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EXHIBIT 1
8,000,000 SHARES
WESTPORT RESOURCES CORPORATION
COMMON STOCK
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
o , 2000
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE SECURITIES CORPORATION
LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
PETRIE PARKMAN & CO., INC.
As Representatives of the Several Underwriters,
c/o Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation,
Eleven Madison Avenue,
New York, N.Y. 10010-3629
Dear Sirs:
1. Introductory. Westport Resources Corporation, a Delaware corporation
("COMPANY") proposes to issue and sell 6,500,00 shares of its Common Stock
("SECURITIES") and the stockholders listed in Schedule A hereto ("SELLING
STOCKHOLDERS") propose severally to sell an aggregate of 1,500,000 outstanding
shares of the Securities (such 8,000,000 shares of Securities being hereinafter
referred to as the "FIRM SECURITIES"). The Company also proposes to sell to the
Underwriters, at the option of the Underwriters, an aggregate of not more than
1,200,000 additional outstanding shares of the Company's Securities, as set
forth below (such 1,200,000 additional shares being hereinafter referred to as
the "OPTIONAL SECURITIES"). The Firm Securities and the Optional Securities are
herein collectively called the "OFFERED SECURITIES". As part of the offering
contemplated by this Agreement, Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation (the
"DESIGNATED UNDERWRITER") has agreed to reserve out of the Firm Securities
purchased by it under this Agreement, up to o shares, for sale to the Company's
directors, officers, employees and other parties associated with the Company
(collectively, "PARTICIPANTS"), as set forth in the Prospectus (as defined
herein) under the heading "Underwriting" (the "DIRECTED SHARE PROGRAM"). The
Firm Securities to be sold by the Designated Underwriter pursuant to the
Directed Share Program (the "DIRECTED SHARES") will be sold by the Designated
Underwriter pursuant to this Agreement at the public offering price. Any
Directed Shares not subscribed for by the end of the business day on which this
Agreement is executed will be offered to the public by the Underwriters as set
forth in the Prospectus. The Company and the Selling Stockholders hereby agree
with the several Underwriters named in Schedule B hereto ("UNDERWRITERS") as
follows:
2. Representations and Warranties of the Company and the Selling
Stockholders. (a) The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the
several Underwriters that:
(i) A registration statement (No. 333-40422) relating to the
Offered Securities, including a form of prospectus, has been filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission ("COMMISSION")
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and either (A) has been declared effective under the Securities Act of
1933 ("ACT") and is not proposed to be amended or (B) is proposed to be
amended by amendment or post-effective amendment. If such registration
statement (the "INITIAL REGISTRATION STATEMENT") has been declared
effective, either (A) an additional registration statement (the
"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
(B) 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 (A) if the Company has advised the Representatives 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 (B) if the Company has advised the Representatives 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
Representatives 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
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 are hereinafter 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 is hereinafter
referred to as the "PROSPECTUS". No document has been or will be
prepared or distributed in reliance on Rule 434 under the Act.
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(ii) If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration
Statement is prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement: (A)
on the Effective Date of the Initial Registration Statement, the
Initial Registration Statement conformed in all material 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, (B) on the Effective Date of the Additional
Registration Statement (if any), each Registration Statement conformed
or will conform, in all material 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 (C) 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 material 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, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made (in the case of the Prospectus
only), 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 material 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 omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made (in
the case of the Prospectus only), 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 Representatives
specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the
only such information is that described as such in Section 7(c) hereof.
(iii) 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, except where the failure to be so qualified would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the
business, condition (financial or otherwise), properties or results of
operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (a
"MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT").
(iv) Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated
and is an existing corporation in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation, 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 in good standing in all other
jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the
conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the
failure to be so qualified would not, individually or in the aggregate,
have a Material Adverse Effect; all of the issued and outstanding
capital stock of each subsidiary of the Company has been duly
authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and nonassessable; and
the capital stock of each subsidiary owned by the Company, directly or
through subsidiaries, is owned free from liens, encumbrances and
defects.
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(v) The Offered Securities and all other outstanding shares of
capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable and conform to the description
thereof contained in the Prospectus; and the stockholders of the
Company have no preemptive rights with respect to the Securities.
(vi) 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.
(vii) Except for rights under that certain Shareholders
Agreement dated as of March 9, 2000, by and among the Company, the
Selling Stockholders and certain other individuals which rights have
all been validly waived as described in the Prospectus, 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.
(viii) The Offered Securities have been approved for listing
subject to notice of issuance on The New York Stock Exchange.
(ix) No consent, approval, authorization, or order of, or
filing with, any governmental agency or body or any court is required
under any of the "INCLUDED LAWS" (as defined in the opinion of Akin,
Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P) to be obtained or made by the
Company for the due execution and delivery of this Agreement by the
Company and the performance of its obligations hereunder in connection
with the sale of the Offered Securities by the Company, except such as
have been obtained or made under the Act and such as may be required
under state securities laws.
(x) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
by the Company do not, and the consummation of the transactions herein
contemplated will not (a) result in a violation of any law, rule or
regulation of any Included Law, (b) result in a violation of any order,
writ, judgment or decree known to such counsel having jurisdiction over
the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or any of their
properties, (c) result in a violation of the Certificate of
Incorporation or by-laws of the Company or of any subsidiary, (d)
breach or result in a default or result in the acceleration of, or
entitle any party to accelerate under any agreement or instrument filed
as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or (e) breach or result in
the acceleration of, or entitle any party to accelerate any agreement
known to such counsel by which any of the properties of the Company or
any subsidiary of the Company is bound, except for such breaches,
violations or defaults as would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xi) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company.
(xii) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company and
its subsidiaries have good and valid 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.
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(xiii) 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 in any material respect 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.
(xiv) No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or
any subsidiary exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent
that is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xv) The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess licenses
or other enforceable legal rights to use or can acquire on reasonable
terms, adequate trademarks, trade names and other rights to inventions,
know-how, patents, copyrights, confidential information and other
intellectual property (collectively, "INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS")
necessary to conduct the business now operated by them in any material
respect, or presently employed by them, and have not received any
notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others
with respect to any intellectual property rights that, if determined
adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually
or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xvi) 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 Material Adverse Effect; and the Company is not aware of
any pending investigation which might lead to such a claim.
(xvii) 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, to the Company's knowledge,
threatened or contemplated.
(xviii) The financial statements included in each Registration
Statement and the Prospectus present fairly, in all material respects,
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 such financial statements have been prepared
in conformity with the generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States applied on a consistent basis and the schedules included
in each Registration Statement present fairly, in all material
respects, 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.
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(xix) 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.
(xx) 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,
as amended.
(xxi) The Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any
preliminary prospectus comply, and any further amendments or
supplements thereto will comply, with any applicable laws or
regulations of foreign jurisdictions in which the Prospectus or any
preliminary prospectus, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, are
distributed in connection with the Directed Share Program, and no
authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration or
qualification of or with any government, governmental instrumentality
or court, other than such as have been obtained, is necessary under the
securities law and regulations of foreign jurisdictions in which the
Directed Shares are offered outside the United States.
(xxii) The Company has not offered, or caused the Underwriters
to offer, any offered Securities to any person pursuant to the Directed
Share Program with the specific intent to unlawfully influence (i) a
customer or supplier of the Company to alter the customer's or
supplier's level or type of business with the Company or (ii) a trade
journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information
about the Company or its products.
(b) Each Selling Stockholder severally and not jointly represents and
warrants to, and agrees with, the several Underwriters that:
(i) Such Selling Stockholder has and on each Closing Date
hereinafter mentioned will have valid and unencumbered title to the
Offered Securities to be delivered by such Selling Stockholder on such
Closing Date and full right, power and authority to enter into this
Agreement and to sell, assign, transfer and deliver the Offered
Securities to be delivered by such Selling Stockholder on such Closing
Date hereunder; and upon the delivery of and payment for the Offered
Securities on each Closing Date hereunder the several Underwriters will
acquire valid and unencumbered title to the Offered Securities to be
delivered by such Selling Stockholder on such Closing Date.
(ii) If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration
Statement is prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement: (A)
on the Effective Date of the Initial Registration Statement, the
Initial Registration Statement conformed in all material respects to
the requirements of the Act and the 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, (B) on the Effective Date of the
Additional Registration Statement (if any), each Registration Statement
conformed, or will conform, in all material respects to the
requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations 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 (C) 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
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included, each Registration Statement and the Prospectus will conform,
in all material 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 made therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made (in the case of the Prospectus
only), 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 material 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 omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made
(in the case of the Prospectus only), not misleading. 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 Representatives
specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the
only such information is that described as such in Section 7(c).
(iii) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there are no
contracts, agreements or understandings between such Selling
Stockholder and any person that would give rise to a valid claim
against such Selling Stockholder or any Underwriter for a brokerage
commission, finder's fee or other like payment in connection with this
offering.
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 and each Selling
Stockholder agree, severally and not jointly, to sell to each Underwriter, and
each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company
and each Selling Stockholder, at a purchase price of $o per share, that number
of Firm Securities (rounded up or down, as determined by Credit Suisse First
Boston Corporation ("CSFBC") in its discretion, in order to avoid fractions)
obtained by multiplying o Firm Securities in the case of the Company and the
number of Firm Securities set forth opposite the name of such Selling
Stockholder in Schedule A hereto, in the case of a Selling Stockholder, in each
case by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of Firm Securities set
forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule B hereto and the
denominator of which is the total number of Firm Securities.
The Company and the Selling Stockholders will deliver the Firm
Securities to the Representatives for the accounts of the Underwriters, 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 CSFBC drawn to
the order of Westport Resources Corporation in the case of o shares of Firm
Securities, Westport Energy LLC in the case of o shares of Firm Securities, and
ERI Investments, Inc. in the case of o shares of Firm Securities, at the office
of Cravath, Swaine & Moore, at o A.M., New York time, on o , 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". 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
Cravath, Swaine & Moore at least 24 hours prior to the First Closing Date.
In addition, upon written notice from CSFBC given to the Company and
the Selling Stockholders 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
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 from the Company for the account of each
Underwriter in the same proportion as the number of Firm Securities set forth
opposite such Underwriter's name bears to the total
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number 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 and
the Selling Stockholders.
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 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
Representatives 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 Westport Resources Corporation in the case of an aggregate of not
more than 1,200,000 Optional Securities, at the above office of Cravath, Swaine
& Moore. 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 above office of Cravath, Swaine & Moore 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.
5. Certain Agreements of the Company and the Selling Stockholders. The
Company agrees with the several Underwriters and the Selling Stockholders 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
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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
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(d) As soon as practicable, but not later than the
Availability Date (as defined below), the Company will make generally
available to its securityholders an earnings statement 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 Representatives copies of
each Registration Statement (6 of which will be signed and will include
all exhibits), each related preliminary prospectus, and, so long as a
prospectus relating to the Offered Securities is required 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 such 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, provided, however, that 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 so qualified or required to file such a consent.
(g) During the period of 5 years hereafter, the Company will
furnish to the Representatives and, upon request, to each of the other
Underwriters, as soon as available after the end of each fiscal year, a
copy of its annual report to stockholders for such year; and the
Company will furnish to the Representatives (i) as soon as available, a
copy of each report and any definitive proxy statement of the Company
filed with the Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or
mailed to stockholders, and (ii) from time to time, such other
information concerning the Company as CSFBC may reasonably request,
which such other information shall be kept confidential by the
Underwriters to the extent so requested by the Company in writing at
the time of delivery of such information.
(h) For a period of 180 days after the date of the initial
public offering of the Offered Securities, the Company will not offer,
sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly
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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, except grants of employee stock options
pursuant to the terms of any plan in effect on the date of the
Prospectus, issuances of Securities pursuant to the exercise of
employee stock options outstanding on the date of the Prospectus,
employee stock purchases pursuant to the terms of a plan in effect on
the date of the Prospectus and the filing of registration statements on
Form S-8 with the Commission registering Securities issuable under any
plan in effect on the date of the Prospectus.
(i) 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)
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 the filing fee incident to,
and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the
Underwriters in connection with, the review by the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") of the Offered Securities, 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, and each Selling Stockholder will pay for any transfer
taxes on the sale of its Offered Securities to the Underwriters.
(j) Each Selling Stockholder agrees to deliver to CSFBC,
attention: Transactions Advisory Group on or prior to the First Closing
Date a properly completed and executed United States Treasury
Department Form W-9 (or other applicable form or statement specified by
Treasury Department regulations in lieu thereof).
(k) Each Selling Stockholder agrees, for a period of 180 days
after the date of the initial public offering of the Offered
Securities, not to offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise
dispose of, directly or indirectly, any additional shares of the
Securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable or
exercisable for any shares of Securities, enter into a transaction
which would have the same effect, or enter into any swap, hedge or
other arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the
economic consequences of ownership of the Securities, whether any such
aforementioned transaction is to be settled by delivery of the
Securities or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, or publicly
disclose the intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge or
disposition, or enter into any such transaction, swap, hedge or other
arrangement, without, in each case, the prior written consent of CSFBC.
(l) In connection with the Directed Share Program, the Company
will ensure that the Directed Shares will be restricted to the extent
required by the NASD or the NASD rules from sale, transfer, assignment,
pledge or hypothecation for a period of three months following the date
of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement. The Designated
Underwriter will notify the Company as to which Participants will need
to be so restricted. The Company will direct the transfer agent to
place stop transfer restrictions upon such securities for such period
of time.
(m) The Company will pay all fees and disbursements of counsel
incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Shares
Program and stamp duties, similar taxes or duties or other taxes, if
any, incurred by the underwriters in connection with the Directed Share
Program.
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Furthermore, the Company covenants with the Underwriters that
the Company will comply with all applicable securities and other
applicable laws, rules and regulations in each foreign jurisdiction in
which the Directed Shares are offered in connection with the Directed
Share Program.
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 and the Selling Stockholders herein, to
the accuracy of the statements of Company officers made pursuant to the
provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company and the Selling
Stockholders of their obligations hereunder and to the following additional
conditions precedent:
(a) The Representatives 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 Arthur Andersen LLP confirming that they are independent
public accountants within the meaning of the Act and the applicable
published Rules and Regulations thereunder and stating substantially to
the effect that:
(i) in their opinion the audited financial statements
and schedules 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 increase in
consolidated net current liabilities or any decrease
in consolidated net assets, as compared with amounts
shown on the latest balance sheet included in the
Prospectus; or
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(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 operating revenues or gross income 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.
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 Statement 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.
(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 any Selling Stockholder, the Company
or the Representatives, 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
reasonable judgment of a majority in interest of the Underwriters
including the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it
impractical or
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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 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; (iv) any banking
moratorium declared by U.S. Federal or New York authorities; or (v) any
outbreak or escalation of major hostilities in which the United States
is involved, any declaration of war by Congress or any other
substantial national or international calamity or emergency if, in the
judgment of a majority in interest of the Underwriters including the
Representatives, the effect of any such outbreak, escalation,
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.
(d) The Representatives shall have received an opinion, dated
such Closing Date, of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P.,
counsel for the Company, to the effect that:
(i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is an
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; and the Company is duly qualified to do business
as a foreign corporation in good standing in the jurisdictions
identified on a schedule to the opinion;
(ii) The Offered Securities delivered by the Company
on such Closing Date have been duly authorized and when issued
and delivered to the Underwriters against payment therefor in
accordance with this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully
paid and nonassessable and will conform to the description
thereof contained in the Prospectus; the Offered Securities
delivered by the Selling Stockholders on such Closing Date and
all other outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company
have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid
and nonassessable, and conform to the description thereof in
the Prospectus; and the stockholders of the Company have no
preemptive rights with respect to the Securities under the
Delaware General Corporation Law or any material contract
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or, to such
counsel's knowledge, any other agreement to which the Company
is a party or by which the Company is bound;
(iii) Except for rights under that certain
Shareholders Agreement dated as of March 9, 2000, by and among
the Company, the Selling Stockholders and certain other
individuals, which rights have all been validly waived as
described in the Prospectus, 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;
(iv) No consent, approval, authorization or order of,
or filing with, any governmental agency or body or any court
is required under any of the Included Laws to be obtained or
made by the Company for the due execution and delivery of this
Agreement by the Company and the performance of its
obligations hereunder in connection with the
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sale of the Offered Securities by the Company, except such as
have been obtained or made under the Act and such as may be
required under state securities laws;
(v) The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement by the Company do not, and the consummation by the
Company of its transactions herein contemplated will not (a)
result in a violation of any law, rule or regulation of any
Included Law, (b) result in a violation of any order, writ,
judgment or decree known to such counsel having jurisdiction
over the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or any of
their properties, (c) result in a violation of the Certificate
of Incorporation or by-laws of the Company or of any
subsidiary, (d) breach or entitle any party to accelerate
under any agreement or instrument files as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement or (e) breach or result in the
acceleration of, or entitle any party to accelerate any
agreement known to such counsel by which any of the properties
of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company is bound,
except for such breaches, violations or defaults as would not
have a Material Adverse Effect;
(vi) 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 Additional Registration
Statement (as the case may be), and, to the knowledge of such
counsel, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of a
Registration Statement or any part thereof has been issued and
no proceedings for that purpose 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; the
descriptions in the Registration Statements and Prospectus
under the captions "Business and Properties - Regulation,"
"Description of Capital Stock," "Shares Eligible for Future
Sale," "Management", "Certain Transactions" and "United States
Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders" of statutes, legal and
governmental proceedings and contracts and other documents are
accurate in all material respects 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 opinion as to the financial statements or other financial
data contained in the Registration Statements or the
Prospectus; and
(vii) This Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company.
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.
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(e) The Representatives shall have received an opinion, dated
such Closing Date, of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P.,
counsel for Westport Energy LLC, to the effect that:
(i) Westport Energy LLC had full right, power and
authority to sell, assign, transfer and deliver the Offered
Securities delivered by such Selling Stockholder on such
Closing Date hereunder; and assuming the Underwriters are bona
fide purchasers under the Uniform Commercial Code as applied
in the state of New York, the several Underwriters have
acquired valid and unencumbered title to the Offered
Securities purchased by them from Westport Energy LLC on such
Closing Date hereunder;
(ii) No consent, approval, authorization or order of,
or filing with, any governmental agency or body or any court
is required under any of the Included Laws to be obtained or
made by Westport Energy LLC for the due execution and delivery
of this Agreement by Westport Energy LLC and the performance
of its obligations hereunder in connection with the sale of
the Offered Securities by Westport Energy LLC, except such as
have been obtained or made under the Act and such as may be
required under state securities laws;
(iii) The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement by Westport Energy LLC, the consummation by Westport
Energy LLC of its transactions contemplated hereby and the
sale of the Offered Securities by Westport Energy LLC will not
(a) result in a violation of any law, rule or regulation of
any Included Law, (b) result in a violation of any order,
writ, judgment or decree known to such counsel having
jurisdiction over Westport Energy LLC or any subsidiary of
Westport Energy LLC or any of their properties, (c) result in
a violation of the Limited Liability Company Agreement of
Westport Energy LLC or the Certificate of Incorporation or
by-laws of any subsidiary of Westport Energy LLC, (d) breach
or result in a default or result in the acceleration of, or
instrument filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement
or (e) breach or result in the acceleration of, or entitle any
party to accelerate any agreement known to such counsel by
which any of the properties of Westport Energy LLC or any
subsidiary of Westport Energy LLC is bound, except for such
breaches, violations or defaults as would not have a Material
Adverse Effect;
(iv) This Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by Westport Energy LLC.
(f) The Representatives shall have received an opinion, dated
such Closing Date, of Martin Fritz, Esq., counsel for ERI Investments,
Inc., to the effect that:
(i) ERI Investments, Inc. had full right, power and
authority to sell, assign, transfer and deliver the Offered
Securities delivered by such Selling Stockholder on such
Closing Date hereunder; and assuming the Underwriters are bona
fide purchasers under the Uniform Commercial Code as applied
in the state of New York, the several Underwriters have
acquired valid and unencumbered title to the Offered
Securities purchased by them from ERI Investments, Inc. on
such Closing Date hereunder;
(ii) No consent, approval, authorization or order of,
or filing with, any governmental agency or body or any court
is required under any of the Included Laws to be obtained or
made by ERI Investments, Inc. for the due execution and
delivery of this Agreement by ERI Investments, Inc. and the
performance of its obligations hereunder in connection with
the sale of the Offered Securities by ERI Investments, Inc.,
except such as
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have been obtained or made under the Act and such as may be
required under state securities laws;
(iii) The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement by ERI Investments, Inc., the consummation by ERI
Investments, Inc. of its transactions contemplated hereby and
the sale of the Offered Securities by ERI Investments, Inc.
will not (a) result in a violation of any law, rule or
regulation of any Included Law, (b) result in a violation of
any order, writ, judgment or decree known to such counsel
having jurisdiction over ERI Investments, Inc. or any
subsidiary of ERI Investments, Inc. or any of their
properties, (c) result in a violation of the Limited Liability
Company Agreement of ERI Investments, Inc. or the Certificate
of Incorporation or by-laws of any subsidiary of ERI
Investments, Inc., (d) breach or result in a default or result
in the acceleration of, or entitle any party to accelerate
under any agreement or instrument files as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement or (e) breach or result in the
acceleration of, or entitle any party to accelerate any
agreement known to such counsel by which any of the properties
of ERI Investments, Inc. or any subsidiary of ERI Investments,
Inc. is bound, except for such breaches, violations or
defaults as would not have a Material Adverse Effect;
(iv) This Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by ERI Investments, Inc.
(g) The Representatives shall have received from Cravath,
Swaine & Moore, 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 Representatives may require, and the Selling
Stockholders and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such
documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them
to pass upon such matters.
(h) The Representatives shall have received a certificate,
dated such Closing Date, of the President or any Vice President and a
principal financial or accounting officer of the Company in which such
officers, to their knowledge, 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
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.
(i) The Representatives shall have received a certificate,
dated such Closing Date, of the President or any Vice President and a
principal financial or accounting officer of each of the Selling
Stockholders in which such officers, to the best of their knowledge
after reasonable investigation, shall state that: the representations
and warranties of each of the Selling Stockholders in this Agreement
are true and correct; each of the Selling Stockholders 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
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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 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 each of the Selling
Stockholders and its subsidiaries taken as a whole except as set forth
in or contemplated by the Prospectus or as described in such
certificate.
(j) The Representatives shall have received a letter, dated
such Closing Date, of Arthur Andersen 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.
(k) On or prior to the date of this Agreement, the
Representatives shall have received lockup letters from each of
executive officers, directors and stockholders of the Company who are
not Selling Stockholders who own shares of Securities and/or options
exercisable into shares of Securities within 180 days from the date of
the Prospectus.
The Selling Stockholders and the Company will furnish the Representatives with
such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and documents as
the Representatives reasonably request. 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) 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 made therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made (in the case of the Prospectus only), 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
Representatives 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 (c) below; and provided, further,
that with respect to any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement in or
omission or alleged omission from any preliminary prospectus the indemnity
agreement contained in this subsection (a) shall not inure to the benefit of any
Underwriter from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities purchased the Offered Securities concerned, to the extent that a
prospectus relating to such Offered Securities was required to be delivered by
such Underwriter under the Act in connection with such purchase and any such
loss, claim, damage or liability of such Underwriter results from the fact that
there was not sent or given to such person, at or prior to the written
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confirmation of the sale of such Offered Securities to such person, a copy of
the Prospectus if the Company had previously furnished copies thereof to such
Underwriter.
The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Designated
Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls the Designated Underwriter
within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of
the Exchange Act (the "DESIGNATED ENTITIES"), from and against any and all
losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or
investigating any such action or claim) (i) caused by any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any material prepared
by or with the consent of the Company for distribution to Participants in
connection with the Directed Share Program or caused by any omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (ii) caused by the
failure of any Participant to pay for and accept delivery of Directed Shares
that the Participant agreed to purchase; or (iii) related to, arising out of, or
in connection with the Directed Share Program, other than losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or expenses relating thereto) that are finally
judicially determined to have resulted from the bad faith or gross negligence of
the Designated Entities.
(b) The Selling Stockholders, severally and not jointly, will indemnify
and hold harmless each Underwriter, its partners, directors and officers and
each person 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 made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made (in the case of the Prospectus only), 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 Selling Stockholders 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 an Underwriter through the
Representatives 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 (c) below; and provided, further,
that with respect to any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement in or
omission or alleged omission from any preliminary prospectus the indemnity
agreement contained in this subsection (b) shall not inure to the benefit of any
Underwriter from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities purchased the Offered Securities concerned, to the extent that a
prospectus relating to such Offered Securities was required to be delivered by
such Underwriter under the Act in connection with such purchase and any such
loss, claim, damage or liability of such Underwriter results from the fact that
there was not sent or given to such person, at or prior to the written
confirmation of the sale of such Offered Securities to such person, a copy of
the Prospectus if the Company had previously furnished copies thereof to such
Underwriter.
(c) 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, and each
Selling Stockholder, its respective directors, officers and each person, if any,
who controls such Selling Stockholder within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company or
such Selling Stockholder 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
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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 made therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made (in the case of the Prospectus only),
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 Representatives specifically for use
therein, and will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
the Company and each Selling Stockholder 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 (i) the following information in the
Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: under the caption
"Underwriting", the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the fourth
paragraph and the sales to discretionary accounts information in the sixth
paragraph and (ii) the following information furnished on behalf of Banc of
America Securities LLC: under the caption "Underwriting" the information
regarding the relationship between Bank of America, N.A. and the Company in the
seventh paragraph.
(d) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section
or Section 9 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party
will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party
under subsection (a), (b) or (c) above or Section 9, 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), (b) or (c) above or
Section 9. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and
it notifies an 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 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 or Section 9, as the case may be, for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. Notwithstanding anything
contained herein to the contrary, if indemnity may be sought pursuant to the
last paragraph in Section 7 (a) hereof in respect of such action or proceeding,
then in addition to such separate firm for the indemnified parties, the
indemnifying party shall be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of not
more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the
Designated Underwriter for the defense of any losses, claims, damages and
liabilities arising out of the Directed Share Program, and all persons, if any,
who control the Designated Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15
of the Act of Section 20 of the Exchange Act. 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.
(e) If the indemnification provided for in this Section is unavailable
or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a), (b)
or (c) 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), (b) or (c) above (i) in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the
Company and the Selling Stockholders 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 and the Selling Stockholders on
the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements
or omissions which resulted in such losses,
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claims, damages or liabilities as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling
Stockholders 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 and the Selling Stockholders 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, the Selling Stockholders 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 (e) 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 (e). Notwithstanding the provisions of this
subsection (e), 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 (e) to contribute are several in
proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.
(f) The obligations of the Company and the Selling Stockholders under
this Section or Section 9 shall be in addition to any liability which the
Company and the Selling Stockholders may otherwise have and shall extend, upon
the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter or the QIU 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 and the Selling Stockholders 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 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, the Company and the Selling Stockholders 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, the Company or the Selling Stockholders, except as
provided in Section 10 (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. Qualified Independent Underwriter. The Company hereby confirms that
at its request CSFBC has without compensation acted as "qualified independent
underwriter" (in such capacity, the "QIU") within the
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meaning of Rule 2710 of the Conduct Rules of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. in connection with the offering of the Offered
Securities. The Company and the Selling Stockholders will severally and not
jointly indemnify and hold harmless the QIU against any losses, claims, damages
or liabilities, joint or several, to which the QIU 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 the QIU's acting (or
alleged failing to act) as such "qualified independent underwriter" and will
reimburse the QIU for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the QIU
in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action as such expenses are incurred.
10. Survival of Certain Representations and Obligations. The respective
indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the
Selling Stockholders, 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, any Selling
Stockholder, 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 and the Selling Stockholders shall
remain responsible for the expenses to be paid or reimbursed by them pursuant to
Section 5 and the respective obligations of the Company, the Selling
Stockholders, and the Underwriters pursuant to Section 7 and the obligations of
the Company, the Selling Stockholders pursuant to Section 9 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) or (v) 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.
11. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and, if
sent to the Underwriters, will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed
to the Representatives, c/o Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation, Eleven
Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010-3629, Attention: Investment Banking
Department - Transactions Advisory Group, or, if sent to the Company, will be
mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to it at Westport Resources
Corporation, Attention: o , or, if sent to the Selling Stockholders or any of
them, will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to Westport Energy
LLC, 21 Glen Oaks Ave., Summit, NJ 07901, Attention: Erich Gerstberger, with a
copy to Dr. Richard J. Haas Partners, Dukes Court, 32 Duke Street, St. James's,
London, SW1Y 6 DF, Attention: Michael Russell, and to ERI Investments, Inc., 801
West Street, 2nd Floor, Wilmington, DE 19801, Attention: Ken Kubacki, with a
copy to Equitable Resources, Inc., One Oxford Centre, Suite 300, Pittsburgh, PA
15219, Attention: Johanna G. O'Loughlin; provided, however, that any notice to
an Underwriter pursuant to Section 7 will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed
and confirmed to such Underwriter.
12. 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.
13. Representation. The Representatives will act for the several
Underwriters in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
and any action under this Agreement taken by the Representatives jointly or by
CSFBC will be binding upon all the Underwriters.
14. 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.
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15. 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.
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If the foregoing is in accordance with the Representatives'
understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company one of the
counterparts hereof, whereupon it will become a binding agreement among the
Selling Stockholders, the Company and the several Underwriters in accordance
with its terms.
Very truly yours,
WESTPORT ENERGY LLC
By
-----------------------------
ERI INVESTMENTS, INC.
By
-----------------------------
WESTPORT RESOURCES CORPORATION
By
----------------------------------
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and
accepted as of the date first above written.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE SECURITIES CORPORATION
LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
PETRIE PARKMAN & CO., INC.
Acting on behalf of themselves and as
the Representatives of the several
Underwriters.
By CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
By
-----------------------
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SCHEDULE A
NUMBER OF
FIRM SECURITIES
SELLING STOCKHOLDER TO BE SOLD
------------------- ---------------
Westport Energy LLC..................................................................
ERI Investments, Inc.................................................................
---------------
Total.......................................................................
===============
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SCHEDULE B
NUMBER OF
FIRM SECURITIES
UNDERWRITER TO BE PURCHASED
----------- ---------------
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation.......................................
Banc of America Securities LLC...............................................
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation..........................
Lehman Brothers Inc..........................................................
Petrie Parkman & Co., Inc....................................................
---------------
Total............................................. 8,000,000
===============
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