Document:

Exhibit 10.1

 

Execution Version

 

$500,000,000

 

Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.

 

250,000,000 2.600% Senior Notes due 2019
 250,000,000 3.200% Senior Notes due 2021

 

Underwriting Agreement

 

November 7, 2011

 

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

60 Wall Street, 3rd floor

New York, New York 10005

 

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

1585 Broadway

New York, New York 10036

 

As Managers of the several Underwriters

named in Schedule II hereto

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule II hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom you are acting as managers (the “Managers”), $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 2.600% Notes due 2019 (the “2019 Notes”) and $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 3.200% Notes due 2021 (the “2021 Notes” and, together with the 2019 Notes, the “Securities”), to be issued under an indenture (the “Base  Indenture”) dated as of December 15, 2009, between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by a third supplemental indenture (the “Third Supplemental Indenture,” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”) between the Company, the Guarantors (as defined below) and the Trustee.   The Securities will be guaranteed (the “Guarantees”) on an unsecured unsubordinated basis by each of the entities (the “Guarantors”) listed on Schedule III hereto.  If the firm or firms listed in Schedule II hereto include only the Managers listed in Schedule I hereto, then the terms “Underwriters” and “Managers” as used herein shall each be deemed to refer to such firm or firms.

 

The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement (File No. 333-163697), including a prospectus, on Form S-3, relating to securities and related guarantees (the “Shelf

 

 

Securities”), including the Securities, to be issued from time to time by the Company.  The registration statement as amended to the date of this Agreement, including the information (if any) deemed to be part of the registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 430B under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), is hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement,” and the related prospectus covering the Shelf Securities dated December 14, 2009 in the form first used to confirm sales of the Securities (or in the form first made available to the Underwriters by the Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) is hereinafter referred to as the “Basic Prospectus.”  The Basic Prospectus, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement specifically relating to the Securities in the form first used to confirm sales of the Securities (or in the form first made available to the Underwriters by the Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) is hereinafter referred to as the “Prospectus,” and the term “preliminary prospectus” means any preliminary form of the Prospectus.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Applicable Time” shall be the date and time set forth on Schedule I.  For purposes of this Agreement, “free writing prospectus” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, “Time of Sale Prospectus” means the preliminary prospectus together with the free writing prospectuses, if any, each identified in Schedule I hereto, and “broadly available road show” means a “bona fide electronic road show” as defined in Rule 433(h)(5) under the Securities Act that has been made available without restriction to any person.  As used herein, the terms “Registration Statement,” “Basic Prospectus,” “preliminary prospectus,” “Time of Sale Prospectus” and Prospectus shall include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference therein.  The terms “supplement,” “amendment,” and “amend” as used herein with respect to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus or free writing prospectus shall include all documents subsequently filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.

 

1.                             Representations and Warranties.  The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with each of the Underwriters as of the date hereof, as of the Applicable Time and as of the Closing Date (as defined in Section 4) that:

 

(a)                               The Registration Statement has become effective; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission.  If the Registration Statement is an automatic shelf registration statement as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, the Company is a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) eligible to use the Registration Statement as an automatic shelf registration statement and the Company has not received notice that the

 

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Commission objects to the use of the Registration Statement as an automatic shelf registration statement.

 

(b)                               (i) Each document, if any, filed or to be filed pursuant to the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus complied or will comply when so filed in all material respects with the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (ii) each part of the Registration Statement, when such part became effective, did not contain, and each such part, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain 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, (iii) the Registration Statement as of the date hereof does not contain 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, (iv) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply, and as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (v) the Time of Sale Prospectus does not, and at the time of each sale of the Securities in connection with the offering when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and at the Closing Date (as defined in Section 4), the Time of Sale Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented by the Company, if applicable, will not, contain 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, (vi)  each broadly available road show, if any, when considered together with the Time of Sale Prospectus, does not contain 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 and (vii) the Prospectus does not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain 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, except that the representations and warranties set forth in this paragraph do not apply to statements or omissions in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Managers expressly for use therein.

 

(c)                                The Company is not an “ineligible issuer” in connection with the offering pursuant to Rules 164, 405 and 433 under the Securities Act.  Any free writing prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act has been, or will be, filed with the Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.  Each free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or that was prepared by or behalf of or used or referred to by the Company complies or will comply in all material respects with the requirements

 

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of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.  Except for the free writing prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule I hereto, and electronic road shows, if any, each furnished to you before first use, the Company has not prepared, used or referred to, and will not, without your prior consent, prepare, use or refer to, any free writing prospectus.

 

(d)                               Each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the registration statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, complied when so filed in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

(e)                                The financial statements and the related notes thereto included or incorporated by reference in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and the changes in their cash flows for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby; and the other financial information included in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus presents fairly, in all material respects, the information shown thereby as of the dates indicated.

 

(f)                                   Except as otherwise disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included or incorporated in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, (i) there has not been any change in the capital stock (other than as a result of exercises of stock options or issuances under employee benefit plans and share repurchases) or increases in long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (except for such changes that result from accounting for the fair value of hedges), or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the business, properties, financial position, results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and (ii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor disturbance or dispute or any action, order or decree of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Company and its subsidiaries, except in the case of this clause (ii) for any such loss or interference that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business, financial position, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or on the performance by the Company or the Guarantors of their obligations under the Securities and the Guarantees (a “Material Adverse Effect”).

 

(g)                               The Company and the Guarantors have been duly organized and are validly existing and in good standing under the laws of their respective

 

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jurisdictions of organization, are duly qualified to do business and are in good standing in each jurisdiction in which their respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their respective businesses requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and the Guarantors have all power and authority necessary to own or hold their respective properties and to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged.

 

(h)                               The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the heading “Capitalization”; and all the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, except where the failure to be so authorized, issued, fully paid and non-assessable would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company (except in the case of any foreign subsidiary, for directors’ qualifying shares), free and clear of any material lien, charge, encumbrance, security interest, restriction on voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party.

 

(i)                                  The Company has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, the Securities and the Third Supplemental Indenture (collectively, together with the Base Indenture, the “Company Transaction Documents”) and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder.  Each Guarantor has full power and authority to execute and deliver the Third Supplemental Indenture (including each Guarantee set forth in the Third Supplemental Indenture) (collectively, the “Guarantor Transaction Documents” and, together with the Company Transaction Documents, the “Transaction Documents”).  All action required to be taken by the Company for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery of each of the Company Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby has been duly and validly taken.  All action required to be taken by each of the Guarantors for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery of the Guarantor Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby will have been duly and validly taken.

 

(j)                                   The Base Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and the Guarantors and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee, constitutes a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company and the Guarantors, enforceable against the Company and the Guarantors in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability (collectively, the “Enforceability Exceptions”); the Third Supplemental Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and the Guarantors and, when executed and delivered

 

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by the Company and the Guarantors, and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee, will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company and the Guarantors, enforceable against the Company and the Guarantors in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions; the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.

 

(k)                               The Securities have been duly authorized by the Company and, when executed and delivered by the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and assuming due authentication thereof by the Trustee, will be duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered as provided in the Indenture and, when paid for as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued and outstanding and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

 

(l)                                  The Guarantees have been duly authorized by the Guarantors and, when the Securities have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered as provided in the Indenture and paid for as provided herein, will constitute valid and legally binding agreements of the Guarantors, enforceable against the Guarantors in accordance with their terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

(m)                             This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

 

(n)                               Each of the Transaction Documents conforms in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.

 

(o)                               Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries are (i) in violation of their respective charters or by-laws or similar organizational documents; (ii) in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or its subsidiaries is subject; or (iii) in violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such default or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(p)                               The execution, delivery and performance by the Company and each of the Guarantors of each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the issuance and sale of the Securities (including the Guarantees thereof) and compliance by the Company and each Guarantor, as applicable, with the terms thereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the

 

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Transaction Documents will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or the Guarantors pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of the Guarantors is a party or by which the Company or any of the Guarantors is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of the Guarantors is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or bylaws or similar organizational documents of the Company or any of the Guarantors or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of the Guarantors, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation or default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(q)                               No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company and each Guarantor, as applicable, of each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the issuance and sale of the Securities (including the Guarantees thereof) and compliance by the Company and each Guarantor with the terms thereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, except for such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as may be required under applicable state securities laws in connection with the purchase and resale of the Securities by the Underwriters.

 

(r)                                 Except as described in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, suits or proceedings pending to which the Company, or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject that, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would have a Material Adverse Effect; and to the knowledge of the Company or its subsidiaries, no such investigations, actions, suits or proceedings are threatened.

 

(s)                                 Deloitte & Touche LLP, who has audited certain consolidated financial statements of the Company, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and as required by the Securities Act.

 

(t)                                  The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to, or have valid rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of real and personal property that are material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, claims and defects

 

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except those that (i) do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries or (ii) would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(u)                               Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) the Company and its subsidiaries own or possess the right to use all material patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, know-how and trade secrets (collectively, “Intellectual Property”) necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses as currently conducted, and (ii) to the knowledge of the Company and its subsidiaries, the conduct of their respective businesses, as currently conducted does not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise conflict with any Intellectual Property of any third party, and (iii) the Company and its subsidiaries have not received any written notice of any claim against the Company or its subsidiaries concerning the foregoing.

 

(v)                                Neither the Company nor any of the Guarantors is, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds of the sale of the Securities as described in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, them will be, an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Investment Company Act”).

 

(w)                             The Company and its subsidiaries have paid all federal, state, local and foreign taxes and filed all tax returns required to be paid or filed through the date hereof, except taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Company or the applicable subsidiary has set aside an adequate reserve for its potential liability or to the extent the failure to pay such taxes or file such returns would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, and, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, all such tax returns are true, complete and correct; and except as otherwise disclosed in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, there is no tax deficiency that has been asserted against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets that would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(x)                                The Company and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, certificates, permits or other authorizations (“Permits”) issued by appropriate federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory authorities that are necessary for the ownership or lease of their respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses as described in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, and have fulfilled all material obligations with respect to such Permits, except where the failure to possess such Permits or perform such obligations would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and except as described in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the

 

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Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received notice of any revocation or modification of any Permit or has any knowledge that any such Permit will not be renewed in the ordinary course, except for such revocations, modifications or renewals as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(y)                                No labor disturbance by or dispute with employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company or its subsidiaries, is contemplated or threatened, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(z)                                 (i) The Company and its subsidiaries (x) are in compliance with any and all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules, regulations, requirements, decisions and orders relating to the protection of human health or safety, the environment, natural resources, hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), (y) have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses, certificates or other authorizations or approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses, and (z) have not received notice of any actual or potential liability under or relating to any Environmental Laws, including for the investigation or remediation of any disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such notice, and (ii) there are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws relating to the Company or its subsidiaries, except in the case of each of (i) and (ii) above, for any such failure to comply, or failure to receive required permits, licenses or approvals, or cost or liability, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(aa)                             Except as otherwise disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each employee benefit pension plan, within the meaning of Section 3(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) subject to Title IV of ERISA that is maintained and established by the Company or any member of its “Controlled Group” (defined as any organization which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)) (each, a “Pension Plan”) has been maintained in compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code; (ii) no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any Pension Plan excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption; (iii) for each Pension Plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, no “accumulated funding deficiency” as defined in Section 412 of the

 

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Code, whether or not waived, has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (iv) the fair market value of the assets of each Plan exceeds the present value of all benefits accrued under such Plan (determined based on those assumptions used to fund such Plan); (v) no “reportable event” (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA) not waived by the PBGC has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; and (vi) neither the Company nor any member of the Controlled Group has incurred, nor reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to a Pension Plan or premiums to the PBGC, in the ordinary course and without default) with respect to the termination of a Pension Plan (or the withdrawal from a “multiemployer plan”, within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA), except in the case of clauses (iii) and (iv) as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.

 

(bb)                             The Company maintains an effective system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that is designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company maintains systems of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). The Company maintains internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance 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 U.S. GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (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 the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.  At December 31, 2010, there were no material weaknesses in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting. Based on the Company’s evaluation of internal control over financial reporting in connection with the preparation of its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2011, at September 30, 2011, there were no material weaknesses in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting which were reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information.

 

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(cc)                          The Company and its subsidiaries have insurance covering their respective properties, operations, personnel and businesses, including business interruption insurance, which insurance is in amounts and insures against such losses and risks as the Company deems are adequate to protect the Company and its subsidiaries and their respective businesses; 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 at reasonable cost from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business.

 

(dd)                        Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities.

 

(ee)                          Nothing has come to the attention of the Company that has caused the Company to believe that the statistical and market-related data included in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus is not based on or derived from sources that are reliable and accurate in all material respects.

 

(ff)                                The Company is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations of the Commission adopted pursuant thereto as such rules and regulations currently apply to the Company (collectively, the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”).

 

(gg)                        Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

 

(hh)                        To the best knowledge of the Company, the operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements and the money laundering statutes and the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”).  No action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

(ii)                              Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer or employee of the Company or

 

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any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA; and the Company and its subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

 

2.                             Agreements to Sell and Purchase.  The Company hereby agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and each Underwriter, upon the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the conditions hereinafter stated, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective principal amounts of Securities set forth in Schedule II hereto opposite its name at the purchase prices set forth in Schedule I hereto.

 

3.                             Public Offering.  The Company is advised by you that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of their respective portions of the Securities as soon after the Registration Statement and this Agreement have become effective as in your judgment is advisable.  The Company is further advised by you that the Securities are to be offered to the public upon the terms set forth in the Prospectus.

 

4.                             Payment and Delivery.  Payment for the Securities shall be made to the Company in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City on the closing date and time set forth in Schedule I hereto, or at such other time on the same or such other date, not later than the fifth business day thereafter, as may be designated in writing by you.  The time and date of such payment are hereinafter referred to as the “Closing Date.”

 

Payment for the Securities shall be made against delivery to you on the Closing Date for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters of the Securities registered in such names and in such denominations as you shall request in writing not later than one full business day prior to the Closing Date, with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the transfer of the Securities to the Underwriters duly paid.

 

5.                             Conditions to the Underwriters’ Obligations.  The several obligations of the Underwriters are subject to the following conditions:

 

(a)                               Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date:

 

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(i)                                     there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded the Company or any of the securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or in the rating outlook for the Company by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act; and

 

(ii)                                  there shall not have occurred any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the business, properties, financial position, results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus as of the date of this Agreement that, in your judgment, is material and adverse and that makes it, in your judgment, impracticable to market the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus.

 

(b)                               The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of the Company, to the effect set forth in Section 5(a) above and to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement are true and correct as of the Closing Date and that the Company has complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder on or before the Closing Date.

 

The officer signing and delivering such certificate may rely upon the best of his or her knowledge as to proceedings threatened.

 

(c)                                Baker Botts L.L.P., counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Managers, at the request of the Company, their written opinion and 10b-5 statement, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Managers, to the effect set forth in Exhibit A hereto.

 

(d)                               James L. Baldwin, Jr., Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Company, shall have furnished to the Managers, at the request of the Company, his written opinion and 10b-5 statement, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Managers, to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto.

 

(e)                                The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Mayer Brown LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated such date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Managers.

 

(f)                                   The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the Closing Date, a letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the

 

13

 

case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, from Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public accountants, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut-off date” not earlier than three business days prior to the Closing Date.

 

All opinions, letters, certificates and evidence mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Managers.

 

6.                             Covenants of the Company.  The Company covenants with each Underwriter as follows:

 

(a)                               To furnish to you, without charge, a signed copy of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein) and to deliver to each of the Underwriters during the period mentioned in Section 6(e) or 6(f) below, as many copies of the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, any documents incorporated by reference therein and any supplements and amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as you may reasonably request.

 

(b)                               Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, to furnish to you a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement and not to file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which you reasonably object.

 

(c)                                To furnish to you a copy of each proposed free writing prospectus to be prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company and not to use or refer to any proposed free writing prospectus to which you reasonably object.

 

(d)                               Not to take any action that would result in an Underwriter or the Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of the Underwriter that the Underwriter otherwise would not have been required to file thereunder.

 

(e)                                If the Time of Sale Prospectus is being used to solicit offers to buy the Securities at a time when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances, not misleading, or if any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which the Time of Sale Prospectus conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement

 

14

 

then on file, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to any dealer upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Time of Sale Prospectus so that the statements in the Time of Sale Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when the Time of Sale Prospectus is delivered to a prospective purchaser, be misleading or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will no longer conflict with the Registration Statement, or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.

 

(f)                                   If, during such period after the first date of the public offering of the Securities as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names and addresses you will furnish to the Company) to which Securities may have been sold by you on behalf of the Underwriters and to any other dealers upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.

 

(g)                               To endeavor to qualify the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as you shall reasonably request; provided, that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified, to take any action that would subject it generally to service of process in suits in any jurisdiction where it is not now subject or subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not now subject.

 

(h)                               To make generally available to the Company’s security holders and to you as soon as practicable an earning statement covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the date of this Agreement which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

15

 

(i)                                  Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and the Company’s accountants in connection with the registration and delivery of the Securities under the Securities Act and all other fees or expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company and amendments and supplements to any of the foregoing, including the filing fees payable to the Commission relating to the Securities (within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1), if applicable), all printing costs associated therewith, and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers, in the quantities hereinabove specified, (ii) all costs and expenses related to the transfer and delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (iii) the cost of printing or producing any Blue Sky or legal investment memorandum in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities under state securities laws and all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 6(g) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky or legal investment memorandum, (iv) all filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters incurred in connection with the review and qualification of the offering of the Securities by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., (v) any fees charged by the rating agencies for the rating of the Securities, (vi) the cost of the preparation, issuance and delivery of the Securities, (vii) the costs and charges of any trustee, transfer agent, registrar or depositary, (viii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Securities, including, without limitation, expenses associated with the preparation or dissemination of any electronic road show, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations with the prior approval of the Company, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and any such consultants, and the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show, (ix) the document production charges and expenses associated with printing this Agreement and (x) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this Section.  It is understood, however, that except as provided in this Section, Section 8 entitled “Indemnity and Contribution,” and the last paragraph of Section 10 below, the Underwriters will pay all of their costs and expenses, including fees and disbursements of their counsel, transfer taxes payable on resale of any of the Securities by them and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

 

16

 

 

(j)       If the third anniversary of the initial effective date of the Registration Statement occurs before all the Securities have been sold by the Underwriters, prior to the third anniversary to file a new shelf registration statement and to take any other action necessary to permit the public offering of the Securities to continue without interruption; references herein to the Registration Statement shall include the new registration statement declared effective by the Commission;

 

(k)      During the period beginning on the date hereof and continuing to and including the Closing Date, not to offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities of the Company or warrants to purchase or otherwise acquire debt securities of the Company substantially similar to the Securities (other than (i) the Securities, (ii) commercial paper issued in the ordinary course of business or (iii) securities or warrants permitted with the prior written consent of the Managers).

 

(l)       To prepare a final term sheet relating to the offering of the Securities, in the form of Schedule IV hereto, and to file such final term sheet within the period required by Rule 433(d)(5)(ii) under the Securities Act following the date the final terms have been established for the offering of the Securities.

 

7.        Covenants of the Underwriters.  Each Underwriter severally covenants with the Company not to take any action that would result in the Company being required to file with the Commission under Rule 433(d) a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter that otherwise would not be required to be filed by the Company thereunder, but for the action of the Underwriter.

 

8.        Indemnity and Contribution.  (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its directors and officers, each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each affiliate of any Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any issuer free writing prospectus as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act, any Company information that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information relating

 

17

 

to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly for use therein.

 

(b)      Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to such Underwriter, but only with reference to information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any issuer free writing prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto.  The Company acknowledges that the statements set forth in the fourth (regarding selling concessions and reallowances), sixth (regarding over-allotment, syndicate covering transactions and stabilizing transactions), seventh (regarding penalty bids) and eighth (effect of stabilization transactions) paragraphs under the heading “Underwriting” and the second paragraph and the first and second sentences of the first paragraph under the heading “Underwriting—Other Relationships” in any preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus constitute the only information relating to an Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by an Underwriter through you expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any issuer free writing prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto.

 

(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 Section 8(a) or 8(b), 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.  The indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding.  In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (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.  It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in

 

18

 

respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all such indemnified parties and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred.  Such firm shall be designated in writing by the Managers, 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.  Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.  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 indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

(d)      To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 8(a) or 8(b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 8(d)(i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 8(d)(i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Securities shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Securities (before deducting expenses) received by the Company

 

19

 

and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Securities as set forth in the Prospectus.  The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.  The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8 are several in proportion to the respective principal amounts of Securities they have purchased hereunder, and not joint.

 

(e)      The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 8(d).  The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in Section 8(d) shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  The remedies provided for in this Section 8 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.

 

(f)       The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 8 and the representations, warranties and other statements of the Company contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, any person controlling any Underwriter or any affiliate of any Underwriter or by or on behalf of the Company, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Securities.

 

9.        Termination.  The Underwriters may terminate this Agreement by notice given by you to the Company, if  after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on the New York Stock Exchange, (ii) trading of

 

20

 

any securities of the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (iii) a material disruption in securities settlement, payment or clearance services in the United States or through the Euroclear System or Clearstream shall have occurred, (iv) any moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by Federal or New York State authorities or (v) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis that, in your judgment, is material and adverse and which, singly or together with any other event specified in this clause (v), makes it, in your judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offer, sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus.

 

10.      Effectiveness; Defaulting Underwriters.  This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.

 

If, on the Closing Date, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Securities that it has or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate principal amount of Securities which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated severally in the proportions that the principal amount of Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule II bears to the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as you may specify, to purchase the Securities which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date; provided that in no event shall the principal amount of Securities that any Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to this Agreement be increased pursuant to this Section 10 by an amount in excess of one-ninth of such principal amount of Securities without the written consent of such Underwriter.  If, on the Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Securities and the aggregate principal amount of Securities with respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to you and the Company for the purchase of such Securities are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company.  In any such case either you or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that the required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Prospectus, in the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected.  Any action taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

 

21

 

If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any of them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company to comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for any reason the Company shall be unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement the Company will reimburse the Underwriters or such Underwriters as have so terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves, severally, for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and disbursements of their counsel) reasonably incurred by such Underwriters in connection with this Agreement or the offering contemplated hereunder.

 

11.      Entire Agreement.  (a) This Agreement, together with any contemporaneous written agreements and any prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement) that relate to the offering of the Securities, represents the entire agreement between the Company and the Underwriters with respect to the preparation of any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, the conduct of the offering, and the purchase and sale of the Securities.

 

(b)      The Company acknowledges that in connection with the offering of the Securities: (i) the Underwriters have acted at arms length, are not agents of, and owe no fiduciary duties to, the Company or any other person, (ii) the Underwriters owe the Company only those duties and obligations set forth in this Agreement and prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement), if any, and (iii) the Underwriters may have interests that differ from those of the Company.  The Company waives to the full extent permitted by applicable law any claims it may have against the Underwriters arising from an alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the offering of the Securities.

 

12.      Counterparts.  This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

 

13.      Applicable Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

 

14.      Headings.  The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of this Agreement

 

15.      Notices.  All communications hereunder shall be in writing and effective only upon receipt and if to the Managers shall be delivered, mailed or sent to Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., 60 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005, Attention: Leveraged Debt Capital Markets, Second Floor (Fax: 212-797-4877), with a copy to Attention: General Counsel, 36th Floor (Fax: 212-797-4561); and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036 (Fax: 212-507-8999), Attention: Investment Banking Division; and if to the Company shall be delivered, mailed or sent to Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.,

 

22

 

5301 Legacy Drive, Plano, Texas 75024 (Fax: 972-673-7879), Attention: Martin M. Ellen, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer.

 

[Remainder of page left intentionally blank; signatures appear on next page.]

 

23

 

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms.

 

	
 
    	
Very   truly yours,
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
DR   PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Martin M. Ellen
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:   
    	
Martin   M. Ellen
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:   
    	
Executive   Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
    

 

Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement

 

 

	
Accepted as of the date hereof
    
	
 
    
	
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
    
	
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC
    
	
 
    
	
Acting severally on behalf of themselves
    
	
and the several Underwriters named in
    
	
Schedule II hereto
    
	
 
    
	
 
    
	
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
    
	
 
    
	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/   Jared Birnbaum
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Jared   Birnbaum
    
	
 
    	
Title:   
    	
Director
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/   Patrick M. Käufer
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Patrick   M. Käufer
    
	
 
    	
Title:   
    	
Managing   Director
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/   Yurij Slyz
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:   
    	
Yurij   Slyz
    
	
 
    	
Title:   
    	
Executive   Director
    
				

 

Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement

 

 

SCHEDULE I

 

	
Managers:
    	
 
    	
Deutsche   Bank Securities Inc.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Morgan   Stanley & Co. LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Applicable   Time:
    	
 
    	
2:30   p.m., EST, on November 7, 2011
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Indenture:
    	
 
    	
Indenture   dated as of December 15, 2009 between the Company and the Trustee
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Trustee:
    	
 
    	
Wells   Fargo Bank, N.A.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Registration   Statement File No.:
    	
 
    	
333-163697
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Time   of Sale Prospectus
    	
 
    	
Basic   Prospectus dated December 14, 2009, relating to the Shelf Securities
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
The   preliminary prospectus supplement dated November 7, 2011 relating to the Securities
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Final   term sheet dated November 7, 2011 relating to the Securities
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Securities   to be purchased:
    	
 
    	
$250,000,000   2.600% Senior Notes due 2019
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
$250,000,000   3.200% Senior Notes due 2021
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Purchase   Price:
    	
 
    	
2019   Notes: 99.512% of the principal amount, plus accrued interest, if any, from   November 15, 2011
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
2021   Notes: 99.270% of the principal amount, plus accrued interest, if any, from   November 15, 2011
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Maturity:
    	
 
    	
2019   Notes: January 15, 2019
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
2021   Notes: November 15, 2021
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Interest   Rate:
    	
 
    	
2019   Notes: 2.600% per annum, accruing from November 15, 2011
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
2021   Notes: 3.200% per annum, accruing from November 15, 2011
    

 

I-1

 

	
Interest   Payment Dates:
    	
 
    	
2019   Notes: January 15 and July 15, commencing July 15, 2012
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
2021   Notes: May 15 and November 15, commencing May 15, 2012
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Closing   Date and Time:
    	
 
    	
November   15, 2011; 10:00 a.m.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Closing   Location:
    	
 
    	
Mayer   Brown LLP
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
71   South Wacker Drive
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Chicago,   Illinois 60606
    

 

I-2

 

SCHEDULE II

 

	
Underwriter
    	
 
    	
Principal Amount of
   2019 Notes to be
   Purchased
    	
 
    	
Principal Amount of
   2021 Notes to be
   Purchased
    	
 
    
	
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
87,500,000
    	
 
    	
$
    	
87,500,000
    	
 
    
	
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC 
    	
 
    	
87,500,000
    	
 
    	
87,500,000
    	
 
    
	
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC 
    	
 
    	
37,500,000
    	
 
    	
37,500,000
    	
 
    
	
Goldman, Sachs & Co. 
    	
 
    	
37,500,000
    	
 
    	
37,500,000
    	
 
    
	
Total 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
250,000,000
    	
 
    	
$
    	
250,000,000
    	
 
    

 

II-1

 

Schedule III

 

List of Guarantors

 

234DP Aviation, LLC

A&W Concentrate Company

Americas Beverages Management GP

AmTrans, Inc.

Berkeley Square US, Inc.

Beverage Investments LLC

Beverages Delaware Inc.

DP Beverages Inc.

DPS Americas Beverages LLC

DPS Beverages, Inc.

DPS Finance II, Inc.

DPS Holdings Inc.

Dr Pepper/Seven-Up Beverage Sales Company

Dr Pepper/Seven Up Manufacturing Company

Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc.

High Ridge Investments US, Inc.

International Beverage Investments GP

International Investments Management LLC

Mott’s General Partnership

Mott’s LLP

MSSI LLC

Nantucket Allserve, Inc.

Nuthatch Trading US, Inc.

Pacific Snapple Distributors, Inc.

Royal Crown Company, Inc.

Snapple Beverage Corp.

Splash Transport, Inc.

The American Bottling Company

 

III-1

 

Schedule IV

 

Form of Final Term Sheet

 

Supplementing the Preliminary Prospectus

Supplement dated November 7, 2011

(To Prospectus dated December 14, 2009)

 

$500,000,000

Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.

250,000,000 2.600% Senior Notes due 2019

250,000,000 3.200% Senior Notes due 2021

 

Final Term Sheet

 

November 7, 2011

 

	
Issuer:
    	
 
    	
Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.
    
	
Trade   Date:
    	
 
    	
November 7, 2011
    
	
Settlement   Date (T+5):
    	
 
    	
November 15, 2011
    
	
Change   of Control:
    	
 
    	
Upon   the occurrence of a “Change of Control Triggering Event,” the Issuer will be   required, unless it has exercised its right to redeem the Notes, within a   specified period, to make an offer to repurchase all Notes at a price equal   to 101% of the principal amount, plus any accrued and unpaid interest to the   date of repurchase.
    
	
Denominations:
    	
 
    	
$2,000   x $1,000
    
	
Joint   Book-Running Managers:
    	
 
    	
Deutsche   Bank Securities Inc.
   Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
 Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
 Goldman, Sachs & Co.
    

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
2.600% Senior Notes due 2019
    	
 
    	
3.200% Senior Notes due 2021
    
	
Size:
    	
 
    	
$250,000,000
    	
 
    	
$250,000,000
    
	
Maturity   Date:
    	
 
    	
January 15, 2019
    	
 
    	
November 15, 2021
    
	
Coupon   (Interest Rate):
    	
 
    	
2.600%
    	
 
    	
3.200%
    
	
Interest   Payment Dates:
    	
 
    	
Each January 15 and July 15, beginning   on July 15, 2012
    	
 
    	
Each May 15 and November 15, beginning   on May 15, 2012
    
	
Price   to Public (Issue Price):
    	
 
    	
99.912%
    	
 
    	
99.720%
    
	
Yield   to Maturity:
    	
 
    	
2.613%
    	
 
    	
3.233%
    
	
Benchmark   Treasury:
    	
 
    	
UST   1.750% due October 31, 2018
    	
 
    	
UST   2.125% due August 15, 2021
    
	
Benchmark   Treasury Price and Yield:
    	
 
    	
102-7+; 1.413%
    	
 
    	
101-8; 1.983%
    
	
Spread   to Benchmark Treasury:
    	
 
    	
1.200% (120 basis points)
    	
 
    	
1.250% (125 basis points)
    
	
Make-Whole   Call:
    	
 
    	
T+ 20 basis points
    	
 
    	
T+ 25 basis points (prior to August 15, 2021)
    
	
Par   Call:
    	
 
    	
—
    	
 
    	
On or after August 15, 2021
    
	
CUSIP   Number:
    	
 
    	
26138E AN 9
    	
 
    	
26138E AP 4
    

 

Note: A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time.

 

It is expected that delivery of the notes will be made against payment therefor on or about November 15, 2011, which is the fifth business day following the date hereof (such settlement cycle being referred to as “T+5”). Under Rule 15c6-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in three business days unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the notes on the date of pricing or the next two succeeding business days will be required, by virtue of the fact that the notes initially will settle in T+5, to specify an alternative settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent failed settlement.

 

The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the offering to which this communication relates.  Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering.  You may get these documents for free by visiting the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov.  Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange 

 

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to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. at 1-800-503-4611 or Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC at 1-866-718-1649.

 

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Exhibit A

 

Opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P., counsel for the Company, pursuant to Section 5(c)

 

(i)            The Company has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, the Securities and the Third Supplemental Indenture (collectively, the “Company Transaction Documents”) and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder.  All corporate action required to be taken by the Company for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery of each of the Company Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby has been duly and validly taken.

 

(ii)           This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

 

(iii)          The Base Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee, constitutes a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except that the enforcement thereof may be subject to (i) any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity and public policy (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity) and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought (collectively, the “Enforceability Exceptions”); the Base Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.

 

(iv)          The Third Supplemental Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Guarantors and the Trustee, constitutes a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company and the Guarantors, enforceable against the Company and the Guarantors in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

(v)           The 2019 Notes and 2021 Notes have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authentication thereof by the Trustee, constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

 

(vi)          Assuming the Guarantees have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Guarantors, the Guarantees constitute valid and legally binding agreements of the Guarantors, enforceable against the Guarantors in accordance with their terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

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(vii)         Each of the Transaction Documents conforms in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.

 

(viii)        The execution, delivery and performance by the Company and each of the Guarantors of each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the issuance and sale of the Securities (including the Guarantees thereof) and compliance by the Company and each Guarantor, as applicable, with the terms thereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents will not result in the violation of any law or statute of the United States or the State of New York or, to our knowledge following inquiry of the Company’s management, any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any United States federal or New York State court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of the Guarantors, except for any such violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(ix)           No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any United States federal or New York State governmental or regulatory authority or, to our knowledge following inquiry of the Company’s management, any United States federal or New York State court or arbitrator is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company and each Guarantor, as applicable, of each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the issuance and sale of the Securities (including the Guarantees thereof) and compliance by the Company and each Guarantor with the terms thereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, except for such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as may be required under applicable federal and state securities laws in connection with the purchase and resale of the Securities by the Underwriters.

 

(x)            The statements in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the captions “Description of the Notes,” “Description of Debt Securities,” and “Underwriting,” insofar as such statements constitute summaries of documents referred to therein, fairly summarize in all material respects the documents referred to therein.

 

(xi)           The statements in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the captions “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations,” insofar as such statements constitute summaries of legal matters referred to therein, fairly summarize in all material respects the legal matters referred to therein.

 

(xii)          Neither the Company nor any of the Guarantors is, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds of the sale of the Securities as described in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus 

 

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and the Prospectus, none of them will be, an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act.

 

(xiii)         The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act; any required filing of the Preliminary Prospectus, and the Prospectus, and any supplements thereto, pursuant to Rule 424(b) has been made in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); any required filing of any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus pursuant to Rule 433 has been made in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 433; to the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or threatened.

 

(xiv)        The Registration Statement and the Prospectus (except for each document filed pursuant to the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference therein and the financial statements, financial statement footnotes and financial schedules and other financial and statistical data included or incorporated by reference therein and except for that part of the Registration Statement that constitutes the Form T-1, as to which such counsel need not express any opinion) appear on their face to be appropriately responsive in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

(xv)         Each document filed pursuant to the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus (except for the financial statements, financial statement footnotes and financial schedules and other financial and statistical data included or incorporated by reference therein, as to which such counsel need not express any opinion) appeared on its face to be appropriately responsive as of its filing date in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

Such counsel shall also state that nothing has come to their attention that causes such counsel to believe that (i) any part of the Registration Statement (except for the financial statements, financial statement footnotes and financial schedules and other financial and statistical data included or incorporated by reference therein and except for that part of the Registration Statement that constitutes the Form T-1, as to which such counsel need not express any belief), when such part became effective under the Securities Act 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, (ii) the Time of Sale Prospectus (except for the financial statements, financial statement footnotes and financial schedules and other financial and statistical data included or incorporated by reference therein, as to which such counsel need not express any belief), as of the Applicable Time, contained any untrue statement of a 

 

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material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (iii) the Prospectus (except for the financial statements, financial statement footnotes and financial schedules and other financial and statistical data included or incorporated by reference therein, as to which such counsel need not express any belief), as of its date and as of the Closing Date, contained or contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

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Exhibit B

 

Opinion of James L. Baldwin, Jr., Executive Vice President and

General Counsel of the Company, pursuant to Section 5(d)

 

(i)            The Company and the Guarantors have been duly organized and are validly existing and in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization, and to the best of his knowledge, are duly qualified to do business and are in good standing in each jurisdiction in which their respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their respective businesses requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and the Guarantors have all power and authority necessary to own or hold their respective properties and to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged.

 

(ii)           Each Guarantor has full power and authority to execute and deliver the Third Supplemental Indenture (including each Guarantee set forth in the Indenture) (collectively, the “Guarantor Transaction Documents” and, together with the Company Transaction Documents, the “Transaction Documents”).  All action required to be taken by each of the Guarantors for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery of the Guarantor Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby will have been duly and validly taken.

 

(iii)          The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the heading “Capitalization”; and all the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, except where the failure to be so authorized, issued, fully paid and non-assessable would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company (except in the case of any foreign subsidiary, for directors’ qualifying shares), free and clear of any material lien, charge, encumbrance, security interest, restriction on voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party.

 

(iv)          To my knowledge, except as described in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, suits or proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject that, individually, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would reasonably be expected to have a 

 

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Material Adverse Effect; and to my knowledge, no such investigations, actions, suits or proceedings are threatened.

 

(v)           The Third Supplemental Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Guarantors.

 

(vi)          The Guarantees have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Guarantors.

 

(vii)         The execution, delivery and performance by the Company and each of the Guarantors of each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the issuance and sale of the Securities (including the Guarantees thereof) and compliance by the Company and each Guarantor, as applicable, with the terms thereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or the Guarantors pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of the Guarantors is a party or by which the Company or any of the Guarantors is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of the Guarantors is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of the Company or any of the Guarantors or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of the Guarantors, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation or default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(viii)        No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company and each Guarantor, as applicable, of each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the issuance and sale of the Securities (including the Guarantees thereof) and compliance by the Company and each Guarantor with the terms thereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, except for such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as may be required under applicable state securities laws in connection with the purchase and resale of the Securities by the Underwriters.

 

Such counsel shall also state that nothing has come to his attention that causes him to believe that (i) any part of the Registration Statement (except for the financial statements, financial statement footnotes  and financial schedules and other financial and statistical data included or incorporated by reference 

 

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therein and except for that part of the Registration Statement that constitutes the Form T-1, as to which such counsel need not express any belief), when such part became effective under the Securities Act, 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, (ii) the Time of Sale Prospectus (except for the financial statements, financial statement footnotes and financial schedules and other financial and statistical data included or incorporated by reference therein, as to which such counsel need not express any belief), as of the Applicable Time, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (iii) the Prospectus (except for the financial statements, financial statement footnotes and financial schedules and other financial and statistical data included or incorporated by reference therein, as to which such counsel need not express any belief), as of its date and as of the Closing Date, contained or contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

3Exhibit 10.1

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of September     , 2011  by and between OnCure Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and                              (“Indemnitee”).  This Agreement supersedes and replaces any and all previous Agreements between the Company and Indemnitee covering the subject matter of this Agreement.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as [directors] [officers] or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation;

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities.  Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions.  At the same time, directors, officers, and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself.  The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate”) and the By-laws of the Company require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company.  Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).

 

WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to indemnification have increased the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;

 

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;

 

WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified;

 

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate and the By-laws of the Company and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder;

 

WHEREAS, Indemnitee may not regard the protection available under the Company’s By-laws and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve as an officer or director without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve in such capacity.  Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that he be so indemnified; and

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

 

Section 1.                                            Services to the Company.  Indemnitee agrees to serve [as a [director] [officer] [employee] of the Company] [, at the request of the Company, as a [director] [officer] [employee] [fiduciary] of [another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust employee benefit plan or other enterprise].  Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Company shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position.  This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee.  Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), if any, is at will, and the Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Company, by the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, the Company’s By-laws, and the DGCL.  The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as an [officer] [director] [employee] of the Company.

 

Section 2.                                            Definitions.   As used in this Agreement:

 

(a)                                  References to “agent” shall mean any person who is or was a director, officer, or employee of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company or other person authorized by the Company to act for the Company, to include such person serving in such capacity as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or other official of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other Enterprise at the request of, for the convenience of, or to represent the interests of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company.

 

(b)                                 A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:

 

i.                                          Acquisition of Stock by Third Party.  Any Person (as defined below) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined below), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities;

 

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ii.                                       Change in Board of Directors.  During any period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Sections 2(b)(i), 2(b)(iii) or 2(b)(iv)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;

 

iii.                                    Corporate Transactions.  The effective date of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 51% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such surviving entity;

 

iv.                                   Liquidation.  The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; and

 

v.                                      Other Events.  There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.

 

For purposes of this Section 2(b), the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(A)                              “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

(B)                                “Person” shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Person shall exclude (i) the Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, and (iii) any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

 

(C)                                “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Beneficial Owner shall exclude any Person otherwise becoming a Beneficial Owner by reason of the

 

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stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company with another entity.

 

(c)                                  “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership or joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.

 

(d)                                 “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

 

(e)                                  “Enterprise” shall mean the Company and any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary.

 

(f)                                    “Expenses” shall include all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, ERISA excise taxes and penalties, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding.  Expenses also shall include (i) Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, and (ii) for purposes of Section 14(d) only, Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, by litigation or otherwise.  The parties agree that for the purposes of any advancement of Expenses for which Indemnitee has made written demand to the Company in accordance with this Agreement, all Expenses included in such demand that are certified by affidavit of Indemnitee’s counsel as being reasonable shall be presumed conclusively to be reasonable.  Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

 

(g)                                 “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent:  (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.  The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Expenses, claims,

 

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liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

(h)                                 The term “Proceeding” shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative legislative, or investigative (formal or informal) nature, including any appeal therefrom, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party, potential party, non-party witness or otherwise by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, by reason of any action taken by him or of any action on his part while acting as director or officer of the Company, or by reason of the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement.  If the Indemnitee believes in good faith that a given situation may lead to or culminate in the institution of a Proceeding, this shall be considered a Proceeding under this paragraph.

 

(i)                                     Reference to “other enterprise” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise tax assessed with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this Agreement.

 

Section 3.                                            Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings.  The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor.  Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on his behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal proceeding had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.  The parties hereto intend that this Agreement shall provide to the fullest extent permitted by law for indemnification in excess of that expressly permitted by statute, including, without limitation, any indemnification provided by the Company’s Certificate, its Bylaws, vote of its stockholders or disinterested directors or applicable law.

 

Section 4.                                            Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company.   The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding by or in

 

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the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor.  Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.  No indemnification for Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or any court in which the Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.

 

Section 5.                                            Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.  If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with or related to each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter to the fullest extent permitted by law.  For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

 

Section 6.                                            Indemnification For Expenses of a Witness.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a witness or otherwise asked to participate in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, he shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith.

 

Section 7.                                            Partial Indemnification.  If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of Expenses, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.

 

Section 8.                                            Additional Indemnification.

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law if Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the Proceeding.

 

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(b)                                 For purposes of Section 8(a), the meaning of the phrase “to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law” shall include, but not be limited to:

 

i.                                          to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the DGCL that authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL, and

 

ii.                                       to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its officers and directors.

 

Section 9.                                            Exclusions.   Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnity in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:

 

(a)                                  for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision; or

 

(b)                                 for (i) an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (as defined in Section 2(b) hereof) or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law, or (ii) any reimbursement of the Company by the Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by the Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act); or

 

(c)                                  except as provided in Section 14(d) of this Agreement, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law.

 

Section 10.                                      Advances of Expenses.   In accordance with the pre-existing requirement of Article VII of the Certificate and Article V of the By-laws of the Company, and notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding, and such advancement shall be made within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding.  Advances shall be unsecured and interest free.  Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions

 

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of this Agreement.  Advances shall include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed.  The Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon the execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement, which shall constitute an undertaking providing that the Indemnitee undertakes to repay the amounts advanced (without interest) to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.  No other form of undertaking shall be required other than the execution of this Agreement.  This Section 10 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 9.

 

Section 11.                                      Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim.

 

(a)                                  Indemnitee shall notify the Company in writing of any matter with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof.  The written notification to the Company shall include a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding.  To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding.  The omission by Indemnitee to notify the Company hereunder will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, and any delay in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement.  The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

 

(b)                                 The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.

 

Section 12.                                      Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification.

 

(a)                                  Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to the Section 11(a), a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case:  (i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; or (ii) if a Change in Control shall not have occurred, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (D) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination.  Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to

 

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such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination.  Any costs or Expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

 

(b)                                 In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 12(b).  If a Change in Control shall not have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising him of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected.  If a Change in Control shall have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board, in which event the preceding sentence shall apply), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected.  In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion.  Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel.  If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit.  If, within twenty (20) days after the later of submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof and the final disposition of the Proceeding, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition a court of competent jurisdiction for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the Court or by such other person as the Court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 12(a) hereof.  Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

 

Section 13.                                      Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.

 

(a)                                  In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 11(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person,

 

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persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption.  Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or independent legal counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or independent legal counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

(b)                                 Subject to Section 14(e), if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 12 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 13(b) shall not apply (i) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement and if (A) within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of the request for such determination the Board has resolved to submit such determination to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within seventy-five (75) days after such receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is called within fifteen (15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60) days after having been so called and such determination is made thereat, or (ii) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement.

 

(c)                                  The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo  contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

 

(d)                                 Reliance as Safe Harbor.  For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with the reasonable care by the Enterprise.  The provisions of this Section 13(d) shall

 

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not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.

 

(e)                                  Actions of Others.  The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

Section 14.                                      Remedies of Indemnitee.

 

(a)                                  Subject to Section 14(e), in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ninety (90) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5, 6 or 7 or the last sentence of Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3, 4 or 8 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) in the event that the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or Proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of his entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses.  Alternatively, Indemnitee, at his option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association.  Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 14(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply in respect of a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce his rights under Section 5 of this Agreement.  The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

 

(b)                                 In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 shall be conducted in all respects as a de  novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination.  In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.

 

(c)                                  If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact

 

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necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

 

(d)                                 The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.  It is the intent of the Company that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Indemnitee not be required to incur legal fees or other Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the Indemnitee hereunder.  The Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advance of Expenses from the Company under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company if Indemnitee is wholly successful on the underlying claims; if Indemnittee is not wholly successful on the underlying claims, then such indemnification and advancement shall be only to the extent Indemnitee is successful on such underlying claims or otherwise as permitted by law, whichever is greater.

 

(e)                                  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement of Indemnitee to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding.

 

Section 15.                                      Non-exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.

 

(a)                                  The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, the Company’s By-laws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise.  No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in his Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal.  To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Company’s [By-laws] [Certificate of Incorporation] and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change.  No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise.  The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

 

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(b)                                 To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or agents of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which such person serves at the request of the Company, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee or agent under such policy or policies.  If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such claim or of the commencement of a proceeding, as the case may be, to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies.  The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

 

(c)                                  In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

(d)                                 Subject to Section 15(f), the Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable (or for which advancement is provided hereunder) hereunder if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

 

(e)                                  The Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification or advancement of Expenses from such other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise.

 

(f)                                    The Company hereby agrees that to the extent Indemnitee has rights to advancement or indemnification relating to Idemnitee’s Corporate Status, including any insurance coverage, provided by, obtained by or paid for by the entity which nominated or designated the Indemnitee to serve in his Corporate Status or any affiliate of such entity (a “secondary obligor”), those rights are secondary to (i) the indemnification and advancement obligations of the Company pursuant to this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws and (ii) any directors’ and officers’ insurance or comparable insurance coverage, provided by, obtained by or paid for by Company.  Notwithstanding the fact that such secondary obligor may otherwise have concurrent liability to an Indemniteee with respect to the advancement or indemnification obligations of the Company under this Agreement, the Certificate or the Bylaws, the Company hereby agrees that in no event shall the Company or any of its subsidiaries have any right or claim against any such secondary obligor for contribution or have rights of subrogation against any such secondary obligor through an Indemnitee for any payment made by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, the Certificate or the Bylaws.  In addition, the Company hereby agrees that in the event that any such secondary obligor makes

 

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advancement or indemnification payments on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with such Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, the Company will promptly reimburse such secondary obligor for such payment or advance upon request.  For the avoidance of doubt and without limiting the foregoing, Genstar Capital, LLC and its affiliates (other than the Company and its subsidiaries) (“Genstar”), including insurance policies provided by, obtained by or paid for by Genstar, shall be secondary obligors with respect to Indemnitee. The Company and the Indemnitee agree that Genstar is an express third party beneficiary of the terms hereof.

 

Section 16.                                      Duration of Agreement.  This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the later of: (a) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a [director] [officer] [employee] of the Company [,at the request of the Company, as a [director] [officer] [employee] [fiduciary] of [another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust employee benefit plan or other enterprise] or (b) one (1) year after the final termination of any Proceeding then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement relating thereto.  This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and his heirs, executors and administrators.

 

Section 17.                                      Severability.  If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

 

Section 18.                                      Enforcement.

 

(a)                                  The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director or officer of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director or officer of the Company.

 

(b)                                 This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, the By-laws of the Company and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

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Section 19.                                      Modification and Waiver.  No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties thereto.  No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

Section 20.                                      Notice by Indemnitee.  Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder.  The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise.

 

Section 21.                                      Notices.   All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, (b) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed, (c) mailed by reputable overnight courier and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed or (d) sent by facsimile transmission, with receipt of oral confirmation that such transmission has been received:

 

(a)                                  If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide to the Company.

 

(b)                                 If to the Company to:

 

OnCure Holdings, Inc.

188 Inverness Drive West, Suite 650

Denver, CO  80112

Attn.:  President

Fax:  949-274-8831

 

(c)                                  With a Copy to:

 

Oncure Medical Corp.

18100 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 450

Irvine, CA  92612

Att.:  General Counsel

Fax:  949-863-8835

 

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company.

 

Section 22.                                      Contribution.  To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in

 

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light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).

 

Section 23.                                      Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction.  This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Court”), and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) appoint, to the extent such party is not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, irrevocably CSC, 2711 Centerville Road, Wilmington, Delaware 19808 as its agent in the State of Delaware as such party’s agent for acceptance of legal process in connection with any such action or proceeding against such party with the same legal force and validity as if served upon such party personally within the State of Delaware, (iv) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (v) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

Section 24.                                      Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as provided in Section 15(f), nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to grant rights to any person who is not a party to this Agreement.

 

Section 25.                                      Identical Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.  Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

 

Section 26.                                      Miscellaneous.    Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate.  The headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.

 

	
ONCURE   HOLDINGS, INC.
    	
 
    	
INDEMNITEE
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
Office:
    	
 
    	
Address:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
					

 

17

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