1
EXHIBIT 1.1
3,400,000 SHARES(1)
AWARE, INC.
COMMON STOCK
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
July ___, 1996
ROBERTSON, STEPHENS & COMPANY LLC
FURMAN SELZ LLC
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o Robertson, Stephens & Company LLC
555 California Street
Suite 2600
San Francisco, California 94104
Ladies/Gentlemen:
Aware, Inc., a Commonwealth of Massachusetts corporation (the
"Company"), addresses you as the Representatives of each of the persons, firms
and corporations listed in Schedule A hereto (herein collectively called the
"Underwriters") and hereby confirms its agreement with the several Underwriters
as follows:
1. Description of Shares. The Company proposes to issue and sell
3,400,000 shares of its authorized and unissued Common Stock, $.01 par value per
share, (the "Firm Shares") to the several Underwriters. The Company also
proposes to grant to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to 510,000
additional shares of the Company's Common Stock, $.01 par value per share, (the
"Option Shares"), as provided in Section 7 hereof. As used in this Agreement,
the term "Shares" shall include the Firm Shares and the Option Shares. All
shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value per share, of the Company to be
outstanding after giving effect to the sales contemplated hereby, including the
Shares, are hereinafter referred to as "Common Stock."
2. Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the Company.
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(1) Plus an option to purchase up to 510,000 additional shares from the Company
to cover over-allotments.
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The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with each Underwriter
that:
(a) A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No.
333-_______) with respect to the Shares, including a prospectus subject to
completion, has been prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and the applicable rules
and regulations (the "Rules and Regulations") of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") under the Act and has been filed with the
Commission; such amendments to such registration statement, such amended
prospectuses subject to completion and such abbreviated registration statements
pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Rules and Regulations as may have been required
prior to the date hereof have been similarly prepared and filed with the
Commission; and the Company will file such additional amendments to such
registration statement, such amended prospectuses subject to completion and such
abbreviated registration statements as may hereafter be required. Copies of such
registration statement and amendments of each related prospectus subject to
completion (the "Preliminary Prospectuses") and of any abbreviated registration
statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Rules and Regulations have been
delivered to you and, to the extent applicable, were identical to the
electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to
the Commission's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System
("EDGAR"), except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
If the registration statement relating to the Shares has been
declared effective under the Act by the Commission, the Company will prepare and
promptly file with the Commission the information omitted from the registration
statement pursuant to Rule 430A(a) or, if Robertson, Stephens & Company LLC, on
behalf of the several Underwriters, shall agree to the utilization of Rule 434
of the Rules and Regulations, the information required to be included in any
term sheet filed pursuant to Rule 434(b) or (c), as applicable, of the Rules and
Regulations pursuant to subparagraph (1), (4) or (7) of Rule 424(b) of the Rules
and Regulations or as part of a post-effective amendment to the registration
statement (including a final form of prospectus). If the registration statement
relating to the Shares has not been declared effective under the Act by the
Commission, the Company will prepare and promptly file an amendment to the
registration statement, including a final form of prospectus, or, if Robertson,
Stephens & Company LLC, on behalf of the several Underwriters, shall agree to
the utilization of Rule 434 of the Rules and Regulations, the information
required to be included in any term sheet filed pursuant to Rule 434(b) or (c),
as applicable, of the Rules and Regulations. The term "Registration Statement"
as used in this Agreement shall mean such registration statement, including
financial statements, schedules and exhibits, in the form in which it became or
becomes, as the case may be, effective (including, if the Company omitted
information from the registration statement pursuant to Rule 430A(a) or files a
term sheet pursuant to Rule 434 of the Rules and Regulations, the information
deemed to be a part of the registration statement at the time it became
effective pursuant to Rule 430A(b) or Rule 434(d) of the Rules and Regulations)
and, in the event of any amendment thereto or the filing of any abbreviated
registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Rules and Regulations
relating thereto after the effective date of such registration statement, shall
also mean (from and after the effectiveness of such amendment or the filing of
such abbreviated registration statement) such registration statement as so
amended, together with any such abbreviated registration statement. The term
"Prospectus" as
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used in this Agreement shall mean the prospectus relating to the Shares as
included in such Registration Statement at the time it becomes effective
(including, if the Company omitted information from the Registration Statement
pursuant to Rule 430A(a) of the Rules and Regulations, the information deemed to
be a part of the Registration Statement at the time it became effective pursuant
to Rule 430A(b) of the Rules and Regulations), provided, however, that if in
reliance on Rule 434 of the Rules and Regulations and with the consent of
Robertson, Stephens & Company LLC, on behalf of the several Underwriters, the
Company shall have provided to the Underwriters a term sheet pursuant to Rule
434(b) or (c), as applicable, prior to the time that a confirmation is sent or
given for purposes of Section 2(10)(a) of the Act, the term "Prospectus" shall
mean the "prospectus subject to completion" (as defined in Rule 434(g) of the
Rules and Regulations) last provided to the Underwriters by the Company and
circulated by the Underwriters to all prospective purchasers of the Shares
(including the information deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement at
the time it became effective pursuant to Rule 434(d) of the Rules and
Regulations). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any revised prospectus shall be
provided to the Underwriters by the Company for use in connection with the
offering of the Shares that differs from the prospectus referred to in the
immediately preceding sentence (whether or not such revised prospectus is
required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules
and Regulations), the term "Prospectus" shall refer to such revised prospectus
from and after the time it is first provided to the Underwriters for such use.
If in reliance on Rule 434 of the Rules and Regulations and with the consent of
Robertson, Stephens & Company LLC, on behalf of the several Underwriters, the
Company shall have provided to the Underwriters a term sheet pursuant to Rule
434(b) or (c), as applicable, prior to the time that a confirmation is sent or
given for purposes of Section 2(10)(a) of the Act, the Prospectus and the term
sheet, together, will not be materially different from the prospectus in the
Registration Statement. For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, or any
amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the
respective copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR.
(b) The Commission has not issued any order preventing or
suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or instituted proceedings for
that purpose, and each such Preliminary Prospectus has conformed in all material
respects to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations and, as of
its date, has not included any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and at the time
the Registration Statement became or becomes, as the case may be, effective and
at all times subsequent thereto up to and on the Closing Date (hereinafter
defined) and on any later date on which Option Shares are to be purchased, (i)
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and any amendments or supplements
thereto, contained and will contain all material information required to be
included therein by the Act and the Rules and Regulations and will in all
material respects conform to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and
Regulations, (ii) the Registration Statement, and any amendments or supplements
thereto, did not and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, and (iii) the Prospectus, and any
amendments or supplements thereto, did not and will not include any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a
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material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however,
that none of the representations and warranties contained in this subparagraph
(b) shall apply to information contained in or omitted from the Registration
Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, in reliance
upon, and in conformity with, written information relating to any Underwriter
furnished to the Company by such Underwriter specifically for use in the
preparation thereof.
(c) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of
its incorporation with full power and authority (corporate and other) to own,
lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus; the Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign
corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the ownership
or leasing of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such
qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or be in good
standing would not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or
otherwise), earnings, operations, business or business prospects of the Company;
no proceeding has been instituted in any such jurisdiction, revoking, limiting
or curtailing, or seeking to revoke, limit or curtail, such power and authority
or qualification; the Company is in possession of and operating in compliance
with all authorizations, licenses, certificates, consents, orders and permits
from state, federal and other regulatory authorities which are material to the
conduct of its business, all of which are valid and in full force and effect
(collectively, a "Material Adverse Effect"); the Company is not in violation of
its charter or bylaws or in default in the performance or observance of any
obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any bond, debenture,
note or other evidence of indebtedness, or in any lease, contract, indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, joint venture or other agreement or
instrument to which the Company is a party or by which its properties may be
bound except for any such violation or default that has been waived or that
would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and the Company is not in violation of
any law, order, rule, regulation, writ, injunction, judgment or decree of any
court, government or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having
jurisdiction over the Company or over its properties of which it has knowledge
except for any such violation that would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The
Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation,
association or other entity.
(d) The Company has full legal right, power and authority to
enter into this Agreement and perform the transactions contemplated hereby. This
Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is
a valid and binding agreement on the part of the Company, enforceable in
accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnification hereunder may be
limited by applicable law and except as the enforcement hereof may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar
laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally or by general
equitable principles; the performance of this Agreement and the consummation of
the transactions herein contemplated will not result in a material breach or
violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under,
(i) any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness, or under any
lease, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, joint
venture or other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by
which it or its properties
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may be bound, (ii) the charter or bylaws of the Company, or (iii) any law,
order, rule, regulation, writ, injunction, judgment or decree of any court,
government or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having
jurisdiction over the Company or over its properties. No consent, approval,
authorization or order of or qualification with any court, government or
governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the
Company or over its properties is required for the execution and delivery of
this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions herein
contemplated, except such as may be required under the Act, under the Securities
and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") or under state or
other securities or Blue Sky laws, all of which requirements have been satisfied
in all material respects.
(e) There is no action, suit, claim or proceeding pending or,
to the best of the Company's knowledge, threatened against the Company, or any
of its officers or any of its properties, assets or rights before any court,
government or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having
jurisdiction over the Company or over its officers or properties or otherwise
which (i) might result in any material adverse change in the condition
(financial or otherwise), earnings, operations, business or business prospects
of the Company or might materially and adversely affect its properties, assets
or rights, (ii) might prevent consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby or (iii) is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement or
Prospectus and is not so disclosed; and there are no agreements, contracts,
leases or documents of the Company of a character required to be described or
referred to in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or to be filed as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement by the Act or the Rules and Regulations
which have not been accurately described in all material respects in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus or filed as exhibits to the Registration
Statement.
(f) All outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company
have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and
nonassessable, have been issued in compliance with all federal and state
securities laws, were not issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive
rights or other rights to subscribe for or purchase securities, and the
authorized and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the
Prospectus under the caption "Capitalization" and conforms in all material
respects to the statements relating thereto contained in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus (and such statements correctly state the substance
of the instruments defining the capitalization of the Company); the Firm Shares
and the Option Shares to be purchased from the Company hereunder have been duly
authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement
and, when issued and delivered by the Company against payment therefor in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly and validly issued and
fully paid and nonassessable, and will be sold free and clear of any pledge,
lien, security interest, encumbrance, claim or equitable interest arising out of
action taken by the Company; and no preemptive right, co-sale right,
registration right, right of first refusal or other similar right of
shareholders exists with respect to any of the Firm Shares or Option Shares to
be purchased from the Company hereunder or the issuance and sale thereof other
than those that have been expressly waived or complied with prior to the date
hereof and those that will automatically expire upon the consummation of the
transactions contemplated on the Closing Date. No further approval or
authorization of any shareholder, the Board of
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Directors of the Company or others is required for the issuance and sale or
transfer of the Shares to you except as may be required under the Act, under the
Exchange Act or under state or other securities or Blue Sky laws. Except as
disclosed in or contemplated by the Prospectus and the financial statements of
the Company, and the related notes thereto, included in the Prospectus, the
Company has no outstanding options to purchase, or any preemptive rights or
other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, any securities or obligations
convertible into, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell, shares of
its capital stock or any such options, rights, convertible securities or
obligations. The description of the Company's stock option, stock purchase and
other stock plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights granted and
exercised thereunder, set forth in the Prospectus accurately and fairly presents
the information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements,
options and rights.
(g) Each of (i) Deloitte & Touche LLP, which has examined the
financial statements of the Company, together with the related schedules and
notes, as of December 31, 1995 and 1994 and for each of the years in the two (2)
years ended December 31, 1995 filed with the Commission as a part of the
Registration Statement, which are included in the Prospectus, and (ii) Price
Waterhouse LLP, which has examined the financial statements of the Company,
together with related schedules and notes, as of December 31, 1993 and for the
year ended December 31, 1993, a portion of which have been filed with the
Registration Statement, which are included in the Prospectus, are independent
accountants within the meaning of the Act and the Rules and Regulations; the
audited financial statements of the Company, together with the related schedules
and notes, and the unaudited financial information, forming part of the
Registration Statement and Prospectus, fairly present the financial position and
the results of operations of the Company at the respective dates and for the
respective periods to which they apply; and all audited financial statements of
the Company, together with the related schedules and notes, and the unaudited
financial information, filed with the Commission as part of the Registration
Statement, have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles consistently applied throughout the periods involved except as may be
otherwise stated therein and the unaudited financial statements filed with the
Commission as part of the Registration Statement have been prepared on a basis
substantially consistent with the audited financial statements and include all
adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a
fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations of the
Company at March 31, 1996 and for the three months ended March 31, 1995 and
1996. The selected and summary financial and statistical data included in the
Registration Statement present fairly the information shown therein and have
been compiled on a basis substantially consistent with the audited financial
statements presented therein. No other financial statements or schedules are
required to be included in the Registration Statement.
(h) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information
is given in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, there has not been (i)
any material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings,
operations, business or business prospects of the Company, (ii) any transaction
that is material to the Company, except transactions entered into in the
ordinary course of business, (iii) any obligation, direct or contingent, that is
material to the Company, incurred by the Company, except obligations incurred in
the ordinary course of business, (iv) any change in the capital stock or
outstanding indebtedness of the Company that is
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material to the Company and has not been disclosed in the Registration Statement
and Prospectus, (v) any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or
made on the capital stock of the Company, or (vi) any loss or damage (whether or
not insured) to the property of the Company which has been sustained or will
have been sustained and which has a material adverse effect on the condition
(financial or otherwise), earnings, operations, business or business prospects
of the Company.
(i) Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and
Prospectus, (i) the Company has good and marketable title to all properties and
assets described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus as owned by it,
free and clear of any pledge, lien, security interest, encumbrance, claim or
equitable interest, other than such as would not have a material adverse effect
on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, operations, business or
business prospects of the Company, (ii) the agreements to which the Company is a
party described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus are valid
agreements, enforceable by the Company, except as the enforcement thereof may be
limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally or by
general equitable principles and, to the best of the Company's knowledge, the
other contracting party or parties thereto are not in material breach or
material default under any of such agreements, and (iii) the Company has valid
and enforceable leases for all properties described in the Registration
Statement and Prospectus as leased by it, except as the enforcement thereof may
be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally or by
general equitable principles. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement
and Prospectus, the Company owns, leases or has the legal right to use all such
properties as are necessary to its operations as now conducted or as proposed to
be conducted.
(j) The Company has timely filed all necessary federal, state
and foreign income and franchise tax returns and has paid all taxes shown
thereon as due, and there is no tax deficiency that has been or, to the best of
the Company's knowledge, might be asserted against the Company that might have a
material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings,
operations, business or business prospects of the Company; and all tax
liabilities are adequately provided for on the books of the Company.
(k) The Company maintains insurance with insurers of
recognized financial responsibility of the types and in the amounts generally
deemed adequate for its business and consistent with insurance coverage
maintained by similar companies in similar businesses, including, but not
limited to, insurance covering real and personal property owned or leased by the
Company against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and all other
risks customarily insured against, all of which insurance is in full force and
effect; the Company has not been refused any insurance coverage sought or
applied for; and the Company has no reason to believe that it will not be able
to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to
obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue
its business at a cost that would not materially and adversely affect the
condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, operations, business or business
prospects of the Company.
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(l) To the best of Company's knowledge, no labor disturbance
by the employees of the Company exists or is imminent; and the Company is not
aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of
its principal suppliers, subassemblers, value added resellers, subcontractors,
original equipment manufacturers, authorized dealers or international
distributors that might be expected to result in a material adverse change in
the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, operations, business or
business prospects of the Company. No collective bargaining agreement exists
with any of the Company's employees and, to the best of the Company's knowledge,
no such agreement is imminent.
(m) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company has the
right to use all trademarks, trade names, trade secrets, servicemarks,
inventions, patent rights, mask works, copyrights, licenses, software code,
audiovisual works, formats, algorithms and underlying data, approvals and
governmental authorizations now used in, or which are necessary for fulfillment
of its obligations or the conduct of its business as now conducted or proposed
to be conducted as described in the Prospectus; the expiration of any
trademarks, trade names, trade secrets, servicemarks, inventions, patent rights,
mask works, copyrights, licenses, approvals or governmental authorizations would
not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise),
earnings, operations, business or business prospects of the Company; and, except
as disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company has no knowledge of any infringement
by it of trademark, trade name rights, patent rights, mask works, copyrights,
licenses, trade secret, servicemarks or other similar rights of others, and
there is no claim being made against the Company regarding trademark, trade
name, patent, mask work, copyright, license, trade secret or other infringement
or assertion of intellectual property rights which could have a material adverse
effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, operations, business
or business prospects of the Company. The Company has agreements in place with
each employee, consultant or other person or party engaged by the Company
sufficient to enable the Company to conduct its businesses as now conducted or
proposed to be conducted as described in the Prospectus and providing for the
assignment to the Company of all intellectual property rights in the work
performed for the Company and the protection of the trade secrets and
confidential information of the Company and of third parties. To the Company's
knowledge, no person or entity has infringed any of the Company's patents,
patent rights, trade names, trademarks or copyrights, which infringement is
material to the business of the Company.
(n) The Common Stock has been approved for quotation on The
Nasdaq National Market, subject to official notice of issuance.
(o) The Company has been advised concerning the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), and the rules and regulations
thereunder, and has in the past conducted, and intends in the future to conduct,
its affairs in such a manner as to ensure that it will not become an "investment
company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment company" within the meaning
of the 1940 Act and such rules and regulations.
(p) The Company has not distributed and will not distribute
prior to the later of (i) the Closing Date, or any date on which Option Shares
are to be purchased, as the case may be, and (ii) completion of the distribution
of the Shares, any offering material in connection with
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the offering and sale of the Shares other than any Preliminary Prospectuses, the
Prospectus, the Registration Statement and other materials, if any, permitted by
the Act.
(q) The Company has not at any time during the last five (5)
years (i) made any unlawful contribution to any candidate for foreign office or
failed to disclose fully any contribution in violation of law, or (ii) made any
payment to any federal or state governmental officer or official, or other
person charged with similar public or quasi-public duties, other than payments
required or permitted by the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction
thereof.
(r) The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or
indirectly, any action designed to or that might reasonably be expected to cause
or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common Stock to
facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.
(s) Each executive officer and director of the Company and
each beneficial owner of 1% or more of the shares of Common Stock has agreed in
writing that such person will not, for a period of 180 days from the date that
the Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission (the "Lock-up
Period"), sell, offer, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase or
otherwise dispose of (collectively, a "Disposition") any shares of Common Stock,
or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or any rights to
purchase or acquire, Common Stock (collectively, "Securities") now owned or
hereafter acquired directly by such person or with respect to which such person
may be deemed to be beneficially owned by such person pursuant to the Rules and
Regulations otherwise than (i) as a bona fide gift or gifts, provided the donee
or donees thereof agree in writing to be bound by this restriction, (ii) as a
distribution to limited partners or shareholders of such person, provided that
the distributees thereof agree in writing to be bound by the terms of this
restriction; or (iii) with the prior written consent of Robertson, Stephens &
Company LLC. The foregoing restriction is expressly agreed to preclude the
holder of the Securities from engaging in any hedging or other transaction which
is designed to or reasonably expected to lead to or result in a Disposition of
Securities during the Lock-up Period, even if such Securities would be disposed
of by someone other than such holder. Such prohibited hedging or other
transactions would include, without limitation, any short sale (whether or not
against the box) or any purchase, sale or grant of any right (including, without
limitation, any put or call option) with respect to any Securities or with
respect to any security (other than a broad-based market basket or index) that
includes, relates to or derives any significant part of its value from the
Securities. Furthermore, such person has also agreed and consented to the entry
of stop transfer instructions with the Company's transfer agent against the
transfer of the Securities held by such person except in compliance with this
restriction. The Company has provided to counsel for the Underwriters a complete
and accurate list of all securityholders of the Company and the number and type
of securities held by each securityholder. The Company has provided to counsel
for the Underwriters true, accurate and complete copies of all of the agreements
pursuant to which its officers, directors and shareholders have agreed to such
or similar restrictions (the "Lock-up Agreements") presently in effect or
effected hereby. The Company hereby represents and warrants that it will not
release any of its officers, directors or other shareholders from any Lock-up
Agreements currently existing or hereafter effected without the prior written
consent of Robertson, Stephens & Company LLC.
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(t) Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and
Prospectus, (i) the Company is in compliance with all rules, laws and
regulations relating to the use, treatment, storage and disposal of toxic
substances and protection of health or the environment ("Environmental Laws")
which are applicable to its business except for any such noncompliance that,
separately or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii)
the Company has received no notice from any governmental authority or third
party of an asserted claim under Environmental Laws, which claim is required to
be disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (iii) the Company
will not be required to make future material capital expenditures to comply with
Environmental Laws and (iv) no property which is owned, leased or occupied by
the Company has been designated as a Superfund site pursuant to the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as
amended (42 U.S.C. Section 9601, et seq), or otherwise designated as a
contaminated site under applicable state or local law.
(u) The Company maintains a system of internal accounting
controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are
executed in accordance with management's general or specific authorizations,
(ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to
maintain accountability for assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in
accordance with management's general or specific authorization, and (iv) the
recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at
reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any
differences.
(v) There are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal
advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees
of indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or
directors of the Company or any of the members of the families of any of them,
except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(w) The Company has complied with all provisions of Section
517.075, Florida Statutes relating to doing business with the Government of Cuba
or with any person or affiliate located in Cuba.
3. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Shares. On the basis of the
representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to the
terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to the
Underwriters, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to
purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of $_____ per share, the
respective number of Firm Shares as hereinafter set forth. The obligation of
each Underwriter to the Company shall be to purchase from the Company that
number of Firm Shares which is set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter
in Schedule A hereto (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 10).
Delivery of definitive certificates for the Firm Shares to be purchased
by the Underwriters pursuant to this Section 3 shall be made against payment of
the purchase price therefor by the several Underwriters by certified or official
bank check or checks drawn in next-day funds,
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payable to the order of the Company (and the Company agrees not to deposit any
such check in the bank on which it is drawn, and not to take any other action
with the purpose or effect of receiving immediately available funds, until the
business day following the date of its delivery to the Company, and, in the
event of any breach of the foregoing, the Company shall reimburse the
Underwriters for the interest lost and any other expenses borne by them by
reason of such breach), at the offices of Foley, Hoag & Eliot LLP, One Post
Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02109 (or at such other place as may be
agreed upon among the Representatives and the Company), at 7:00 A.M., San
Francisco time (a) on the third (3rd) full business day following the first day
that Shares are traded, (b) if this Agreement is executed and delivered after
1:30 P.M., San Francisco time, on the fourth (4th) full business day following
the day that this Agreement is executed and delivered or (c) at such other time
and date not later than seven (7) full business days following the first day
that Shares are traded as the Representatives and the Company may determine (or
at such time and date to which payment and delivery shall have been postponed
pursuant to Section 10 hereof), such time and date of payment and delivery being
herein called the "Closing Date"; provided, however, that if the Company has not
made available to the Representatives copies of the Prospectus within the time
provided in Section 4(d) hereof, the Representatives may, in their sole
discretion, postpone the Closing Date until no later than two (2) full business
days following delivery of copies of the Prospectus to the Representatives. The
certificates for the Firm Shares to be so delivered will be made available to
you at such office or such other location including, without limitation, in New
York City, as you may reasonably request for checking at least one (1) full
business day prior to the Closing Date and will be in such names and
denominations as you may request, such request to be made at least two (2) full
business days prior to the Closing Date. If the Representatives so elect,
delivery of the Firm Shares may be made by credit through full fast transfer to
the accounts at The Depository Trust Company designated by the Representatives.
It is understood that you, individually, and not as the Representatives
of the several Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of
the purchase price on behalf of any Underwriter or Underwriters whose check or
checks shall not have been received by you prior to the Closing Date for the
Firm Shares to be purchased by such Underwriter or Underwriters. Any such
payment by you shall not relieve any such Underwriter or Underwriters of any of
its or their obligations hereunder.
After the Registration Statement becomes effective, the several
Underwriters intend to make an initial public offering (as such term is
described in Section 11 hereof) of the Firm Shares at an initial public offering
price of $____ per share. After the initial public offering, the several
Underwriters may, in their discretion, vary the public offering price.
The information set forth in the last paragraph on the front cover page
(insofar as such information relates to the Underwriters), under the last
paragraph on page 2, concerning stabilization and over-allotment by the
Underwriters, and under the ____ and ___ paragraphs under the caption
"Underwriting" in any Preliminary Prospectus and in the final form of Prospectus
filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) constitutes the only information furnished by the
Underwriters to the Company for inclusion in any Preliminary Prospectus, the
Prospectus or the Registration Statement, and you, on behalf of the respective
Underwriters, represent and warrant
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to the Company that the statements made therein do not include any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
4. Further Agreements of the Company. The Company agrees with the
several Underwriters that:
(a) The Company will use its best efforts to cause the
Registration Statement and any amendment thereof, if not effective at the time
and date that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto, to
become effective as promptly as possible; the Company will use its best efforts
to cause any abbreviated registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the
Rules and Regulations as may be required subsequent to the date the Registration
Statement is declared effective to become effective as promptly as possible; the
Company will notify you, promptly after it shall receive notice thereof, of the
time when the Registration Statement, any subsequent amendment to the
Registration Statement or any abbreviated registration statement has become
effective or any supplement to the Prospectus has been filed; if the Company
omitted information from the Registration Statement at the time it was
originally declared effective in reliance upon Rule 430A(a) of the Rules and
Regulations, the Company will provide evidence satisfactory to you that the
Prospectus contains such information and has been filed, within the time period
prescribed, with the Commission pursuant to subparagraph (1) or (4) of Rule
424(b) of the Rules and Regulations or as part of a post-effective amendment to
such Registration Statement as originally declared effective which is declared
effective by the Commission; if the Company files a term sheet pursuant to Rule
434 of the Rules and Regulations, the Company will provide evidence satisfactory
to you that the Prospectus and term sheet meeting the requirements of Rule
434(b) or (c), as applicable, of the Rules and Regulations, have been filed,
within the time period prescribed, with the Commission pursuant to subparagraph
(7) of Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations; if for any reason the filing of
the final form of Prospectus is required under Rule 424(b)(3) of the Rules and
Regulations, it will provide evidence satisfactory to you that the Prospectus
contains such information and has been filed with the Commission within the time
period prescribed; it will notify you promptly of any request by the Commission
for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus or for additional information; promptly upon your request, it will
prepare and file with the Commission any amendments or supplements to the
Registration Statement or Prospectus which, in the opinion of counsel for the
several Underwriters ("Underwriters' Counsel"), may be necessary or advisable in
connection with the distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters; it will
promptly prepare and file with the Commission, and promptly notify you of the
filing of, any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or
Prospectus which may be necessary to correct any statements or omissions, if, at
any time when a prospectus relating to the Shares is required to be delivered
under the Act, any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus
or any other prospectus relating to the Shares as then in effect would include
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading; in case any Underwriter is required
to deliver a prospectus nine (9) months or more after the effective date of the
Registration Statement in connection with the sale of the Shares, it will
prepare promptly upon request, but at the expense of such Underwriter, such
amendment or amendments
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to the Registration Statement and such prospectus or prospectuses as may be
necessary to permit compliance with the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of the
Act; and it will file no amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement
or Prospectus which shall not previously have been submitted to you a reasonable
time prior to the proposed filing thereof or to which you shall reasonably
object in writing, subject, however, to compliance with the Act and the Rules
and Regulations and the provisions of this Agreement.
(b) The Company will advise you, promptly after it shall
receive notice or obtain knowledge, of the issuance of any stop order by the
Commission suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of the
initiation or threat of any proceeding for that purpose; and it will promptly
use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its
withdrawal at the earliest possible moment if such stop order should be issued.
(c) The Company will use its best efforts to qualify the
Shares for offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as
you may designate and to continue such qualifications in effect for so long as
may be required for purposes of the distribution of the Shares, except that the
Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereof
to qualify as a foreign corporation or to execute a general consent to service
of process in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise required to be so
qualified or to so execute a general consent to service of process. In each
jurisdiction in which the Shares shall have been qualified as above provided,
the Company will make and file such statements and reports in each year as are
or may be reasonably required by the laws of such jurisdiction.
(d) The Company will furnish to you, as soon as available,
and, in the case of the Prospectus and any term sheet or abbreviated term sheet
under Rule 434, in no event later than the first full business day following the
first day that Shares are traded, copies of the Registration Statement (three of
which will be signed and which will include all exhibits), each Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements to such documents,
including any prospectus prepared to permit compliance with Section 10(a)(3) of
the Act, all in such quantities as you may from time to time reasonably request.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Robertson, Stephens & Company LLC, on behalf
of the several Underwriters, shall agree to the utilization of Rule 434 of the
Rules and Regulations, the Company shall provide to you copies of a Preliminary
Prospectus updated in all respects through the date specified by you in such
quantities as you may from time to time reasonably request. To the extent
applicable, such documents shall be identical to the electronically transmitted
copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent
permitted by Regulation S-T.
(e) The Company will make generally available to its
securityholders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than the
forty-fifth (45th) day following the end of the fiscal quarter first occurring
after the first anniversary of the effective date of the Registration Statement,
an earnings statement (which will be in reasonable detail but need not be
audited) complying with the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and covering
a twelve (12) month period beginning after the effective date of the
Registration Statement. To the extent applicable, such reports or documents
shall be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with
the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation
S-T.
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(f) During a period of five (5) years after the date hereof,
the Company will furnish to its shareholders as soon as practicable after the
end of each respective period, annual reports (including financial statements
audited by independent certified public accountants) and unaudited quarterly
reports of operations for each of the first three quarters of the fiscal year,
and will furnish to you, upon request (i) concurrently with furnishing such
reports to its shareholders, statements of operations of the Company for each of
the first three (3) quarters in the form furnished to the Company's
shareholders, (ii) concurrently with furnishing to its shareholders, a balance
sheet of the Company as of the end of such fiscal year, together with statements
of operations, of shareholders' equity, and of cash flows of the Company for
such fiscal year, accompanied by a copy of the certificate or report thereon of
independent certified public accountants, (iii) as soon as they are available,
copies of all reports (financial or other) mailed to shareholders, (iv) as soon
as they are available, copies of all reports and financial statements furnished
to or filed with the Commission, any securities exchange or the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"), (v) every material press
release and every material news item or article in respect of the Company or its
affairs which was generally released to shareholders or prepared by the Company,
and (vi) any additional information of a public nature concerning the Company or
its business which you may reasonably request. During such five (5) year period,
if the Company shall have active subsidiaries, the foregoing financial
statements shall be on a consolidated basis to the extent that the accounts of
the Company and its subsidiaries are consolidated, and shall be accompanied by
similar financial statements for any significant subsidiary which is not so
consolidated.
(g) The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of
the Shares being sold by it in the manner set forth under the caption "Use of
Proceeds" in the Prospectus.
(h) The Company will maintain a transfer agent and, if
necessary under the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company, a registrar
(which may be the same entity as the transfer agent) for its Common Stock.
(i) The Company will file Form SR in conformity with the
requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations.
(j) If the transactions contemplated hereby are not
consummated by reason of any failure, refusal or inability on the part of the
Company to perform any agreement on its part to be performed hereunder or to
fulfill any condition of the Underwriters' obligations hereunder, or if the
Company shall terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, or if
the Underwriters shall terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 11(b)(i),
the Company will reimburse the several Underwriters for all out-of-pocket
expenses (including fees and disbursements of Underwriters' Counsel) reasonably
incurred by the Underwriters in investigating or preparing to market or
marketing the Shares.
(k) If at any time during the ninety (90) day period after the
Registration Statement becomes effective, any rumor, publication or event
relating to or affecting the Company shall occur as a result of which in your
opinion the market price of the Common Stock
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has been or is likely to be materially affected (regardless of whether such
rumor, publication or event necessitates a supplement to or amendment of the
Prospectus), the Company will, after written notice from you advising the
Company to the effect set forth above, forthwith prepare, consult with you
concerning the substance of and disseminate a press release or other public
statement, reasonably satisfactory to you, responding to or commenting on such
rumor, publication or event.
(1) During the Lock-up Period, the Company will not, without
the prior written consent of Robertson Stephens & Company LLC, effect the
Disposition of, directly or indirectly, any Securities other than the sale of
the Firm Shares and the Option Shares to be sold by the Company hereunder and
the Company's issuance of options or Common Stock under the Company's presently
authorized 1990 Incentive and Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan, the 1996 Stock
Option Plan and the 1996 Stock Purchase Plan (collectively, the "Option Plans"),
(m) During a period of ninety (90) days from the effective
date of the Registration Statement, the Company will not file a registration
statement registering shares under the Option Plans or any other employee
benefit plan.
5. Expenses.
(a) The Company agrees with each Underwriter that:
(i) The Company will pay and bear all costs and
expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the
Registration Statement (including financial statements, schedules and
exhibits), Preliminary Prospectuses and the Prospectus and any
amendments or supplements thereto; the printing of this Agreement, the
Agreement Among Underwriters, the Selected Dealer Agreement, the
Preliminary Blue Sky Survey and any Supplemental Blue Sky Survey, the
Underwriters' Questionnaire and Power of Attorney, and any instruments
related to any of the foregoing; the issuance and delivery of the
Shares hereunder to the several Underwriters, including transfer taxes,
if any, the cost of all certificates representing the Shares and
transfer agents' and registrars' fees; the fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company; all fees and other charges of the Company's
independent certified public accountants; the cost of furnishing to the
several Underwriters copies of the Registration Statement (including
appropriate exhibits), Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, and
any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing; NASD filing fees
and the cost of qualifying the Shares under the laws of such
jurisdictions as you may designate (including filing fees and fees and
disbursements of Underwriters' Counsel in connection with such NASD
filings and Blue Sky qualifications); and all other expenses directly
incurred by the Company in connection with the performance of its
obligations hereunder.
(ii) In addition to its other obligations under
Section 8(a) hereof, the Company agrees that, as an interim measure
during the pendency of any claim, action, investigation, inquiry or
other proceeding described in Section 8(a) hereof, it will
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reimburse the Underwriters on a monthly basis for all reasonable legal
or other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or
defending any such claim, action, investigation, inquiry or other
proceeding, notwithstanding the absence of a judicial determination as
to the propriety and enforceability of the Company's obligation to
reimburse the Underwriters for such expenses and the possibility that
such payments might later be held to have been improper by a court of
competent jurisdiction. To the extent that any such interim
reimbursement payment is so held to have been improper, the
Underwriters shall promptly return such payment to the Company together
with interest, compounded daily, determined on the basis of the prime
rate (or other commercial lending rate for borrowers of the highest
credit standing) listed from time to time in The Wall Street Journal
which represents the base rate on corporate loans posted by a
substantial majority of the nation's thirty (30) largest banks (the
"Prime Rate"). Any such interim reimbursement payments which are not
made to the Underwriters within thirty (30) days of a request for
reimbursement shall bear interest at the Prime Rate from the date of
such request.
(b) In addition to their other obligations under Section 8(b)
hereof, the Underwriters severally and not jointly agree that, as an interim
measure during the pendency of any claim, action, investigation, inquiry or
other proceeding described in Section 8(b) hereof, they will reimburse the
Company on a monthly basis for all reasonable legal or other expenses incurred
in connection with investigating or defending any such claim, action,
investigation, inquiry or other proceeding, notwithstanding the absence of a
judicial determination as to the propriety and enforceability of the
Underwriters' obligation to reimburse the Company for such expenses and the
possibility that such payments might later be held to have been improper by a
court of competent jurisdiction. To the extent that any such interim
reimbursement payment is so held to have been improper, the Company shall
promptly return such payment to the Underwriters together with interest,
compounded daily, determined on the basis of the Prime Rate. Any such interim
reimbursement payments which are not made to the Company within thirty (30) days
of a request for reimbursement shall bear interest at the Prime Rate from the
date of such request.
(c) It is agreed that any controversy arising out of the
operation of the interim reimbursement arrangements set forth in Sections
5(a)(ii) and 5(b) hereof, including the amounts of any requested reimbursement
payments, the method of determining such amounts and the basis on which such
amounts shall be apportioned among the reimbursing parties, shall be settled by
arbitration conducted under the provisions of the Constitution and Rules of the
Board of Governors of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. or pursuant to the Code
of Arbitration Procedure of the NASD. Any such arbitration must be commenced by
service of a written demand for arbitration or a written notice of intention to
arbitrate, therein electing the arbitration tribunal. In the event the party
demanding arbitration does not make such designation of an arbitration tribunal
in such demand or notice, then the party responding to said demand or notice is
authorized to do so. Any such arbitration will be limited to the operation of
the interim reimbursement provisions contained in Sections 5(a)(ii) and 5(b)
hereof and will not resolve the ultimate propriety or enforceability of the
obligation to indemnify for expenses which is created
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by the provisions of Sections 8(a) and 8(b) hereof or the obligation to
contribute to expenses which is created by the provisions of Section 8(d)
hereof.
6. Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations. The obligations of the
several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Shares as provided herein shall
be subject to the accuracy, as of the date hereof and the Closing Date and any
later date on which Option Shares are to be purchased, as the case may be, of
the representations and warranties of the Company herein, to the performance by
the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional
conditions:
(a) The Registration Statement shall have become effective not
later than 2:00 P.M., San Francisco time, on the date following the date of this
Agreement or such later date as shall be consented to in writing by you; and no
stop order suspending the effectiveness thereof shall have been issued and no
proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or, to the knowledge of
the Company or any Underwriter, threatened by the Commission, and any request of
the Commission for additional information (to be included in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise) shall have been complied with to the
satisfaction of Underwriters' Counsel.
(b) All corporate proceedings and other legal matters in
connection with this Agreement, the form of Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, and the registration, authorization, issue, sale and delivery of the
Shares, shall have been reasonably satisfactory to Underwriters' Counsel, and
such counsel shall have been furnished with such papers and information as they
may reasonably have requested to enable them to pass upon the matters referred
to in this Section.
(c) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement
and prior to the Closing Date, there shall not have been any change in the
condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, operations, business or business
prospects of the Company from that set forth in the Registration Statement or
Prospectus, which, in your sole judgment, is material and adverse and that makes
it, in your sole judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the
public offering of the Shares as contemplated by the Prospectus.
(d) You shall have received on the Closing Date and on any
later date on which Option Shares are purchased, as the case may be, the
following opinion of counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date or such
later date on which Option Shares are purchased, addressed to the Underwriters
and with reproduced copies or signed counterparts thereof for each of the
Underwriters, to the effect that:
(i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is
validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of
the jurisdiction of its incorporation;
(ii) The Company has the corporate power and
authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its
business as described in the Prospectus;
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(iii) To such counsel's knowledge, the Company does
not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation,
association or other entity;
(iv) The authorized, issued and outstanding capital
stock of the Company is as set forth in the Prospectus under the
caption "Capitalization" as of the dates stated therein, the issued and
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and
validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and, to such
counsel's knowledge, will not have been issued in violation of or
subject to any preemptive right, co-sale right, registration right,
right of first refusal or other similar right;
(v) The Firm Shares or the Option Shares, as the case
may be, to be issued by the Company pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement have been duly authorized and, upon issuance and delivery
against payment therefor in accordance with the terms hereof, will be
duly and validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable, and, to such
counsel's knowledge after due inquiry, will not have been issued in
violation of or subject to any preemptive right, co-sale right,
registration right, right of first refusal or other similar right of
shareholders pursuant to any agreement binding upon the Company;
(vi) The Company has the corporate power and
authority to enter into this Agreement and to issue, sell and deliver
to the Underwriters the Shares to be issued and sold by it hereunder;
(vii) This Agreement has been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and has been duly
executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authorization,
execution and delivery by you, is a valid and binding agreement of the
Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except insofar as
indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited by
applicable law and except as enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws
relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally or by general
equitable principles;
(viii) The Registration Statement has become
effective under the Act and, to such counsel's knowledge, no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been
issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are
pending or threatened under the Act;
(ix) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
and each amendment or supplement thereto (other than the financial
statements (including notes thereto and supporting schedules) and
financial data derived therefrom as to which such counsel need express
no opinion), as of the effective date of the Registration Statement,
complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of
the Act and the applicable Rules and Regulations;
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(x) The information in the Prospectus under the
caption "Description of Capital Stock," to the extent that it
constitutes matters of law or legal conclusions, has been reviewed by
such counsel and is a fair summary of such matters and conclusions; and
the forms of certificates evidencing the Common Stock and filed as
exhibits to the Registration Statement comply with Massachusetts law;
(xi) The description in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus of the charter and bylaws of the Company and of
statutes are accurate and fairly present in all material respects the
information required to be presented by the Act and the applicable
Rules and Regulations;
(xii) To such counsel's knowledge, there are no
agreements, contracts, leases or documents to which the Company is a
party of a character required to be described or referred to in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to
the Registration Statement which are not described or referred to
therein or filed as required;
(xiii) The performance of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions herein contemplated (other than
performance of the Company's indemnification and contribution
obligations hereunder, concerning which no opinion need be expressed)
will not (a) result in any violation of the Company's charter or bylaws
or (b) to such counsel's knowledge, result in a material breach or
violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a
material default under, any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of
indebtedness, or under any lease, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed
of trust, loan agreement, joint venture or other agreement or
instrument known to such counsel to which the Company is a party or by
which its properties are bound, or any applicable statute, rule or
regulation known to such counsel or, to such counsel's knowledge, any
order, writ or decree of any court, government or governmental agency
or body having jurisdiction over the Company or over any of its
properties or operations;
(xiv) No consent, approval, authorization or order of
or qualification with any court, government or governmental agency or
body having jurisdiction over the Company or over any of its properties
or operations is necessary in connection with the consummation by the
Company of the transactions herein contemplated, except such as have
been obtained under the Act, under the Exchange Act or such as may be
required under state or other securities or Blue Sky laws in connection
with the purchase and the distribution of the Shares by the
Underwriters;
(xv) To such counsel's knowledge, there are no legal
or governmental proceedings pending or threatened against the Company
of a character required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement
or the Prospectus by the Act or the Rules and Regulations, other than
those described therein;
(xvi) To such counsel's knowledge, the Company is not
presently (a) in material violation of its charter or bylaws, or (b) in
material breach of any applicable
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statute, rule or regulation known to such counsel or, to such counsel's
knowledge, any order, writ or decree of any court or governmental
agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or over any of its
properties or operations; and
(xvii) To such counsel's knowledge, except as set
forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, no holders of
Common Stock or other securities of the Company have registration
rights with respect to securities of the Company and, except as set
forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, all holders of
securities of the Company having rights known to such counsel to
registration of such shares of Common Stock or other securities,
because of the filing of the Registration Statement by the Company
have, with respect to the offering contemplated thereby, waived such
rights or such rights have expired by reason of lapse of time following
notification of the Company's intent to file the Registration
Statement.
In addition, such counsel shall state that such
counsel has participated in conferences with officials and other representatives
of the Company, the Representatives, Underwriters' Counsel and the independent
certified public accountants of the Company, at which such conferences the
contents of the Registration Statement and Prospectus and related matters were
discussed, and although they have not verified the accuracy or completeness of
the statements contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus,
nothing has come to the attention of such counsel which leads them to believe
that, at the time the Registration Statement became effective, the Registration
Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto (other than the financial
statements and notes thereto including supporting schedules and other financial
and statistical information derived therefrom, as to which such counsel need
express no comment) contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, or at the Closing Date or any later date on
which the Option Shares are to be purchased, as the case may be, the Prospectus
and any amendment or supplement thereto (except as aforesaid) contained any
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to stated material fact necessary
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading.
Counsel rendering the foregoing opinion may rely as
to questions of law not involving the laws of the United States or the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts upon opinions of local counsel, and as to
questions of fact upon representations or certificates of officers of the
Company, and of government officials, in which case their opinion is to state
that they are so relying and that they have no knowledge of any material
misstatement or inaccuracy in any such opinion, representation or certificate.
Copies of any opinion, representation or certificate so relied upon shall be
delivered to you, as Representatives of the Underwriters, and to Underwriters'
Counsel.
(e) You shall have received on the Closing Date and
on any later date on which Option Shares are purchase, as the case may be, the
opinion of Cesari & McKenna, patent counsel to the Company, to the effect that
they serve as patent counsel to the Company with respect to the Company's
Intellectual Property, and that:
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(i) The statements in the Registration
Statement and Prospectus (x) under the caption "Risk Factors --
__________________________," and (y) under the caption "Business --
____________________" insofar as such statements constitute summaries of matters
of law, are accurate and complete statements or summaries of the matters set
forth therein.
(ii) To such counsel's knowledge, there are
no legal or governmental proceedings pending (other than patent applications
pending) relating to patents or Intellectual Property owned or used by the
Company, and to such counsel's knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or
contemplated by governmental authorities or others, except as set forth in the
Prospectus.
In addition, such counsel shall state that although
they have not verified the accuracy or completeness of the statements contained
in the Prospectus, nothing has come to the attention of such counsel that caused
them to believe that, at the time the Registration Statement became effective,
or at the Closing Date or at any later date on which Option Shares are
purchased, as the case may be, the Prospectus (i) under the caption "Risk
Factors -- _________________________________; and (ii) under the caption
"Business -- _________________________________" contained any untrue statement
of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.
(f) You shall have received on the Closing Date and
on any later date on which Option Shares are to be purchased, as the case may
be, an opinion of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP, in form and substance
satisfactory to you, with respect to the sufficiency of all such corporate
proceedings and other legal matters relating to this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby as you may reasonably require, and the Company
shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they may have reasonably
requested for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(g) You shall have received on the Closing Date and
on any later date on which Option Shares are to be purchased, as the case may
be, a letter from Deloitte & Touche LLP addressed to the Company and the
Underwriters, dated the Closing Date or such later date on which Option Shares
are to be purchased, as the case may be, confirming that they are independent
certified public accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of
the Act and the applicable published Rules and Regulations and based upon the
procedures described in such letter delivered to you concurrently with the
execution of this Agreement (herein called the "Original Letter"), but carried
out to a date not more than five (5) business days prior to the Closing Date or
such later date on which Option Shares are to be purchased, as the case may be,
(i) confirming, to the extent true, that the statements and conclusions set
forth in the Original Letter are accurate as of the Closing Date or such later
date on which Option Shares are to be purchased, as the case may be, and (ii)
setting forth any revisions and additions to the statements and conclusions set
forth in the Original Letter which are necessary to reflect any changes in the
facts described in the Original Letter since the date of such letter, or to
reflect the availability of more recent financial statements, data or
information. The letter shall not disclose
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any change in the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, operations,
business or business prospects of the Company from that set forth in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus, which, in your sole judgment, is material
and adverse and that makes it, in your sole judgment, impracticable or
inadvisable to proceed with the public offering of the Shares as contemplated by
the Prospectus. The Original Letter from Deloitte & Touche LLP shall be
addressed to or for the use of the Underwriters in form and substance
satisfactory to the Underwriters and shall (i) represent, to the extent true,
that they are independent certified public accountants with respect to the
Company within the meaning of the Act and the applicable published Rules and
Regulations, (ii) set forth their opinion with respect to their examination of
the balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 1995 and related statements
of operations, shareholders' equity, and cash flows for the twelve (12) months
ended December 31, 1995, (iii) state that Deloitte & Touche LLP has performed
the procedure set out in Statement on Auditing Standards No. 71 ("SAS 71") for a
review of interim financial information and providing the report of Deloitte &
Touche LLP in SAS 71 on the financial statements for each of the quarters ended
June 30, 1996 and (iv) address other matters agreed upon by Deloitte & Touche
LLP and you.
(h) You shall have received on the Closing Date and
on any later date on which Option Shares are to be purchased, as the case may
be, a certificate of the Company, dated the Closing Date or such later date on
which Option Shares are to be purchased, as the case may be, signed by the
President and Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Financial Officer of the
Company, to the effect that, and you shall be satisfied that:
(i) The representations and warranties of
the Company in this Agreement are true and correct, as if made
on and as of the Closing Date or any later date on which
Option Shares are to be purchased, as the case may be, and the
Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all
the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or
prior to the Closing Date or any later date on which Option
Shares are to be purchased, as the case may be;
(ii) No stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued
and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or
are pending or threatened under the Act;
(iii) When the Registration Statement became
effective and at all times subsequent thereto up to the
delivery of such certificate, the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus, and any amendments or supplements thereto,
contained all material information required to be included
therein by the Act and the Rules and Regulations, and in all
material respects conformed to the requirements of the Act and
the Rules and Regulations, the Registration Statement, and any
amendment or supplement thereto, did not and does not include
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, the Prospectus,
and any amendment or supplement thereto, did not and does not
include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the
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circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and, since the
effective date of the Registration Statement, there has occurred no event
required to be set forth in an amended or supplemented Prospectus which has not
been so set forth; and
(iv) Subsequent to the respective dates as
of which information is given in the Registration Statement
and Prospectus, there has not been (a) any material adverse
change in the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings,
operations, business or business prospects of the Company, (b)
any transaction that is material to the Company, except
transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business,
(c) any obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to
the Company, incurred by the Company, except obligations
incurred in the ordinary course of business, (d) any change in
the capital stock or outstanding indebtedness of the Company
that is material to the Company and has not been disclosed in
the Registration Statement and Prospectus, (e) any dividend or
distribution of any kind declared, paid or made on the capital
stock of the Company, or (f) any loss or damage (whether or
not insured) to the property of the Company which has been
sustained or will have been sustained which has a material
adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise),
earnings, operations, business or business prospects of the
Company.
(i) The Company shall have obtained and delivered to you an
agreement from each executive officer and director of the Company, and each
beneficial owner of 1% or more of the shares of Common Stock in writing prior to
the date hereof that such person will not, during the Lock-up Period, effect the
Disposition of any Securities now owned or hereafter acquired directly by such
person or with respect to which such person has or hereafter acquires the power
of disposition, otherwise than (i) as a bona fide gift or gifts, provided the
donee or donees thereof agree in writing to be bound by this restriction, (ii)
as a distribution to limited partners or shareholders of such person, provided
that the distributees thereof agree in writing to be bound by the terms of this
restriction, or (iii) with the prior written consent of Robertson, Stephens &
Company LLC. The foregoing restriction is expressly agreed to preclude the
holder of the Securities from engaging in any hedging or other transaction which
is designed to or reasonably expected to lead to or result in a Disposition of
Securities during the Lock-up Period, even if such Securities would be disposed
of by someone other than the such holder. Such prohibited hedging or other
transactions would include, without limitation, any short sale (whether or not
against the box) or any purchase, sale or grant of any right (including, without
limitation, any put or call option) with respect to any Securities or with
respect to any security (other than a broad-based market basket or index) that
includes, relates to or derives any significant part of its value from
Securities. Furthermore, such person will have also agreed and consented to the
entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company's transfer agent against
the transfer of the Securities held by such person except in compliance with
this restriction.
(j) The Company shall have furnished to you such further
certificates and documents as you shall reasonably request (including
certificates of officers of the Company) as to the accuracy of the
representations and warranties of the Company herein, as to the
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performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and as to the other
conditions concurrent and precedent to the obligations of the Underwriters
hereunder.
All such opinions, certificates, letters and documents will be
in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are reasonably
satisfactory to Underwriters' Counsel. The Company will furnish you with such
number of conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and documents
as you shall reasonably request.
7. Option Shares.
(a) On the basis of the representations, warranties
and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein
set forth, the Company hereby grants to the several Underwriters, for the
purpose of covering over-allotments in connection with the distribution and sale
of the Firm Shares only, a nontransferable option to purchase up to an aggregate
of 510,000 Option Shares at the purchase price per share for the Firm Shares set
forth in Section 3 hereof. Such option may be exercised by the Representatives
on behalf of the several Underwriters on one (1) or more occasions in whole or
in part during the period of thirty (30) days after the date on which the Firm
Shares are initially offered to the public, by giving written notice to the
Company. The number of Option Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter upon
the exercise of such option shall be the same proportion of the total number of
Option Shares to be purchased by the several Underwriters pursuant to the
exercise of such option as the number of Firm Shares purchased by such
Underwriter (set forth in Schedule A hereto) bears to the total number of Firm
Shares purchased by the several Underwriters (set forth in Schedule A hereto),
adjusted by the Representatives in such manner as to avoid fractional shares.
Delivery of definitive certificates for the Option
Shares to be purchased by the several Underwriters pursuant to the exercise of
the option granted by this Section 7 shall be made against payment of the
purchase price therefor by the several Underwriters by certified or official
bank check or checks drawn in next-day funds, payable to the order of the
Company (and the Company agrees not to deposit any such check in the bank on
which it is drawn, and not to take any other action with the purpose or effect
of receiving immediately available funds, until the business day following the
date of its delivery to the Company). In the event of any breach of the
foregoing, the Company shall reimburse the Underwriters for the interest lost
and any other expenses borne by them by reason of such breach. Such delivery and
payment shall take place at the offices of Foley, Hoag & Eliot LLP, One Post
Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02109 or at such other place as may be
agreed upon among the Representatives and the Company (i) on the Closing Date,
if written notice of the exercise of such option is received by the Company at
least two (2) full business days prior to the Closing Date, or (ii) on a date
which shall not be later than the third (3rd) full business day following the
date the Company receives written notice of the exercise of such option, if such
notice is received by the Company less than two (2) full business days prior to
the Closing Date.
The certificates for the Option Shares to be so
delivered will be made available to you at such office or such other location
including, without limitation, in New York
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City, as you may reasonably request for checking at least one (1) full business
day prior to the date of payment and delivery and will be in such names and
denominations as you may request, such request to be made at least two (2) full
business days prior to such date of payment and delivery. If the Representatives
so elect, delivery of the Option Shares may be made by credit through full fast
transfer to the accounts at The Depository Trust Company designated by the
Representatives.
It is understood that you, individually, and not as
the Representatives of the several Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated
to) make payment of the purchase price on behalf of any Underwriter or
Underwriters whose check or checks shall not have been received by you prior to
the date of payment and delivery for the Option Shares to be purchased by such
Underwriter or Underwriters. Any such payment by you shall not relieve any such
Underwriter or Underwriters of any of its or their obligations hereunder.
(b) Upon exercise of any option provided for in
Section 7(a) hereof, the obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase
such Option Shares will be subject (as of the date hereof and as of the date of
payment and delivery for such Option Shares) to the accuracy of and compliance
with the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company herein, to
the accuracy of the statements of the Company and officers of the Company made
pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its
obligations hereunder, and to the condition that all proceedings taken at or
prior to the payment date in connection with the sale and transfer of such
Option Shares shall be satisfactory in form and substance to you and to
Underwriters' Counsel, and you shall have been furnished with all such
documents, certificates and opinions as you may request in order to evidence the
accuracy and completeness of any of the representations, warranties or
statements, the performance of any of the covenants or agreements of the Company
or the compliance with any of the conditions herein contained.
8. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
each Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or
several, to which such Underwriter may become subject (including, without
limitation, in its capacity as an Underwriter or as a "qualified independent
underwriter" within the meaning of Schedule E of the Bylaws of the NASD), under
the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, specifically including, but not limited
to, losses, claims, damages or liabilities, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
upon (i) any breach of any representation, warranty, agreement or covenant of
the Company herein contained, (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any
amendment or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, or (iii) any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus or
the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or the omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were
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made, not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however,
that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any
such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of or is based upon an
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the
Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, in reliance upon, and in
conformity with, written information relating to any Underwriter furnished to
the Company by such Underwriter, directly or through you, specifically for use
in the preparation thereof and, provided further, that the indemnity agreement
provided in this Section 8(a) with respect to any Preliminary Prospectus shall
not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter from whom the person asserting any
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions based upon any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of material fact or omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact purchased Shares, if a copy of the Prospectus in
which such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission was corrected had not been sent or given to such person within the time
required by the Act and the Rules and Regulations, unless such failure is the
result of noncompliance by the Company with Section 4(d) hereof.
The indemnity agreement in this Section 8(a) shall
extend upon the same terms and conditions to, and shall inure to the benefit of,
each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act
or the Exchange Act. This indemnity agreement shall be in addition to any
liabilities which the Company may otherwise have.
(b) Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly,
agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which the Company may become
subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, specifically including,
but not limited to, losses, claims, damages or liabilities, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out
of or are based upon (i) any breach of any representation, warranty, agreement
or covenant of such Underwriter herein contained, (ii) any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration
Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (iii) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any
Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto,
or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading, in the case of subparagraphs (ii) and (iii) of
this Section 8(b) 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, directly or through you, specifically for use in
the preparation thereof, and agrees to reimburse the Company for any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with
investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action.
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The indemnity agreement in this Section 8(b) shall extend upon the same
terms and conditions to, and shall inure to the benefit of, each officer of the
Company who signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company,
and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act
or the Exchange Act. This indemnity agreement shall be in addition to any
liabilities which each Underwriter may otherwise have.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party
shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying
party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the
commencement thereof but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will
not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party
otherwise than under this Section 8. In case any such action is brought against
any indemnified party, and it notified the indemnifying party of the
commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate
therein and, to the extent that it shall elect by written notice delivered to
the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such
indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, that if the
defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded
that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified
parties which are different from or additional to those available to the
indemnifying party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to
select separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and to otherwise
participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or
parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified
party of the indemnifying party's election so to assume the defense of such
action and approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party
will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal
or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection
with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed
separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the next preceding sentence
(it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable
for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (together with appropriate
local counsel) approved by the indemnifying party representing all the
indemnified parties under Section 8(a) or 8(b) hereof who are parties to such
action), (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel
satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within
a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action or (iii) the
indemnifying party has authorized the employment of counsel for the indemnified
party at the expense of the indemnifying party. In no event shall any
indemnifying party be liable in respect of any amounts paid in settlement of any
action unless the indemnifying party shall have approved the terms of such
settlement; provided that such approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. No
indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect
of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnification
could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such
settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all
liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
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(d) In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in
any action in which a claim for indemnification is made pursuant to this Section
8, but such indemnification is for any reason held to be unenforceable by the
indemnified parties although applicable in accordance with its terms, all the
parties hereto shall contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages or
liabilities to which they may be subject (after contribution from others) in
such proportion so that the Underwriters severally and not jointly are
responsible pro rata for the portion represented by the percentage that the
underwriting discount bears to the initial public offering price, and the
Company is responsible for the remaining portion, provided, however, that (i) no
Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the
underwriting discount applicable to the Shares purchased by such Underwriter in
excess of the amount of damages which such Underwriter is otherwise required to
pay and (ii) no person guilty of a fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any
person who is not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The contribution
agreement in this Section 8(d) shall extend upon the same terms and conditions
to, and shall inure to the benefit of, each person, if any, who controls the
Underwriters or the Company within the meaning of the Act or the Exchange Act
and each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and each
director of the Company.
(e) The parties to this Agreement hereby acknowledge that they
are sophisticated business persons who were represented by counsel during the
negotiations regarding the provisions hereof including, without limitation, the
provisions of this Section 8, and are fully informed regarding said provisions.
They further acknowledge that the provisions of this Section 8 fairly allocate
the risks in light of the ability of the parties to investigate the Company and
its business in order to assure that adequate disclosure is made in the
Registration Statement and Prospectus as required by the Act and the Exchange
Act.
9. Representations, Warranties, Covenants and Agreements to Survive
Delivery. All representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the
Company and the Underwriters herein or in certificates delivered pursuant
hereto, and the indemnity and contribution agreements contained in Section 8
hereof shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any controlling person
within the meaning of the Act or the Exchange Act, or by or on behalf of the
Company, or any of its officers, directors or controlling persons within the
meaning of the Act or the Exchange Act, and shall survive the delivery of the
Shares to the several Underwriters hereunder or termination of this Agreement.
10. Substitution of Underwriters. If any Underwriter or Underwriters
shall fail to take up and pay for the number of Firm Shares agreed by such
Underwriter or Underwriters to be purchased hereunder upon tender of such Firm
Shares in accordance with the terms hereof, and if the aggregate number of Firm
Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters so agreed but failed to
purchase does not exceed 10% of the Firm Shares, the remaining Underwriters
shall be obligated, severally in proportion to their respective commitments
hereunder, to take up and pay for the Firm Shares of such defaulting Underwriter
or Underwriters.
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If any Underwriter or Underwriters so defaults and the
aggregate number of Firm Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters agreed but failed to take up and pay for exceeds 10% of the Firm
Shares, the remaining Underwriters shall have the right, but shall not be
obligated, to take up and pay for (in such proportions as may be agreed upon
among them) the Firm Shares which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters so
agreed but failed to purchase. If such remaining Underwriters do not, at the
Closing Date, take up and pay for the Firm Shares which the defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters so agreed but failed to purchase, the Closing Date
shall be postponed for twenty-four (24) hours to allow the several Underwriters
the privilege of substituting within twenty-four (24) hours (including
non-business hours) another underwriter or underwriters (which may include any
nondefaulting Underwriter) satisfactory to the Company. If no such underwriter
or underwriters shall have been substituted as aforesaid by such postponed
Closing Date, the Closing Date may, at the option of the Company, be postponed
for a further twenty-four (24) hours, if necessary, to allow the Company the
privilege of finding another underwriter or underwriters, satisfactory to you,
to purchase the Firm Shares which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters so
agreed but failed to purchase. If it shall be arranged for the remaining
Underwriters or substituted underwriter or underwriters to take up the Firm
Shares of the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters as provided in this Section
10, (i) the Company shall have the right to postpone the time of delivery for a
period of not more than seven (7) full business days, in order to effect
whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or
the Prospectus, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company
agrees promptly to file any amendments to the Registration Statement or
supplements to the Prospectus which may thereby be made necessary, and (ii) the
respective number of Firm Shares to be purchased by the remaining Underwriters
and substituted underwriter or underwriters shall be taken as the basis of their
underwriting obligation. If the remaining Underwriters shall not take up and pay
for all such Firm Shares so agreed to be purchased by the defaulting Underwriter
or Underwriters or substitute another underwriter or underwriters as aforesaid
and the Company shall not find or shall not elect to seek another underwriter or
underwriters for such Firm Shares as aforesaid, then this Agreement shall
terminate.
In the event of any termination of this Agreement pursuant to
the preceding paragraph of this Section 10, the Company shall not be liable to
any Underwriter (except as provided in Sections 5 and 8 hereof) nor shall any
Underwriter (other than an Underwriter who shall have failed, otherwise than for
some reason permitted under this Agreement, to purchase the number of Firm
Shares agreed by such Underwriter to be purchased hereunder, which Underwriter
shall remain liable to the Company and the other Underwriters for damages, if
any, resulting from such default) be liable to the Company (except to the extent
provided in Sections 5 and 8 hereof).
The term "Underwriter" in this Agreement shall include any
person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 10.
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11. Effective Date of this Agreement and Termination.
(a) This Agreement shall become effective at the earlier of
(i) 6:30 A.M., San Francisco time, on the first full business day following the
date of this Agreement, or (ii) the time of the initial public offering of any
of the Shares by the Underwriters after the Registration Statement becomes
effective. The time of the initial public offering shall mean the time of the
release by you, for publication, of the first newspaper advertisement relating
to the Shares, or the time at which the Shares are first generally offered by
the Underwriters to the public by letter, telephone, telegram or telecopy,
whichever shall first occur. By giving notice as set forth in Section 12 before
the time this Agreement becomes effective, you, as Representatives of the
several Underwriters, or the Company, may prevent this Agreement from becoming
effective without liability of any party to any other party, except as provided
in Sections 4(j), 5 and 8 hereof.
(b) You, as Representatives of the several Underwriters, shall
have the right to terminate this Agreement by giving notice as hereinafter
specified at any time at or prior to the Closing Date or on or prior to any
later date on which Option Shares are to be purchased, as the case may be, (i)
if the Company shall have failed, refused or been unable to perform any
agreement on its part to be performed, or because any other condition of the
Underwriters' obligations hereunder required to be fulfilled is not fulfilled,
including, without limitation, any change in the condition (financial or
otherwise), earnings, operations, business or business prospects of the Company
from that set forth in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, which, in your
sole judgment, is material and adverse, or (ii) if additional material
governmental restrictions, not in force and effect on the date hereof, shall
have been imposed upon trading in securities generally or minimum or maximum
prices shall have been generally established on the New York Stock Exchange or
on the American Stock Exchange or in the over the counter market maintained by
the NASD, or trading in securities generally shall have been suspended on either
such exchange or in the over the counter market maintained by the NASD, or if a
banking moratorium shall have been declared by federal, New York or California
authorities, or (iii) if the Company shall have sustained a loss by strike,
fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity of such character as to
interfere materially with the conduct of the business and operations of the
Company regardless of whether or not such loss shall have been insured, or (iv)
if there shall have been a material adverse change in the general political or
economic conditions or financial markets as in your reasonable judgment makes it
inadvisable or impracticable to proceed with the offering, sale and delivery of
the Shares, or (v) if there shall have been an outbreak or escalation of
hostilities or of any other insurrection or armed conflict or the declaration by
the United States of a national emergency which, in the reasonable opinion of
the Representatives, makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the
public offering of the Shares as contemplated by the Prospectus. In the event of
termination pursuant to subparagraph (i) above, the Company shall remain
obligated to pay costs and expenses pursuant to Sections 4(j), 5 and 8 hereof.
Any termination pursuant to any of subparagraphs (ii) through (v) above shall be
without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Sections
5 and 8 hereof.
If you elect to prevent this Agreement from becoming effective
or to terminate this Agreement as provided in this Section 11, you shall
promptly notify the Company by
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telephone, telecopy or telegram, in each case confirmed by letter. If the
Company shall elect to prevent this Agreement from becoming effective, the
Company shall promptly notify you by telephone, telecopy or telegram, in each
case confirmed by letter.
12. Notices. All notices or communications hereunder, except as herein
otherwise specifically provided, shall be in writing and if sent to you shall be
mailed, delivered, telegraphed (and confirmed by letter) or telecopied (and
confirmed by letter) to you c/o Robertson, Stephens & Company LLC, 555
California Street, Suite 2600, San Francisco, California 94104, telecopier
number (415) 781-0278, Attention: General Counsel; if sent to the Company, such
notice shall be mailed, delivered, telegraphed (and confirmed by letter) or
telecopied (and confirmed by letter) to One Oak Park, Bedford, Massachusetts
01730, telecopier number (617) 276-4001, Attention: James C. Bender, President
and Chief Executive Officer.
13. Parties. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the several Underwriters and the Company and their respective
executors, administrators, successors and assigns. Nothing expressed or
mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person
or corporation, other than the parties hereto and their respective executors,
administrators, successors and assigns, and the controlling persons within the
meaning of the Act or the Exchange Act, officers and directors referred to in
Section 8 hereof, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim in respect of
this Agreement or any provisions herein contained, this Agreement and all
conditions and provisions hereof being intended to be and being for the sole and
exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their respective executors,
administrators, successors and assigns and said controlling persons and said
officers and directors, and for the benefit of no other person or corporation.
No purchaser of any of the Shares from any Underwriter shall be construed a
successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.
In all dealings with the Company under this Agreement, you
shall act on behalf of each of the several Underwriters, and the Company shall
be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request, notice or agreement
made or given by you jointly or by Robertson, Stephens & Company LLC on behalf
of you.
14. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed
in accordance with, the laws of the State of California.
15. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in several counterparts,
each of which will constitute an original.
32
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If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding among the
Company and the several Underwriters, please so indicate in the space provided
below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding
agreement among the Company and the several Underwriters.
Very truly yours,
AWARE, INC.
By _____________________________
Accepted as of the date first above written:
ROBERTSON, STEPHENS & COMPANY LLC
FURMAN SELZ LLC
On their behalf and on behalf of each of the
several Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto.
ROBERTSON, STEPHENS & COMPANY LLC
By ROBERTSON, STEPHENS & COMPANY GROUP, L.L.C.
By ____________________________________
Authorized Signatory
33
SCHEDULE A
Number of
Firm Shares
To Be
Underwriters Purchased
Robertson, Stephens & Company LLC..........................
Furman Selz LLC............................................
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Total..................................................... 3,400,000
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