<Page>
|
|
Exhibit 1.1
EXECUTION COPY
|
SOVRAN SELF STORAGE, INC.
Common Stock
UNDERWRITING
AGREEMENT
dated November 28,
2006
Banc of America
Securities LLC
- 1 -
<Page>
Underwriting Agreement
November 28, 2006
BANC OF AMERICA
SECURITIES LLC
As Representative of the several
Underwriters
9 West 57 th Street
New York, NY 10019
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Introductory.
Sovran Self Storage, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the
"Company"), together with Sovran Acquisition Limited Partnership, a
Delaware limited partnership (the "Operating Partnership"), and
Sovran Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, the general
partner of the Operating Partnership and wholly-owned subsidiary of
the Company (together with the Company and the Operating
Partnership, the "Transaction Entities") proposes to issue and sell
to the several underwriters named in Schedule A (the
"Underwriters") an aggregate of 2,000,000 shares (the "Firm
Shares") of its Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the
"Common Stock"). In addition, the Company has granted to the
Underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional
300,000 shares (the "Optional Shares") of Common Stock, as
provided in Section 2. The Firm Shares and, if and to the
extent such option is exercised, the Optional Shares are
collectively called the "Shares". Banc of America
Securities LLC ("BAS") has agreed to act as the representative
of the several Underwriters (in such capacity, the
"Representative") in connection with the offering and sale of the
Shares.
To the extent there are no additional Underwriters listed on
Schedule A other than you, the terms Representative and
Underwriters as used herein shall mean you, as the Underwriter. The
terms Representative and Underwriters shall mean either the
singular or plural as the context requires.
Each
of the Transaction Entities jointly and severally hereby confirms
its agreements with the Underwriters as follows:
Section 1.
Representations and Warranties
of the Transaction
Entities
A. Each of the
Transaction Entities hereby represents and warrants to, and
covenants with, each Underwriter as follows:
- 2 -
<Page>
|
|
|
(a)
|
The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and
Exchange
|
|
|
Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement on
Form S-3 (File No. 333-138970), which contains a base
prospectus (the "Base Prospectus"), to be used in connection with
the public offering and sale of the Shares. Such registration
statement, as amended, including the financial statements, exhibits
and schedules thereto, at each time of effectiveness under the
Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder (collectively, the "Securities Act"), including any
required information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of
effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act
or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the "Exchange
Act"), is called the "Registration Statement." Any preliminary
prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus that describes the
Shares and the offering thereof and is used prior to filing of the
final prospectus is called, together with the Base Prospectus, a
"preliminary prospectus." The term "Prospectus" shall mean the
final prospectus relating to the Shares that is first filed
pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the date and time that this
Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto (the
"Execution Time"). Any reference herein to the Registration
Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus shall be
deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by
reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the
Securities Act; any reference to any amendment or supplement to any
preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer
to and include any documents filed after the date of such
preliminary prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be, under the
Exchange Act, and incorporated by reference in such preliminary
prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference to
any amendment to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to
refer to and include any annual report of the Company filed
pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after
the effective date of the Registration Statement that is
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
Compliance with Registration
Requirements . The
Registration
|
|
|
Statement has become effective upon
filing with the Commission under Rule 462(e) of the Securities
Act. The Company has complied to the Commission's satisfaction with
all requests of the Commission for additional or supplemental
information. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement is in effect, the Commission has not issued
any order or notice preventing or suspending the use of the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the
Prospectus and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted
or are pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, are
contemplated or threatened by the Commission.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus when filed
complied in all
|
|
|
material respects with the Securities Act and the rules
thereunder. Each of the Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment thereto, at each time of
|
- 3 -
<Page>
|
|
effectiveness and at the date hereof, complied and will comply
in all material respects with the Securities Act and did not and
will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus
(including any Prospectus wrapper) , as amended or supplemented, as of its date, at
the date hereof, at the time of any filing pursuant to
Rule 424(b), at the Closing Date (as defined herein) and at
any Subsequent Closing Date (as defined herein), did not and will
not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit 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. The representations and warranties set forth
in the two immediately preceding sentences do not apply to
statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment thereto, or the Prospectus (including any
wrapper thereto), or any amendments or supplements thereto, made in
reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any
Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by the
Representative expressly for use therein, it being understood and
agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of
the Representative consists of the Underwriter Content (as defined
herein). There is no contract or other document required to be
described in the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement that has not been described or filed as
required.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, when
they became
|
|
|
effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be,
conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable. Any further
documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus
or any further amendment or supplement thereto, when such documents
become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may
be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of
the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
Disclosure Package. The term "Disclosure Package" shall
mean
|
|
|
(i) each preliminary prospectus, if any, as amended or
supplemented, (ii) the issuer free writing prospectuses as
defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act (each, an "Issuer
Free Writing Prospectus"), if any, identified in
Schedule B hereto, (iii) any other free writing
prospectus that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree
in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package and
(iv) the information set forth in Schedule C
hereto. As of 11:55 pm (Eastern time) on November 28,
2006 (the "Applicable Time"), the Disclosure Package did not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
any material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to
statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package based upon
and in conformity with the Underwriter Content.
|
|
|
|
- 4 -
<Page>
|
|
|
(d)
|
Company is Well-Known Seasoned Issuer . (i) At the
time of filing the
|
|
|
Registration Statement, (ii) at the time of the most recent
amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with
Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act (whether such amendment
was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant
to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of
prospectus), (iii) at the time the Company or any person
acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of
Rule 163(c) of the Securities Act) made any offer relating to
the Shares in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 of the
Securities Act, and (iv) at the Execution Time of this
Agreement (with such date being used as the determination date for
purposes of this clause (iv)), the Company was and is a
"well-known seasoned issuer" as defined in Rule 405 of the
Securities Act. The Registration Statement is an "automatic shelf
registration statement," as defined in Rule 405 of the
Securities Act, the Company has not received from the Commission
any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the Securities Act
objecting to use of the automatic shelf registration statement
form, and the Company has not otherwise ceased to be eligible to
use the automatic shelf registration statement form.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(e)
|
Company Not Ineligible Issuer. (i) At the earliest
time after the filing of
|
|
|
the Registration Statement relating to the Shares that the
Company or another offering participant made a bona fide
offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the Securities
Act), and (ii) as of the date of the execution and delivery of
this Agreement (with such date being used as the determination date
for purposes of this clause (ii)), the Company was not and is
not an Ineligible Issuer (as defined in Rule 405 of the
Securities Act), without taking account of any determination by the
Commission pursuant to Rule 405 of the Securities Act that it
is not necessary that the Company be considered an Ineligible
Issuer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(f)
|
Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses . Each Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus,
|
|
|
as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the
completion of the offering of Shares under this Agreement or until
any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies the
Representative as described in the next sentence, did not, does not
and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or
will conflict with the information contained in the Registration
Statement ,
including any prospectus or prospectus supplement that is or
becomes part of the Registration Statement . If at any
time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there
occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which
such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict
with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the
Company has promptly notified or will promptly notify the
Representative and has promptly amended or supplemented or will
promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict. The
foregoing two sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions
from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in
conformity with the Underwriter Content.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- 5 -
<Page>
|
|
|
(g)
|
Accuracy of Statements in Prospectus. The statements in
the Disclosure
|
|
|
Package and the Prospectus under the headings "Federal Income
Tax Considerations," as supplemented in the preliminary prospectus
under the headings "Description of Capital Stock," "Restrictions On
Transfer/Ownership Limits," "Plan of Distribution," and
"Underwriting," insofar as such statements summarize legal matters,
summaries of agreements or documents, or summaries of legal matters
or proceedings, accurately and fairly present and summarize the
matters referred to therein, provided, however, that the foregoing
sentence does not apply to the Underwriting Content.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(h)
|
REIT Status . The Company has been organized and has
operated in
|
|
|
conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation
as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code") for each taxable year commencing
with its taxable year ending December 31, 1995, and its
current and proposed organization and method of operation (as
described in the Prospectus, as supplemented in the preliminary
prospectus) will enable the Company to continue to meet the
requirements for qualification and taxation as a real estate
investment trust under the Code for its taxable year ending
December 31, 2006 and thereafter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(i)
|
Distribution of Offering Material
By the Company . The
Company has
|
|
|
not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of
the last Subsequent Closing Date (as defined below) and the
completion of the Underwriters' distribution of the Shares, any
offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the
Shares other than a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus, any
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus reviewed and consented to by the
Representative or included in Schedule B hereto or the
Registration Statement.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(j)
|
The Underwriting
Agreement . This
Agreement has been duly
|
|
|
authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Transaction
Entities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(k)
|
Authorization of the
Shares . The Shares to be
purchased by the
|
|
|
Underwriters from the Company have been duly authorized for
issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and
delivered by the Company to the Underwriters against payment
therefor pursuant to this Agreement on the Closing Date or any
Subsequent Closing Date, will be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(l)
|
No Transfer Taxes. There are no transfer taxes or other
similar fees or
|
|
|
charges under federal law or the laws of any state, or any
political subdivision thereof, required to be paid in connection
with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance
by the Company or sale by the Company of the Shares.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- 6 -
<Page>
|
|
|
(m)
|
No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights . There are no
|
|
|
persons with registration or other similar rights to have any
equity or debt securities registered for sale under the
Registration Statement or included in the offering contemplated by
this Agreement, except for such rights as have been duly
waived.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(n)
|
No Material Adverse
Change . Except as
otherwise disclosed in the
|
|
|
Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, subsequent to the
respective dates as of which information is given in the Disclosure
Package: (i) there has been no material adverse change, or any
development that could reasonably be expected to result in a
material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise,
or in the earnings, business, properties, operations or prospects,
whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of
business, of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one
entity (any such change is called a "Material Adverse Change");
(ii) the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one
entity, have not incurred any material liability or obligation,
indirect, direct or contingent, nor entered into any material
transaction or agreement; and (iii) there has been no dividend
or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company
or, except for dividends paid to the Company or other subsidiaries,
any of its subsidiaries on any class of capital stock or repurchase
or redemption by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any
class of capital stock.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(o)
|
Independent Accountants
. Ernst & Young LLP , who have expressed
|
|
|
their opinions with respect to the financial statements (which
term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto)
and supporting schedules filed with the Commission as a part of the
Registration Statement and included in the Disclosure Package and
the Prospectus, are, to the Company's knowledge, independent public
accountants with respect to the Company as required by the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the applicable published
rules and regulations thereunder.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(p)
|
Preparation of the Financial
Statements . The
financial statements filed
|
|
|
with the Commission as a part of or incorporated by reference in
the Registration Statement and included or incorporated by
reference in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present
fairly the consolidated financial position of the Company and its
subsidiaries and the "Cornerstone Acquisition Facilities", as the
case may be, as of and at the dates indicated and the results of
their respective operations and cash flows for the periods
specified. The supporting schedules included or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement present fairly the
information required to be stated therein. Such financial
statements and supporting schedules comply as to form with the
applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and have
been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles as applied in the United States
applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved,
except as may be expressly stated in the
|
|
|
|
|
|
- 7 -
<Page>
|
|
related notes thereto. The financial
data set forth in the preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus
under the captions "Prospectus Supplement Summary-Selected
Consolidated Financial Data," and "Capitalization" fairly present
the information set forth therein on a basis consistent with that
of the audited financial statements contained in the Registration
Statement. The pro forma consolidated
financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries included
under the caption "Prospectus Supplement Selected
Consolidated-Summary Financial Data" and elsewhere in the
preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus and in the Registration
Statement or incorporated by reference in the preliminary
prospectus, the Prospectus and the Registration Statement present
fairly the information contained therein, have been prepared in
accordance with the Commission's rules and guidelines with respect
to pro forma financial statements and have been properly presented
on the basis described therein, and the assumptions used in the
preparation thereof are reasonable and the pro forma adjustments
used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and
circumstances referred to therein and the pro forma adjustments
have been properly applied to the historical amounts in the
computation of compilation of such pro forma financial statements.
All of the disclosures contained or incorporated by reference into
the preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus and the Registration
Statement regarding "non-GAAP financial measures" (as such term is
defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply with
Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of
Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, to the extent applicable.
No other financial statements (pro forma or otherwise) or
supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement or the preliminary
prospectus or prospectus.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(q)
|
The Company's ratios of earnings to fixed charges and preferred
stock
|
|
|
dividends and ratios of earnings to fixed charges set forth in
Exhibit 12 to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2005 and incorporated by reference into the
preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus have been calculated in
compliance with Item 503(d) of Regulation S-K under the
Securities Act.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(r)
|
Incorporation and Good Standing of
the Company and its Subsidiaries
.
|
|
|
Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly
incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation
and has corporate power and authority to own or lease, as the case
may be, and operate its properties and to conduct its business as
described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and, in the
case of the Company, to enter into and perform its obligations
under this Agreement. Each of the Company and each subsidiary is
duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is
in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification
is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of
property or the conduct of business, except for such jurisdictions
where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would
not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a material adverse
effect, on the condition, financial or otherwise, or on the
|
- 8 -
<Page>
|
|
earnings, business, properties, operations or prospects, whether
or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of
business, of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one
entity (a "Material Adverse Effect"). All of the issued and
outstanding shares of capital stock of each subsidiary have been
duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and
nonassessable and are owned by the Company, directly or through
subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage,
pledge, lien, encumbrance or claim. The Company does not own or
control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or
other entity other than the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 2
1 to the Company's Form 10-Q for the
quarterly period ended March 31, 2006, as amended .
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(s)
|
Capitalization and Other Capital
Stock Matters . The
authorized, issued
|
|
|
and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in
the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption
"Capitalization" (other than for subsequent issuances, if any,
pursuant to employee benefit plans described in the Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus or upon exercise of outstanding options
described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as the case
may be). The Common Stock (including the Shares) conforms in all
material respects to the description thereof contained in the
Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. All of the issued and
outstanding shares of Common Stock have been duly authorized and
validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and have been
issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws. None
of the outstanding shares of Common Stock were issued in violation
of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar
rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company.
There are no authorized or outstanding options, warrants,
preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to
purchase, or equity or debt securities convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for, any capital stock of the Company
or any of its subsidiaries other than those accurately described in
the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The description of the
Company's stock option, stock bonus and other stock plans or
arrangements, and the options or other rights granted thereunder,
set forth or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package
and the Prospectus accurately and fairly presents the information
required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements,
options and rights and all such plans have been approved or adopted
in accordance with applicable law, rule or regulations, including
without limitation, the rules of the New York Stock Exchange.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(t)
|
Listing . The Shares have been approved for listing on the New York
|
|
|
Stock Exchange, subject only to official notice of issuance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(u)
|
Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further
Authorizations
|
|
|
or
Approvals Required . Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries is (i) in violation or in default (or, with the
giving of notice or lapse of time, would be in default) ("Default")
under its charter or by-laws, (ii) in Default under any
indenture, mortgage, loan or credit agreement, deed of trust, note,
contract, franchise, lease or other agreement,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- 9 -
<Page>
|
|
obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the
Company or such subsidiary is a party or by which it may be bound
, or to which any of the property or assets
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject (each, an
"Existing Instrument") or (iii) in violation of any statute,
law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court,
regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body,
arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company
or such subsidiary or any of its properties, as applicable, except
with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii) only, for such Defaults
or violations as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have
a Material Adverse Effect. The Company's execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, by the Disclosure Package and by the
Prospectus (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action and will not result in any Default under the
charter or by-laws of the Company or any subsidiary, (ii) will
not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or Default or a Debt
Repayment Triggering Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of
any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, or require the
consent of any other party to, any Existing Instrument, and
(iii) will not result in any violation of any statute, law,
rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable to the
Company or any of its subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body,
administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other
authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or any of its or their properties. No consent,
approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or
filing with, any court or other governmental or regulatory
authority or agency is required for the Company's execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement and consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, by the Disclosure Package and by
the Prospectus, except such as have been
obtained or made by the Company and are in full force and effect
under the Securities Act, applicable state securities or blue sky
laws and from the NASD, Inc. (the "NASD") .
As used herein, a "Debt Repayment Triggering Event" means any event
or condition which gives, or with the giving of notice or lapse of
time would give, the holder of any note, debenture or other
evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder's
behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or
repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company
or any of its subsidiaries.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(v)
|
No Material Actions or
Proceedings . Except as
otherwise disclosed in
|
|
|
the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no legal or
governmental actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the best
of the Company's knowledge, threatened (i) against or
affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) which
has as the subject thereof any officer or director of, or property
owned or leased by, the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
(iii) relating to environmental or discrimination matters,
where in any such case (A) there is a reasonable possibility
that such action, suit or proceeding might be determined adversely
to the Company or such subsidiary, or any officer or director of,
or property owned or leased by, the Company or any of its
subsidiaries and (B) any such action, suit or proceeding, if
so determined adversely,
|
- 10 -
<Page>
|
|
would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
or adversely affect the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(w)
|
Labor Matters. No labor problem or dispute with the
employees of the
|
|
|
Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the Company's
knowledge, is threatened or imminent, and the Company is not aware
of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of
any of its or its subsidiaries' principal suppliers, contractors or
customers, that could have a Material Adverse Effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(x)
|
Intellectual Property Rights .
The Company and its subsidiaries own,
|
|
|
possess, license or have other rights to use, on reasonable
terms, all patents, patent applications, trade and service marks,
trade and service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights,
licenses, inventions, trade secrets, technology, know-how and other
intellectual property (collectively, the "Intellectual Property")
necessary for the conduct of the Company's business as now
conducted or as proposed in the Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus to be conducted. Except as set forth in the Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus, (a) no party has been granted an
exclusive license to use any portion of such Intellectual Property
owned by the Company; (b) there is no material infringement by
third parties of any such Intellectual Property owned by or
exclusively licensed to the Company; (c) there is no pending
or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding
or claim by others challenging the Company's rights in or to any
material Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any
facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim;
(d) there is no pending or, to the Company's knowledge,
threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging
the validity or scope of any such Intellectual Property, and the
Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis
for any such claim; and (e) there is no pending or, to the
Company's knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim
by others that the Company's business as now conducted infringes or
otherwise violates any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret
or other proprietary rights of others, and the Company is unaware
of any other fact which would form a reasonable basis for any such
claim.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(y)
|
All Necessary Permits, etc.
Except as otherwise disclosed in the
|
|
|
Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, or as would not have a
Material Adverse Effect, the Company and each subsidiary possess
such valid and current licenses, certificates, authorizations or
permits issued by the appropriate state, federal or foreign
regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct their respective
businesses, and neither the Company nor any subsidiary has received
any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or
modification of, or non-compliance with, any such license,
certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the
aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or
finding, could have a Material Adverse Effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- 11 -
<Page>
|
|
|
(z)
|
Title to Properties
. Except as otherwise disclosed in
the Disclosure
|
|
|
Package and the Prospectus, the Company and each of its
subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all the properties
and assets reflected as owned in the financial statements referred
to in Section 1 (o) above (or elsewhere in the Disclosure Package
and the Prospectus), in each case, except as otherwise disclosed in
the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, free and clear of any
security interests, mortgages, liens, encumbrances, equities,
claims and other defects, except such as do not materially and
adversely affect the value of such property and do not materially
interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property
by the Company or such subsidiary. The real property, improvements,
equipment and personal property held under lease by the Company or
any subsidiary are held under valid and enforceable leases, with
such exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere
with the use made or proposed to be made of such real property,
improvements, equipment or personal property by the Company or such
subsidiary.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(aa)
|
Tax Law Compliance
. The Company and each of its
subsidiaries has
|
|
|
filed all necessary federal, state, local and foreign tax
returns in a timely manner, and has paid (i) all taxes
required to be paid by any of them and (ii) any related or
similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against any of them, in
all cases in a timely manner, except for any taxes, assessments,
fines or penalties as may be being contested in good faith and by
appropriate proceedings and with respect to which all appropriate
provisions have been made in accordance with GAAP in the applicable
financial statements referred to in Section 1(n) above in
respect of all federal, state, local and foreign taxes for all
periods as to which the tax liability of the Company or any of its
consolidated subsidiaries has not been finally determined.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(bb)
|
Company Not an "Investment
Company" . The Company
has been
|
|
|
advised of the rules and requirements under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"). The
Company is not, and after receipt of payment for the Shares and the
application of the proceeds thereof as contemplated under the
caption "Use of Proceeds" in the preliminary prospectus and the
Prospectus will not be, an "investment company" within the meaning
of the Investment Company Act and will conduct its business in a
manner so that it will not become subject to the Investment Company
Act.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(cc)
|
Insurance . Except as otherwise
disclosed in the Disclosure Package and
|
|
|
the Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries are insured by
recognized, financially sound and reputable institutions with
policies in such amounts and with such deductibles and covering
such risks as are generally deemed adequate and customary for their
businesses including, but not limited to, policies covering real
and personal property owned or leased by the Company and its
subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism
and earthquakes. All policies of insurance and fidelity or surety
bonds
|
|
|
|
|
|
- 12 -
<Page>
|
|
insuring the Company or any of its subsidiaries or their
respective businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors
are in full force and effect; the Company and its subsidiaries are
in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in
all material respects; and there are no claims by the Company or
any of its subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to
which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under
a reservation of rights clause; and neither the Company nor any
such subsidiary has been refused any insurance coverage sought or
applied for. The Company has no reason to believe that it or any
subsidiary will not be able (i) to renew its existing
insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to
obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be
necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted
and at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(dd)
|
No Restrictions . (a) No subsidiary of the Company
is currently
|
|
|
prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to
the Company, making any other distribution on such subsidiary's
capital stock, or repaying to the Company any loans or advances to
such subsidiary from the Company, pursuant to or under (i) any
mortgage loan agreement so long as neither the Company nor
the subsidiary is in default under the applicable mortgage
loan agreement, and, as of the date hereof, none of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries is in default under any such mortgage loan
agreement, or (ii) any third party joint venture agreement,
operating agreement or partnership agreement (each, a "JV
Agreement"), so long as such dividends, distributions and
repayments are made in accordance with the terms of the applicable
JV Agreement; and (b) no subsidiary of the Company is
currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from transferring any
of such subsidiary's property or assets to the Company or any other
subsidiary of the Company under the Company's and the subsidiaries'
existing mortgage loan agreements and JV Agreements, subject to
customary approval rights and customary prohibitions under the
applicable mortgage loan agreements and JV Agreements.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ee)
|
No Price Stabilization or
Manipulation . The
Company has not taken
|
|
|
and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed
to or that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in
stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the
Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ff)
|
Related Party
Transactions . There are
no business relationships or
|
|
|
related-party transactions involving the Company or any
subsidiary or any other person required to be described in the
preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus that have not been
described as required.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(gg)
|
Internal Controls and Procedures. The Company maintains
(i) effective
|
|
|
internal control over financial reporting as defined in
Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act, as amended, and
(ii) a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to
provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are
executed in accordance with management's
|
- 13 -
<Page>
|
|
general or specific authorizations; (B) transactions are
recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements
in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to
maintain asset accountability; (C) access to assets is
permitted only in accordance with management's general or specific
authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets
is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and
appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(hh)
|
No Material Weakness in Internal Controls. Except as
disclosed in
|
|
|
the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, or in any document
incorporated by reference therein, since the end of the Company's
most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (i) no
material weakness in the Company's internal control over financial
reporting (whether or not remediated) and (ii) no change in
the Company's internal control over financial reporting that has
materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect,
the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii)
|
Disclosure
Controls. The Company
and its subsidiaries maintain an
|
|
|
effective system of "disclosure
controls and procedures" (as defined in Rule 13a-15 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 and its subsidiaries
have carried out evaluations of the effectiveness of their
disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15
of the Exchange Act.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(jj)
|
Earnings Statement . The Company agrees with each of
the
|
|
|
Underwriters to make generally available to its stockholders as
soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 16 months
after the date hereof, an earnings statement covering a period of
at least 12 months beginning after the date hereof and
otherwise satisfying Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(kk)
|
No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments. 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 aware of or has taken any
action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by
such Persons of 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, its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of
the Company, its affiliates have
|
|
|
|
|
|
- 14 -
<Page>
|
|
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. "FCPA" means Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of
1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ll)
|
No Conflict with Money Laundering Laws. The operations of
the
|
|
|
Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all
times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and
reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions
Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of
all applicable jurisdictions, 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") and 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(mm)
|
No Conflict with OFAC Laws. 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 U.S. 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(nn)
|
Compliance with Environmental
Laws . Except as otherwise
disclosed in
|
|
|
the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) except as
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect; neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is
in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign law,
regulation, order, permit or other requirement relating to
pollution or protection of human health or the environment
(including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water,
groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife,
including without limitation, laws and regulations relating to
emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of
chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances,
hazardous substances, petroleum and petroleum products
(collectively, "Materials of Environmental Concern"), or otherwise
relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use,
treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Materials of
Environment Concern (collectively, "Environmental Laws"), which
violation includes, but is not limited to, noncompliance with any
permits or other governmental authorizations required for the
operation of the business of the
|
- 15 -
<Page>
|
|
Company or its subsidiaries under applicable Environmental Laws,
or noncompliance with the terms and conditions thereof, nor has the
Company or any of its subsidiaries received any written
communication, whether from a governmental authority, citizens
group, employee or otherwise, that alleges that the Company or any
of its subsidiaries is in violation of any Environmental Law;
(ii) except as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
have a Material Adverse Effect; there is no claim, action or cause
of action filed with a court or governmental authority, no
investigation with respect to which the Company has received
written notice, and no written notice by any person or entity
alleging potential liability for investigatory costs, cleanup
costs, governmental responses costs, natural resources damages,
property damages, personal injuries, attorneys' fees or penalties
arising out of, based on or resulting from the presence, or release
into the environment, of any Material of Environmental Concern at
any location owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, now or in the past (collectively, "Environmental
Claims"), pending or, to the best of the Company's knowledge,
threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any
person or entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim the
Company or any of its subsidiaries has retained or assumed either
contractually or by operation of law, (iii) except as would
not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect, to the best of the Company's knowledge, there are no past,
present or anticipated future actions, activities, circumstances,
conditions, events or incidents, including, without limitation, the
release, emission, discharge, presence or disposal of any Material
of Environmental Concern, that reasonably could result in a
violation of any Environmental Law, require expenditures to be
incurred pursuant to Environmental Law, or form the basis of a
potential Environmental Claim against the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or against any person or entity whose liability for
any Environmental Claim the Company or any of its subsidiaries has
retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law;
and (iv) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is
subject to any pending or threatened proceeding under Environmental
Law to which a governmental authority is a party and which is
reasonably likely to result in monetary sanctions of $500,000 or
more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(oo)
|
Periodic Review of Costs of
Environmental Compliance .
In the ordinary
|
|
|
course of its business, the Company conducts a periodic review
of the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and
properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, in the course of
which it identifies and evaluates associated costs and liabilities
(including, without limitation, any capital or operating
expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or
compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or
approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any
potential liabilities to third parties). On the basis of such
review and the amount of its established reserves, the Company has
reasonably concluded that such associated costs and liabilities
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect.
|
|
|
|
- 16 -
<Page>
|
|
|
(pp)
|
ERISA Compliance . None of the
following events has occurred or exists:
|
|
|
(i) a failure to fulfill the obligations, if any, under the
minimum funding standards of Section 302 of the United States
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
("ERISA"), and the regulations and published interpretations
thereunder with respect to a Plan, determined without regard to any
waiver of such obligations or extension of any amortization period;
(ii) an audit or investigation by the Internal Revenue
Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation or any other federal or state governmental agency or
any foreign regulatory agency with respect to the employment or
compensation of employees by any member of the Company that could
have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) any breach of any
contractual obligation, or any violation of law or applicable
qualification standards, with respect to the employment or
compensation of employees by any member of the Company that could
have a Material Adverse Effect. None of the following events has
occurred or, to the Company's knowledge, is reasonably likely to
occur: (i) a material increase in the aggregate amount of
contributions required to be made to all Plans in the current
fiscal year of the Company compared to the amount of such
contributions made in the Company's most recently completed fiscal
year; (ii) a material increase in t
|
|