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_______________ SHARES
FREESHOP.COM, INC.
COMMON STOCK
(NO PAR VALUE)
EQUITY UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
_______________, 1999
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
Dain Rauscher Wessels
Volpe Brown Whelan & Company, LLC
E*OFFERING Corp.
As Representatives of the
Several Underwriters
c/o Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
__________________________________
__________________________________
Ladies and Gentlemen:
FreeShop.com, Inc., a Washington corporation (the "Company"), proposes to
sell to the several underwriters (the "Underwriters") named in Schedule I hereto
for whom you are acting as representatives (the "Representatives") an aggregate
of __________ shares of the Company's Common Stock, no par value (the "Firm
Shares"). The respective amounts of the Firm Shares to be so purchased by the
several Underwriters are set forth opposite their names in Schedule I hereto.
The Company also proposes to sell to the Underwriters at the Underwriters'
option an aggregate of up to __________ additional shares of the Company's
Common Stock (the "Option Shares") as set forth below.
As the Representatives, you have advised the Company (a) that you are
authorized to enter into this Agreement on behalf of the several Underwriters,
and (b) that the several Underwriters are willing, acting severally and not
jointly, to purchase the numbers of Firm Shares set forth opposite their
respective names in Schedule I, plus their pro rata portion of the Option Shares
if you elect to exercise the over-allotment option in whole or in part for the
accounts of the several Underwriters. The Firm Shares and the Option Shares (to
the extent the aforementioned option is exercised) are herein collectively
called the "Shares."
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In consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein and of the
interests of the parties in the transactions contemplated hereby, the parties
hereto agree as follows:
1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The Company represents and warrants to each of the Underwriters as follows:
(a) A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-81151) with respect
to the Shares has been prepared by the Company in conformity with the
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and the
Rules and Regulations (the "Rules and Regulations") of the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") thereunder and has been filed with the
Commission. Copies of such registration statement, including any amendments
thereto, the preliminary prospectuses (meeting the requirements of the Rules and
Regulations) contained therein and the exhibits, financial statements and
schedules, as finally amended and revised, have heretofore been delivered by the
Company to you. Such registration statement, together with any registration
statement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Act, herein
referred to as the "Registration Statement," which shall be deemed to include
all information omitted therefrom in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in
the Prospectus referred to below, has become effective under the Act and no
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed as of the
date of this Agreement. "Prospectus" means the form of prospectus first filed
with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b). Each preliminary prospectus
included in the Registration Statement prior to the time it becomes effective is
herein referred to as a "Preliminary Prospectus."
(b) The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Washington, with
corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its
business as described in the Registration Statement. The Company is duly
qualified to transact business in all jurisdictions in which the conduct of its
business requires such qualification except such jurisdictions in which, when
considered in the aggregate, the failure to be so qualified would not have a
material adverse effect on the Company. The Company does not own any equity
interest, directly or indirectly, in any corporation, partnership, joint venture
or other entity and has no subsidiaries.
(c) The outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company have been duly
authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. The Shares
to be issued and sold by the Company have been duly authorized and when issued
and paid for as contemplated herein will be validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable; and no preemptive rights of shareholders exist with respect to
any of the Shares or the issue and sale thereof. Neither the filing of the
Registration Statement nor the offering or sale of the Shares as contemplated by
this Agreement gives rise to any rights, other than those which have been waived
or satisfied, for or relating to the registration of any shares of Common Stock.
(d) The information set forth under the caption "Capitalization" in the
Prospectus is true and correct. All of the Shares conform to the description
thereof contained in the Registration Statement. The form of certificates for
the Shares conforms to the requirements of the Business Corporation Act of the
State of Washington.
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(e) The Commission has not issued an order preventing or suspending the use
of any Prospectus relating to the proposed offering of the Shares nor instituted
proceedings for that purpose. The Registration Statement contains, and the
Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto will contain, all
statements which are required to be stated therein by, and will conform, to the
requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations. The Registration
Statement and any amendment thereto do not contain, and will not contain, any
untrue statement of a material fact and do not omit, and will not omit, to state
any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus and any amendments and
supplements thereto do not contain, and will not contain, any untrue statement
of material fact; and do not omit, and will not omit, to state any 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. The
three preceding sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement,
based upon written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any
Underwriter through the Representatives, specifically for use in the preparation
thereof.
(f) The financial statements of the Company, Commonsite, LLC ("Commonsite")
and Travel Companions International, Inc. ("Travel Companions"), together with
related notes and schedules as set forth in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, present fairly the financial position and the results of operations
and cash flows of the Company, Commonsite and Travel Companions at the indicated
dates and for the indicated periods. Such financial statements and related
schedules have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted principles of
accounting, consistently applied throughout the periods involved, except as
disclosed therein, and all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of
results for such periods have been made. The summary financial and statistical
data included in the Registration Statement presents fairly the information
shown therein and such data has been compiled on a basis consistent with the
financial statements presented therein and the books and records of the Company
Commonsite and Travel Companions. The pro forma financial statements and other
pro forma financial information included in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein, have been prepared in
accordance with the Commission's rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma
financial statements, have been properly compiled on the pro forma bases
described therein, and, in the opinion of the Company, the assumptions used in
the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are
appropriate to give effect to the transactions or circumstances referred to
therein.
(g) PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PricewaterhouseCoopers"), who have
certified certain of the financial statements filed with the Commission as part
of the Registration Statement, are independent public accountants as required by
the Act and the Rules and Regulations.
(h) There is no action, suit, claim or proceeding pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company before any court or
administrative agency or otherwise which, if determined adversely to the
Company, might, individually or in the aggregate, result in any material adverse
change in the earnings, business, management, properties, assets, rights,
operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company or to
prevent
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the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except as set forth in
the Registration Statement.
(i) The Company has good and marketable title to all of the properties and
assets reflected in the financial statements (or as described in the
Registration Statement) hereinabove described, subject to no lien, mortgage,
pledge, charge or encumbrance of any kind except those reflected in such
financial statements (or as described in the Registration Statement) or which
are not material in amount. The Company occupies its leased properties under
valid and binding leases conforming in all material respects to the description
thereof set forth in the Registration Statement.
(j) The Company has filed all Federal, State, local and foreign tax returns
which have been required to be filed and has paid all taxes indicated by said
returns and all assessments received by it to the extent that such taxes have
become due and are not being contested in good faith and for which an adequate
reserve for accrual has been established in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles. All tax liabilities have been adequately provided for in
the financial statements of the Company, and the Company does not know of any
actual or proposed additional material tax assessments.
(k) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
Registration Statement, as it may be amended or supplemented, there has not been
any material adverse change or any development involving a prospective material
adverse change in or affecting the earnings, business, management, properties,
assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or otherwise), or prospects of
the Company, whether or not occurring in the ordinary course of business, and
there has not been any material transaction entered into or any material
transaction that is probable of being entered into by the Company, other than
transactions in the ordinary course of business and changes and transactions
described in the Registration Statement, as it may be amended or supplemented.
The Company has no material contingent obligations which are not disclosed in
the Company's financial statements which are included in the Registration
Statement.
(l) The Company is not, nor with the giving of notice or lapse of time or
both, will be, in violation of or in default under its Second Amended and
Restated Articles of Incorporation or Amended and Restated Bylaws or under any
agreement, lease, contract, indenture or other instrument or obligation to which
it is a party or by which it, or any of its properties, is bound and which
default is of material significance in respect of the condition (financial or
otherwise) of the Company or the business, management, properties, assets,
rights, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the
Company.
The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions herein contemplated and the fulfillment of the terms hereof will
not conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or
constitute a default under, any indenture, lease, deed of trust or other
agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party, or of the Second
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation or Amended and Restated Bylaws of
the Company or any order, rule or regulation applicable to the Company of any
court or of any regulatory body or administrative agency or other governmental
body having jurisdiction.
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(m) Each approval, consent, order, authorization, designation, declaration
or filing by or with any regulatory, administrative or other governmental body
necessary in connection with the execution and delivery by the Company of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated (except
such additional steps as may be required by the Commission, the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") or such additional steps as
may be necessary to qualify the Shares for public offering by the Underwriters
under state securities or Blue Sky laws) has been obtained or made and is in
full force and effect.
(n) The Company holds all material licenses, certificates and permits from
governmental authorities which are necessary to the conduct of its business; and
the Company to its knowledge has not infringed any patents, patent rights, trade
names, trademarks or copyrights. The Company knows of no material infringement
by others of patents, patent rights, trade names, trademarks or copyrights owned
by or licensed to the Company.
(o) Neither the Company, nor to the Company's knowledge, any of its
affiliates, has taken or may take, directly or indirectly, any action designed
to cause or result in, or which has constituted or which might reasonably be
expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of the
shares of Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares. The
Company acknowledges that the Underwriters may engage in passive market making
transactions in the Shares on The Nasdaq Stock Market in accordance with
Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act").
(p) The Company is not an "investment company" within the meaning of such
term under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (as amended, the "1940 Act"), and
the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(q) The Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls
sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed
in accordance with management's general or specific authorization; (ii)
transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to
maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in
accordance with management's general or specific authorization; and (iv) the
recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at
reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any
differences.
(r) The Company carries, or is covered by, insurance in such amounts and
covering such risks as is adequate for the conduct of its business and the value
of its properties and as is customary for companies engaged in similar
businesses.
(s) The Company is in compliance in all material respects with all presently
applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder
("ERISA"); no "reportable event" (as defined in ERISA) has occurred with respect
to any "pension plan" (as defined in ERISA) for which the Company would have any
liability; the Company has not incurred and does not expect to incur liability
under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or
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withdrawal from, any "pension plan" or (ii) Sections 412 or 4971 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including the regulations and published
interpretations thereunder (the "Code"); and each "pension plan" for which the
Company would have any liability that is intended to be qualified under Section
401(a) of the Code is so qualified in all material respects and nothing has
occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of
such qualification.
(t) To the Company's knowledge, there are no affiliations or associations
between any member of the NASD and any of the Company's officers, directors or
5% or greater securityholders, except as set forth in the Registration
Statement.
2. PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE FIRM SHARES
(a) On the basis of the representations, warranties and covenants herein
contained, and subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to
sell to the Underwriters and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly,
to purchase, at a price of $_____ per share, the number of Firm Shares set forth
opposite the name of each Underwriter in Schedule I hereof, subject to
adjustments in accordance with Section 9 hereof.
(b) Payment for the Firm Shares to be sold hereunder is to be made by wire
transfer in Federal (same day) funds against delivery of certificates therefor
to the Representatives for the several accounts of the Underwriters. Such
payment and delivery are to be made through the facilities of the Depository
Trust Company, New York, New York at 10:00 a.m., New York time, on the third
business day after the date of this Agreement or at such other time and date not
later than five business days thereafter as you and the Company shall agree
upon, such time and date being herein referred to as the "Closing Date." (As
used herein, "business day" means a day on which the New York Stock Exchange is
open for trading and on which banks in New York are open for business and are
not permitted by law or executive order to be closed.) The certificates for the
Firm Shares shall be delivered in such denominations and in such registrations
as the Representatives request in writing not later than the second full
business day prior to the Closing Date, and will be made available for
inspection by the Representatives at least one business day prior to the Closing
Date.
(c) In addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties herein
contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company
hereby grants an option to the several Underwriters to purchase the Option
Shares at the price per share as set forth in the first paragraph of this
Section 2. The option granted hereby may be exercised in whole or in part by
giving written notice (i) at any time before the Closing Date and (ii) only once
thereafter within 30 days after the date of this Agreement, by you, as
Representatives of the several Underwriters, to the Company setting forth the
number of Option Shares as to which the several Underwriters are exercising the
option, the names and denominations in which the Option Shares are to be
registered and the time and date at which such certificates are to be delivered.
The time and date at which certificates for Option Shares are to be delivered
shall be determined by the Representatives but shall not be earlier than three
nor later than 10 full business days after the exercise of such option, nor in
any event prior to the Closing Date (such time and date being herein referred to
as the "Option Closing Date"). If the date of exercise of the option is three or
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more days before the Closing Date, the notice of exercise shall set the Closing
Date as the Option Closing Date. The number of Option Shares to be purchased by
each Underwriter shall be in the same proportion to the total number of Option
Shares being purchased as the number of Firm Shares being purchased by such
Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Shares purchased by the
Underwriters, adjusted by you in such manner as to avoid fractional shares. The
option with respect to the Option Shares granted hereunder may be exercised only
to cover over-allotments in the sale of the Firm Shares by the Underwriters.
You, as Representatives of the several Underwriters, may cancel such option at
any time prior to its expiration by giving written notice of such cancellation
to the Company. To the extent, if any, that the option is exercised, payment for
the Option Shares shall be made by wire transfer on the Option Closing Date in
Federal (same day) funds against delivery of certificates thereof through the
facilities of the Depository Trust Company in New York, New York, drawn to the
order of the Company.
3. OFFERING BY THE UNDERWRITERS
It is understood that the several Underwriters are to make a public offering
of the Firm Shares as soon as the Representatives deem it advisable to do so.
The Firm Shares are to be initially offered to the public at the initial public
offering price set forth in the Prospectus. The Representatives may from time to
time thereafter change the public offering price and other selling terms. To the
extent, if at all, that any Option Shares are purchased pursuant to Section 2
hereof, the Underwriters will offer them to the public on the foregoing terms.
It is further understood that you will act as the Representatives for the
Underwriters in the offering and sale of the Shares in accordance with a Master
Agreement Among Underwriters entered into by you and the several other
Underwriters.
4. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that:
(a) The Company will (i) use its best efforts to cause the Registration
Statement to become effective and, if the procedure in Rule 430A of the Rules
and Regulations is followed, to prepare and timely file with the Commission
under Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations a Prospectus in a form approved
by the Representatives containing information previously omitted at the time of
effectiveness of the Registration Statement in reliance on Rule 430A of the
Rules and Regulations and (ii) not file any amendment to the Registration
Statement or supplement to the Prospectus of which the Representatives shall not
previously have been advised and furnished with a copy or to which the
Representatives shall have reasonably objected in writing or which is not in
compliance with the Rules and Regulations.
(b) The Company will advise the Representatives promptly (i) when the
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto shall have become
effective, (ii) of receipt of any comments from the Commission, (iii) of any
request of the Commission for amendment of the Registration Statement or for
supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, and (iv) of the
issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or the use of the Prospectus or of the institution of any
proceedings for that purpose. The Company will use its best efforts to prevent
the issuance
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of any such stop order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus and to
obtain as soon as possible the lifting thereof, if issued.
(c) The Company will cooperate with the Representatives in endeavoring to
qualify the Shares for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as
the Representatives may reasonably have designated in writing and will make such
applications, file such documents, and furnish such information as may be
reasonably required for that purpose, provided the Company shall not be required
to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of
process in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or required to file
such a consent. The Company will, from time to time, prepare and file such
statements, reports, and other documents, as are or may be required to continue
such qualifications in effect for so long a period as the Representatives may
reasonably request for distribution of the Shares.
(d) The Company will deliver to, or upon the order of, the Representatives,
from time to time, as many copies of any Preliminary Prospectus as the
Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will deliver to, or upon the
order of, the Representatives during the period when delivery of a Prospectus is
required under the Act, as many copies of the Prospectus in final form, or as
thereafter amended or supplemented, as the Representatives may reasonably
request. The Company will deliver to the Representatives at or before the
Closing Date, four signed copies of the Registration Statement and all
amendments thereto including all exhibits filed therewith, and will deliver to
the Representatives such number of copies of the Registration Statement
(including such number of copies of the exhibits filed therewith that may
reasonably be requested), and of all amendments thereto, as the Representatives
may reasonably request.
(e) The Company will comply with the Act and the Rules and Regulations, and
the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, so
as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Shares as contemplated in
this Agreement and the Prospectus. If during the period in which a prospectus is
required by law to be delivered by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall
occur as a result of which, in the judgment of the Company or in the reasonable
opinion of the Underwriters, it becomes necessary to amend or supplement the
Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances existing at the time the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser,
not misleading, or, if it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the
Prospectus to comply with any law, the Company promptly will prepare and file
with the Commission an appropriate amendment to the Registration Statement or
supplement to the Prospectus so that the Prospectus as so amended or
supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when it is so
delivered, be misleading, or so that the Prospectus will comply with the law.
(f) The Company will make generally available to its security holders, as
soon as it is practicable to do so, but in any event not later than 15 months
after the effective date of the Registration Statement, an earning statement
(which need not be audited) in reasonable detail, covering a period of at least
12 consecutive months beginning after the effective date of the Registration
Statement, which earning statement shall satisfy the requirements of Section
11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 of the Rules and Regulations and will advise you
in writing when such statement has been so made available.
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(g) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company will furnish to the Underwriters,
as soon as they have been prepared by or are available to the Company, a copy of
any unaudited interim financial statements of the Company for any period
subsequent to the period covered by the most recent financial statements
appearing in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(h) No offering, sale, short sale or other disposition of any shares of
Common Stock of the Company or other securities convertible into or exchangeable
or exercisable for shares of Common Stock or derivative of Common Stock (or
agreement for such) will be made for a period of 180 days after the date of this
Agreement, directly or indirectly, by the Company otherwise than hereunder or
with the prior written consent of Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., except that the
Company may issue such shares (i) as consideration or partial consideration for
business acquisitions, (ii) in connection with the formation of a strategic
alliance, or (iii) on the exercise of currently outstanding stock options or
warrants or on the exercise of options granted pursuant to the Company's stock
option plan; provided, however, that upon issuance such shares shall be subject
to a lock-up agreement that prohibits the offering, sale, short sale or other
disposition of such shares for a period of 180 days after the effective date of
the Registration Statement.
(i) The Company will use its best efforts to list, subject to notice of
issuance, the Shares on the The Nasdaq Stock Market.
(j) The Company has caused each officer and director and specific
shareholders of the Company to furnish to you, on or prior to the date of this
agreement, a letter or letters, in form and substance satisfactory to the
Underwriters, pursuant to which each such person shall agree, subject to certain
exceptions set forth in such letter or letters, not to offer, sell, contract to
sell, make any short sale, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of
any shares of Common Stock of the Company or other capital stock of the Company,
or any other securities convertible, exchangeable or exercisable for Common
Shares or derivative of Common Shares owned by such person or request the
registration for the offer or sale of any of the foregoing (or as to which such
person has the right to direct the disposition of) for a period of 180 days
after the date of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, except with the prior
written consent of Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (the "Lockup Agreements").
(k) The Company shall apply the net proceeds of its sale of the Shares as
set forth in the Prospectus and shall file such reports with the Commission with
respect to the sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds therefrom
as may be required in accordance with Rule 463 under the Act.
(l) The Company shall not invest, or otherwise use the proceeds received by
the Company from its sale of the Shares in such a manner as would require the
Company to register as an investment company under the 1940 Act.
(m) The Company will maintain a transfer agent and, if necessary under the
jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company, a registrar for the Common Stock.
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(n) The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed
to cause or result in, or that has constituted or might reasonably be expected
to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities
of the Company.
5. COSTS AND EXPENSES
The Company will pay all costs, expenses and fees incident to the
performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, including,
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following: accounting fees
of the Company; the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company; the cost
of printing and delivering to, or as requested by, the Underwriters copies of
the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectuses, the Prospectus, this
Agreement, the Underwriters' Selling Memorandum, the Underwriters' Invitation
Letter, the Listing Application, the Blue Sky Survey and any supplements or
amendments thereto; the filing fees of the Commission; the filing fees and
expenses (including legal fees and disbursements) incident to securing any
required review by the NASD of the terms of the sale of the Shares; the Listing
Fee of the Nasdaq Stock Market; and the expenses, including the fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters, incurred in connection with the
qualification of the Shares under State securities or Blue Sky laws. The Company
agrees to pay all costs and expenses of the Underwriters, including the fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters, incident to the offer and sale of
any directed shares of the Common Stock by the Underwriters. The Company shall
not, however, be required to pay for any of the Underwriters expenses (other
than those related to qualification under NASD regulation and State securities
or Blue Sky laws) except that, if this Agreement shall not be consummated
because the conditions in Section 6 hereof are not satisfied, or because this
Agreement is terminated by the Representatives pursuant to Section 11 hereof, or
by reason of any failure, refusal or inability on the part of the Company to
perform any undertaking or satisfy any condition of this Agreement or to comply
with any of the terms hereof on its part to be performed, unless such failure to
satisfy said condition or to comply with said terms be due to the default or
omission of any Underwriter, then the Company shall reimburse the several
Underwriters for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including fees and
disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred in connection with investigating,
marketing and proposing to market the Shares or in contemplation of performing
their obligations hereunder; but the Company shall not in any event be liable to
any of the several Underwriters for damages on account of loss of anticipated
profits from the sale by them of the Shares.
6. CONDITIONS OF OBLIGATIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS
The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Firm Shares on
the Closing Date and the Option Shares, if any, on the Option Closing Date are
subject to the accuracy, as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as
the case may be, of the representations and warranties of the Company contained
herein, and to the performance by the Company of its covenants and obligations
hereunder and to the following additional conditions:
(a) The Registration Statement and all post-effective amendments thereto
shall have become effective and any and all filings required by Rule 424 and
Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations shall have been made, and any request of
the Commission for additional information (to be included in the Registration
Statement or otherwise) shall have been disclosed
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to the Representatives and complied with to their reasonable satisfaction. No
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, as
amended from time to time, shall have been issued and no proceedings for that
purpose shall have been taken or, to the knowledge of the Company, shall be
contemplated by the Commission and no injunction, restraining order, or order of
any nature by a Federal or state court of competent jurisdiction shall have been
issued as of the Closing Date which would prevent the issuance of the Shares.
(b) The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date or the
Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the opinions of Dorsey & Whitney LLP
("Dorsey & Whitney"), counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date or the
Option Closing Date, as the case may be, addressed to the Underwriters (and
stating that it may be relied upon by counsel to the Underwriters) to the effect
that:
(i) The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as
a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Washington, with
corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its
business as described in the Registration Statement; the Company is duly
qualified to transact business in all jurisdictions in which the conduct of its
business requires such qualification, or in which the failure to qualify would
have a materially adverse effect upon the business of the Company.
(ii) The Company has authorized and outstanding capital stock as set
forth under the caption "Capitalization" in the Prospectus as of the date and
based on the assumptions stated therein; the authorized shares of the Company's
Common Stock have been duly authorized; the outstanding shares of the Company's
Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and
non-assessable; and all of the Shares conform to the description thereof
contained in the Prospectus; the certificates for the Shares, assuming they are
in the form filed with the Commission, are in due and proper form in all
material respects.
(iii) The shares of Common Stock, including the Option Shares, if
any, to be sold by the Company pursuant to this Agreement have been duly
authorized and will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable when issued
and paid for as contemplated by this Agreement, and no preemptive rights of
shareholders exist with respect to any of the Shares or the issue or sale
thereof.
(iv) Except as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus, to
the knowledge of such counsel, there are no outstanding securities of the
Company convertible or exchangeable into or evidencing the right to purchase or
subscribe for any shares of capital stock of the Company and there are no
outstanding or authorized options, warrants or rights of any character
obligating the Company to issue any shares of its capital stock or any
securities convertible or exchangeable into or evidencing the right to purchase
or subscribe for any shares of such stock; and except as described in the
Prospectus, to the knowledge of such counsel, no holder of any securities of the
Company or any other person has the right, contractual or otherwise, which has
not been satisfied or effectively waived, to cause the Company to sell or
otherwise issue to them, or to permit them to underwrite the sale of, any of the
Shares or the right to have any Common Shares or other securities of the Company
included in the Registration
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Statement or the right, as a result of the filing of the Registration Statement,
to require registration under the Act of any shares of Common Stock or other
securities of the Company.
(v) Based solely upon oral advice of the Staff of the Commission,
the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act and, to the best
of the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order proceedings with respect thereto
have been instituted or are pending or threatened under the Act.
(vi) The Registration Statement, the Prospectus and each amendment
or supplement thereto and document incorporated by reference therein comply as
to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the
applicable rules and regulations thereunder (except that such counsel need
express no opinion as to the financial statements and related schedules
therein).
(vii) The statements under the captions "Business - Government
Regulation," "Management - Director and Officer Indemnification and Liability,"
"Related Party Transactions," "Description of Capital Stock" and "Shares
Eligible for Future Sale" in the Prospectus, insofar as such statements
constitute a summary of documents referred to therein or matters of law, fairly
summarize in all material respects the information called for with respect to
such documents and matters.
(viii) Such counsel does not know of any contracts or documents
required to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which are not so filed or described
as required, and such contracts and documents as are summarized in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus are fairly summarized in all material
respects.
(ix) Such counsel knows of no material legal or governmental
proceedings pending or threatened against the Company required to be described
in the Prospectus except as set forth in the Prospectus.
(x) The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions herein contemplated do not and will not
conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or
constitute a default under, the Second Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation or Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, or any agreement or
instrument known to such counsel to which the Company is a party or by which the
Company may be bound.
(xi) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by the Company.
(xii) No approval, consent, order, authorization, designation,
declaration or filing by or with any regulatory, administrative or other
governmental body is necessary in connection with the execution and delivery of
this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated
(other than as may be required by the NASD or as required by State securities
and Blue Sky laws as to which such counsel need express no opinion) except such
as have been obtained or made, specifying the same, and except where the failure
to obtain such,
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when considered together with all other such failures, would not reasonably be
expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
(xiii) The Company is not, and will not become, as a result of the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and application
of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Prospectus, required to
register as an investment company under the 1940 Act.
In rendering such opinion, Dorsey & Whitney may rely as to matters governed
by the laws of states other than Washington or Federal laws on local counsel in
such jurisdictions, provided that in each case Dorsey & Whitney shall state that
they believe that they and the Underwriters are justified in relying on such
other counsel. In addition to the matters set forth above, such opinion shall
also include a statement to the effect that nothing has come to the attention of
such counsel which has caused them to believe that (i) the Registration
Statement, at the time it became effective under the Act (but after giving
effect to any modifications incorporated therein pursuant to Rule 430A under the
Act) and as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be,
contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, and (ii) the Prospectus, or any supplement thereto, on the date
it was filed pursuant to the Rules and Regulations and as of the Closing Date or
the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, contained an untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
misleading (except that such counsel need express no view as to financial
statements, schedules and statistical information therein). With respect to such
statement, Dorsey & Whitney may state that their belief is based upon the
procedures set forth therein, but is without independent check and verification.
(c) The Representatives shall have received from Perkins Coie LLP ("Perkins
Coie"), counsel for the Underwriters, an opinion dated the Closing Date or the
Option Closing Date, as the case may be, substantially to the effect specified
in subparagraphs (iii), (iv), (v) and (ix) of Paragraph (b) of this Section 6,
and that the Company is a duly organized and validly existing corporation under
the laws of the State of Washington. In rendering such opinion, Perkins Coie may
rely as to all matters governed other than by the laws of the State of
Washington or Federal laws on the opinion of counsel referred to in Paragraph
(b) of this Section 6. In addition to the matters set forth above, such opinion
shall also include a statement to the effect that nothing has come to the
attention of such counsel which leads them to believe that (i) the Registration
Statement, or any amendment thereto, as of the time it became effective under
the Act (but after giving effect to any modifications incorporated therein
pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act) as of the Closing Date or the Option
Closing Date, as the case may be, contained an untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and (ii) the
Prospectus, or any supplement thereto, on the date it was filed pursuant to the
Rules and Regulations and as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as
the case may be, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
state a material fact, necessary in order to make the statements, in the light
of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading (except that such
counsel need express no view as to financial statements, schedules and
statistical
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information therein). With respect to such statement, Perkins Coie may state
that their belief is based upon the procedures set forth therein, but is without
independent check and verification.
(d) The Representatives shall have received at or prior to the Closing Date
from Perkins Coie a memorandum or summary, in form and substance satisfactory to
the Representatives, with respect to the qualification for offering and sale by
the Underwriters of the Shares under the State securities or Blue Sky laws of
such jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably have designated to the
Company.
(e) You shall have received, on each of the dates hereof, the Closing Date
and the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, a letter dated the date hereof,
the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and
substance satisfactory to you, of PricewaterhouseCoopers confirming that they
are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Act and the
applicable published Rules and Regulations thereunder and stating that in their
opinion the financial statements and schedules examined by them and included in
the Registration Statement comply in form in all material respects with the
applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the related published Rules
and Regulations; and containing such other statements and information as is
ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" to underwriters with
respect to the financial statements and certain financial and statistical
information contained in the Registration Statement and Prospectus.
(f) The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date or the
Option Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate or certificates of the
Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company to the
effect that, as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may
be, each of them severally represents as follows:
(i) The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act
and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has
been issued, and no proceedings for such purpose have been taken or are, to his
knowledge, contemplated by the Commission;
(ii) The representations and warranties of the Company contained in
Section 1 hereof are true and correct as of the Closing Date or the Option
Closing Date, as the case may be;
(iii) All filings required to have been made pursuant to Rules 424 or
430A under the Act have been made;
(iv) He has carefully examined the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus and, in his opinion, as of the effective date of the Registration
Statement, the statements contained in the Registration Statement were true and
correct, and such Registration Statement and Prospectus did not omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein not misleading, and since the effective date of the
Registration Statement, no event has occurred which should have been set forth
in a supplement to or an amendment of the Prospectus which has not been so set
forth in such supplement or amendment; and
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(v) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in
the Registration Statement and Prospectus, there has not been any material
adverse change or any development involving a prospective material adverse
change in or affecting the condition, financial or otherwise, of the Company or
the earnings, business, management, properties, assets, rights, operations,
condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company, whether or not
arising in the ordinary course of business.
(g) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such further
certificates and documents confirming the representations and warranties,
covenants and conditions contained herein and related matters as the
Representatives may reasonably have requested.
(h) The Firm Shares and Option Shares, if any, have been approved for
designation upon notice of issuance on The Nasdaq Stock Market.
(i) The Lockup Agreements described in Section 4 (j) are in full force and
effect.
The opinions and certificates mentioned in this Agreement shall be deemed to
be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in all material
respects satisfactory to the Representatives and to Perkins Coie, counsel for
the Underwriters.
If any of the conditions hereinabove provided for in this Section 6 shall
not have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement to be fulfilled,
the obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be terminated by the
Representatives by notifying the Company of such termination in writing or by
telegram at or prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case
may be.
In such event, the Company and the Underwriters shall not be under any
obligation to each other (except to the extent provided in Sections 5 and 8
hereof).
7. CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY
The obligations of the Company to sell and deliver the portion of the Shares
required to be delivered as and when specified in this Agreement are subject to
the conditions that at the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case
may be, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
shall have been issued and in effect or proceedings therefor initiated or
threatened.
8. INDEMNIFICATION
(a) The Company agrees:
(i) to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and each person,
if any,who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act, against any
losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such Underwriter or any such
controlling person may become subject under the Act or otherwise, insofar as
such losses,claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or
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proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (A) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto, (B) the omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances in which they
were made, or (C) any act, alleged act or failure to act by any Underwriter in
connection with, or relating in any manner to, the Shares or the offering
contemplated hereby, and which is included as part of or referred to in any
loss, claim, damage, liability or action arising out of or based upon matters
covered by clause (A) or (B) above (provided that the Company shall not be
liable under this clause (C) 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 such Underwriter through its gross
negligence or willful misconduct); provided, however, that the Company will not
be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or
liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement, or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement,
any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, or such amendment or supplement, in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by or through the Representatives specifically for use in the
preparation thereof; and provided further that the foregoing indemnity agreement
with respect to any Preliminary Prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any
Underwriter from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities purchased shares, or any person controlling such Underwriter, if a
copy of the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented if the Company shall
have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) was not sent or given by
or on behalf of such Underwriter to such person at or prior to the written
confirmation of the sale of the Shares to such person, and if the Prospectus (as
so amended or supplemented) would have cured the defect giving rise to such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities, unless such failure is the result of
non-compliance by the Company with Section 4(d) hereof. This indemnity
obligation will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise
have.
(ii) to reimburse each Underwriter and each such controlling person
upon demand for any legal or other out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by
such Underwriter or such controlling person in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage or liability, action or proceeding or in
responding to a subpoena or governmental inquiry related to the offering of the
Shares, whether or not such Underwriter or controlling person is a party to any
action or proceeding. In the event that it is finally judicially determined that
the Underwriters were not entitled to receive payments for legal and other
expenses pursuant to this subparagraph, the Underwriters will promptly return
all sums that had been advanced pursuant hereto.
(b) Each Underwriter severally and not jointly will indemnify and hold
harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who have
signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the
Company within the meaning of the Act, against any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities to which the Company or any such director, officer or controlling
person may become subject under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof)
arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of any material fact contained in the
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Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto, or (ii) the omission or the alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made; and will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by the Company or any such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage,
liability, action or proceeding; provided, however, that each Underwriter will
be liable in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission has been
made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus
or such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by or through the Representatives
specifically for use in the preparation thereof. This indemnity agreement will
be in addition to any liability which such Underwriter may otherwise have.
(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall
be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought
pursuant to this Section 8, such person (the "indemnified party") shall promptly
notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying
party") in writing. No indemnification provided for in Section 8(a) or (b) shall
be available to any party who shall fail to give notice as provided in this
Section 8(c) if the party to whom notice was not given was unaware of the
proceeding to which such notice would have related and was materially prejudiced
by the failure to give such notice, but the failure to give such notice shall
not relieve the indemnifying party or parties from any liability which it or
they may have to the indemnified party for contribution or otherwise than on
account of the provisions of Section 8(a) or (b). In case any such proceeding
shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the
indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be
entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly
with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense
thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party and shall pay as
incurred the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding.
In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its
own counsel at its own expense. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnifying
party shall pay as incurred (or within 30 days of presentation) the fees and
expenses of the counsel retained by the indemnified party in the event (i) the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the
retention of such counsel, (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding
(including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the
indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would
be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them or
(iii) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense and employ
counsel acceptable to the indemnified party within a reasonable period of time
after notice of commencement of the action. It is understood that the
indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related
proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees and
expenses of more than one separate firm for all such indemnified parties. Such
firm shall be designated in writing by you in the case of parties indemnified
pursuant to Section 8(a) and by the Company in the case of parties indemnified
pursuant to Section 8(b). The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any
settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent but if settled
with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the
indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against
any loss or liability by reason of such
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settlement or judgment. In addition, the indemnifying party will not, without
the prior written consent of the indemnified party, settle or compromise or
consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action
or proceeding of which indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether or not
any indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such claim, action or
proceeding) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an
unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out
of such claim, action or proceeding.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable to
or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 8(a) or (b)
above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or
proceedings in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying
party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party
as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or
proceedings in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the
Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Shares. If, however, the
allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by
applicable law then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid
or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the
Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the
statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof), as well as any
other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the
Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be
in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before
deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting
discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set
forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault shall
be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state
a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand
or the Underwriters on the other and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission.
The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 8(d) were determined by pro
rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 8(d). The amount paid
or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred to above in
this Section 8(d) shall be deemed to include 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 8(d), (i) no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in
excess of the underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the Shares
purchased by such Underwriter and (ii) no person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation.
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(e) In any proceeding relating to the Registration Statement, any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any supplement or amendment thereto,
each party against whom contribution may be sought under this Section 8 hereby
consents to the jurisdiction of any court having jurisdiction over any other
contributing party, agrees that process issuing from such court may be served
upon him or it by any other contributing party and consents to the service of
such process and agrees that any other contributing party may join him or it as
an additional defendant in any such proceeding in which such other contributing
party is a party.
(f) Any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses for which an
indemnified party is entitled to indemnification or contribution under this
Section 8 shall be paid by the indemnifying party to the indemnified party as
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are incurred. The
indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 8 and the
representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement shall
remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any person controlling
any Underwriter, the Company, its directors or officers or any persons
controlling the Company, (ii) acceptance of any Shares and payment therefor
hereunder, and (iii) any termination of this Agreement. A successor to any
Underwriter, or to the Company, its directors or officers, or any person
controlling the Company, shall be entitled to the benefits of the indemnity,
contribution and reimbursement agreements contained in this Section 8.
9. DEFAULT BY UNDERWRITERS
If on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, any
Underwriter shall fail to purchase and pay for the portion of the Shares which
such Underwriter has agreed to purchase and pay for on such date (otherwise than
by reason of any default on the part of the Company), you, as Representatives of
the Underwriters, shall use your reasonable efforts to procure within 36 hours
thereafter one or more of the other Underwriters, or any others, to purchase
from the Company such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms set forth
herein, the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, which the
defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to purchase. If during such 36
hours you, as such Representatives, shall not have procured such other
Underwriters, or any others, to purchase the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as
the case may be, agreed to be purchased by the defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters, then (a) if the aggregate number of shares with respect to which
such default shall occur does not exceed 10% of the Firm Shares or Option
Shares, as the case may be, covered hereby, the other Underwriters shall be
obligated, severally, in proportion to the respective numbers of Firm Shares or
Option Shares, as the case may be, which they are obligated to purchase
hereunder, to purchase the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be,
which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to purchase, or (b) if
the aggregate number of shares of Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may
be, with respect to which such default shall occur exceeds 10% of the Firm
Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, covered hereby, the Company or you
as the Representatives of the Underwriters will have the right, by written
notice given within the next 36-hour period to the parties to this Agreement, to
terminate this Agreement without liability on the part of the non-defaulting
Underwriters or of the Company except to the extent provided in Section 8
hereof. In the event of a default by any Underwriter or Underwriters, as set
forth in this Section 9, the Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the case
may be, may be postponed for such period, not exceeding seven days, as you, as
Representatives,
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may determine in order that the required changes in the Registration Statement
or in the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected.
The term "Underwriter" includes any person substituted for a defaulting
Underwriter. Any action taken under this Section 9 shall not relieve any
defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such
Underwriter under this Agreement.
10. NOTICES
All communications hereunder shall be in writing and, except as otherwise
provided herein, will be mailed, delivered, telecopied or telegraphed and
confirmed as follows: if to the Underwriters, to
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
One South Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Attention: ____________________;
with copies to
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
One Bankers Trust Plaza
130 Liberty Street
New York, NY 10006
Attention: General Counsel;
and
Perkins Coie LLP
1201 Third Avenue, 48th Floor
Seattle, WA 98101
Attention: Stephen M. Graham
if to the Company, to
FreeShop.com, Inc.
95 South Jackson Street, Suite 300
Seattle, WA 98104
Attention: Timothy C. Choate
with a copy to
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
1420 Fifth Ave., Suite 4200
Seattle, WA 98101
Attention: Bryce Holland
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11. TERMINATION
(a) This Agreement may be terminated by you by notice to the Company at any
time prior to the Closing Date if any of the following has occurred: (i) since
the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, any material adverse change or any development
involving a prospective material adverse change in or affecting the condition,
financial or otherwise, of the Company or the earnings, business, management,
properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or
prospects of the Company, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of
business, (ii) any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or declaration of war
or national emergency or other national or international calamity or crisis or
change in economic or political conditions if the effect of such outbreak,
escalation, declaration, emergency, calamity, crisis or change on the financial
markets of the United States would, in your reasonable judgment, make it
impracticable or inadvisable to market the Shares or to enforce contracts for
the sale of the Shares, or (iii) suspension of trading in securities generally
on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock
Market, or limitation on prices (other than limitations on hours or numbers of
days of trading) for securities on the New York Stock Exchange, the American
Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market, (iv) the enactment, publication,
decree or other promulgation of any statute, regulation, rule or order of any
court or other governmental authority which in your opinion materially and
adversely affects or may materially and adversely affect the business or
operations of the Company, (v) declaration of a banking moratorium by United
States or New York State authorities, (vi) the suspension of trading of the
Company's common stock by the Nasdaq Stock Market, the Commission, or any other
governmental authority or, (vii) the taking of any action by any governmental
body or agency in respect of its monetary or fiscal affairs which in your
reasonable opinion has a material adverse effect on the securities markets in
the United States; or
(b) as provided in Sections 6 and 9 of this Agreement.
12. SUCCESSORS
This Agreement has been and is made solely for the benefit of the
Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors, executors,
administrators, heirs and assigns, and the officers, directors and controlling
persons referred to herein, and no other person will have any right or
obligation hereunder. No purchaser of any of the Shares from any Underwriter
shall be deemed a successor or assign merely because of such purchase.
13. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY UNDERWRITERS
The Company and the Underwriters acknowledge and agree that the only
information furnished or to be furnished by any Underwriter to the Company for
inclusion in any Prospectus or the Registration Statement consists of the
information set forth in the last paragraph on the front cover page (insofar as
such information relates to the Underwriters), the legends required by Item 502
of Regulation S-K under the Act and the information under the caption
"Underwriting" in the Prospectus.
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14. MISCELLANEOUS
The reimbursement, indemnification and contribution agreements contained in
this Agreement and the representations, warranties and covenants in this
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of (a) any
termination of this Agreement, (b) any investigation made by or on behalf of any
Underwriter or controlling person thereof, or by or on behalf of the Company or
its directors or officers and (c) delivery of and payment for the Shares under
this Agreement.
This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and
the same instrument.
This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the
laws of the State of Maryland.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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If the foregoing letter is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicates hereof,
whereupon it will become a binding agreement among the Company and the several
Underwriters in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
FREESHOP.COM, INC.
By
--------------------------------
Timothy C. Choate
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement
is hereby confirmed and accepted as
of the date first above written.
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES, INC.
- ---------------------------------
- ---------------------------------
As Representatives of the several
Underwriters listed on Schedule I
By: Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
By:
------------------------------
Authorized Officer
-23-
24
SCHEDULE I
SCHEDULE OF UNDERWRITERS
NUMBER OF FIRM SHARES
UNDERWRITER TO BE PURCHASED
- --------------------------------- ---------------------
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
Dain Rauscher Wessels
Volpe Brown Whelan & Company, LLC
E*OFFERING Corp.
---------------
Total
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