EX-1.1 2 ex1-1.txt FORM OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT 1 Exhibit 1.1 1,000,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF AdStar.com, Inc. UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT _____________, 2000 Paulson Investment Company, Inc. As Representative of the Several Underwriters 811 SW Naito Parkway, Suite 200 Portland, Oregon 97204 Gentlemen: AdStar.com, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), proposes to sell to the several underwriters (the "Underwriters") named in Schedule I hereto for whom you are acting as Representative (the "Representative") an aggregate of 1,000,000 Shares (the "Firm Shares"). The respective number of the Firm Shares to be so purchased by the several Underwriters are set forth opposite their names in Schedule I hereto. The Company also proposes to grant to the Representative an option to purchase in aggregate up to 150,000 additional Shares, identical to the Firm Shares (the "Option Shares"), as set forth below. As the Representative, you have advised the Company (a) that you are authorized to enter into this Agreement for yourself as Representative and on behalf of the several Underwriters, and (b) that the several Underwriters are willing, acting severally and not jointly, to purchase the numbers of Firm Shares set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I. The Firm Shares and the Option Shares (to the extent the aforementioned option is exercised) are herein collectively called the "Shares." In consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein and of the interests of the parties in the transactions contemplated hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows: 1. Representations and Warranties of the Company. 1 2 The Company represents and warrants to each of the Underwriters as follows: (a) A registration statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 333-__________) with respect to the Shares has been prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and the Rules and Regulations (the "Rules and Regulations") of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") thereunder and has been filed with the Commission. Copies of such registration statement, including any amendments thereto, the preliminary prospectuses (meeting the requirements of the Rules and Regulations) contained therein and the exhibits, financial statements and schedules, as finally amended and revised, have heretofore been delivered by the Company to you. Such registration statement, together with any registration statement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 462 (b) of the Act, herein referred to as the "Registration Statement," which shall be deemed to include all information omitted therefrom in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the Prospectus referred to below, has become effective under the Act and no post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed as of the date of this Agreement. "Prospectus" means (a) the form of prospectus first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) or (b) the last preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement filed prior to the time it becomes effective or filed pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Act that is delivered by the Company to the Underwriters for delivery to purchasers of the Shares, together with the term sheet or abbreviated term sheet filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)(7) under the Act. Each preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement prior to the time it becomes effective is herein referred to as a "Preliminary Prospectus." (b) The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement. The Company does not own and never has owned a controlling interest in any other corporation or other business entity that has or ever has had any material assets, liabilities or operations. The Company is duly qualified to transact business in all jurisdictions in which the conduct of its business requires such qualification. (c) The outstanding shares of each class or series of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, have been issued and sold by the Company in compliance in all material respects with applicable securities laws; the issuance and sale of the Shares have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and, when issued and paid for as contemplated herein, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; and no preemptive rights of shareholders exist with respect to any security of the Company or the issue and sale thereof. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, neither the filing of the Registration Statement nor the offering or sale of the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement gives rise to any rights, other than those which have been waived or satisfied, for or relating to the registration of any shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company. 2 3 (d) The information set forth under the caption "Capitalization" in the Prospectus is true and correct. The Common Stock conforms and the Representative's Warrant will conform to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement. The forms of certificates for the securities comprising the Shares conform to the requirements of the corporate law of Delaware. (e) The Commission has not issued an order preventing or suspending the use of any Prospectus relating to the proposed offering of the Shares nor instituted proceedings for that purpose. The Registration Statement contains, and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto will contain, all statements which are required to be stated therein by, and will conform to, the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations. The Registration Statement and any amendment thereto do not contain, and will not contain, any untrue statement of a material fact and do not omit, and will not omit, to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus and any amendments and supplements thereto do not contain, and will not contain, any untrue statement of material fact; and do not omit, and will not omit, to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representative, specifically for use in the preparation thereof. (f) The financial statements of the Company, together with related notes and schedules as set forth in the Registration Statement, present fairly the financial position and the results of operations and cash flows of the Company at the indicated dates and for the indicated periods. Such financial statements and related schedules have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted principles of accounting, consistently applied throughout the periods involved, except as disclosed herein and in the Registration Statement, and all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of results for such periods have been made. The summary financial and statistical data of the Company included in the Registration Statement presents fairly the information shown therein and such data has been compiled on a basis consistent with the financial statements presented therein and the books and records of the Company. (g) PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, who have certified certain of the financial statements filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement, are independent public accountants as required by the Act and the Rules and Regulations. (h) There is no action, suit, claim or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company before any court or administrative agency or otherwise which if determined adversely to the Company might result in any material adverse change in the earnings, business, management, properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company or prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except as set forth in the Registration Statement. 3 4 (i) The Company has good and marketable title to all properties and assets, tangible and intangible, reflected in the financial statements (or as described in the Registration Statement) hereinabove described, subject to no lien, mortgage, pledge, charge or encumbrance of any kind except those reflected in such financial statements (or as described in the Registration Statement) or which are not material. The Company's ownership rights in its patents, patent licenses and other material technology is consistent with (i) the description thereof in the Registration Statement, and (ii) the business needs of the Company. All of the leases and subleases under which the Company holds properties are in full force and effect (with only such exceptions as are commonly accepted by prudent companies engaged in the Company's business) and the Company has not received notice of any claim that is materially adverse to the rights of the Company under any of such leases or subleases. (j) The Company has filed all federal, state, local and foreign income tax returns which have been required to be filed and has paid all taxes indicated by said returns and all assessments received by it to the extent that such taxes have become due and are not being contested in good faith. All tax liabilities have been adequately provided for in the financial statements of the Company. (k) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, as it may have been amended or supplemented, there has not been any material adverse change or any development involving a prospective material adverse change in or affecting the earnings, business, management, properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or otherwise), or prospects of the Company, whether or not occurring in the ordinary course of business, and there has not been any material transaction entered into or any material transaction that is probable of being entered into by the Company, other than transactions in the ordinary course of business and changes and transactions described in the Registration Statement, as it may be amended or supplemented. The Company has no material contingent obligations which are not disclosed in the Company's financial statements or elsewhere in the Prospectus which are included in the Registration Statement. (l) The Company is not, nor, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, will it be, in violation of or in default under its Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws or under any agreement, lease, contract, indenture or other instrument or obligation to which it is a party or by which it, or any of its properties, is bound and which default is of material significance in respect of the condition, financial or otherwise of the Company or the business, management, properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated and the fulfillment of the terms hereof will not conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or instrument to which any member of the Company is a party, or of the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company or any order, rule or regulation applicable to the 4 5 Company of any court or of any regulatory body or administrative agency or other governmental body having jurisdiction. (m) Each approval, consent, order, authorization, designation, declaration or filing by or with any regulatory, administrative or other governmental body necessary in connection with the execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated (except such additional steps as may be required by the Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") or such additional steps as may be necessary to qualify the Shares for public offering by the Underwriters under state securities or Blue Sky laws) has been obtained or made and is in full force and effect. (n) The Company holds all material patents, patent rights trademarks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets and licenses of any of the foregoing (collectively, "Intellectual Property Rights") that are necessary to the conduct of its businesses; there is no claim pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its officers, directors or employees, in their capacities as such, alleging any infringement of Intellectual Property Rights, or any violation of the terms of any license relating to Intellectual Property Rights, nor does the Company know of any basis for any such claim. The Company knows of no material infringement by others of Intellectual Property Rights owned by or licensed to the Company. The Company has obtained, is in compliance in all material respect with and maintains in full force and effect all material licenses, certificates, permits, orders or other, similar authorizations granted or issued by any governmental agency (collectively "Government Permits") required to conduct its business as it is presently conducted. No proceeding to revoke, limit or otherwise materially change any Government Permit has been commenced or, to the Company's best knowledge, is threatened against the Company, and the Company has no reason to anticipate that any such proceeding will be commenced against the Company. Except as disclosed or contemplated in the Prospectus, the Company has no reason to believe that any pending application for a Government Permit will be denied or limited in a manner inconsistent with the Company's business plan as described in the Prospectus. (o) The Company is in all material respects in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws. The Company has no knowledge of any past, present or, as anticipated by the Company, future events, conditions, activities, investigation, studies, plans or proposals that (i) would interfere with or prevent compliance with any Environmental Law by the Company or (ii) could reasonably be expected to give rise to any common law or other liability, or otherwise form the basis of a claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing or investigation, involving the Company and related to Hazardous Substances or Environmental Laws. Except for the prudent and safe use and management of Hazardous Substances in the ordinary course of the Company's business, (i) no Hazardous Substance is or has been used, treated, stored, generated, manufactured or otherwise handled on or at any Facility and (ii) to the Company's best knowledge, no Hazardous Substance has otherwise come to be located in, on or under any Facility. No Hazardous Substances are stored at any Facility except in quantities necessary to satisfy the reasonably anticipated use or consumption by the Company. No litigation, claim, proceeding or governmental investigation is pending 5 6 regarding any environmental matter for which the Company has been served or otherwise notified or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened or asserted against the Company, or the officers or directors of the Company in their capacities as such, or any Facility or the Company's business. There are no orders, judgments or decrees of any court or of any governmental agency or instrumentality under any Environmental Law which specifically apply to the Company, any Facility or any of the Company's operations. The Company has not received from a governmental authority or other person (i) any notice that it is a potentially responsible person for any Contaminated site or (ii) any request for information about a site alleged to be Contaminated or regarding the disposal of Hazardous Substances. There is no litigation or proceeding against any other person by the Company regarding any environmental matter. The Company has disclosed in the Prospectus or made available to the Underwriters and their counsel true, complete and correct copies of any reports, studies, investigations, audits, analyses, tests or monitoring in the possession of or initiated by the Company pertaining to any environmental matter relating to the Company, its past or present operations or any Facility. For the purposes of the foregoing paragraph, "Environmental Laws" means any applicable federal, state or local statute, regulation, code, rule, ordinance, order, judgment, decree, injunction or common law pertaining in any way to the protection of human health or the environment, including without limitation, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Clean Air Act, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and any similar or comparable state or local law; "Hazardous Substance" means any hazardous, toxic, radioactive or infectious substance, material or waste as defined, listed or regulated under any Environmental Law; "Contaminated" means the actual existence on or under any real property of Hazardous Substances, if the existence of such Hazardous Substances triggers a requirement to perform any investigatory, remedial, removal or other response action under any Environmental Laws or if such response action legally could be required by any governmental authority; "Facility" means any property currently owned, leased or occupied by the Company. (p) Neither the Company, nor to the Company's best knowledge, any of its affiliates, has taken or intends to take, directly or indirectly, any action which is designed to cause or result in, or which constitutes or might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of the shares of Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares. (q) The Company is not an "investment company" within the meaning of such term under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. (r) The Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management's 6 7 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. (s) The Company carries, or is covered by, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for the conduct of their respective businesses and the value of their respective properties and as is customary for companies engaged in similar industries. (t) The Company is in compliance in all material respects with all presently applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder ("ERISA"); no "reportable event" (as defined in ERISA) has occurred with respect to any "pension plan" (as defined in ERISA) for which the Company would have any liability; the Company has not incurred and does not expect to incur liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any "pension plan" or (ii) Sections 412 or 4971 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the "Code"); and each "pension plan" for which the Company would have any liability that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified in all material respects and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification. (u) The Company confirms as of the date hereof that it is in compliance with all provisions of Section 1 of Laws of Florida, Chapter 92-198, An Act Relating to Disclosure of Doing Business with Cuba, and the Company further agrees that if it commences engaging in business with the government of Cuba or with any person or affiliate located in Cuba after the date the Registration Statement becomes or has become effective with the Commission or with the Florida Department of Banking and Finance (the "Department"), whichever date is later, or if the information reported or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, if any, concerning the Company's business with Cuba or with any person or affiliate located in Cuba changes in any material way, the Company will provide the Department notice of such business or change, as appropriate, in a form acceptable to the Department. (v) The Company is in material compliance with all laws, rules, regulations, orders of any court or administrative agency, operating licenses or other requirements imposed by any governmental body applicable to it, including, without limitation, all applicable laws, rules, regulations, licenses or other governmental standards applicable to the its business; and the conduct of the business of the Company, as described in the Prospectus, will not cause the Company to be in violation of any such requirements. (w) The Representative's Warrants (as defined in Paragraph (d) of Section 2 hereof) have been authorized for issuance to the Representative or its designees, as the case may be, and will, when issued, possess rights, privileges, and characteristics as represented in the most recent form of Representative's Warrants filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; the securities to be issued upon exercise of the Representative's Warrants, when issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with the terms thereof, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid, 7 8 nonassessable and free of preemptive rights, and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization and issuance of the Representative's Warrants, and the securities to be issued upon their exercise, have been validly and sufficiently taken. (x) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its officers, directors or affiliates have caused any person, other than the Underwriters, to be entitled to reimbursement of any kind, including, without limitation, any compensation that would be includable as underwriter compensation under the NASD's Corporate Financing Rule with respect to the offering of the Shares, as a result of the consummation of such offering based on any activity of such person as a finder, agent, broker, investment adviser or other financial service provider. (y) Except as described in the Prospectus, the Company does not directly or indirectly control or have a material interest in any other business entity. (z) The Common Stock and certain publicly traded warrants of the Company are listed on the NASDAQ Small-cap Market ("NASDAQ"); following this offering, the Company will satisfy all of the requirements of NASDAQ for continued listing and for the trading of its Common Stock and such warrants on NASDAQ. (aa) The Company has filed in a timely manner all reports and other documents that it is required to file with the Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and the rules and regulations thereunder. Each such report or other document contained such information as was required to be included in such report or other document; all such information was correct and complete in all material respects and did not omit any information required to make such information not misleading; the Company has made all reports to shareholders required by law or its Certificate of Incorporation or the provisions of any agreement to be made by the Company and each such report was correct and complete in all material respects and did not omit any information required to make such information not misleading; to the Company's best knowledge, no event has occurred or is likely to occur that has required or would require an amendment to any report or other document described in this Section 1(aa) that has not been filed or distributed as required. 2. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Shares. (a) On the basis of the representations, warranties and covenants herein contained, and subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to the Underwriters and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase, at a price of $___ per Share, the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of each Underwriter in Schedule I hereof, subject to adjustments in accordance with Section 9 hereof. (b) Payment for the Firm Shares to be sold hereunder is to be made in New York Clearing House funds and, at the option of the Representative, by bank wire to an account specified 8 9 by the Company, certified or bank cashier's checks drawn to the order of the Company, against either uncertificated delivery of Firm Shares or of certificates therefor (which delivery, if certificated, shall take place in such location in New York, New York as may be specified by the Representative) to the Representative for the several accounts of the Underwriters. Such payment is to be made at the offices of the Representative at the address set forth on the first page of this agreement, at 7:00 a.m., Pacific time, on the third business day after the date of this Agreement or at such other time and date not later than five business days thereafter as you and the Company shall agree upon, such time and date being herein referred to as the "Closing Date." (As used herein, "business day" means a day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which banks in New York are open for business and not permitted by law or executive order to be closed.) Except to the extent uncertificated Firm Shares are delivered at closing, the certificates for the Firm Shares will be delivered in such denominations and in such registrations as the Representative requests in writing not later than the second full business day prior to the Closing Date, and will be made available for inspection by the Representative at least one business day prior to the Closing Date. (c) In addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the Underwriters to purchase the Option Shares at the price per Share as set forth in the first paragraph of this Section 2. The Company may assign the obligation to deliver the Common Stock component of the Option Shares to certain shareholders of the Company as more fully described in the Prospectus; however, no such assignment shall affect the obligation of the Company to deliver or cause to be delivered securities representing the Option Shares as to which the option is exercised upon such exercise. The option granted hereby may be exercised in whole or in part by giving written notice (i) at any time before the Closing Date and (ii) only once thereafter within 45 days after the date of this Agreement, by the Representative to the Company setting forth the number of Option Shares as to which the Underwriters are exercising the option, the names and denominations in which the Option Shares are to be registered and the time and date at which certificates representing such Shares are to be delivered. The time and date at which certificates for Option Shares are to be delivered shall be determined by the Representative but shall not be earlier than three nor later than 10 full business days after the exercise of such option, nor in any event prior to the Closing Date (such time and date being herein referred to as the "Option Closing Date"). If the date of exercise of the option is three or more days before the Closing Date, the notice of exercise shall set the Closing Date as the Option Closing Date. The option with respect to the Option Shares granted hereunder may be exercised only to cover over-allotments in the sale of the Firm Shares by the Underwriters. The Representative may cancel such option at any time prior to its expiration by giving written notice of such cancellation to the Company. To the extent, if any, that the option is exercised, payment for the Option Shares shall be made on the Option Closing Date in New York Clearing House funds and, at the option of the Representative, by bank wire to an account specified by the Company, or certified or bank cashier's check drawn to the order of the Company for the Option Shares to be sold by the Company in consideration either of uncertificated delivery of Option Shares or delivery of certificates therefor (which delivery, if certificated, shall take place in such location in New York, New York as may be specified by the Representative) to the Representative for the several accounts of the Underwriters. Except to the extent uncertificated Option Shares are 9 10 delivered at closing, the certificates for the Option Shares will be delivered in such denominations and in such registrations as the Representative requests in writing not later than the second full business day prior to the Option Closing Date, and will be made available for inspection by the Representative at least one business day prior to the Option Closing Date. (d) In addition to the sums payable to the Representative as provided elsewhere herein, the Representative shall be entitled to receive at the Closing, for itself alone and not as Representative of the Underwriters, as additional compensation for its services, purchase warrants (the "Representative's Warrants") for the purchase of up to 100,000 Shares at a price of $____ per Share, upon the terms and subject to adjustment and conversion as described in the form of Representative's Warrants filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. 3. Offering by the Underwriters. It is understood that the several Underwriters are to make a public offering of the Firm Shares as soon as the Representative deems it advisable to do so. The Firm Shares are to be initially offered to the public at the initial public offering price set forth in the Prospectus. The Representative may from time to time thereafter change the public offering price and other selling terms. To the extent, if at all, that any Option Shares are purchased pursuant to Section 2 hereof, the Representative will offer them to the public on the foregoing terms. It is further understood that you will act as the Representative for the Underwriters in the offering and sale of the Shares in accordance with an Agreement Among Underwriters entered into by you and the several other Underwriters. 4. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that: (a) The Company will (A) use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become effective or, if the procedure in Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations is followed, to prepare and timely file with the Commission under Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations a Prospectus in a form approved by the Representative containing information previously omitted at the time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement in reliance on Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations, and (B) not file any amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus of which the Representative shall not previously have been advised and furnished with a copy or to which the Representative shall have reasonably objected in writing or which is not in compliance with the Rules and Regulations. (b) The Company will advise the Representative promptly (A) when the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto shall have become effective, (B) of receipt of any comments from the Commission, (C) of any request of the Commission for amendment of the 10 11 Registration Statement or for supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, and (D) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the use of the Prospectus or of the institution of any proceedings for that purpose. The Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus and to obtain as soon as possible the lifting thereof, if issued. (c) The Company will cooperate with the Representative in endeavoring to qualify the Shares for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative may reasonably have designated in writing and will make such applications, file such documents, and furnish such information as may be reasonably required for that purpose, provided the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or required to file such a consent. The Company will, from time to time, prepare and file such statements, reports, and other documents, as are or may be required to continue such qualifications in effect for so long a period as the Representative may reasonably request for distribution of the Shares. (d) The Company will deliver to, or upon the order of, the Representative, from time to time, as many copies of any Preliminary Prospectus as the Representative may reasonably request. The Company will deliver to, or upon the order of, the Representative during the period when delivery of a Prospectus is required under the Act, as many copies of the Prospectus in final form, or as thereafter amended or supplemented, as the Representative may reasonably request. The Company will deliver to the Representative at or before the Closing Date, four signed copies of the Registration Statement and all amendments thereto including all exhibits filed therewith, and will deliver to the Representative such number of copies of the Registration Statement (including such number of copies of the exhibits filed therewith that may reasonably be requested), and of all amendments thereto, as the Representative may reasonably request. (e) The Company will comply with the Act and the Rules and Regulations, and the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Shares as contemplated in this Agreement and the Prospectus. If during the period in which a prospectus is required by law to be delivered by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur as a result of which, in the judgment of the Company or in the reasonable opinion of the Underwriters, it becomes necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or, if it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with any law, the Company promptly will prepare and file with the Commission an appropriate amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus so that the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time the Prospectus is so delivered, be misleading, or so that the Prospectus will comply with the law. 11 12 (f) The Company will make generally available to its security holders, as soon as it is practicable to do so, but in any event not later than 15 months after the effective date of the Registration Statement, an earning statement (which need not be audited) in reasonable detail, covering a period of at least 12 consecutive months beginning after the effective date of the Registration Statement, which earning statement shall satisfy the requirements of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 of the Rules and Regulations and will advise you in writing when such statement has been so made available. (g) The Company will, for a period of five years from the Closing Date, deliver to the Representative copies of annual reports and copies of all other documents, reports and information furnished by the Company to its stockholders or filed with any securities exchange pursuant to the requirements of such exchange or with the Commission pursuant to the Act or the Exchange Act. The Company will deliver to the Representative similar reports with respect to significant subsidiaries, as that term is defined in the Rules and Regulations, which are not consolidated in the Company's financial statements. (h) No offering, sale, short sale or other disposition of any shares of Common Stock of the Company or other securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Common Stock or derivatives of Common Stock (or agreement therefor) will be made for a period of one year after the date of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, by the Company otherwise than hereunder, or pursuant to contractual obligations existing on the date hereof or pursuant to employee benefit plans in effect on the date hereof, or with the prior written consent of the Representative, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld. (i) The Company has taken all required action to list the Firm Shares and the Option Shares on NASDAQ, effective upon issuance, and will use its best efforts to cause the listing of its Common Stock and publicly traded warrants on NASDAQ to remain in effect with respect to each such security unless and until (i) such security expires; (ii) such security is listed on another exchange of at least comparable reputation; or (iii) the Company is no longer required to file reports under Section 12 of the Exchange Act. (j) The Company has caused each officer and director and each person who owns, beneficially or of record, 5% or more of the shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the date hereof to furnish to you, on or prior to the date of this agreement, a letter or letters, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters ("Lockup Agreements"), pursuant to which each such person shall agree (A) not to offer, sell, sell short or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock or other capital stock of the Company, or any other securities convertible, exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock or derivatives of Common Stock owned by such person or request the registration for the offer or sale of any of the foregoing (or as to which such person has the right to direct the disposition) for a period of one year after the date of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, except with the prior written consent of the Representative; and (B) to give prior written notice to the Representative for a period of two years from the effective date 12 13 of the Registration Statement, with respect to any sales of Common Stock of the Company pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any similar rule. (k) The Company shall apply the net proceeds of its sale of the Shares as set forth in the Prospectus and shall file such reports with the Commission with respect to the sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds therefrom as may be required in accordance with Rule 463 under the Act. (l) The Company shall not invest, or otherwise use the proceeds received by the Company from its sale of the Shares in such a manner as would require the Company to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). (m) The Company will maintain a transfer agent and, if necessary under the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company, a registrar for the Common Stock. (n) The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company. 5. Costs and Expenses. (a) The Representative shall be entitled to reimbursement from the Company, for itself alone and not as Representative of the Underwriters, to a non-accountable expense allowance equal to __% of the aggregate initial public offering price of the Firm Shares and any Option Shares purchased by the Underwriters. The Representative shall be entitled to withhold this allowance on the Closing Date related to the purchase of the Firm Shares or the Option Shares, as the case may be. (b) In addition to the payment described in Paragraph (a) of this Section 5, the Company will pay all costs, expenses and fees incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following: accounting fees of the Company; the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company; the cost of printing and delivering to, or as requested by, the Underwriters copies of the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectuses, the Prospectus, this Agreement, the NASDAQ listing application, the costs of due diligence investigation of the principals of the Company, the Blue Sky Survey and any supplements or amendments thereto; the filing fees of the Commission; the filing fees and expenses (including any fees and disbursements) incident to securing the required review by the NASD Regulation, Inc.) of the underwriting terms and arrangements; the NASDAQ listing fee; and the expenses, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters, incurred in connection with the qualification of the Shares under state securities or Blue Sky laws. Any transfer taxes imposed on the sale of the Shares to the several Underwriters will be paid by the Company. The Company agrees to pay all costs and expenses of the Underwriters, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters, incident to the offer and sale of directed Shares 13 14 by the Underwriters to employees and persons having business relationships with the Company. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay for any of the Underwriters' expenses (other than those related to qualification under NASD regulation and state securities or Blue Sky laws) except that, if this Agreement shall not be consummated, then the Company shall reimburse the several Underwriters for accountable out-of-pocket expenses, including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred in connection with investigating, marketing and proposing to market the Shares or in contemplation of performing their obligations hereunder; but the Company shall not in any event be liable to any of the several Underwriters for damages on account of loss of anticipated profits from the sale by them of the Shares. 6. Conditions of Obligations of the Underwriters. The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Firm Shares on the Closing Date and the Option Shares, if any, on the Option Closing Date are subject to the accuracy, as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein, and to the performance by the Company of their covenants and obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions: (a) The Registration Statement and all post-effective amendments thereto shall have become effective and any and all filings required by Rule 424 and Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations shall have been made, and any request of the Commission for additional information (to be included in the Registration Statement or otherwise) shall have been disclosed to the Representative and complied with to their reasonable satisfaction. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been taken or, to the knowledge of the Company, shall be contemplated by the Commission and no injunction, restraining order, or order of any nature by a Federal or state court of competent jurisdiction shall have been issued as of the Closing Date which would prevent the issuance of the Shares. (b) The Representative shall have received on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the opinion of Morse, Zelnick, Rose & Lander, counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, addressed to the Underwriters (and stating that it may be relied upon by counsel to the Underwriters) to the effect that: (i) The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement; the Company is duly qualified to transact business in all jurisdictions in which the conduct of its business requires such qualification, or in which the failure to qualify would have a material adverse effect upon the business of the Company. 14 15 (ii) The Company has authorized and outstanding capital stock as set forth under the caption "Capitalization" in the Prospectus; the outstanding shares of Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; all of the securities of the Company conform to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus; the certificates for the Common Stock are in due and proper form; the shares of Common Stock to be sold by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, including shares of Common Stock to be sold as a part of the Option Shares, have been duly authorized and, upon issuance and delivery thereof as contemplated in this Agreement and the Registration Statement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; no preemptive rights of shareholders exist with respect to any of the Common Stock or the issuance or sale thereof pursuant to any applicable statute or the provisions of the Company's Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws or, to such counsel's best knowledge, pursuant to any contractual obligation. The Representative's Warrants have been authorized for issuance to the purchasers of Shares or the Representative, as the case may be, and will, when issued, possess rights, privileges, and characteristics as represented in the most recent form of Representative's Warrants filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; the securities to be issued upon exercise of the Representative's Warrants when issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with the terms thereof, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights, and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization and issuance of the Representative's Warrants, and the securities to be issued upon their exercise, has been validly and sufficiently taken. (iii) Except as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus, to the knowledge of such counsel, there are no outstanding securities of the Company convertible or exchangeable into or evidencing the right to purchase or subscribe for any shares of capital stock of the Company and there are no outstanding or authorized options, warrants or rights of any character obligating the Company to issue any shares of its capital stock or any securities convertible or exchangeable into or evidencing the right to purchase or subscribe for any shares of such stock; and except as described in the Prospectus, to the knowledge of such counsel, no holder of any securities of the Company or any other person has the right, contractual or otherwise, which has not been satisfied or effectively waived, to cause the Company to sell or otherwise issue to them, or to permit them to underwrite the sale of, any of the Shares or the right to have any Common Stock or other securities of the Company included in the Registration Statement or the right, as a result of the filing of the Registration Statement, to require registration under the Act of any shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company. (iv) The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act and, to the best of the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order proceedings with respect thereto have been instituted or are pending or threatened under the Act. (v) The Registration Statement, the Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder (except that such counsel need express no opinion as to the financial statements and related schedules therein). 15 16 (vi) The statements under the captions "Shares Eligible for Future Sale" and "Description of Securities" in the Prospectus and in Items 24 and 26 of the Registration Statement, insofar as such statements constitute a summary of documents referred to therein or matters of law, fairly summarize in all material respects the information called for with respect to such documents and matters. (vii) Such counsel does not know of any contracts or documents required to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which are not so filed or described as required, and such contracts and documents as are summarized in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus are fairly summarized in all material respects. (viii) Such counsel knows of no material legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened against the Company. (ix) The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated do not and will not conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, or any agreement or instrument known to such counsel to which the Company is a party or by which the Company may be bound. (x) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company. (xi) No approval, consent, order, authorization, designation, declaration or filing by or with any regulatory, administrative or other governmental body is necessary in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated (other than as may be required by the NASD, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) except such as have been obtained or made, specifying the same. (xii) The Company is not, and will not become, as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Prospectus, required to register as an investment company under the 1940 Act. In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely as to matters governed by the laws of states other than California, the Delaware General Corporation Law or Federal laws on local counsel in such jurisdictions, provided that in each case such counsel shall state that they believe that they and the Underwriters are justified in relying on such other counsel. In addition to the matters set forth above, the opinion of Morse, Zelnick, Rose and Lander LLP shall also include a statement to the effect that nothing has come to the attention of such counsel that has caused them to believe that (i) the Registration Statement, at the time it became effective under the Act (but after giving 16 17 effect to any modifications incorporated therein pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act) and as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and (ii) the Prospectus, or any supplement thereto, on the date it was filed pursuant to the Rules and Regulations and as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading (except that such counsel need express no view as to financial statements, schedules and statistical information therein). (c) The Representative shall have received from Stoel Rives LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, an opinion dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, substantially to the effect specified in subparagraphs (i), (iv) and (v) of Paragraph (b) of this Section 6. In rendering such opinion Stoel Rives LLP may rely as to all matters governed other than by the laws of the State of California, the Delaware General Corporation Law or Federal laws on the opinion of counsel referred to in Paragraph (b) of this Section 6. In addition to the matters set forth above, such opinion shall also include a statement to the effect that nothing has come to the attention of such counsel that has caused them to believe that (i) the Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, as of the time it became effective under the Act (but after giving effect to any modifications incorporated therein pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act) and as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and (ii) the Prospectus, or any supplement thereto, on the date it was filed pursuant to the Rules and Regulations and as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading (except that such counsel need express no view as to financial statements, schedules and statistical information therein). With respect to such statement, Stoel Rives LLP may state that their belief is based upon the procedures set forth therein, but is without independent check and verification. (d) The Representative shall have received at or prior to the Closing Date from Stoel Rives LLP a memorandum or summary, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, with respect to the qualification for offering and sale by the Underwriters of the Shares under the state securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative may reasonably have designated to the Company. (e) The Representative, on behalf of the several Underwriters, shall have received, on each of the dates hereof, the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, a letter dated the date hereof, the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, of Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Act and the applicable published Rules and Regulations thereunder and stating that in their opinion the financial statements and 17 18 schedules examined by them and included in the Registration Statement comply in form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the related published Rules and Regulations and containing such other statements and information as is ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" to Underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial and statistical information contained in the Registration Statement and Prospectus. (f) The Representative shall have received on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate or certificates of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company to the effect that, as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, each of them severally represents as follows: (i) The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued, and no proceedings for such purpose have been taken or are, to his knowledge, contemplated by the Commission; (ii) The representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 1 hereof are true and correct as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be; (iii) All filings required to have been made pursuant to Rules 424 or 430A under the Act have been made; (iv) He has carefully examined the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and, in his or her opinion, as of the effective date of the Registration Statement, the statements contained in the Registration Statement were true and correct, and such Registration Statement and Prospectus did not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, and since the effective date of the Registration Statement, no event has occurred which should have been set forth in a supplement to or an amendment of the Prospectus which has not been so set forth in such supplement or amendment; and (v) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, there has not been any material adverse change or any development involving a prospective material adverse change in or affecting the condition, financial or otherwise, of the Company or the earnings, business, management, properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business. (g) The Company shall have furnished to the Representative such further certificates and documents confirming the representations and warranties, covenants and conditions contained herein and related matters as the Representative may reasonably have requested. 18 19 (h) The Firm Shares and the Option Shares been approved for listing upon notice of issuance on NASDAQ. (i) The Lockup Agreements described in Section 4(j) are in full force and effect. The opinions and certificates mentioned in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in all material respects satisfactory to the Representative and to Stoel Rives LLP, counsel for the Underwriters. If any of the conditions hereinabove provided for in this Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement to be fulfilled, the obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be terminated by the Representative by notifying the Company of such termination in writing or by telegram at or prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be. In such event, the Company and the Underwriters shall not be under any obligation to each other (except to the extent provided in Sections 5 and 8 hereof). 7. Conditions of the Obligations of the Company. The obligations of the Company to sell and deliver the portion of the Shares required to be delivered as and when specified in this Agreement are subject to the conditions that at the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and in effect or proceedings therefor initiated or threatened. 8. Indemnification. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such Underwriter or any such controlling person may become subject under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and will reimburse each Underwriter and each such controlling person upon demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter or such controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage or liability, action or proceeding or in responding to a subpoena or governmental inquiry related to the offering of the Shares, whether or not such Underwriter or controlling person is a party to any 19 20 action or proceeding; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement, or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, or such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or through the Representative specifically for use in the preparation thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have. (b) Each Underwriter severally and not jointly will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who have signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company or any such director, officer or controlling person may become subject under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or (ii) the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or any such director, officer or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action or proceeding; provided, however, that each Underwriter will be liable in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission has been made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or through the Representative specifically for use in the preparation thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Underwriter may otherwise have. (c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to this Section 8, such person (the "indemnified party") shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying party") in writing. No indemnification provided for in Section 8(a) or (b) shall be available to any party who shall fail to give notice as provided in this Section 8(c) if the party to whom notice was not given was unaware of the proceeding to which such notice would have related and was materially prejudiced by the failure to give such notice, but the failure to give such notice shall not relieve the indemnifying party or parties from any liability which it or they may have to the indemnified party for contribution or otherwise than on account of the provisions of Section 8(a) or (b). In case any such proceeding shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party and shall pay as incurred the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the 20 21 right to retain its own counsel at its own expense. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnifying party shall pay as incurred (or within 30 days of presentation) the fees and expenses of the counsel retained by the indemnified party in the event (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel, (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them or (iii) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense and employ counsel acceptable to the indemnified party within a reasonable period of time after notice of commencement of the action. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm for all such indemnified parties. Such firm shall be designated in writing by you in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(a) and by the Company in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(b). The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. In addition, the indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding of which indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether or not any indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such claim, action or proceeding) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action or proceeding. (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 8(a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Shares. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bears to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to 21