10,701,905Shares PioneerDrilling Company CommonStock, $0.10 Per Share Par Value UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

Contract Categories: Business Finance - Underwriting Agreements
EX-1.1 2 a06-4450_1ex1d1.htm UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

Exhibit 1.1

 

10,701,905 Shares

 

Pioneer Drilling Company

 

Common Stock, $0.10 Per Share Par Value

 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

February 7, 2006

 

LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
745 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Pioneer Drilling Company, a Texas corporation (the “Company”), and Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (the “Selling Shareholder”), propose to sell an aggregate of 10,701,905 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.10 per share (the “Common Stock”).  Of the 10,701,905 Shares, 3,000,000 are being sold by the Company and 7,701,905 by the Selling Shareholder.  This is to confirm the agreement concerning the purchase of the Shares from the Company and the Selling Shareholder by Lehman Brothers Inc (the “Underwriter”).

 

Section 1.                                          Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the Company.  The Company hereby represents, warrants and agrees that:

 

(a)                                                          A registration statement on Form S-3 relating to the Shares (i) has been prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the rules and regulations (the “Rules and Regulations”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) thereunder; (ii) has been filed with the Commission under the Securities Act; and (iii) is effective under the Securities Act.  Copies of such registration statement and any amendment thereto have been delivered by the Company to you.  As used in this Agreement:

 

(i)                                     “Applicable Time” means 9:10 a.m. (New York City time) on the date of this Agreement, which time is before the first sale of any Shares by the Underwriter;

 

(ii)                                  “Effective Date” means, with respect to any part of the registration statement relating to the offering of the Shares, the date as of which such part of such registration statement became, or is deemed to have become, effective under the Securities Act in accordance with the Rules and Regulations;

 

(iii)                               “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means each “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations) prepared by or on behalf of the Company or used or referred to by the Company in connection with the offering of the Shares;

 

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(iv)                              “Preliminary Prospectus” means the base prospectus included in such registration statement, including any preliminary prospectus supplement thereto relating to the Shares as filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations;

 

(v)                                 “Pricing Disclosure Package” means, as of the Applicable Time, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, together with each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus filed or used by the Company on or before the Applicable Time, other than a road show that is an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus under Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations;

 

(vi)                              “Prospectus” means the final prospectus relating to the Shares, including any prospectus supplement thereto relating to the Shares, as filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations; and

 

(vii)                           “Registration Statement” means, collectively, the various parts of such registration statement, each as amended as of the Effective Date for such part, including any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus and all exhibits to such registration statement.

 

Any reference to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Form S-3 under the Securities Act as of the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be.  Any reference to the “most recent Preliminary Prospectus” shall be deemed to refer to the base prospectus included in the Registration Statement (including, for purposes hereof, any documents incorporated by reference therein prior to or on the date hereof).  Any reference to any amendment or supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any document filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), after the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, and incorporated by reference in such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference to any amendment to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to include any annual report of the Company on Form 10-K filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the Effective Date that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.  The Commission has not issued any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and no proceeding or examination for such purpose has been instituted or threatened by the Commission.  The Commission has not notified the Company of any objection to the use of the form of the Registration Statement.

 

(b)                                                         The Company has since the time of the initial filing of the Registration Statement and continues to be a “well-known seasoned issuer” (as defined in Rule 405) eligible to use Form S-3 for the offering of the Shares, including not having been an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule 405) at any such time or date.  The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement” (as defined in Rule 405) and was filed not earlier than the date that is three years prior to the Delivery Date (as defined in Section 4).

 

(c)                                                          The Registration Statement conformed and will conform in all material respects on the Effective Date, and any amendment to the Registration Statement filed after the date hereof will conform in all material respects, when filed, to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations.  The Preliminary Prospectus conformed and the Prospectus will conform, in all material respects, when filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and, in the case of the Prospectus, on the Delivery Date to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and

 

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the Rules and Regulations.  The documents incorporated by reference in any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus conformed, and any further documents so incorporated will conform, when filed with the Commission, in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

(d)                                                         The Registration Statement did not, as of the Effective Date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 9(f).

 

(e)                                                          The Prospectus will not, as of its date and on the Delivery Date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Prospectus in reliance and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or behalf of the Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 9(f).

 

(f)                                                            The documents incorporated by reference in any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus did not, and any further documents filed and incorporated by reference therein will not, when filed with the Commission, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

(g)                                                         The Pricing Disclosure Package did not, as of the Applicable Time, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the price of the Shares and disclosures directly relating thereto will be included on the cover page of the Prospectus; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Pricing Disclosure Package in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 9(f).

 

(h)                                                         Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (including, without limitation, any road show that is a free writing prospectus under Rule 433), when considered together with the Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time, did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the price of the Shares and disclosures directly relating thereto will be included on the cover page of the Prospectus.

 

(i)                                                             Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conformed or will conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations on the date of first use, and the Company has complied with any filing requirements applicable to such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus pursuant to the Rules and Regulations.  The Company has not made any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent of the Underwriter.  The Company has retained in accordance with the Rules and Regulations all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses that were not required to be filed pursuant to the Rules and Regulations.

 

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(j)                                                             Each of the Company and its subsidiaries (as defined in Section 17) has been duly organized, is validly existing and in good standing as a corporation or other business entity under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and is duly qualified to do business and in good standing as a foreign corporation or other business entity in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its businesses requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, shareholders’ equity, properties or business of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”); each of the Company and its subsidiaries has all power and authority necessary to own or hold its properties and to conduct the businesses in which it is engaged.  The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year.  Pioneer Drilling Services, Ltd. is a “significant subsidiary”(as defined in Rule 405) of the Company.

 

(k)                                                          The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in each of the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, conform, in all material respects, to the description thereof contained in each of the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and were issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws and not in violation of any preemptive right, resale right, right of first refusal or similar right.  All of the Company’s options, warrants and other rights to purchase or exchange any securities for shares of the Company’s capital stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, conform to the description thereof contained in each of the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and were issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws.  All of the issued shares of capital stock of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims, except for such liens, encumbrances, equities or claims as would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(l)                                                             The Shares to be issued and sold by the Company to the Underwriter hereunder have been duly authorized and, upon payment and delivery in accordance with this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, will conform to the description thereof contained in each of the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, will be issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws and will be free of statutory and contractual preemptive rights, rights of first refusal and similar rights.  The Shares to be sold by the Selling Shareholder will be sold in compliance with federal and state securities laws.

 

(m)                                                       The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement.  This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

 

(n)                                                         The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described under “Use of Proceeds” in each of the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, impose any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, license or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject; (ii) result in any violation

 

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of the provisions of the charter or by-laws (or similar organizational documents) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or (iii) result in any violation of any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets, except in the case of clauses (i) or (iii) above, where such conflict, breach, violation, imposition of a lien, charge or encumbrance or default would not reasonably be expected to have, in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(o)                                                         No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing or registration with, any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets is required for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described under “Use of Proceeds” in each of the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, except for the registration of the Shares under the Securities Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under the Exchange Act and applicable state securities laws in connection with the purchase and sale of the Shares by the Underwriter.

 

(p)                                                         Except as identified in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person granting such person the right (other than rights which have been waived in writing or otherwise satisfied) to require the Company to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any securities of the Company owned or to be owned by such person or to require the Company to include such securities in the securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or in any securities being registered pursuant to any other registration statement filed by the Company under the Securities Act.

 

(q)                                                         The Company has not sold or issued any securities that would be integrated with the offering of the Shares contemplated by this Agreement pursuant to the Securities Act, the Rules and Regulations or the interpretations thereof by the Commission.

 

(r)                                                            Except as disclosed in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, and since such date, there has not been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any adverse change, or any development involving a prospective adverse change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, shareholders’ equity, properties, management or business of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, in each case except as would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(s)                                                          Except as disclosed in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, since the date as of which information is given in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, the Company has not (i) incurred any material liability or obligation, direct or contingent, other than liabilities and obligations that were incurred in the ordinary course of business, (ii) entered into any material transaction not in the ordinary course of business or (iii) declared or paid any dividend on its capital stock.

 

(t)                                                            The historical financial statements (including the related notes and supporting schedules) included or incorporated by reference in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and present fairly the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the

 

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entities purported to be shown thereby at the dates and for the periods indicated and have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto.

 

(u)                                                         KPMG LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, whose report appears in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus or is incorporated by reference therein and who have delivered the initial letter referred to in Section 8(g) hereof, are independent registered public accountants as required by the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations during the periods covered by the financial statements on which they reported and which are contained or incorporated by reference in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus.

 

(v)                                                         The statistical and market-related date included under the captions “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2005 (the “Annual Report”) and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended June 30, September 30, and December 31, 2005 and “Business” contained in the Annual Report, each of which is incorporated by reference in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries incorporated by reference in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the company believes to be reliable and accurate in all material respects.

 

(w)                                                       Neither the Company nor any subsidiary is, and as of the Delivery Date and, after giving effect to the offer and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds therefrom as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, none of them will be, (i) an “investment company” within the meaning of such term under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder or (ii) a “business development company” (as defined in Section 2(a)(48) of the Investment Company Act).

 

(x)                                                           Except as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject that would, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or would, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; and to the Company’s knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or others.

 

(y)                                                         No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, shareholders, customers or suppliers of the Company, on the other hand, that is required to be described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus which is not so described.

 

(z)                                                           No labor disturbance by the employees of the Company or its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(aa)                                                    (i) Each “employee benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”)) for which the Company or any member of its “Controlled Group” (defined as any organization which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as

 

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amended (the “Code”)) would have any liability (each a “Plan”) has been maintained in compliance with its terms and with the requirements of all applicable statutes, rules and regulations including ERISA and the Code, except where the failure to so comply would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) with respect to each Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA and except as would not be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (a) no “reportable event” (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur, (b) no “accumulated funding deficiency” (within the meaning of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code), whether or not waived, has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur, (c) the fair market value of the assets under each Plan exceeds the present value of all benefits accrued under such Plan (determined based on those assumptions used to fund such Plan) and (d) neither the Company or any member of its Controlled Group has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any material liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to the Plan or premiums to the PBGC in the ordinary course and without default) in respect of a Plan (including a “multiemployer plan”, within the meaning of Section 4001(c)(3) of ERISA); and (iii) each Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and, to the knowledge of the Company, nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification.

 

(bb)                                                  Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and each of its subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign income and franchise tax returns required to be filed through the date hereof, subject to permitted extensions, and have paid all taxes due thereon, and no tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries. To the knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has incurred any tax deficiencies that would, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(cc)                                                    Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries (i) is in violation of its charter or by-laws (or similar organizational documents), (ii) is in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, license or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its properties or assets is subject or (iii) is in violation of any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over it or its property or assets or has failed to obtain any license, permit, certificate, franchise or other governmental authorization or permit necessary to the ownership of its property or to the conduct of its business, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), to the extent any such conflict, breach, violation or default would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(dd)                                                  There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company and any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply, in all material respects, with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith.

 

(ee)                                                    The Company and each of its subsidiaries have such permits, licenses, patents, franchises, certificates of need and other approvals or authorizations of governmental or regulatory authorities (“Permits”) as are necessary under applicable law to own their properties and conduct their businesses in the manner described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, except for any of the foregoing that could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(ff)                                                        The Company and each of its subsidiaries own or possess adequate rights to use all material patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark

 

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registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses, know-how, software, systems and technology (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures) necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses, except for such failures as would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has reason to believe that the conduct of their respective businesses will conflict with, and have not received any notice of any claim of conflict with, any such rights of others , except for any such infringements or conflicts as would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(gg)                                                  The Company and each of its subsidiaries (i) are, and at all times prior hereto were, in compliance with all laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, orders, judgments, decrees, permits or other legal requirements of any governmental authority, including without limitation any international, national, state, provincial, regional, or local authority, relating to the protection of human health or safety, the environment, or natural resources, or to hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”) applicable to such entity, which compliance includes, without limitation, obtaining, maintaining and complying with all permits and authorizations and approvals required by Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses, and (ii) have not received notice of any actual or alleged violation of Environmental Laws, or of any potential liability for or other obligation concerning the presence, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, except in the case of clause (i) or (ii) where such non-compliance, violation, liability, or other obligation would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or has not been described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus.  Except as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, (A) there are no proceedings that are pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, contemplated, against the Company or any of its subsidiaries under Environmental Laws in which a governmental authority is also a party, other than such proceedings regarding which it is reasonably believed no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed, (B) the Company and its subsidiaries are not aware of any issues regarding compliance with Environmental Laws, or liabilities or other obligations under Environmental Laws or concerning hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (C) none of the Company and its subsidiaries anticipates material capital expenditures relating to Environmental Laws.

 

(hh)                                                  No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s property or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, except as described in or contemplated by the most recent Preliminary Prospectus.

 

(ii)                                                          Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977; or (iv) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.

 

(jj)                                                          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

 

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Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, except, in each case, where such failure or action, suit or proceeding would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(kk)                                                    Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or 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.

 

(ll)                                                          The Company has not distributed and, prior to the later to occur of the Delivery Date and completion of the distribution of the Shares, will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares other than any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to which the Underwriter has consented in accordance with Section 1(i) or 5(a)(vii).

 

(mm)                                              The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.

 

Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Underwriter or counsel for the Underwriter in connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to the Underwriter.

 

Section 2.                                          Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the Selling Shareholder.  The Selling Shareholder represents, warrants and agrees that:

 

(a)                                              Neither the Selling Shareholder nor any person acting on behalf of the Selling Shareholder (other than, if applicable, the Company and the Underwriters) has used or referred to any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405), relating to the Shares;

 

(b)                                             The Selling Shareholder has, and immediately prior to the Delivery Date on which the Selling Shareholder is selling the Shares the Selling Shareholder will have, good and valid title to, or a valid “security entitlement” within the meaning of Sections 8-102 and 8-501 of the New York Uniform Commercial Code (the “UCC”) in respect of, the Shares to be sold by the Selling Shareholder hereunder on the Delivery Date, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims.

 

(c)                                              Upon payment for the Shares to be sold by the Selling Shareholder, delivery of such Shares, as directed by the Underwriter, to Cede & Co. (“Cede”) or such other nominee as may be designated by The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), registration of such Shares in the name of Cede or such other nominee and the crediting of such Shares on the books of DTC to the securities account of the Underwriter (assuming that neither DTC nor the Underwriter has notice of any adverse

 

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claim (within the meaning of Sections 8-102 and 8-105 of the UCC) to such Shares), (i) the Underwriter shall be a “protected purchaser” of such Shares within the meaning of Section 8-303 of the UCC, and (ii) under Section 8-501 of the UCC, the Underwriter will acquire a valid security entitlement in respect of such Shares free of any “adverse claim,” within the meaning of Section 8-102 of the UCC.  For purposes of this representation, the Selling Shareholder may assume that when such payment, delivery and crediting occur, (A) such Shares will have been registered in the name of Cede or another nominee designated by DTC, in each case on the Company’s share registry in accordance with its certificate of incorporation, bylaws and applicable law, (B) DTC will be registered as a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of Section 8-102 of the UCC and (C) appropriate entries to the Underwriter’s account on the records of DTC will have been made pursuant to the UCC.

 

(d)                                             The Selling Shareholder has full right, power and authority, corporate or otherwise, to enter into this Agreement.

 

(e)                                              This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Selling Shareholder.

 

(f)                                                The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Selling Shareholder and the consummation by the Selling Shareholder of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, license or other agreement or instrument to which the Selling Shareholder is a party or by which the Selling Shareholder is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Selling Shareholder is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws (or similar organizational documents) of the Selling Shareholder or (iii) result in any violation of any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Selling Shareholder or the property or assets of the Selling Shareholder.

 

(g)                                             No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing or registration with, any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Selling Shareholder or the property or assets of the Selling Shareholder is required for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Selling Shareholder and the consummation by the Selling Shareholder of the transactions contemplated hereby, except for the registration of the Shares under the Securities Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under the Exchange Act and applicable state securities laws in connection with the purchase and sale of the Shares by the Underwriter.

 

(h)                                             Neither the Selling Shareholder nor any of its officers or directors has ever served as an officer or director of, or otherwise held any position with, the Company or any of its subsidiaries.  The Selling Shareholder (i) has never exercised control over the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) has never sought to influence the Company by virtue of the Selling Shareholder’s ownership of Common Stock and (iii) does not have, and does not have access to, material non-public information regarding the current or prospective condition (financial or otherwise), operations, results of operations, properties or business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

(i)                                                 The Selling Shareholder has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action that is designed to or that has constituted or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.

 

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(j)                                                 The Selling Shareholder is not directly or indirectly an affiliate of or associated with any member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., except that a director of the Selling Shareholder, Frederick B. Whittemore, is an advisory director of Morgan Stanley.

 

Any certificate signed by any officer of the Selling Shareholder and delivered to the Underwriter or counsel for the Underwriter in connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Selling Shareholder, as to matters covered thereby, to the Underwriter.

 

Section 3.                                          Purchase of the Shares by the Underwriter.   On the basis of the representations and warranties contained in, and subject to the terms and conditions of, this Agreement, the Company agrees to sell 3,000,000 of the Shares and the Selling Shareholder agrees to sell 7,701,905 of the Shares, severally and not jointly, to the Underwriter, and the Underwriter agrees to purchase that number of the Shares.

 

The price of the Shares purchased by the Underwriter shall be $20.63 per share.

 

The Company and the Selling Shareholder shall not be obligated to deliver any of the Shares to be delivered on the Delivery Date, except upon payment for all such Shares to be purchased on the Delivery Date as provided herein.

 

Section 4.                                          Delivery of and Payment for the Shares.   Delivery of and payment for the Shares shall be made at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the third full business day following the date of this Agreement or at such other date or place as shall be determined by agreement between the Underwriter and the Company (the “Delivery Date”).  Delivery of the Shares shall be made to the account of the Underwriter against payment by the Underwriter of the respective aggregate purchase prices of the Shares being sold by the Company and the Selling Shareholder to or upon the order of the Company and the Selling Shareholder of the purchase price by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the respective accounts specified by the Company and the Selling Shareholder. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified pursuant to this Agreement is a further condition of the obligation of the Underwriter hereunder.  The Company shall deliver the Shares through the facilities of DTC unless the Underwriter shall otherwise instruct.

 

Section 5.                                          Further Agreements of the Company and the Underwriter.  (a)  The Company agrees:

 

i.                                 To prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by the Underwriter and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act not later than the Commission’s close of business on the second business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement; to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus prior to the Delivery Date except as provided herein; to advise the Underwriter, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus has been filed and to furnish the Underwriter with copies thereof; to file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares contemplated hereby; during the period ending on such date as delivery of a Prospectus is no longer required in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”), to advise the Underwriter, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of

 

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any order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, of the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding or examination for any such purpose, of any notice from the Commission objecting to the use of the form of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or suspending any such qualification, to use promptly its reasonable best efforts to obtain its withdrawal;

 

ii.                              To pay the applicable Commission filing fees relating to the Shares within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1) without regard to the proviso therein;

 

iii.                           To furnish promptly to the Underwriter and to counsel for the Underwriter a signed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed with the Commission, and each amendment thereto filed with the Commission, including all consents and exhibits filed therewith;

 

iv.                          To deliver promptly to the Underwriter such number of the following documents as the Underwriter shall reasonably request:  (A) conformed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed with the Commission and each amendment thereto (in each case excluding exhibits other than this Agreement and the computation of per share earnings), (B) each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and any amended or supplemented Prospectus, (C) each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and (D) any document incorporated by reference in any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus; and, if, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, any events shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus in order to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, to notify the Underwriter and, upon its request, to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many copies as the Underwriter may from time to time reasonably request of an amended or supplemented Prospectus that will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance;

 

v.                             To file promptly with the Commission any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that may, in the judgment of the Company or the Underwriter, be required by the Securities Act or requested by the Commission;

 

vi.                          During the Prospectus Delivery Period, prior to filing with the Commission any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus or any amendment to any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, to furnish a copy thereof to

 

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the Underwriter and counsel for the Underwriter and obtain the consent of the Underwriter to the filing (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed);

 

vii.                       Not to make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent of the Underwriter (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

viii.                    To retain in accordance with the Rules and Regulations all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses not required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Rules and Regulations; and if at any time prior to the Delivery Date any events shall have occurred as a result of which any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, would conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary to amend or supplement any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in order to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, to notify the Underwriter and, upon its request, to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter as many copies as the Underwriter may from time to time reasonably request of an amended or supplemented Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that will correct such conflict, statement or omission or effect such compliance;

 

ix.                            As soon as practicable after the Effective Date and in any event not later than 16 months after the date hereof, to make generally available to the Company’s security holders and to deliver to the Underwriter an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations;

 

x.                               Promptly from time to time to take such action as the Underwriter may reasonably request to qualify the Shares for offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriter may request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Shares; provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction in which it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any jurisdiction in which it would not otherwise be subject;

 

xi.                            For a period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the 60th day after the date of the Prospectus (the “Lock-Up Period”), not to, directly or indirectly, (1) offer for sale, sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction or device that is designed to, or would reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition by any person at any time in the future of) any shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock (other than the Shares and shares issued pursuant to employee benefit plans, stock option plans or other employee compensation plans existing on the date hereof or pursuant to currently outstanding options, warrants or rights), or sell or grant options, rights or warrants with respect to any shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock (other than the grant of options pursuant to option

 

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plans existing on the date hereof), (2) enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership of such shares of Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise, (3) file or cause to be filed a registration statement, including any amendments, with respect to the registration of the offering of any shares of Common Stock or securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable into Common Stock or any other securities of the Company (other than any registration statement on Form S-8) or (4) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing, in each case without the prior written consent of Lehman Brothers Inc.; notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) 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 (2) 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 the restrictions imposed in the preceding paragraph shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the announcement of the material news or the occurrence of the material event, unless Lehman Brothers Inc., waives such extension in writing;

 

xii.                         To apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares being sold by the Company as set forth in the Prospectus;

 

b.                                      The Underwriter agrees that it shall not include any “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433) in any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405) used or referred to by such Underwriter without the prior consent of the Company (any such issuer information with respect to whose use the Company has given its consent, “Permitted Issuer Information”); provided that (i) no such consent shall be required with respect to any such issuer information contained in any document filed by the Company with the Commission prior to the use of such free writing prospectus and (ii) ”issuer information,” as used in this Section 5(b), shall not be deemed to include information prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter on the basis of or derived from Permitted Issuer Information.

 

Section 6.                                          Further Agreements of the Selling Shareholder.   The Selling Shareholder agrees:

 

(a)                                  Neither the Selling Shareholder nor any person acting on behalf of the Selling Shareholder (other than, if applicable, the Company and the Underwriter) shall use or refer to any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405), relating to the Shares;

 

(b)                                 To deliver to the Underwriter prior to the Delivery Date a properly completed and executed United States Treasury Department Form W-9.

 

Section 7.                                          Expenses.  The Company agrees, whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay all costs, expenses, fees and taxes incident to and in connection with (a) the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares and any stamp duties or other taxes payable in that connection, and the preparation and printing of certificates for the Shares; (b) the preparation, printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement (including any exhibits thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto; (c) the distribution of the Registration Statement (including any exhibits thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, or any document incorporated

 

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by reference therein, all as provided in this Agreement; (d) the production and distribution of this Agreement and any other related documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Shares; (e) the listing of the Shares on the American Stock Exchange; (f) the qualification of the Shares under the securities laws of the several jurisdictions as provided in Section 5(a)(x) and the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum (including related fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriter); and (h) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement; provided that, except as provided in this Section 7 and in Section 11, the Underwriter shall pay its own costs and expenses, including the costs and expenses of its counsel, any transfer taxes on the Shares which they may sell and the expenses of advertising any offering of the Shares made by the Underwriter.  The Selling Shareholder agrees, whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay all fees and expenses of its legal counsel.

 

Section 8.                                          Conditions of Underwriter’s Obligations.  The obligations of the Underwriter hereunder are subject to the accuracy, when made and on the Delivery Date, of the representations and warranties of the Company and the Selling Shareholder contained herein, to the performance by the Company and the Selling Shareholder of their respective obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional terms and conditions:

 

(a)                                  The Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission in accordance with Section 5(a)(i); the Company shall have complied with all filing requirements applicable to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus used or referred to after the date hereof and prior to the Delivery Date; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been issued and no proceeding or examination for such purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; any request of the Commission for inclusion of additional information in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise shall have been complied with; and the Commission shall not have notified the Company of any objection to the use of the form of the Registration Statement.

 

(b)                                 The Underwriter shall not have discovered or disclosed to the Company on or prior to the Delivery Date that the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Pricing Disclosure Package, or any amendment or supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of a fact which, in the opinion of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., counsel for the Underwriter, is material or omits to state a fact which, in the opinion of such counsel, is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

 

(c)                                  All corporate proceedings and other legal matters incident to the authorization, form and validity of this Agreement, the Shares, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and all other legal matters relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be reasonably satisfactory in all material respects to counsel for the Underwriter, and the Company and the Selling Shareholder shall have furnished to such counsel all documents and information that they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

 

(d)                                 Baker Botts L.L.P. shall have furnished to the Underwriter its written opinion, as counsel to the Company, addressed to the Underwriter and dated the Delivery Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriter, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

(e)                                  Winstead Sechrest & Minick P.C. shall have furnished to the Underwriter its written opinion, as counsel to the Selling Shareholder, addressed to the Underwriter and dated the Delivery

 

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Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriter, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.

 

(f)                                    The Underwriter shall have received from Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., counsel for the Underwriter, such opinion or opinions, dated the Delivery Date, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Shares, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package and other related matters as the Underwriter may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

 

(g)                                 At the time of execution of this Agreement, the Underwriter shall have received from KPMG LLP a letter, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriter, addressed to the Underwriter and dated the date hereof (i) confirming that they are independent certified public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission, and (ii) stating, as of the date hereof (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, as of a date not more than three days prior to the date hereof), the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings.

 

(h)                                 With respect to the letter of KPMG LLP referred to in the preceding paragraph and delivered to the Underwriter concurrently with the execution of this Agreement (the “initial letter”), the Company shall have furnished to the Underwriter a letter (the “bring-down letter”) of such accountants, addressed to the Underwriter and dated the Delivery Date (i) confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission, (ii) stating, as of the date of the bring-down letter (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the Prospectus, as of a date not more than three days prior to the date of the bring-down letter), the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters covered by the initial letter and (iii) confirming in all material respects the conclusions and findings set forth in the initial letter.

 

(i)                                     The Company shall have furnished to the Underwriter a certificate, dated the Delivery Date, of its Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer stating that:

 

(i)                                     The representations, warranties and agreements of the Company in Section 1 are true and correct on and as of the Delivery Date, and the Company has complied with all its agreements contained herein and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Delivery Date;

 

(ii)                                  No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued; no proceedings or examination for that purpose have been instituted or, to the knowledge of such officers, threatened; and the Commission has not notified the Company of any objection to the use of the form of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto; and

 

(iii)                               They have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, and, in their opinion: (A) (1) the Registration

 

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Statement, as of the Effective Date, (2) the Prospectus, as of its date and on the Delivery Date, or (3) the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, did not and do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact and did not and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (except in the case of the Registration Statement, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except, in the case of the Pricing Disclosure Package, that the price of the Shares and disclosures directly relating thereto are included on the cover page of the Prospectus; provided that no opinion need be expressed as to information contained in or omitted from the Pricing Disclosure Package in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 9(f); and (B) since the Effective Date, no event has occurred that should have been set forth in a supplement or amendment to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that has not been so set forth;

 

(j)                                     The Selling Shareholder shall have furnished to the Underwriter on the Delivery Date a certificate, dated the Delivery Date, signed by, or on behalf of, the Selling Shareholder stating that the representations, warranties and agreements of the Selling Shareholder contained herein are true and correct on and as of the Delivery Date and that the Selling Shareholder has complied with all its agreements contained herein and has satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Delivery Date.

 

(k)                                  (i) Except as disclosed in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have sustained, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree or (ii) since such date there shall not have been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, shareholders’ equity, properties, management or business of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is, in the judgment of the Underwriter, so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Shares being delivered on the Delivery Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

 

(l)                                     Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement there shall not have occurred any of the following:  (i) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or the American Stock Exchange or in the over-the-counter market, or trading in any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market, shall have been suspended or materially limited or the settlement of such trading generally shall have been materially disrupted or minimum prices shall have been established on any such exchange or such market by the Commission, by such exchange or by any other regulatory body or governmental authority having jurisdiction, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared by federal or state authorities, (iii) the United States shall have become engaged in hostilities, there shall have been an escalation in hostilities involving the United States or there shall have been a declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States or (iv) there shall have occurred such a material adverse change in general economic, political or financial conditions, including, without limitation, as a result of terrorist activities after the date hereof (or the effect of international conditions on the financial markets in the United States shall be such), as to make it, in the judgment of the Underwriter, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with

 

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the public offering or delivery of the Shares being delivered on the Delivery Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

 

(m)                               The American Stock Exchange shall have approved, to the extent not already so approved, the Shares for listing, subject only to official notice of issuance.

 

All opinions, letters, evidence and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriter.

 

Section 9.                                          Indemnification and Contribution.

 

(a)                                                          The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriter, its directors, officers and employees and each person, if any, who controls the Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any loss, claim, damage, liability or action relating to purchases and sales of Shares), to which the Underwriter, director, officer, employee or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in (A) any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, (B) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (C) any Permitted Issuer Information used or referred to in any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405) used or referred to by the Underwriter or (D) any Blue Sky application or other document prepared or executed by the Company (or based upon any written information furnished by the Company for use therein) specifically for the purpose of qualifying any or all of the Shares under the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction (any such application, document or information being hereinafter called a “Blue Sky Application”), (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Preliminary Prospectus (when considered together with the Pricing Disclosure Package and as of the Applicable Time), the Prospectus (as of its date and on the Delivery Date), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (when considered together with the Pricing Disclosure Package and as of the Applicable Time) or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Permitted Issuer Information or any Blue Sky Application (as of its date), any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading , in light of the circumstances under which they were made, (iii) the omission or alleged omission to state in the Registration Statement or in any amendment (in each case, as of the Effective Date) thereto, any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (iv) any act or failure to act or any alleged act or failure to act by the 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 matters covered by clause (i) through (iii) above (provided that the Company shall not be liable under this clause (iv) to the extent that it is determined in a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction 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 the Underwriter through its gross negligence or willful misconduct), and shall reimburse the Underwriter and each such director, officer, employee or controlling person promptly upon demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Underwriter, director, officer, employee or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any such amendment or supplement thereto or in any Permitted Issuer Information or any Blue Sky Application, in

 

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reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning the Underwriter furnished to the Company through the Underwriter by or on behalf of the Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information consists solely of the information specified in Section 9(f).  The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to the Underwriter or to any director, officer, employee or controlling person of the Underwriter.

 

(b)                                                         The Selling Shareholder shall indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriter, its directors, officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls the Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any loss, claim, damage, liability or action relating to purchases and sales of Shares), to which the Underwriter, director, officer, employee or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Permitted Issuer Information, any Blue Sky Application or any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405), prepared by or on behalf of the Selling Shareholder or used or referred to by the Selling Shareholder in connection with the offering of the Shares in violation of Section 6(f) (a “Selling Shareholder Free Writing Prospectus”), (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Preliminary Prospectus, Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Permitted Issuer Information, any Blue Sky Application or any Selling Shareholder Free Writing Prospectus, any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and shall reimburse the Underwriter, its directors, officers and employees and each such controlling person promptly upon demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Underwriter, its directors, officers and employees or controlling persons in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred or (iii) any breach of any representation or warranty of the Selling Shareholder in this Agreement or any certificate or other agreement delivered pursuant hereto or contemplated hereby; provided, however, that the Selling Shareholder shall be liable in any such case only to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement or in any Permitted Issuer Information in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning such Selling Shareholder furnished to the Company by such Selling Shareholder specifically for inclusion therein, or arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Selling Shareholder Free Writing Prospectus.  The liability of the Selling Shareholder under the indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph shall be limited to an amount equal to the total gross proceeds from the offering of the Shares purchased under the Agreement received by the Selling Shareholder, as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus.  The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability that the Selling Shareholder may otherwise have to the Underwriter or any officer, employee or controlling person of the Underwriter.

 

(c)                                                          The Underwriter shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Selling Shareholder, their respective directors, officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls the Company or the Selling Shareholder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof, to which the Company, the Selling Shareholder or any such director, officer, employee or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free

 

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Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Blue Sky Application, or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Blue Sky Application, any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning the Underwriter furnished to the Company through the Underwriter by or on behalf of the Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is limited to the information set forth in Section 9(f).  The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability that the Underwriter may otherwise have to the Company, the Selling Shareholder or any such director, officer, employee or controlling person.

 

(d)                                                         Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 9 of notice of any claim or the commencement of any action, the indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 9, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the claim or the commencement of that action; provided, however, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have under this Section 9 except to the extent it has been materially prejudiced by such failure and, provided,  further, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 9.  If any such claim or action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party.  After notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense of such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the indemnified party under this Section 9 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that the indemnified party shall have the right to employ counsel to represent jointly the indemnified party and its directors, officers, employees and controlling persons who may be subject to liability arising out of any claim in respect of which indemnity may be sought by the indemnified party against the indemnifying party under this Section 9 if (i) the Company, the Selling Shareholder and the Underwriter shall have so mutually agreed; (ii) the indemnifying party has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; (iii) the indemnified party and its respective directors, officers, employees and controlling persons shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to them that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified party or its directors, officers, employees or controlling persons, on the one hand, and the indemnifying party, on the other hand, and representation of both sets of parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them, and in any such event the fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be paid by the indemnifying party.  No indemnifying party shall (i) without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and does not include any findings of fact or admissions of fault or culpability as to the indemnified party, or (ii) be liable for any settlement of any such action effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with the consent of the indemnifying party or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.

 

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(e)                                                          If the indemnification provided for in this Section 9 shall for any reason be unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 9(a), 9(b) or 9(c) in respect of any loss, claim, damage or liability, or any action in respect thereof, referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling Shareholder, on the one hand, and the Underwriter, on the other, from the offering of the Shares 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 Shareholder, on the one hand, and the Underwriter, on the other, with respect to the statements or omissions that resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling Shareholder, on the one hand, and the Underwriter, on the other, with respect to such offering shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Shares purchased under this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the Selling Shareholders, as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus, on the one hand, and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriter with respect to the Shares purchased under this Agreement, as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus, on the other hand.  The relative fault shall be determined by reference to whether the 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, the Selling Shareholder or the Underwriter, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.  The Company, the Selling Shareholder and the Underwriter agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 9(e) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein.  The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 9(e) shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 9(e), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9(e), the Underwriter shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares underwritten by it exceeds the amount of any damages that the Underwriter has otherwise paid or become liable to pay by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

(f)                                                            The Underwriter confirms and the Company and the Selling Shareholder acknowledge and agree that the statements regarding delivery of shares by the Underwriter set forth on the cover page of, and the concession and reallowance figures and the paragraphs relating to stabilization by the Underwriter appearing under the caption “Underwriting” in, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus are correct and constitute the only information concerning the Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the Underwriter specifically for inclusion in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto.

 

(g)                                                         The Selling Shareholder confirms and the Company and the Underwriter acknowledge and agree that the statements regarding ownership of shares by the Selling Shareholder set forth on the cover page and the two paragraphs appearing under the caption “Selling Shareholder” in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus are correct and constitute the only information concerning the Selling Shareholder furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the Selling Shareholder

 

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specifically for inclusion in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto.

 

Section 10.                                   Termination.  The obligations of the Underwriter hereunder may be terminated by the Underwriter by notice given to and received by the Company and the Selling Shareholder prior to delivery of and payment for the Shares if, prior to that time, any of the events described in Sections 8(l) and 8(m) shall have occurred or if the Underwriter shall decline to purchase the Shares for any reason permitted under this Agreement.  Subject to Section 11 below, any termination due to the occurrence of any of the events described in Sections 8(l) and 8(m) shall be without liability on the part of (a) the Company or the Selling Shareholder to the Underwriter, (b) the Underwriter to the Company and the Selling Shareholder or (c) any party to any other party, except that the provisions contained in Section 9 shall at all times be effective and survive such termination.

 

Section 11.                                   Reimbursement of Underwriter’s Expenses.  If (a) the Company or the Selling Shareholder shall fail to tender the Shares for delivery to the Underwriter by reason of any failure, refusal or inability on the part of the Company or the Selling Shareholders to perform any agreement on their part to be performed, or because any other condition to the Underwriter’s obligations hereunder required to be fulfilled by the Company or the Selling Shareholder is not fulfilled for any reason or (b) the Underwriter shall decline to purchase the Shares for any reason permitted under this Agreement, the Company and the Selling Shareholder will reimburse the Underwriter for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) incurred by the Underwriter in connection with this Agreement and the proposed purchase of the Shares, and upon demand the Company and the Selling Shareholder shall pay the full amount thereof to the Underwriter.

 

Section 12.                                   Research Analyst Independence.  The Company acknowledges that the Underwriter’s research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from their respective investment banking divisions and are subject to certain regulations and internal policies, and that the Underwriter’s research analysts may hold views and make statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company and/or the offering that differ from the views of their respective investment banking divisions.  The Company and the Selling Shareholder hereby waive and release, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company or the Selling Shareholder may have against the Underwriter with respect to any conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by their independent research analysts and research departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to the Company or the Selling Shareholder by such Underwriter’s investment banking divisions.  The Company and the Selling Shareholder acknowledge that the Underwriter is a full service securities firm and as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity securities of the companies that may be the subject of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Section 13.                                   No Fiduciary Duty.  The Company and the Selling Shareholder acknowledge and agree that in connection with this offering, sale of the Shares or any other services the Underwriter may be deemed to be providing hereunder, notwithstanding any preexisting relationship, advisory or otherwise, between the parties or any oral representations or assurances previously or subsequently made by the Underwriter:  (i) no fiduciary or agency relationship between the Company, the Selling Shareholder and any other person, on the one hand, and the Underwriter, on the other, exists; (ii) the Underwriter is not acting as an advisor, expert or otherwise, to either the Company or the Selling Shareholder, including, without limitation, with respect to the determination of the public offering price of the Shares, and such relationship between the Company and the Selling Shareholder, on the one hand, and the Underwriter, on the other, is entirely and solely commercial, based on arms-length negotiations; (iii) any duties and obligations that the Underwriter may have to the Company or the Selling Shareholder

 

22



 

shall be limited to those duties and obligations specifically stated herein; and (iv) the Underwriter and its affiliates may have interests that differ from those of the Company and the Selling Shareholder.  The Company and the Selling Shareholder hereby waive any claims that the Company or the Selling Shareholder may have against the Underwriter with respect to any breach of fiduciary duty in connection with this offering.

 

Section 14.                                   Notices, Etc.  All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and:

 

If to the Underwriter, will be delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission to:

 

Lehman Brothers Inc.
745 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019
Attention: Syndicate Registration
Facsimile:  (646) 834-8133
Attention:  General Counsel

 

with a copy to:

 

Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.
Fulbright Tower
1301 McKinney, Suite 5100
Houston, Texas 77010
Facsimile:  (713) 651-5246
Attention:  Charles L. Strauss

 

with a copy in case of any notice pursuant to Section 9(d) to:

 

Director of Litigation
Office of the General Counsel
Lehman Brothers Inc.
399 Park Avenue, 10th Floor
New York, New York 10022
Facsimile: (212) 520-0421

 

If to the Company, will be delivered or sent by hand or overnight delivery, mail or facsimile transmission to:

 

Pioneer Drilling Company
1250 NE Loop 410, Suite 1000
San Antonio, Texas 78209
Facsimile:  (210) 828-8228
Attention:  Wm. Stacy Locke

 

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with a copy to:

 

Baker Botts L.L.P.
3000 One Shell Plaza
910 Louisiana Street
Houston, Texas 77002-4995
Facsimile:  (713) 229-7738
Attention:  Ted W. Paris

 

If to the Selling Shareholder, shall be delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission to:

 

Chesapeake Energy Corporation
610 North Western Avenue
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73118
Facsimile:  (405) 879-9572
Attention:  Jennifer M. Grigsby

 

with a copy to:

 

Winstead Sechrest & Minick P.C.
5400 Renaissance Tower
1201 Elm Street
Dallas, Texas 75270
Facsimile: (214) 745-5390
Attention: Connie Stamets

 

Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect at the time of receipt thereof.  The Company and the Selling Shareholder shall be entitled to act and rely upon any request, consent, notice or agreement given or made on behalf of the Underwriter; and the Company and the Underwriter shall be entitled to act and rely upon any request, consent, notice or agreement given or made on behalf of the Selling Shareholder.

 

Section 15.                                   Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement.   This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriter, the Company, the Selling Shareholder and their respective successors.  This Agreement and the terms and provisions hereof are for the sole benefit of only those persons, except that (A) the representations, warranties, indemnities and agreements of the Company and the Selling Shareholder contained in this Agreement shall also be deemed to be for the benefit of the directors, officers and employees of the Underwriter and each person or persons, if any, who control the Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and (B) the indemnity agreement of the Underwriter contained in Section 9(c) of this Agreement shall be deemed to be for the benefit of the directors of the Company, the officers of the Company who have signed the Registration Statement and any person controlling the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act.  Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, other than the persons referred to in this Section 15, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein.

 

Section 16.                                   Survival.   The respective indemnities, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company, the Selling Shareholder and the Underwriter contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Shares and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any of them or any person controlling any of them.

 

Section 17.                                   Definition of the Terms “Business Day” and “Subsidiary”.   For purposes of this Agreement, (a) ”business day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that

 

24



 

is not a day on which banking institutions in New York are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close and (b) ”subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405.

 

Section 18.                                   Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

Section 19.                                   Counterparts.   This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and, if executed in more than one counterpart, the executed counterparts shall each be deemed to be an original but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

Section 20.                                   Headings.   The headings herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

 

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If the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement among the Company, the Selling Shareholder and the Underwriter, please indicate your acceptance in the space provided for that purpose below.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

 

PIONEER DRILLING COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Wm. Stacy Locke

 

 

 

 

Name:

Wm. Stacy Locke

 

 

 

 

Title:

President and Chief Executive
Officer

 

 



 

 

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Martha A. Burger

 

 

 

 

Name:

Martha A. Burger

 

 

 

 

Title:

Treasurer and Senior Vice President-
Human Resources

 

 



 

Accepted:

 

 

 

LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William Beurket

 

 

 

Authorized Representative

 

 

 

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