

 

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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 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, 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(A)(b) and 3(A)(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. During the period from the date of this Agreement until the later of the First Closing Date or such date, as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, the Prospectus is no longer required to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”), the Company shall promptly advise the Representative 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 best efforts to obtain the lifting of such order at the earliest possible moment. 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 and will use its reasonable efforts to confirm that any filings made by the Company under such Rule 424(b) or Rule 433 were received in a timely manner by the Commission.

 

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(g) Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus and Other Securities Act Matters. If during the Prospectus Delivery Period 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 Representative 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(A)(b) and 3(A)(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. Neither the Representative’s consent to, nor delivery of, any such amendment or supplement shall constitute a waiver of any of the Company’s obligations under Sections 3(A)(b) or (A)(c).

(h) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company shall cooperate with the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters to qualify or register the Offered Shares for sale under (or obtain exemptions from the application of) the state securities or blue sky laws or Canadian provincial securities laws of those jurisdictions designated by the Representative, and shall comply with such laws 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 or to take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not presently qualified or where it would be subject to taxation as a foreign corporation. The Company will advise the Representative 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 best efforts to obtain the withdrawal thereof at the earliest possible moment.

(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 after the date of this Agreement, the Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Representative 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.

(l) Periodic Reporting Obligations. Until the delivery of the earnings statement required by Section 3(A)(k) above, 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. Additionally, the Company shall report the use of proceeds from the issuance of the Offered Shares as may be required under Rule 463 under the Securities Act.

(m) Directed Share Program. In connection with the Directed Share Program, the Company will ensure that the Directed Shares will be restricted to the extent required by the NASD or the NASD rules from sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation for a period of three months following the date of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement. Jefferies will notify the Company as to which Participants will need to be so restricted. The Company will direct the transfer agent to place stop transfer restrictions upon such securities for such period of time. Should the Company release, or seek to release, from such restrictions any of the Directed Shares, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for any reasonable expenses (including, without limitation, legal expenses) they incur in connection with such release.

 

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(n) Listing. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to effect and maintain the inclusion and quotation of the Offered Shares on the Nasdaq Global Market and to maintain the inclusion and quotation of the Shares on the Nasdaq Global Market.

(o) Company to Provide Copy of the Prospectus in Form That May be Downloaded from the Internet. The Company shall cause to be prepared and delivered, at its expense, within one business day from the effective date of this Agreement, to Jefferies an “electronic Prospectus” to be used in connection with the offering and sale of the Offered Shares. As used herein, the term “electronic Prospectus” means a form of Time of Sale Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, that meets each of the following conditions: (i) it shall be encoded in an electronic format, satisfactory to Jefferies, that may be transmitted electronically by Jefferies to offerees and purchasers of the Offered Shares during the Prospectus Delivery Period; (ii) it shall disclose the same information as the paper Time of Sale Prospectus, except to the extent that graphic and image material cannot be disseminated electronically, in which case such graphic and image material shall be replaced in the electronic Prospectus with a fair and accurate narrative description or tabular representation of such material, as appropriate; and (iii) it shall be in or convertible into a paper format or an electronic format, satisfactory to Jefferies, that will allow investors to store and have continuously ready access to the Time of Sale Prospectus at any future time, without charge to investors (other than any fee charged for subscription to the Internet as a whole and for on-line time). The Company hereby confirms that it has included or will include in the Prospectus filed pursuant to EDGAR or otherwise with the Commission and in the Registration Statement at the time it was declared effective an undertaking that, upon receipt of a request by an investor or his or her representative within the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company shall transmit or cause to be transmitted promptly, without charge, a paper copy of the Time of Sale Prospectus.

(p) 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 Time of Sale Prospectus (as the same may be extended as described below, the “Lock-up Period”), the Company will not, without the prior written consent of Jefferies (which consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of Jefferies), 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 (other than a registration statement on Form S-8) 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, but only if the holders of such shares, options, or shares issued upon exercise of such options, agree in writing not to sell, offer, dispose of or otherwise transfer any such shares or options during such Lock-up Period without the prior written consent of Jefferies (which consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of the Jefferies). 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 Jefferies waives, in writing, such extension (which waiver may be withheld at the sole discretion of Jefferies), except that such extension will not apply if, (i) within three business days prior to the 15th calendar day before the last day of the Lock-up Period, the Company delivers a certificate, signed by the Chief Financial Officer or Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certifying on behalf of the Company that (i) the Shares are “actively traded securities” (as defined in Regulation M), (ii) the Company meets the applicable requirements of paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 139 under the Securities Act in the manner contemplated by NASD Conduct Rule 2711(f)(4), and (iii) the provisions of NASD Conduct Rule 2711(f)(4) are not applicable to any research reports relating to the Company published or distributed by any of the Underwriters during the 15 days before or after the last day of the Lock-up Period (before giving effect to such extension). The Company will provide the Representative with prior notice of any such announcement that gives rise to an extension of the Lock-up Period.

 

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(q) 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.

(r) No Stabilization or Manipulation; Compliance with Regulation M. 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, whether to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Shares or otherwise, and the Company will, and shall cause each of its affiliates to, comply with all applicable provisions of Regulation M. If the limitations of Rule 102 of Regulation M (“Rule 102”) do not apply with respect to the Offered Shares or any other reference security pursuant to any exception set forth in Section (d) of Rule 102, then promptly upon notice from the Representatives (or, if later, at the time stated in the notice), the Company will, and shall cause each of its affiliates to, comply with Rule 102 as though such exception were not available but the other provisions of Rule 102 (as interpreted by the Commission) did apply.

(s) 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 officers and directors pursuant to Section 6(k).

B. Covenants of the Selling Stockholder. The Selling Stockholder further covenants and agrees with each Underwriter:

(a) Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional Shares. The Selling Stockholder will not, without the prior written consent of Jefferies (which consent may be withheld in its 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 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 Exchange Act) by the undersigned, or publicly announce the undersigned’s intention to do any of the foregoing, for a period commencing on the date hereof and continuing through the close of trading on the last day of the Lock-up Period.

(b) No Stabilization or Manipulation; Compliance with Regulation M. The Selling Stockholder 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, whether to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Shares or otherwise, and the Selling Stockholder will, and shall cause each of its affiliates to, comply with all applicable provisions of Regulation M. If the limitations of Rule 102 do not apply with respect to the Offered Shares or any other reference security pursuant to any exception set forth in Section (d) of Rule 102, then promptly upon notice from the Representative (or, if later, at the time stated in the notice), the Selling Stockholder will, and shall cause each of its affiliates to, comply with Rule 102 as though such exception were not available but the other provisions of Rule 102 (as interpreted by the Commission) did apply.

(c) Delivery of Forms W-8 and W-9. To deliver to the Representative prior to the First Closing Date a properly completed and executed United States Treasury Department Form W-8 (if the Selling Stockholder is a non-United States person) or Form W-9 (if the Selling Stockholder is a United States Person).

Jefferies, on behalf of the several Underwriters, may, in its sole discretion, waive in writing the performance by the Company or the Selling Stockholder of any one or more of the foregoing covenants or extend the time for their performance.

 

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Section 4. Payment of Expenses. The Company agrees to pay all costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their 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 free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company, and each preliminary prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto, and this Agreement, (vi) all filing fees, 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 state securities or blue sky laws or the provincial securities laws of Canada, and, if requested by the Representative, preparing and printing a “Blue Sky Survey” or memorandum and a “Canadian preliminary prospectus wrapper”, and any supplements thereto, advising the Underwriters of such qualifications, registrations and exemptions, (vii) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with, the NASD’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 Shares, including, without limitation, expenses 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 any such consultants, and its proportional cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show, (ix) the fees and expenses associated with inclusion and quotation of the Offered Shares on the Nasdaq Global Market and (x) all other fees, disbursements and out-of pocket expenses incurred by the Underwriters incurred by the Underwriters in connection with their services to be rendered hereunder, including those of the nature referred to in Item 13 of Part II of the Registration Statement, and any expenses incurred by the Underwriters in connection with matters related to the Directed Shares which are designated by the Company for sale to Participants. Except as provided in this Section 4, Section 7, Section 9 and Section 10 hereof, the Underwriters shall pay their own expenses.

The Selling Stockholder further agrees with each Underwriter to pay (directly or by reimbursement) all fees and expenses incident to the performance of their obligations under this Agreement which are not otherwise specifically provided for herein, including but not limited to (i) fees and expenses of counsel and other advisors for the Selling Stockholder, and (ii) expenses and taxes incident to the sale and delivery of the Offered Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder to the Underwriters hereunder (which taxes, if any, may be deducted by the Custodian under the provisions of Section 2 of this Agreement).

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 the 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 the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Shares, each Option Closing Date, shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company and the Selling Stockholder set forth in Sections 1(A) and 1(B) hereof as of the date hereof and as of the First Closing Date as though then made and, with respect to the Optional Shares, as of each Option Closing Date as though then made, to the timely performance by the Company and the Selling

 

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Stockholder of their respective covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional conditions:

(a) Accountants’ Comfort Letter. On the date hereof, the Representative shall have received from each of Crowe Chizek and Company LLC and Deloitte & Touche 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 Representative, 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 Representative shall have received an additional conformed copy 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 the Exchange Act and (B) in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S X.

(b) Compliance with Registration Requirements; No Stop Order; No Objection from NASD. For the period from and after effectiveness of this Agreement and prior to the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Shares, each Option 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;

(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; and

(iii) the NASD shall have raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.

(c) No Material Adverse Change or Ratings Agency Change. For the period from and after the date of this Agreement and through and including the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Shares, each Option Closing Date:

(i) in the judgment of the Representative there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Change; and

(ii) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded any securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act.

 

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(d) Opinion of Counsel for the Company. On each of the First Closing Date and each Option Closing Date the Representative shall have received the opinion of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, counsel for the Company, dated as of such Closing Date, the form of which is attached as Exhibit A and to such further effect as counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably request (and the Representative shall have received an additional 2 signed copies of such counsel’s legal opinion for each of the several Underwriters).

(e) Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters. On each of the First Closing Date and each Option Closing Date the Representative shall have received the opinion of Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, dated as of such Closing Date.

(f) Officers’ Certificate. On each of the First Closing Date and each Option Closing Date the Representative shall have received a written certificate executed by the Chief Executive Officer or President of the Company and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, dated as of such Closing Date, to the effect set forth in subsections (b)(ii) and (c)(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 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 (A) 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

(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 Representative shall have received from each of Crowe Chizek and Company LLC and Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public or certified public accountants for the Company, a letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, 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 Representative shall have received an additional conformed copy of such accountants’ letter for each of the several Underwriters).

(h) Opinion of Counsel for the Selling Stockholder. On each of the First Closing Date and each Option Closing Date the Representative shall have received the opinion of Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP, counsel for the Selling Stockholder, dated as of such Closing Date, the form of which is attached as Exhibit B and to such further effect as counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably request (and the Representative shall have received an additional 2 signed copies of such counsel’s legal opinion for each of the several Underwriters).

(i) Selling Stockholders’ Certificate. On each of the First Closing Date and each Option Closing Date the Representative shall receive a written certificate executed by an authorized officer of the Selling Stockholder, dated as of such Closing Date, to the effect that:

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

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

 

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(j) Selling Stockholder’s Documents. On the date hereof, the Company and the Selling Stockholder shall have furnished for review by the Representative copies of the Power of Attorney and Custody Agreements executed by the Selling Stockholder and such further information, certificates and documents as the Representative may reasonably request.

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

(l) Additional Documents. On or before each of the First Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters shall have received such information, documents and opinions as they may reasonably request 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; and all proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the issuance and sale of the Offered Shares as contemplated herein and in connection with the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters.

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 Representative by notice to the Company and the Selling Stockholder at any time on or prior to the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Shares, at any time on or prior to 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 6 and Section 9 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.

Section 7. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses. If this Agreement is terminated by the Representative pursuant to Section 6, Section 12 or Section 19, 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 or the Selling Stockholder to perform any agreement herein or to comply with any provision hereof, the Company agrees to reimburse the Representative 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 Representative 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.

 

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Section 8. Effectiveness of this Agreement. This Agreement shall not become effective until the later of (i) the execution of this Agreement by the parties hereto and (ii) notification by the Commission to the Company and the Representative of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Securities Act.

Section 9. Indemnification. (a) Indemnification of the Underwriters. Each of the Company and the Selling Stockholder, jointly and severally, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which such Underwriter or such officer, employee or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or at common law, or the laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions where Offered Shares have been offered or sold, 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 (A) (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 free writing prospectus that the Company has used, referred to or filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any preliminary prospectus wrapper material distributed in Canada in connection with the offer and sale of the Offered Shares, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or (iii) any act or failure to act or any alleged act or failure to act by any Underwriter in connection with, or relating in any manner to, the Shares or the offering contemplated hereby, and which is included as part of or referred to in any loss, claim, damage, liability or action arising out of or based upon any matter covered by clause (i) or (ii) above, provided that the Company and the Selling Stockholder shall not be liable under this clause (iii) to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction shall have determined by a final judgment that such loss, claim, damage, liability or action resulted directly from any such acts or failures to act undertaken or omitted to be taken by such Underwriter through its bad faith or willful misconduct and to reimburse each Underwriter and each such officer, employee and controlling person for any and all expenses (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by Jefferies) 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 Representative 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 Representative to the Company consists of the information described in subsection (b) below. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 9(a) shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Company and the Selling Stockholder may otherwise have.

 

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(b) Indemnification of the Company, its Directors and Officers and the Selling Stockholder. 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, the Selling Stockholder and each person, if any, who controls the Company or the Selling Stockholder 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, Selling Stockholder or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of such Underwriter), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon any untrue 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 that the Company has used, referred to or filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act or the Prospectus (or such amendment or supplement thereto), or arises out of or is based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, such preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, such free writing prospectus that the Company has used, referred to or filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act, the Prospectus (or such amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company and the Selling Stockholder by the Representative expressly for use therein; and to reimburse the Company, the Selling Stockholder, or any such director, officer, or controlling person for any legal and other expense reasonably incurred by the Company, the Selling Stockholder 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. Each of the Company and the Selling Stockholder, hereby acknowledges that the only information that the Representative and the Underwriters have furnished to the Company and the Selling Stockholder 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 fifth, thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth paragraphs under the section entitled “Underwriting” in the Prospectus. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 9(b) shall be in addition to any liabilities that each Underwriter may otherwise have.

(c) Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 9 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 9, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof, but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party for contribution or otherwise than under the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 9 or to the extent it is not prejudiced as a proximate result of such failure. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall elect, jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the

 

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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 9 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 Jefferies (in the case of counsel for the indemnified parties referred to in Section 9(a) above) or by the Company (in the case of counsel for the indemnified parties referred to in Section 9(b) above)) or (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action, 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 9 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 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding.

(e) Indemnification for Directed Shares. In connection with the offer and sale of the Directed Shares, the Company agrees, promptly upon a request in writing, to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters from and against any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by them as a result of the failure of the Participants to pay for and accept delivery of Directed Shares which, by the end of the first business day following the date of this Agreement, were subject to a properly confirmed agreement to purchase. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Jefferies, its officer and employees, and each person, if any, who controls Jefferies within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which Jefferies or such controlling person may become subject, which is (i) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any material prepared by or with the consent of the Company for distribution to Participants in connection with the Directed Share Program or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (ii) caused by the failure of any Participant to pay for and accept delivery of Directed Shares that such Participant agreed to purchase; or (iii) related to, arising out of, or in connection with the Directed Share Program. The indemnity agreement set forth in this paragraph shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Company may otherwise have.

 

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Section 10. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 9 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 and the Selling Stockholder, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the offering 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 and the Selling Stockholder, 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 and the Selling Stockholder, 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 Selling Stockholder, 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 and the Selling Stockholder, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Selling Stockholder, 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 9(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 9(c) with respect to notice of commencement of any action shall apply if a claim for contribution is to be made under this Section 10; provided, however, that no additional notice shall be required with respect to any action for which notice has been given under Section 9(c) for purposes of indemnification.

The Company, the Selling Stockholder and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 10 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 10.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 10, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter in connection with the Offered Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public. 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 10 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 10, each officer and employee 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 of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company or the Selling Stockholder, as the case may be, within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company or the Selling Stockholder, as the case may be.

 

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Section 11. 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 date, the Representative 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 Representative 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 Representative 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 9 and Section 10 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination. In any such case either the Representative 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.

As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” shall be deemed to include any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter under this Section 11. Any action taken under this Section 11 shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

Section 12. 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 Representative by notice given to the Company and the Selling Stockholder if at any time (i) trading or quotation in any of the Company’s securities shall have been suspended or limited by the Commission or by the Nasdaq Global Market, or trading in securities generally on either the Nasdaq Global Market or the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or limited, or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on any of such stock exchanges by the Commission or the NASD; (ii) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by any of federal, New York , Delaware or California authorities; (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of national or international hostilities or any crisis or calamity, or any change in the United States or international financial markets, or any substantial change or development involving a prospective substantial change in United States’ or international political, financial or economic conditions, as in the judgment of the Representative 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 the Prospectus or to enforce contracts for the sale of securities; (iv) in the judgment of the Representative there shall have occurred any Material Adverse Change; or (v) the Company shall have sustained a loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity of such character as in the judgment of the Representative may interfere materially with the conduct of the business and operations of the Company regardless of whether or not such loss shall have been insured. Any termination pursuant to this Section 12 shall be without liability on the part of (a) the Company or the Selling Stockholder to any Underwriter, except that the Company and the Selling Stockholder shall be obligated to reimburse the expenses of the Representative and the Underwriters pursuant to Sections 4 and 7 hereof, (b) any Underwriter to the Company or the Selling Stockholder, or (c) of any party hereto to any other party except that the provisions of Section 9 and Section 10 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.

 

29


Section 13. 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.

Section 14. Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company, of its officers, of the Selling Stockholder 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, or the Selling Stockholder, 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.

 

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Section 15. 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 Representative:

Jefferies & Company, Inc.

520 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Facsimile: (212)  ###-###-####

Attention: Lloyd H. Feller, Esq.

with a copy to:

Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP

1675 Broadway

New York, New York 10019

Attention: Ronald S. Brody, Esq.

If to the Company:

Claymont Steel Holdings, Inc.

40001 Philadelphia Pike

Claymont, Delaware 19703

Attention: Allen Egner

with a copy to:

Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP

One Oxford Centre

301 Grant Street, 32nd Floor

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219

Attention: Kimberly A. Taylor, Esq.

If to the Selling Stockholder:

H.I.G. Capital LLC, Inc.

1001 Brickell Bay Drive

27th Floor

Miami, Florida 33131

Facsimile: (305)  ###-###-####

Attention: Matthew S. Sanford

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

Section 16. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, including any substitute Underwriters pursuant to Section 11 hereof, and to the benefit of the employees, officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 9 and Section 10, and in each case their respective successors and personal representatives, 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 17. 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.

 

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Section 18. 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.

Section 19. Failure of the Selling Stockholder to Sell and Deliver Offered Shares. If the Selling Stockholder shall fail to sell and deliver to the Underwriters the Offered Shares to be sold and delivered by the Selling Stockholder at the First Closing Date pursuant to this Agreement, then the Underwriters may at their option, by written notice from the Representative to the Company and the Selling Stockholder, either (i) terminate this Agreement without any liability on the part of any Underwriter or, except as provided in Sections 4, 7, 9 and 10 hereof, the Company or the other Selling Stockholder, or (ii) purchase the shares which the Company has agreed to sell and deliver in accordance with the terms hereof. If the Selling Stockholder shall fail to sell and deliver to the Underwriters the Offered Shares to be sold and delivered by the Selling Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement at the First Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, then the Underwriters shall have the right, by written notice from the Representative to the Company and the Selling Stockholder, 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.

Section 20. General Provisions. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit. The Table of Contents and 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 9 and the contribution provisions of Section 10, and is fully informed regarding said provisions. Each of the parties hereto further acknowledges that the provisions of Sections 9 and 10 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.

 

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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,
CLAYMONT STEEL HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

 

Name:   Jeff Bradley
Title:   Chief Executive Officer
H.I.G CAPITAL LLC, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

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

 

JEFFERIES & COMPANY, INC.

Acting as Representatives of the several Underwriters named in the attached Schedule A.

By   JEFFERIES & COMPANY, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

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SCHEDULE A

 

Underwriters

   Number of
Firm Shares
to be Purchased

Jefferies & Company, Inc.

   [            ]

CIBC World Markets Corp.

   [            ]

KeyBanc Capital Markets, a division of McDonald Investments, Inc.

   [            ]

Morgan Joseph & Co. Inc.

   [            ]

Total

   6,250,000

 


SCHEDULE B

 

Selling Stockholder

   Maximum
Number of
Optional Shares
to be Sold

H.I.G. Capital LLC, Inc.

   937,500

Total:

   937,500
    

 


SCHEDULE C

Schedule of Free Writing Prospectuses included in the Time of Sale Prospectus


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF OPINIONS OF

MORGAN LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP

Opinion of counsel for the Company to be delivered pursuant to Section 6(d) of the Underwriting Agreement.

References to the Prospectus in this Exhibit A include any amendments and supplements thereto at the Closing Date.

(i) The Company is a corporation validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Underwriting Agreement.

(ii) Claymont Steel, Inc. is a corporation validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus.

(iii) All of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Claymont Steel, Inc. have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and, to the knowledge of such counsel, are owned of record on that date by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries.

(iv) The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company (including the Shares) conforms as to legal matters to the descriptions thereof set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus. All of the outstanding Shares (including the Shares owned by Selling Stockholder) have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable. The form of certificate used to evidence the Shares is in due and proper form and complies with all applicable requirements of the charter and by-laws of the Company and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

(v) No stockholder of the Company or any other person has any preemptive right, right of first refusal or other similar right to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company arising by operation of the charter or by-laws of the Company or the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

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

(vii) The Offered Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Company have been duly authorized for issuance and sale pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth therein, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

(viii) Each of the Registration Statement and the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, has been declared effective by the Commission under the Securities

 

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Act. To the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of either of the Registration Statement or the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, has been issued under the Securities Act and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending by the Commission. Any required filing of the Prospectus and any supplement thereto pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act has been made in the manner and within the time period required by such Rule 424(b).

(ix) The statements (i) in the Time of Sale Prospectus under the captions “Description of Capital Stock,” “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions,” and “Shares Eligible for Future Sale”, in each case insofar as such statements purport to describe certain provisions of documents, instruments, agreements, statutes, regulations or the subject legal proceedings referred to therein, are accurate in all material respects.

(x) The description in the Time of Sale Prospectus under the caption “United States Federal Income Tax Considerations,” to the extent that it relates to matters of United States federal income tax law, is accurate in all material respects.

IRS Circular 230 Disclosure. To ensure compliance with the requirements imposed by the Internal Revenue Service, we inform you that any United States federal tax advice contained herein does not deal with a taxpayer’s particular circumstances. Further, such advice was written in connection with the promotion, marketing or recommending of the transactions or matters described herein. This advice was not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code. Taxpayers should consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences to them of their own particular circumstances.

(xi) To the knowledge of such counsel, there are no legal or governmental actions, suits or proceedings pending against the Company which are required under the Securities Act to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, other than those disclosed therein.

(xii) To the knowledge of such counsel, there are no Applicable Agreements required to be described or referred to in the Registration Statement or to be filed as exhibits thereto other than those described or referred to therein or filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits thereto; and the descriptions thereof and references thereto are accurate in all material respects.

(xiii) To the knowledge of such counsel, there are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any debt or equity securities registered for sale under the Registration Statement or included in the offering contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, except for such rights as have been duly waived.

(xiv) The execution and delivery of the Underwriting Agreement by the Company, the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder (other than performance by the Company of its obligations under the indemnification section of the Underwriting Agreement, as to which no opinion need be rendered) and the issuance and sale of the offered securities: (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company; (ii) do not and will not conflict with, violate, constitute a breach of or a default (with the passage of time or otherwise) under, result in the imposition of a lien on the assets of the Company (except for liens permitted under any Applicable Agreements) or result in an acceleration of indebtedness under or

 

A-2


pursuant to (i) the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, (ii) any agreement listed on Schedule I hereto, (iii) any federal law of the Untied States or any law of the State of New York or any regulation thereunder or any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law or (iv) any judicial or administrative judgment, order or decree known to us to which the Company is subject.

(xv) No consent, authorization, approval or other order of, or filing with, any federal or state governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency is required to be obtained or made by the Company in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by the Company of its obligations under the Underwriting Agreement and for the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated thereby, except such as have been obtained or made by the Company and are in full force and effect under the Securities Act; provided, however, that we express no opinion as to state securities or blue sky laws.

(xvi) The Company is not, and after receipt of payment for the Offered Shares will not be, an “investment company” within the meaning of Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the General Corporation Law of the State of New York or the federal law of the United States, to the extent they deem proper and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion (which shall be dated the First Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be, shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Underwriters, shall expressly state that the Underwriters may rely on such opinion as if it were addressed to them and shall be furnished to the Representative) of other counsel of good standing whom they believe to be reliable and who are satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters; provided, however, that such counsel shall further state that they believe that they and the Underwriters are justified in relying upon such opinion of other counsel, and (B) as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public officials.

In addition to the foregoing opinions, such counsel shall supplementally advise the Underwriters that such counsel has participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company, representatives of the Underwriters and their counsel, and representatives of the independent registered accounting firms of the Company, at which conferences the contents of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus were discussed. Although such counsel is not passing upon and does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus (except as and to the extent set forth in paragraphs ix and x above), on the basis of the foregoing and the information disclosed to such counsel, but without independent check and verification, and relying as to materiality on representations and statements of officers and other representatives of the Company, such counsel shall confirm to you that no fact has come to the attention of such counsel that has led such counsel to believe that the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, as of their respective dates and at the date of the applicable Closing Date, contained or contains any untrue statement of a material fact, or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (it being understood that such counsel need not express any belief with respect to the financial statements, schedules, notes, and other financial and accounting data, included therein).

 

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EXHIBIT B

FORM OF OPINIONS OF MORGAN LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP

The opinion of such counsel pursuant to Section 6(h) shall be rendered to the Representative at the request of the Company and shall so state therein.

(i) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Selling Stockholder.

(ii) The execution and delivery by or on behalf of the Selling Stockholder, and the performance by the Selling Stockholder of its obligations under, the Underwriting Agreement (other than performance by the Selling Stockholder of its obligations under the indemnification section of the Underwriting Agreement, as to which no opinion need be rendered) and its Custody Agreement and its Power of Attorney (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Selling Stockholder; (ii) will not result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws of the Selling Stockholder, the Company or any subsidiary; (iii) to the knowledge of such counsel, will not constitute a breach of, or default under, any other agreement or instrument to which the Selling Stockholder is a party or by which it is bound, (iv) will not result in any violation of any federal or New York State law, or to the best knowledge of such counsel any administrative regulation or administrative or court decree, applicable to the Selling Stockholder or (v) will not require any consents, approvals or authorizations to be obtained by the Selling Stockholder, or any registrations, declarations or filings to be made by Selling Stockholder, in each case, under any federal or New York state statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Selling Stockholder that have not been obtained or made.

(iii) To the knowledge of such counsel, the Selling Stockholder, as of the date hereof, has the requisite right, power and authority to sell, assign, transfer and deliver such Optional Shares pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.

(iv) Assuming that each of Underwriters does not have “notice” of any “adverse claim” (each within the meaning of Section 8-105 of the New York UCC) with respect to the Shares to be purchased from the Selling Stockholder and excluding any adverse claim, restriction or other encumbrance created by or resulting from actions taken by an Underwriter, upon indication by book entry that the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder have been credited to a securities account maintained by Jefferies & Company, Inc. (“Jefferies”) at the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) and payment therefor in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement, Jefferies will acquire a securities entitlement on behalf of the several Underwriters with respect to such shares and, under the New York UCC, an action based on an adverse claim to such securities entitlement, whether framed in conversion, replevin, constructive trust , equitable lien or other theory may not be asserted against Jefferies as Representative of the several Underwriters.

 

(v) To such counsel’s knowledge, no consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or governmental authority or agency, is required for the consummation by such Selling Stockholder of the transactions contemplated in the Underwriting Agreement, except as required under the Securities Act, applicable state securities or blue sky laws, and from the NASD.

In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the laws of the State of New York or the federal law of the United States, to the extent they deem proper and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion (which shall be dated the First Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be, shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Underwriters, shall expressly state that the Underwriters may rely on such opinion as if it were addressed to them and shall be furnished to the Representative) of other counsel of good standing whom they believe to be reliable and who are satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters; provided, however, that such counsel shall further state that they believe that they and the Underwriters are justified in relying upon such opinion of other counsel, and (B) as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates of the Selling Stockholder and public officials

 

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EXHIBIT C

H.I.G. Capital LLC, Inc.

Jeff Bradley

Allen Egner

Steve Lundmark

Sami Mnaymneh

Matthew Sanford

David Clark

Steve Scheinkman

Tracy Shellabarger

Tony Tamer

 

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EXHIBIT D

[Date]

Jefferies & Company, Inc.

520 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10022

 

RE: Claymont Steel Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”)

Ladies & Gentlemen:

The Company proposes to carry out a public offering (the “Offering”) of shares of common stock, par value $.001 per share, of the Company (“Shares”) for which you will act as the underwriters, pursuant to a registration statement of Form S-1 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about the date hereof (the “Registration Statement”). The undersigned recognizes that the Offering will be of benefit to the undersigned and will benefit the Company by, among other things, raising additional capital for its operations. The undersigned acknowledges that you 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 consideration of the foregoing, the undersigned hereby agrees that the undersigned will not, (and 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 Jefferies & Company, Inc. (which consent may be withheld in its 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, 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) 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 Prospectus (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement relating to the Offering to which the Company is a party)(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 Jefferies & Company, Inc. waives, in writing, such extension, except that such extension will not apply if, (i) within three business days prior to the 15th calendar day before the last day of the Lock-up Period, the Company delivers a certificate, signed by the Chief Financial Officer or Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certifying on behalf of the Company that (i) the Shares are “actively traded securities” (as defined in Regulation M), (ii) the Company meets the applicable requirements of paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 139 under the Securities Act in the manner contemplated by NASD Conduct Rule 2711(f)(4), and (iii) the provisions of NASD Conduct Rule 2711(f)(4) are not applicable to any research reports relating to the Company published or distributed by any of the Underwriters during the 15 days before or after the last day of the Lock-up Period (before giving effect to such extension); provided, further, that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to (x) the transfer of any or all of the Shares owned by the undersigned, either during the undersigned’s lifetime or on death, by gift, will or intestate succession to the immediate family of the undersigned or to a trust the beneficiaries of which are exclusively the undersigned and/or a member or members of his immediate family or (y) the transfer of any Shares to partners, members or stockholders of the undersigned as a distribution; provided, however, that in any such case, it shall be a condition to such transfer that the transferee executes and delivers to Jefferies & Company, Inc. 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. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to the registration, offer or sale of shares in the Offering in connection with the exercise of the over-allotment option (the “Optional Shares”) sold by H.I.G. Capital LLC, Inc. The undersigned hereby acknowledges and agrees that written notice of any extension of the Lock-up Period pursuant to the preceding sentence will be delivered by Jefferies & Company, Inc. to the Company and that any such notice properly delivered will be deemed to have been given to, and received by, the undersigned.

 

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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.

Except with respect to the Optional Shares, 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.

In the event the Registration Statement is withdrawn, or the Company does not enter into an underwriting agreement with Jefferies & Company, Inc. by December 31, 2006, this agreement will terminate without further action. Otherwise, this agreement is irrevocable and will be binding on the undersigned and the respective successors, heirs, personal representatives, and assigns of the undersigned.

 

Printed Name

 

 

By:  

 

  Signature

 

 

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

 

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