[NUMBER OF SHARES]
LINENS 'N THINGS, INC.
COMMON STOCK
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
----------------------
June __, 2002
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION,
As Representative of the Several Underwriters,
Eleven Madison Avenue,
New York, N.Y. 10010-3629
Dear Sirs:
1. INTRODUCTORY. Linens `n Things, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("COMPANY"), proposes to issue and sell shares ("FIRM SECURITIES") of its
Common Stock ("SECURITIES") and also proposes to issue and sell to the
Underwriters, at the option of the Underwriters, an aggregate of not more than
additional shares ("OPTIONAL SECURITIES") of its Securities as set forth below.
The Firm Securities and the Optional Securities are herein collectively called
the "OFFERED SECURITIES". The Company hereby agrees with the several
Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto ("UNDERWRITERS") as follows:
2. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. The Company
represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the several Underwriters that:
(a) A registration statement (No. 333-89250) relating to the
Offered Securities, including a form of prospectus, has been filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission ("COMMISSION") and either (i)
has been declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933 ("ACT")
and is not proposed to be amended or (ii) is proposed to be amended by
amendment or post-effective amendment. If such registration statement
("INITIAL REGISTRATION STATEMENT") has been declared effective, either
(i) an additional registration statement ("ADDITIONAL REGISTRATION
STATEMENT") relating to the Offered Securities may have been filed with
the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(b) ("RULE 462(B)") under the Act
and, if so filed, has become effective upon filing pursuant to such
Rule and the Offered Securities all have been duly registered under the
Act pursuant to the initial registration statement and, if applicable,
the additional registration statement or (ii) such an additional
registration statement is proposed to be filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 462(b) and will become effective upon filing pursuant
to such Rule and upon such filing the Offered Securities will all have
been duly registered under the Act pursuant to the initial registration
statement and such additional registration statement. If the Company
does not propose to amend the initial registration statement or if an
additional registration statement has been filed and the Company does
not propose to amend it, and if any post-effective amendment to either
such registration statement has been filed with the Commission prior to
the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the most recent amendment
(if any) to each such registration statement has been declared
effective by the Commission or has become effective upon filing
pursuant to Rule 462(c) ("RULE 462(C)") under the Act or, in the case
of the additional registration statement, Rule 462(b). For purposes of
this Agreement, "EFFECTIVE TIME" with respect to the initial
registration statement or, if filed prior to the execution and delivery
of this Agreement, the
additional registration statement means (i) if the Company has advised
the Representative that it does not propose to amend such registration
statement, the date and time as of which such registration statement,
or the most recent post-effective amendment thereto (if any) filed
prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, was declared
effective by the Commission or has become effective upon filing
pursuant to Rule 462(c), or (ii) if the Company has advised the
Representative that it proposes to file an amendment or post-effective
amendment to such registration statement, the date and time as of which
such registration statement, as amended by such amendment or
post-effective amendment, as the case may be, is declared effective by
the Commission. If an additional registration statement has not been
filed prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement but the
Company has advised the Representative that it proposes to file one,
"EFFECTIVE TIME" with respect to such additional registration statement
means the date and time as of which such registration statement is
filed and becomes effective pursuant to Rule 462(b). "EFFECTIVE DATE"
with respect to the initial registration statement or the additional
registration statement (if any) means the date of the Effective Time
thereof. The initial registration statement, as amended at its
Effective Time, including all material incorporated by reference
therein, including all information contained in the additional
registration statement (if any) and deemed to be a part of the initial
registration statement as of the Effective Time of the additional
registration statement pursuant to the General Instructions of the Form
on which it is filed and including all information (if any) deemed to
be a part of the initial registration statement as of its Effective
Time pursuant to Rule 430A(b) ("RULE 430A(B)") under the Act, is
hereinafter referred to as the "INITIAL REGISTRATION STATEMENT". The
additional registration statement, as amended at its Effective Time,
including the contents of the initial registration statement
incorporated by reference therein and including all information (if
any) deemed to be a part of the additional registration statement as of
its Effective Time pursuant to Rule 430A(b), is hereinafter referred to
as the "ADDITIONAL REGISTRATION STATEMENT". The Initial Registration
Statement and the Additional Registration Statement are herein referred
to collectively as the "REGISTRATION STATEMENTS" and individually as a
"REGISTRATION STATEMENT". The form of prospectus relating to the
Offered Securities, as first filed with the Commission pursuant to and
in accordance with Rule 424(b) ("RULE 424(B)") under the Act or (if no
such filing is required) as included in a Registration Statement,
including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus, is
hereinafter referred to as the "PROSPECTUS". No document related to the
Offered Securities has been or will be prepared or distributed in
reliance on Rule 434 under the Act.
(b) If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement
is prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement: (i) on the
Effective Date of the Initial Registration Statement, the Initial
Registration Statement conformed in all respects to the requirements of
the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission ("RULES AND
REGULATIONS") and did not include any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) on the
Effective Date of the Additional Registration Statement (if any), each
Registration Statement conformed, or will conform, in all respects to
the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations and did not
include, or will not include, any untrue statement of a material fact
and did not omit, or will not omit, to state any material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading and (iii) on the date of this Agreement, the Initial
Registration Statement and, if the Effective Time of the Additional
Registration Statement is prior to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the Additional Registration Statement, each conforms, and at
the time of filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) or (if no
such filing is required) at the Effective Date of the Additional
Registration Statement in which the Prospectus is included, each
Registration Statement and the Prospectus will conform, in all respects
to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations, and
neither of such documents includes, or will include, any untrue
statement of a material fact or omits, or will omit, to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading. If the Effective Time of the Initial
Registration Statement is subsequent to the execution and delivery of
this Agreement: on the Effective Date of the Initial Registration
Statement, the Initial Registration Statement and the Prospectus will
conform in all respects to the requirements of the Act and the Rules
and Regulations, neither of such documents will include any untrue
statement of a material fact or will
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omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and no
Additional Registration Statement has been or will be filed. The two
preceding sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from a
Registration Statement or the Prospectus based upon written information
furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representative
specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the
only such information is that described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.
(c) The Company has been duly incorporated and is an existing
corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware,
with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties
and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus; and the
Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in
good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or
lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such
qualification.
(d) Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated
or, with respect to any limited liability company, formed and is an
existing corporation or limited liability company, as the case may be,
in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation, or organization, as the case may be, with power and
authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its
business as described in the Prospectus; and each subsidiary of the
Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation or
limited liability company, as the case may be, in good standing in all
other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the
conduct of its business requires such qualification; all of the issued
and outstanding capital stock or membership interest, as applicable, of
each subsidiary of the Company has been duly authorized and validly
issued and is fully paid and nonassessable; and the capital stock or
membership interest, as applicable, of each subsidiary owned by the
Company, directly or through subsidiaries, is owned free from liens,
encumbrances and defects.
(e) The Offered Securities and all other outstanding shares of
capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized; all outstanding
shares of capital stock of the Company are, and, when the Offered
Securities have been delivered and paid for in accordance with this
Agreement on each Closing Date (as defined below), such Offered
Securities will have been, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable
and will conform to the description thereof contained in the
Prospectus; and the stockholders of the Company have no preemptive
rights with respect to the Securities.
(f) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there are no
contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any
person that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any
Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder's fee or other like
payment in connection with this offering.
(g) There are no contracts, agreements or understandings
between the Company and any person granting such person the right to
require the Company to file a registration statement under the 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 a Registration Statement or in any
securities being registered pursuant to any other registration
statement filed by the Company under the Act.
(h) The Offered Securities have been approved for listing on
The New York Stock Exchange subject to notice of issuance.
(i) No consent, approval, authorization, or order of, or
filing with, any governmental agency or body or any court is required
for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
in connection with the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities by
the Company, except such as have been obtained and made under the Act
and such as may be required under state securities laws.
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(j) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement,
and the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities will not result in
a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or
constitute a default under, any statute, any rule, regulation or order
of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign,
having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary of the Company
or any of their properties, or any agreement or instrument to which the
Company or any such subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or
any such subsidiary is bound or to which any of the properties of the
Company or any such subsidiary is subject, or the charter or by-laws of
the Company or any such subsidiary, and the Company has full power and
authority to authorize, issue and sell the Offered Securities as
contemplated by this Agreement.
(k) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company.
(l) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company and its
subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real properties and
all other properties and assets owned by them, in each case free from
liens, encumbrances and defects that would materially affect the value
thereof or materially interfere with the use made or to be made thereof
by them; and except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company and its
subsidiaries hold any leased real or personal property under valid and
enforceable leases with no exceptions that would materially interfere
with the use made or to be made thereof by them.
(m) The Company and its subsidiaries possess adequate
certificates, authorities or permits issued by appropriate governmental
agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by
them and have not received any notice of proceedings relating to the
revocation or modification of any such certificate, authority or permit
that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a material
adverse effect on the condition (financial or other), business,
properties or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries
taken as a whole ("MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT").
(n) The Company and each of its subsidiaries have filed all
tax returns required to be filed, which returns are complete and
correct in all material respects, and neither the Company nor any of
its subsidiaries is in default in the payment of any taxes which were
payable pursuant to said returns or any assessments with respect
thereto, in each case except as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(o) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus: (I) the Company or
one of its subsidiaries is the sole owner, free and clear of any lien
or encumbrance, of, or has a valid license, without the payment of any
royalty except with respect to off-the-shelf software and otherwise on
commercially reasonable terms, to, all U.S. and foreign and registered
and unregistered trademarks, service marks, logos, trade names and
internet domain names, patents, copyrights, computer software, web
sites, trade secrets and know-how, and all other proprietary and
intellectual property rights, including all grants, registrations and
applications relating thereto (collectively, the "PROPRIETARY RIGHTS")
necessary or advisable for the conduct of their business as now
conducted or as contemplated to be conducted, except for such
Proprietary Rights the absence of which would not have a Material
Adverse Effect (such Proprietary Rights owned by or licensed to the
Company, subject to such exception, collectively, the "COMPANY
RIGHTS"); (II) the Company has received no claim or inquiry from any
Person in respect of the Company Rights which challenges the validity
of, or the rights of the Company in, any such Company Rights that, if
determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries would
individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect, and
the Company knows of no basis for any such challenge; (III) the Company
is not in violation or infringement of, and has not violated or
infringed, any Proprietary Rights of any other Person that, if
determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries would
individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect, and
the Company has received no claim or inquiry from any Person alleging
such a violation or infringement; and (IV) to the knowledge of the
Company, no Person is infringing any
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Company Rights where such infringement would individually or in the
aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.
(p) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, neither the Company
nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any statute, any rule,
regulation, decision or order of any governmental agency or body or any
court, domestic or foreign, relating to the use, disposal or release of
hazardous or toxic substances or relating to the protection or
restoration of the environment or human exposure to hazardous or toxic
substances (collectively, "ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS"), owns or operates any
real property contaminated with any substance that is subject to any
environmental laws, is liable for any off-site disposal or
contamination pursuant to any environmental laws, or is subject to any
claim relating to any environmental laws, which violation,
contamination, liability or claim would individually or in the
aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; and the Company is not aware
of any pending investigation which might lead to such a claim.
(q) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there are no pending
actions, suits or proceedings against or affecting the Company, any of
its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties that, if
determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would
individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect, or
would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Company to
perform its obligations under this Agreement, or which are otherwise
material in the context of the sale of the Offered Securities; and no
such actions, suits or proceedings are threatened or, to the Company's
knowledge, contemplated.
(r) The financial statements included in each Registration
Statement and the Prospectus present fairly the financial position of
the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates shown and
their results of operations and cash flows for the periods shown, and,
except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus, such financial
statements have been prepared in conformity with the accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States applied on a
consistent basis and the schedules included in each Registration
Statement present fairly the information required to be stated therein;
and the assumptions used in preparing the pro forma financial
statements included in each Registration Statement and the Prospectus
provide a reasonable basis for presenting the significant effects
directly attributable to the transactions or events described therein,
the related pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those
assumptions, and the pro forma columns therein reflect the proper
application of those adjustments to the corresponding historical
financial statement amounts.
(s) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, since the date of
the latest audited financial statements included in the Prospectus
there has been no material adverse change, nor any development or event
involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition
(financial or other), business, properties or results of operations of
the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, and, except as
disclosed in or contemplated by the Prospectus, there has been no
dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the
Company on any class of its capital stock.
(t) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there are not
outstanding (A) securities or obligations of the Company convertible
into or exchangeable for any capital stock of the Company, (B)
warrants, rights or options to subscribe for or purchase from the
Company any such capital stock or any such convertible or exchange
securities or obligations or (C) obligations of the Company to issue
such shares, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or
obligations, or any such warrants, rights or obligations.
(u) The Company is subject to the reporting requirements of
either Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 and files reports with the Commission on the Electronic Data
Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR) system.
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(v) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering
and sale of the Offered Securities and the application of the proceeds
thereof as described in the Prospectus, will not be an "investment
company" as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.
3. PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF OFFERED SECURITIES. On the basis of
the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to
the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to the
Underwriters, and the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase
from the Company, at a purchase price of $ per share, the respective numbers
of shares of Firm Securities set forth opposite the names of the Underwriters
in Schedule A hereto.
The Company will deliver the Firm Securities to the Representative for
the accounts of the Underwriters, at the office of Dewey Ballantine LLP, New
York, New York 10019, against payment of the purchase price in Federal (same
day) funds by official bank check or checks or wire transfer to an account at a
bank acceptable to Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation ("CSFBC") drawn to the
order of the Company at the office of Dewey Ballantine LLP, at 10:00 A.M., New
York time, on [ ] , 2002, or at such other time not later than seven full
business days thereafter as CSFBC and the Company determine, such time being
herein referred to as the "FIRST CLOSING DATE". For purposes of Rule 15c6-1
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the First Closing Date (if later than
the otherwise applicable settlement date) shall be the settlement date for
payment of funds and delivery of securities for all the Offered Securities sold
pursuant to the offering. The certificates for the Firm Securities so to be
delivered will be in definitive form, in such denominations and registered in
such names as CSFBC requests and will be made available for checking and
packaging at the above office of the Company at least 24 hours prior to the
First Closing Date.
In addition, upon written notice from CSFBC given to the Company from
time to time not more than 30 days subsequent to the date of the Prospectus, the
Underwriters may purchase all or less than all of the Optional Securities at the
purchase price per Security to be paid for the Firm Securities. The Company
agrees to sell to the Underwriters the number of shares of Optional Securities
specified in such notice and the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly,
to purchase such Optional Securities. Such Optional Securities shall be
purchased for the account of each Underwriter in the same proportion as the
number of shares of Firm Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter's name
bears to the total number of shares of Firm Securities (subject to adjustment by
CSFBC to eliminate fractions) and may be purchased by the Underwriters only for
the purpose of covering over-allotments made in connection with the sale of the
Firm Securities. No Optional Securities shall be sold or delivered unless the
Firm Securities previously have been, or simultaneously are, sold and delivered.
The right to purchase the Optional Securities or any portion thereof may be
exercised from time to time and to the extent not previously exercised may be
surrendered and terminated at any time upon notice by CSFBC to the Company.
Each time for the delivery of and payment for the Optional Securities,
being herein referred to as an "OPTIONAL CLOSING Date", which may be the First
Closing Date (the First Closing Date and each Optional Closing Date, if any,
being sometimes referred to as a "CLOSING DATE"), shall be determined by CSFBC
but shall be not later than five full business days and (except if such Optional
Closing Date is the First Closing Date) not earlier than two full business days
after written notice of election to purchase Optional Securities is given. The
Company will deliver the Optional Securities being purchased on each Optional
Closing Date to the Representative for the accounts of the several Underwriters,
against payment of the purchase price therefor in Federal (same day) funds by
official bank check or checks or wire transfer to an account at a bank
acceptable to CSFBC drawn to the order of the Company, at the office of Dewey
Ballantine LLP. The certificates for the Optional Securities being purchased on
each Optional Closing Date will be in definitive form, in such denominations and
registered in such names as CSFBC requests upon reasonable notice prior to such
Optional Closing Date and will be made available for checking and packaging at
the office of Dewey Ballantine LLP at a reasonable time in advance of such
Optional Closing Date.
4. OFFERING BY UNDERWRITERS. It is understood that the several
Underwriters propose to offer the Offered Securities for sale to the public as
set forth in the Prospectus.
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5. CERTAIN AGREEMENTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company agrees with the
several Underwriters that:
(a) If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration
Statement is prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
Company will file the Prospectus with the Commission pursuant to and in
accordance with subparagraph (1) (or, if applicable and if consented to
by CSFBC, subparagraph (4)) of Rule 424(b) not later than the earlier
of (A) the second business day following the execution and delivery of
this Agreement or (B) the fifteenth business day after the Effective
Date of the Initial Registration Statement.
The Company will advise CSFBC promptly of any such filing pursuant to
Rule 424(b). If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration
Statement is prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
an additional registration statement is necessary to register a portion
of the Offered Securities under the Act but the Effective Time thereof
has not occurred as of such execution and delivery, the Company will
file the additional registration statement or, if filed, will file a
post-effective amendment thereto with the Commission pursuant to and in
accordance with Rule 462(b) on or prior to 10:00 P.M., New York time,
on the date of this Agreement or, if earlier, on or prior to the time
the Prospectus is printed and distributed to any Underwriter, or will
make such filing at such later date as shall have been consented to by
CSFBC.
(b) The Company will advise CSFBC promptly of any proposal to
amend or supplement the initial or any additional registration
statement as filed or the related prospectus or the Initial
Registration Statement, the Additional Registration Statement (if any)
or the Prospectus and will not effect such amendment or supplementation
without CSFBC's consent; and the Company will also advise CSFBC
promptly of the effectiveness of each Registration Statement (if its
Effective Time is subsequent to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement) and of any amendment or supplementation of a Registration
Statement or the Prospectus and of the institution by the Commission of
any stop order proceedings in respect of a Registration Statement and
will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop
order and to obtain as soon as possible its lifting, if issued.
(c) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Offered
Securities is required to be delivered under the Act in connection with
sales by any Underwriter or dealer, any event occurs 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 to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is
necessary at any time to amend the Prospectus to comply with the Act,
the Company will promptly notify CSFBC of such event and will promptly
prepare and file with the Commission, at its own expense, an amendment
or supplement which will correct such statement or omission or an
amendment which will effect such compliance. Neither CSFBC's consent
to, nor the Underwriters' delivery of, any such amendment or supplement
shall constitute a waiver of any of the conditions set forth in Section
6.
(d) As soon as practicable, but not later than the
Availability Date (as defined below), the Company will make generally
available to its security holders an earning statement (which need not
be audited) covering a period of at least 12 months beginning after the
Effective Date of the Initial Registration Statement (or, if later, the
Effective Date of the Additional Registration Statement) which will
satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act. For the purpose of
the preceding sentence, "AVAILABILITY DATE" means the 45th day after
the end of the fourth fiscal quarter following the fiscal quarter that
includes such Effective Date, except that, if such fourth fiscal
quarter is the last quarter of the Company's fiscal year, "AVAILABILITY
DATE" means the 90th day after the end of such fourth fiscal quarter.
(e) The Company will furnish to the Representative copies of
each Registration Statement (one of which will be a signed original and
will include all exhibits), each related preliminary prospectus, and,
so long as a prospectus relating to the Offered Securities is required
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to be delivered under the Act in connection with sales by any
Underwriter or dealer, the Prospectus and all amendments and
supplements to such documents, in each case in such quantities as CSFBC
requests. The Prospectus shall be so furnished on or prior to 3:00
P.M., New York time, on the business day following the later of the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Effective Time of the
Initial Registration Statement. All other documents shall be so
furnished as soon as available. The Company will pay the expenses of
printing and distributing to the Underwriters all such documents.
(f) The Company will arrange for the qualification of the
Offered Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as
CSFBC designates and will continue such qualifications in effect so
long as required for the distribution.
(g) The Company will pay all expenses incident to the
performance of its obligations under this Agreement, for any filing
fees and other expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel)
incurred in connection with qualification of the Offered Securities for
sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as CSFBC designates and the
printing of memoranda relating thereto, for any travel expenses of the
Company's officers and employees and any other expenses of the Company
in connection with attending or hosting meetings with prospective
purchasers of the Offered Securities and for expenses incurred in
distributing preliminary prospectuses and the Prospectus (including any
amendments and supplements thereto) to the Underwriters.
(h) Until 90 days after the public offering date set forth on
the final prospectus used to sell the Offered Securities, the Company
will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of,
directly or indirectly, or file with the Commission a registration
statement under the Act relating to, any additional shares of its
Securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable or
exercisable for any shares of its Securities, or publicly disclose the
intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing,
without the prior written consent of CSFBC.
(i) Upon the written request of CSFBC or any Underwriter
within 13 months after the public offering date set forth on the final
prospectus used to sell the Offered Securities, the Company shall (i)
furnish to CSFBC or any such other Underwriter a certification, as
contemplated by and in compliance with Treasury regulations Section
1.897-2(h), that as of any Closing Date (or such other date as may be
specified in such request, unless the certification is untrue as of the
date specified in such request), the Offered Securities are not United
States real property interests as defined in Section 897(c)(1) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (ii) file such certification
with the Internal Revenue Service in the manner and within the time
period specified in Treasury regulations Section 1.897-2(h) and (iii)
promptly after such filing, furnish to CSFBC or the Underwriter that
has requested a certificate, as the case may be, proof of such filing.
6. CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS. The obligations
of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Firm Securities on the
First Closing Date and the Optional Securities to be purchased on each Optional
Closing Date will be subject to the accuracy of the representations and
warranties on the part of the Company herein, to the accuracy of the statements
of Company officers made pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance
by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional
conditions precedent:
(a) The Representative shall have received a letter, dated the
date of delivery thereof (which, if the Effective Time of the Initial
Registration Statement is prior to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, shall be on or prior to the date of this Agreement or, if
the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement is subsequent
to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, shall be prior to the
filing of the amendment or post-effective amendment to the registration
statement to be filed shortly prior to such Effective Time), of KPMG
LLP confirming
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that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the
Act and the applicable published Rules and Regulations thereunder and
stating to the effect that:
(i) in their opinion the financial statements
examined by them and included in the Registration Statements
comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable
accounting requirements of the Act and the related published
Rules and Regulations;
(ii) they have performed the procedures specified by
the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for a
review of interim financial information as described in
Statement of Auditing Standards No. 71, Interim Financial
Information, on the unaudited financial statements included in
the Registration Statements;
(iii) on the basis of the review referred to in
clause (ii) above, a reading of the latest available interim
financial statements of the Company, inquiries of officials of
the Company who have responsibility for financial and
accounting matters and other specified procedures, nothing
came to their attention that caused them to believe that:
(A) the unaudited financial statements
included in the Registration Statements do not comply
as to form in all material respects with the
applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the
related published Rules and Regulations or any
material modifications should be made to such
unaudited financial statements for them to be in
conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles;
(B) at the date of the latest available
balance sheet read by such accountants, or at a
subsequent specified date not more than three
business days prior to the date of this Agreement,
there was any change in the capital stock or any
increase in short-term indebtedness or long-term debt
of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries or,
at the date of the latest available balance sheet
read by such accountants, there was any decrease in
consolidated net assets, as compared with amounts
shown on the latest balance sheet included in the
Prospectus; or
(C) for the period from the closing date of the
latest income statement included in the Prospectus to
the closing date of the latest available income
statement read by such accountants there were any
decreases, as compared with the corresponding period
of the previous year, in consolidated net sales, net
operating income, or in the total or per share
amounts of consolidated net income.
except in all cases set forth in clauses (B) and (C) above for
changes, increases or decreases which the Prospectus discloses have
occurred or may occur or which are described in such letter;
and
(iv) they have compared specified dollar amounts (or
percentages derived from such dollar amounts) and other
financial information contained in the Registration Statements
(in each case to the extent that such dollar amounts,
percentages and other financial information are derived from
the general accounting records of the Company and its
subsidiaries subject to the internal controls of the Company's
accounting system or are derived directly from such records by
analysis or computation) with the results obtained from
inquiries, a reading of such general accounting records and
other procedures specified in such letter and have found such
dollar amounts, percentages and other financial information to
be in agreement with such results, except as otherwise
specified in such letter.
9
For purposes of this subsection, (i) if the Effective Time of
the Initial Registration Statement is subsequent to the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, "REGISTRATION
STATEMENTS" shall mean the initial registration statement as
proposed to be amended by the amendment or post-effective
amendment to be filed shortly prior to its Effective Time,
(ii) if the Effective Time of the Initial Registration
Statement is prior to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement but the Effective Time of the Additional
Registration is subsequent to such execution and delivery,
"REGISTRATION STATEMENTS" shall mean the Initial Registration
Statement and the additional registration statement as
proposed to be filed or as proposed to be amended by the
post-effective amendment to be filed shortly prior to its
Effective Time, and (iii) "PROSPECTUS" shall mean the
prospectus included in the Registration Statements. All
financial statements and schedules included in material
incorporated by reference into the Prospectus shall be deemed
included in the Registration Statements for purposes of this
subsection.
(b) If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration
Statement is not prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
such Effective Time shall have occurred not later than 10:00 P.M., New
York time, on the date of this Agreement or such later date as shall
have been consented to by CSFBC. If the Effective Time of the
Additional Registration Statement (if any) is not prior to the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, such Effective Time shall
have occurred not later than 10:00 P.M., New York time, on the date of
this Agreement or, if earlier, the time the Prospectus is printed and
distributed to any Underwriter, or shall have occurred at such later
date as shall have been consented to by CSFBC. If the Effective Time of
the Initial Registration Statement is prior to the execution and
delivery of this Agreement, the Prospectus shall have been filed with
the Commission in accordance with the Rules and Regulations and Section
5(a) of this Agreement. Prior to such Closing Date, no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement shall have
been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been
instituted or, to the knowledge of the Company or the Representative,
shall be contemplated by the Commission.
(c) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, there shall not have occurred (i) any change, or any
development or event involving a prospective change, in the condition
(financial or other), business, properties or results of operations of
the Company and its subsidiaries taken as one enterprise which, in the
judgment of a majority in interest of the Underwriters including the
Representative, is material and adverse and makes it impractical or
inadvisable to proceed with completion of the public offering or the
sale of and payment for the Offered Securities; (ii) any downgrading in
the rating of any debt securities of the Company by any "nationally
recognized statistical rating organization" (as defined for purposes of
Rule 436(g) under the Act), or any public announcement that any such
organization has under surveillance or review its rating of any debt
securities of the Company (other than an announcement with positive
implications of a possible upgrading, and no implication of a possible
downgrading, of such rating); (iii) any change in U.S. or international
financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates
or exchange controls as would, in the judgment of a majority in
interest of the Underwriters including the Representative, be likely to
prejudice materially the success of the proposed issue, sale or
distribution of the Offered Securities, whether in the primary market
or in respect of dealings in the secondary market; (iv) any material
suspension or material limitation of trading in securities generally on
the New York Stock Exchange, or any setting of minimum prices for
trading on such exchange, or any suspension of trading of any
securities of the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter
market; (v) any banking moratorium declared by U.S. Federal or New York
authorities; (vi) any major disruption of settlements of securities or
clearance services in the United States; or (vii) any attack on,
outbreak or escalation of hostilities or act of terrorism involving the
United States or any declaration of war by Congress or any other
national or international calamity or emergency if, in the judgment of
a majority in interest of the Underwriters including the
Representative, the effect of any such attack, outbreak, escalation,
act, declaration, calamity or emergency makes it impractical or
inadvisable to proceed with completion of the public offering or the
sale of and payment for the Offered Securities.
10
(d) The Representative shall have received an opinion, dated such
Closing Date, of Pitney, Hardin, Kipp & Szuch LLP, counsel for the
Company, to the effect that:
(i) The Company is a validly existing corporation in
good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with
corporate power and authority to own its properties and
conduct its business as described in the Prospectus;
(ii) The Offered Securities delivered on such Closing
Date and all other outstanding shares of the Common Stock of
the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are
fully paid and nonassessable and conform to the description
thereof contained in the Prospectus; and the stockholders of
the Company have no statutory preemptive rights with respect
to the Securities;
(iii) The statements set forth in the Prospectus
under the captions "Description of Capital Stock" and
"Material U.S. Federal Income and Estate Tax Considerations
for Non-U.S. Holders" insofar as they purport to constitute a
summary of matters of law and legal matters or the documents
referred to therein, are correct summaries in all material
respects;
(iv) There are no contracts, agreements or
understandings known to such counsel between the Company and
any person granting such person the right to require the
Company to file a registration statement under the 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 Act;
(v) The Company is not and, after giving effect to
the offering and sale of the Offered Securities and the
application of the proceeds thereof as described in the
Prospectus, will not be an "investment company" as defined in
the Investment Company Act of 1940;
(vi) No consent, approval, authorization or order of,
or filing with, any governmental agency or body or any court
is required for the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement in connection with the issuance
or sale of the Offered Securities by the Company, except such
as have been obtained and made under the Act and such as may
be required under state securities laws;
(vii) The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities
will not result in a breach or violation of any of the terms
and provisions of, or constitute a default under, (i) any
federal or New Jersey State statute, or the Delaware General
Corporation Law or any rule or regulation that has been issued
pursuant to any federal or New Jersey State statute or the
Delaware General Corporation Law or any order known to such
counsel issued by any court or government agency or body
having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or any of their properties, or (ii) any agreement
or instrument filed or incorporated by reference as an exhibit
to the Registration Statement, or (iii) the charter or by-laws
of the Company or any such subsidiary, and the Company has
full power and authority to authorize, issue and sell the
Offered Securities as contemplated by this Agreement;
(viii) The Initial Registration Statement was
declared effective under the Act as of the date and time
specified in such opinion, the Additional Registration
Statement (if any) was filed and became effective under the
Act as of the date and time (if determinable) specified in
such opinion, the Prospectus either was filed with the
Commission pursuant to the subparagraph of Rule 424(b)
specified in such opinion on the date specified therein or was
included in the Initial Registration Statement or the
11
Additional Registration Statement (as the case may be), and,
based solely on telephone confirmation with the staff of the
Securities Exchange Commission, no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of a Registration Statement or any part thereof
has been issued and such counsel does not know of any
proceedings for that purpose that have been instituted or are
pending or contemplated under the Act, and each Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, and each amendment or supplement
thereto, as of their respective effective or issue dates,
complied as to form in all material respects with the
requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations; and
(ix) This Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company.
Such counsel shall in addition state that such
counsel have no reason to believe that any part of a
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, as of its
effective date or as of such Closing Date, contained any
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading or that the
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, as of its
issue date or as of such Closing Date, contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted 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; the descriptions in the Registration Statements
and Prospectus of statutes, legal and governmental proceedings
and contracts and other documents are accurate and fairly
present the information required to be shown; and such counsel
do not know of any legal or governmental proceedings required
to be described in a Registration Statement or the Prospectus
which are not described as required or of any contracts or
documents of a character required to be described in a
Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as
exhibits to a Registration Statement which are not described
and filed as required; it being understood that such counsel
need express no statement as to the financial statements or
other financial data contained in the Registration Statements
or the Prospectus and state blue sky laws.
(e) The Representative shall have received an opinion, dated
such Closing Date, of Denise Tolles, General Counsel of the Company, to
the effect that:
(i) The Company is duly qualified to do business as a
foreign corporation in good standing in all other
jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property
requires such qualification;
(ii) Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly
incorporated or, with respect to any limited liability
company, formed and is an existing corporation or limited
company, as the case may be, in good standing under the laws
of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, with
power and authority (corporate and other) to own its
properties and conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus; and each subsidiary of the Company is duly
qualified to do business as a foreign corporation or limited
liability company, as the case may be, in good standing in all
other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of
property or the conduct of its business requires such
qualification; all of the issued and outstanding capital stock
or membership interests, as applicable, of each subsidiary of
the Company has been duly authorized and validly issued and is
fully paid and nonassessable; and the capital stock or
membership interests, as applicable, of each subsidiary owned
by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, is owned
free from liens, encumbrances and defects; and
(iii) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, such
counsel does not know of any pending actions, suits or
proceedings against or affecting the Company, any of its
subsidiaries or any of their respective properties that, if
determined adversely to the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a
12
Material Adverse Effect, or would materially and adversely
affect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations
under this Agreement, or which are otherwise material in the
context of the sale of the Offered Securities; and no such
actions, suits or proceedings are threatened or, to the
Company's knowledge, contemplated.
Such counsel shall in addition state that such
counsel has no reason to believe that any part of a
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, as of its
effective date or as of such Closing Date, contained any
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading or that the
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, as of its
issue date or as of such Closing Date, contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted 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; the descriptions in the Registration Statements
and Prospectus of statutes, legal and governmental proceedings
and contracts and other documents are accurate and fairly
present the information required to be shown; and such counsel
does not know of any legal or governmental proceedings
required to be described in a Registration Statement or the
Prospectus which are not described as required or of any
contracts or documents of a character required to be described
in a Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed
as exhibits to a Registration Statement which are not
described and filed as required; it being understood that such
counsel need express no statement as to the financial
statements or other financial data contained in the
Registration Statements or the Prospectus and state blue sky
laws.
(f) The Representative shall have received from Dewey
Ballantine LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions,
dated such Closing Date, with respect to the incorporation of the
Company, the validity of the Offered Securities delivered on such
Closing Date, the Registration Statements, the Prospectus and other
related matters as the Representative may require, and the Company
shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for
the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters. In rendering
such opinion, Dewey Ballantine LLP may rely as to the incorporation of
the Company upon the opinion of Pitney, Hardin, Kipp & Szuch, LLP
referred to above.
(g) The Representative shall have received a certificate,
dated such Closing Date, of the Chairman of the Board, the President,
or any Vice President and a principal financial or accounting officer
of the Company in which such officers, to the best of their knowledge
after reasonable investigation, shall state that: the representations
and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct;
the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all
conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or
prior to such Closing Date; no stop order suspending the effectiveness
of any Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for
that purpose have been instituted or are contemplated by the
Commission; the Additional Registration Statement (if any) satisfying
the requirements of subparagraphs (1) and (3) of Rule 462(b) was filed
pursuant to Rule 462(b), including payment of the applicable filing fee
in accordance with Rule 111(a) or (b) under the Act, prior to the time
the Prospectus was printed and distributed to any Underwriter; and,
subsequent to the respective dates of the most recent financial
statements in the Prospectus, there has been no material adverse
change, nor any development or event involving a prospective material
adverse change, in the condition (financial or other), business,
properties or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries
taken as a whole except as set forth in or contemplated by the
Prospectus or as described in such certificate.
(h) The Representative shall have received a letter, dated
such Closing Date, of KPMG LLP which meets the requirements of
subsection (a) of this Section, except that the specified date referred
to in such subsection will be a date not more than three days prior to
such Closing Date for the purposes of this subsection.
13
(i) On or prior to the date of this Agreement, the
Representative shall have received "lock up" letters from each of the
officers and directors of the Company listed on Schedule B hereto, in
the form attached as Exhibit I thereto, and such letters shall remain
in full force and effect on each Closing Date.
The Company will furnish the Representative with such conformed copies of such
opinions, certificates, letters and documents as the Representative reasonably
requests. CSFBC may in its sole discretion waive on behalf of the Underwriters
compliance with any conditions to the obligations of the Underwriters hereunder,
whether in respect of an Optional Closing Date or otherwise.
7. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION(a) . (a) The Company will indemnify
and hold harmless each Underwriter, its partners, directors and officers and
each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section
15 of the Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or
several, to which such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Registration Statement,
the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any related
preliminary prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse
each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim,
damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred; 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 in or omission or alleged omission from
any of such documents in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the
Representative specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that
the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the
information described as such in subsection (b) below.
(b) Each Underwriter will severally and not jointly indemnify and hold
harmless the Company, its directors and officers and each person, if any who
controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act, against any
losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject,
under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in
any Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement
thereto, or any related preliminary prospectus, or arise out of or are based
upon 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 each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made
in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by such Underwriter through the Representative specifically for use
therein, and will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
the Company in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim,
damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred, it being understood
and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists
of the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each
Underwriter: the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the fourth
paragraph under the caption "Underwriting" and the information contained in the
eleventh paragraph under the caption "Underwriting".
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section
of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a
claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under
subsection (a) or (b) above, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement
thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve
it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than
under subsection (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is brought against
any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement
thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to
the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly
notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such
indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified
party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after notice from the
indemnifying party to
14
such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the
indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this
Section for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable
costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or
threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have
been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified
party unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such
indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter
of such action and (ii) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of,
fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of an indemnified party.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section is unavailable
or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or
(b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or
liabilities referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as
is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the
one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities
or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by
applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the
relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of
the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with
the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities 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.
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 or the Underwriters and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
untrue statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a
result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first
sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this
subsection (d). Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no
Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount
by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and
distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any
damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of
such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No
person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations in
this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective
underwriting obligations and not joint.
(e) The obligations of the Company under this Section shall be in
addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend,
upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of the Act; and the obligations of the
Underwriters under this Section shall be in addition to any liability which the
respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms
and conditions, to each director of the Company, to each officer of the Company
who has signed a Registration Statement and to each person, if any, who controls
the Company within the meaning of the Act.
8. DEFAULT OF UNDERWRITERS. If any Underwriter or Underwriters default
in their obligations to purchase Offered Securities hereunder on either the
First or any Optional Closing Date and the aggregate number of shares of Offered
Securities that such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to
purchase does not exceed 10% of the total number of shares of Offered Securities
that the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on such Closing Date, CSFBC may
make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the purchase of such Offered
Securities by other persons, including any of the Underwriters, but if no such
arrangements are made by such Closing Date, the non-defaulting Underwriters
shall be obligated severally, in proportion to their respective commitments
hereunder, to purchase the Offered Securities that such defaulting Underwriters
agreed but failed to purchase on such Closing Date. If any
15
Underwriter or Underwriters so default and the aggregate number of shares of
Offered Securities with respect to which such default or defaults occur exceeds
10% of the total number of shares of Offered Securities that the Underwriters
are obligated to purchase on such Closing Date and arrangements satisfactory to
CSFBC and the Company for the purchase of such Offered Securities by other
persons are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement will
terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the
Company, except as provided in Section 9 (provided that if such default occurs
with respect to Optional Securities after the First Closing Date, this Agreement
will not terminate as to the Firm Securities or any Optional Securities
purchased prior to such termination). As used in this Agreement, the term
"Underwriter" includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this
Section. Nothing herein will relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for
its default.
9. SURVIVAL OF CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND OBLIGATIONS. The respective
indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the
Company or its officers and of the several Underwriters set forth in or made
pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of
any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf
of any Underwriter, the Company or any of their respective representatives,
officers or directors or any controlling person, and will survive delivery of
and payment for the Offered Securities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant
to Section 8 or if for any reason the purchase of the Offered Securities by the
Underwriters is not consummated, the Company shall remain responsible for the
expenses to be paid or reimbursed by it pursuant to Section 5 and the respective
obligations of the Company and the Underwriters pursuant to Section 7 shall
remain in effect, and if any Offered Securities have been purchased hereunder
the representations and warranties in Section 2 and all obligations under
Section 5 shall also remain in effect. If the purchase of the Offered Securities
by the Underwriters is not consummated for any reason other than solely because
of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8 or the occurrence of
any event specified in clause (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) or (vii) of Section 6(c),
the Company will reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses
(including fees and disbursements of counsel) reasonably incurred by them in
connection with the offering of the Offered Securities.
10. NOTICES. All communications hereunder will be in writing and, if
sent to the Underwriters, will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed
to the Representative, Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010-3629,
Attention: Transactions Advisory Group, or, if sent to the Company, will be
mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to it at 6 Brighton Road,
Clifton, New Jersey 07015, Attention: Chief Financial Officer; provided,
however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 7 will be mailed,
delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to such Underwriter.
11. SUCCESSORS. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers
and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 7, and no other
person will have any right or obligation hereunder.
12. REPRESENTATION OF UNDERWRITERS. The Representative will act for the
several Underwriters in connection with this financing, and any action under
this Agreement taken by the Representative will be binding upon all the
Underwriters.
13. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such
counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.
14. APPLICABLE LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.
The Company hereby submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the
Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in
any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby.
16
If the foregoing is in accordance with the Representative understanding
of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company one of the counterparts
hereof, whereupon it will become a binding agreement between the Company and the
several Underwriters in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
LINENS 'N THINGS, INC.
By
-------------------------------
[INSERT TITLE]
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby
confirmed and accepted as of the date first
above written.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
By
-----------------------------------
[INSERT TITLE]
Acting on behalf of itself and as
the Representative of the several
Underwriters.
17
SCHEDULE A
UNDERWRITER
NUMBER OF
FIRM SECURITIES
---------------
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation.................... [$]
Lehman Brothers........................................... [$]
Robertson Stephens........................................ [$]
SunTrust Robinson Humphrey................................ [$]
BNY Capital Markets, Inc.................................. [$]
---------------
Total.................. [$]
================
18
SCHEDULE B
19
EXHIBIT I
20