EX-1.1 2 h15326a4exv1w1.txt FORM OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT EXHIBIT 1.1 [________] SHARES WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $0.01 PER SHARE UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT August __, 2004 CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON LLC J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC. DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC. As Representatives of the Several Underwriters (the "REPRESENTATIVES"), c/o Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010-3629 Dear Sirs: 1. Introductory. Westlake Chemical Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (the "UNDERWRITERS") [____] shares of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "SECURITIES" and, such [_____] shares of Securities being hereinafter referred to as the "FIRM SECURITIES"). The Company also proposes to sell to the Underwriters, at the option of the Underwriters, an aggregate of not more than [___] additional outstanding shares of the Company's Securities, as set forth below (such additional shares being hereinafter referred to as the "OPTIONAL Securities"). The Firm Securities and the Optional Securities are herein collectively called the "OFFERED SECURITIES". As part of the offering contemplated by this Agreement, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (the "DESIGNATED UNDERWRITER") has agreed to reserve out of the Firm Securities purchased by it under this Agreement, up to [__________] shares, for sale to the Company's directors, officers, employees and other parties associated with the Company (collectively, "PARTICIPANTS"), as set forth in the Prospectus (as defined herein) under the heading "Underwriting" (the "DIRECTED SHARE PROGRAM"). The Firm Securities to be sold by the Designated Underwriter pursuant to the Directed Share Program (the "DIRECTED SHARES") will be sold by the Designated Underwriter pursuant to this Agreement at the public offering price. The Designated Underwriter that manages the Directed Share Program will receive 100% of the discounts and commissions associated with the Directed Shares. Any Directed Shares not subscribed for by the end of the business day on which this Agreement is executed will be offered to the public by the Underwriters as set forth in the Prospectus. The Company hereby agrees with the several Underwriters as follows: 2. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the several Underwriters that: (a) A registration statement (No. 333-115790) relating to the Offered Securities, including a form of prospectus, has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("COMMISSION") and either (A) has been declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933 ("ACT") and is not proposed to be amended or (B) is proposed to be amended by amendment or post-effective amendment. If such registration statement (the "INITIAL REGISTRATION STATEMENT") has been declared effective, either (A) an additional registration statement (the "ADDITIONAL REGISTRATION STATEMENT") relating to the Offered Securities may have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(b) ("RULE 462(b)") under the Act and, if so filed, has become effective upon filing pursuant to such Rule and the Offered Securities all have been duly registered under the Act pursuant to the initial registration statement and, if applicable, the additional registration statement or (B) such an additional registration statement is proposed to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(b) and will become effective upon filing pursuant to such Rule and upon such filing the Offered 1 Securities will all have been duly registered under the Act pursuant to the initial registration statement and such additional registration statement. If the Company does not propose to amend the initial registration statement or if an additional registration statement has been filed and the Company does not propose to amend it, and if any post-effective amendment to either such registration statement has been filed with the Commission prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the most recent amendment (if any) to each such registration statement has been declared effective by the Commission or has become effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(c) ("RULE 462(c)") under the Act or, in the case of the additional registration statement, Rule 462(b). For purposes of this Agreement, "EFFECTIVE TIME" with respect to the initial registration statement or, if filed prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the additional registration statement means (A) if the Company has advised the Representatives that it does not propose to amend such registration statement, the date and time as of which such registration statement, or the most recent post-effective amendment thereto (if any) filed prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, was declared effective by the Commission or has become effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(c), or (B) if the Company has advised the Representatives that it proposes to file an amendment or post-effective amendment to such registration statement, the date and time as of which such registration statement, as amended by such amendment or post-effective amendment, as the case may be, is declared effective by the Commission. If an additional registration statement has not been filed prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement but the Company has advised the Representatives that it proposes to file one, "EFFECTIVE TIME" with respect to such additional registration statement means the date and time as of which such registration statement is filed and becomes effective pursuant to Rule 462(b). The "EFFECTIVE DATE" with respect to the initial registration statement or the additional registration statement (if any) means the date of the Effective Time thereof. The initial registration statement, as amended at its Effective Time, including all information contained in the additional registration statement (if any) and deemed to be a part of the initial registration statement as of the Effective Time of the additional registration statement pursuant to the General Instructions of the Form on which it is filed and including all information (if any) deemed to be a part of the initial registration statement as of its Effective Time pursuant to Rule 430A(b) ("RULE 430A(b)") under the Act, is hereinafter referred to as the "INITIAL REGISTRATION STATEMENT". The additional registration statement, as amended at its Effective Time, including the contents of the initial registration statement incorporated by reference therein and including all information (if any) deemed to be a part of the additional registration statement as of its Effective Time pursuant to Rule 430A(b), is hereinafter referred to as the "ADDITIONAL REGISTRATION STATEMENT". The Initial Registration Statement and the Additional Registration Statement are hereinafter referred to collectively as the "REGISTRATION STATEMENTS" and individually as a "REGISTRATION STATEMENT". The form of prospectus relating to the Offered Securities, as first filed with the Commission pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 424(b) ("RULE 424(b)") under the Act or (if no such filing is required) as included in a Registration Statement, is hereinafter referred to as the "PROSPECTUS". No document has been or will be prepared or distributed in reliance on Rule 434 under the Act. (b) If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement is prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement: (A) on the Effective Date of the Initial Registration Statement, the Initial Registration Statement conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission ("RULES AND REGULATIONS") and did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (B) on the Effective Date of the Additional Registration Statement (if any), each Registration Statement conformed or will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations and did not include, or will not include, any untrue statement of a material fact and did not omit, or will not omit, to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and (C) on the date of this Agreement, the Initial Registration Statement and, if the Effective Time of the Additional Registration Statement is prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Additional Registration Statement each conforms, and at the time of filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) or (if no such filing is required) at the Effective Date of the Additional Registration Statement in which the Prospectus is included, each Registration Statement and the Prospectus will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations, and none of such documents includes, or will include, any untrue statement of a material fact or omits, or will omit, to state any material fact required to be stated therein or 2 necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement is subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement: on the Effective Date of the Initial Registration Statement, the Initial Registration Statement and the Prospectus will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations, neither of such documents will include any untrue statement of a material fact or will omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and no Additional Registration Statement has been or will be filed. The two preceding sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from a Registration Statement or the Prospectus based upon written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information is that described as such in Section 7(b) hereof. (c) The Company has been duly incorporated and is an existing corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus; and the Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the current or future condition (financial or other), business, properties or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (a "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT"). (d) Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated or formed and is an existing corporation or other entity in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, with power and authority (corporate and other organizational) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus; and each subsidiary of the Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation or other entity in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each subsidiary of the Company has been duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and nonassessable; and the capital stock of each subsidiary owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, is owned free from liens, encumbrances and defects, except to the extent (i) such capital stock is subject to a lien or encumbrance in connection with the Indenture dated as of July 31, 2003 by and among the Company, the guarantors named therein and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as trustee, relating to the 8 3/4% senior notes due 2011, the Credit Agreement dated as of July 31, 2003 by and among the Company, certain of its subsidiaries, the lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as agent, relating to a $200 million senior secured revolving credit facility and the Credit Agreement dated as of July 31, 2003 by and among the Company, certain of its subsidiaries, the lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as agent, relating to a $120 million senior secured term loan (collectively, the "DEBT AGREEMENTS") or (ii) that any failure of such capital stock to be free from liens and encumbrances would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. (e) The Offered Securities and all other outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and conform to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus; and the stockholders of the Company have no preemptive rights with respect to the Securities. (f) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, and except for the consulting agreement of Avi Nash LLC with the Company dated March 31, 2004 (the "CONSULTING AGREEMENT"), there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder's fee or other like payment in connection with the sale of the Offered Securities. (g) Except as described in the Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person granting such person the right to require the Company to file a registration statement under the Act with respect to any securities of the Company owned or to be 3 owned by such person or to require the Company to include such securities in the securities registered pursuant to a Registration Statement or in any securities being registered pursuant to any other registration statement filed by the Company under the Act that have not been validly waived or satisfied prior to the date hereof. (h) The Securities have been approved for listing, subject to notice of issuance, on The New York Stock Exchange. (i) No consent, approval, authorization, or order of, or filing with, any governmental agency of the United States or body or any court with jurisdiction in the United States is required to be obtained or made by the Company for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in connection with the sale of the Offered Securities, except such as have been obtained and made or will be obtained and made prior to the date hereof under the Act (provided, however, a filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) may be made after the date hereof so long as such filing is made within the time period specified in the applicable provision of such rule ) and such as may be required under state securities or blue sky laws. (j) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company, and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, (A) any statute, any rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or any of their properties, or (B) any agreement or instrument to which the Company or any such subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any such subsidiary is bound or to which any of the properties of the Company or any such subsidiary is subject, or (C) the charter or by-laws or other organizational documents of the Company or any such subsidiary, other than, in the case of clauses (A) or (B) above, such conflicts, breaches, violations or defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. (k) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company. (l) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company and each of its subsidiaries has (A) good and indefeasible title to (in the case of fee interests in real property), (B) valid leasehold interests in (in the case of leasehold interests in real or personal property) and (C) valid title to (in the case of all other personal property), all of its respective properties and assets reflected in the Company's consolidated financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects, except for such failures to have such title to or interests in, and for such liens, encumbrances and defects, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. (m) The Company and its subsidiaries possess adequate certificates, authorities or permits issued by appropriate governmental agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, and have not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authority or permit that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. (n) No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any subsidiary exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. (o) The Company and its subsidiaries own, possess or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate trademarks, trade names and other rights to inventions, know-how, patents, copyrights, confidential information and other intellectual property (collectively, "INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS") necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, or presently employed by them, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, and have not received any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any intellectual property rights that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect. 4 (p) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, and except for such matters as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect or be required to be disclosed in the Prospectus by the Commission pursuant to the Rules and Regulations, the Company and its subsidiaries (or, to the knowledge of the Company, any other entity for whose acts or omissions the Company is or may be liable) (1) are conducting and have conducted their businesses, operations and facilities in compliance with Environmental Laws (as defined below); (2) possess and maintain in full force and effect any and all permits, licenses or registrations required under Environmental Law for the conduct of their businesses ("ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITS"); (3) have not, pursuant to any contract, assumed responsibility to cure any currently identified material liability under Environmental Law or to remediate any currently identified Hazardous Substances (as defined below) spill or release; (4) have not received any notice from a governmental authority or any other third party alleging any violation of Environmental Law or liability thereunder (including, without limitation, liability as a "potentially responsible party" and/or for costs of investigating or remediating sites containing Hazardous Substances and/or damages to natural resources); (5) are not subject to any pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened claim or other legal proceeding under any Environmental Laws against the Company or its subsidiaries; (6) do not have knowledge of any pending Environmental Law, or any unsatisfied condition in an Environmental Permit, or any release of Hazardous Substances that, individually or in the aggregate, can reasonably be expected to require any material capital expenditures to maintain the Company's or the subsidiaries' compliance with Environmental Law or with their Environmental Permits; and (7) does not (A) rely on any third party for an indemnity for, or the contractual assumption of, any material remediation obligation or liability under Environmental Law and (B) have reasonable cause to believe that such third party will default in its obligation to comply with such indemnity or contractual assumption. As used in this paragraph, "ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS" means any and all applicable federal, state, local, and foreign laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, requirements and common law, or any enforceable administrative or judicial interpretation, order, consent, decree or judgment thereof, relating to pollution or the protection of human health or the environment, including, without limitation, those relating to, regulating, or imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning (i) noise or odor, (ii) emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of Hazardous Substances into ambient air, surface water, groundwater or land, (iii) the generation, manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, release, transport or handling of, or exposure to, Hazardous Substances, (iv) the protection of wildlife or endangered or threatened species, or (v) the investigation, remediation or cleanup of, or exposure to, any Hazardous Substances. As used in this paragraph, "HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES" means pollutants, contaminants or hazardous, dangerous or toxic substances, materials, constituents or wastes or petroleum, petroleum products and their breakdown constituents, or any other chemical substance regulated under Environmental Laws. (q) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there are no pending actions, suits or proceedings against or affecting the Company, any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect, or would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement, or which are otherwise material in the context of the sale of the Offered Securities; and no such actions, suits or proceedings are threatened or, to the Company's knowledge, contemplated. (r) The financial statements included in each Registration Statement and the Prospectus present fairly the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates shown and their results of operations and cash flows for the periods shown, and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with the generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP") applied on a consistent basis; all non-GAAP financial information included in each Registration Statement complies with the requirements of Item 10 of Regulation S-K under the Act and the assumptions used in preparing the columns titled "As Adjusted for the Exchange" and "As Further Adjusted for the Offering" included under the caption "Capitalization" in the Prospectus provide a reasonable basis for presenting the significant effects directly attributable to 5 the transactions or events described therein, and the related adjustments in such columns give appropriate effect to those assumptions and reflect the proper application of those adjustments to the corresponding historical financial statement amounts. (s) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Prospectus there has been no material adverse change, nor any development or event involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition (financial or other), business, properties or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, and, except as disclosed in or contemplated by the Prospectus, there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock. (t) As of the date hereof, the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of either Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "EXCHANGE ACT") and files reports with the Commission on the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR) system. (u) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Offered Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Prospectus, will not be an "investment company" as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940. (v) No relationship, direct or indirect, required to be described under Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Act, exists between or among the Company on the one hand, and the directors, officers or stockholders of the Company on the other hand, which is not described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus. (w) The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all federal, state and local income and franchise tax returns required to be filed through the date hereof, except where the failure to so file such returns would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, and have paid all taxes due thereon, and other than tax deficiencies which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is contesting in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, there is no tax deficiency that has been asserted against the Company or any of its subsidiaries that would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. (x) Prior to the date hereof, neither the Company nor any of its affiliates has taken any action which is designed to or which has constituted or which might have been expected to cause or result in unlawful stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company in connection with the offering of the Offered Securities. (y) The market-related and customer-related data and estimates included in the Registration Statement and Prospectus are based on or derived from sources which the Company reasonably believes to be reliable. (z) PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries are independent public accountants as contemplated by the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder. (aa) The Company and its subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or specific authorization; and (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets. (bb) The Company and its subsidiaries maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-14 of the Exchange Act) designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported in accordance with the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. The Company has carried out 6 evaluations, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's management, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures in accordance with Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act. (cc) The merger of Gulf Polymer & Petrochemical, Inc. with and into the Company, the merger of Westlake Polymer & Petrochemical, Inc. with and into the Company and the other transactions described in the Prospectus under the caption "The Transactions" have been consummated. (dd) TTWF LP owns 100% of the issued and outstanding Securities of the Company. (ee) The Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any preliminary prospectus comply in all material respects, and any further amendments or supplements thereto will comply in all material respects, with any applicable laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions in which the Prospectus or any preliminary prospectus, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, are distributed in connection with the Directed Share Program, and no authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration or qualification of or with any government, governmental instrumentality or court, other than such as have been obtained or will be obtained prior to the date hereof (provided, however, supplemental filings with the Kanto Local Finance Bureau, Ministry of Finance Japan ("MOF") may be made after the date hereof so long as such filings are made within the time periods specified by the rules and regulations of the MoF), is necessary under the securities law and regulations of foreign jurisdictions in which the Directed Shares are offered outside the United States. (ff) The Company has not offered, or caused the Underwriters to offer, any Offered Securities to any person pursuant to the Directed Share Program with the specific intent to unlawfully influence (i) a customer or supplier of the Company to alter the customer's or supplier's level or type of business with the Company or (ii) a trade journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or its products. 3. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Offered Securities. On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of $[___] per share, the number of Firm Securities set forth below the caption "Number of Firm Securities to be Sold by the Company" and opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule A hereto. The Company will deliver the Firm Securities to the Representatives for the accounts of the Underwriters, against payment of the purchase price in Federal (same day) funds by official bank check or checks or wire transfer to an account at a bank acceptable to the Representatives drawn to the order of the Company in the case of the Firm Securities at the office of Baker Botts L.L.P., 910 Louisiana Street, Houston, TX 77002, at 9:00 A.M., New York time, on August [__], 2004, or at such other time not later than seven full business days thereafter as the Representatives and the Company determine, such time being herein referred to as the "FIRST CLOSING DATE". For purposes of Rule 15c6-1 under the Exchange Act, the First Closing Date (if later than the otherwise applicable settlement date) shall be the settlement date for payment of funds and delivery of securities for all the Offered Securities sold pursuant to the offering. The certificates for the Firm Securities so to be delivered will be in definitive form, in such denominations and registered in such names as the Representatives request and will be made available for checking and packaging at the above office of Baker Botts L.L.P. at least 24 hours prior to the First Closing Date. In addition, upon written notice from the Representatives given to the Company from time to time not more than 30 days subsequent to the date of the Prospectus, the Underwriters may purchase all or less than all of the Optional Securities at the purchase price per Security to be paid for the Firm Securities. The Company agrees to sell to the Underwriters the number of shares of Optional Securities specified in such notice and the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase such Optional Securities. Such Optional Securities shall be purchased from the Company for the account of each Underwriter in the same proportion as the number of Firm Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter's name bears to the total number of Firm Securities in Schedule A hereto (subject to adjustment by the Representatives to eliminate 7 fractions) and may be purchased by the Underwriters only for the purpose of covering over-allotments made in connection with the sale of the Firm Securities. No Optional Securities shall be sold or delivered unless the Firm Securities previously have been, or simultaneously are, sold and delivered. The right to purchase the Optional Securities or any portion thereof may be exercised from time to time and to the extent not previously exercised may be surrendered and terminated at any time upon notice by the Representatives to the Company. Each time for the delivery of and payment for the Optional Securities, being herein referred to as an "OPTIONAL CLOSING DATE", which may be the First Closing Date (the First Closing Date and each Optional Closing Date, if any, being sometimes referred to as a "CLOSING DATE"), shall be determined by the Representatives but shall be not later than five full business days after written notice of election to purchase Optional Securities is given. At least two full business days prior to the Optional Closing Date, the Company will deliver the Optional Securities being purchased on each Optional Closing Date to the Representatives for the accounts of the several Underwriters, against payment of the purchase price therefor in Federal (same day) funds by official bank check or checks or wire transfer to an account at a bank acceptable to the Representatives drawn to the order of the Company, at the office of Baker Botts L.L.P., 910 Louisiana Street, Houston, TX 77002. The certificates for the Optional Securities being purchased on each Optional Closing Date will be in definitive form, in such denominations and registered in such names as the Representatives request upon reasonable notice prior to such Optional Closing Date and will be made available for checking and packaging at the above office of Baker Botts L.L.P. at a reasonable time in advance of such Optional Closing Date. 4. Offering by Underwriters. It is understood that the several Underwriters propose to offer the Offered Securities for sale to the public as set forth in the Prospectus. 5. Certain Agreements of the Company. The Company agrees with the several Underwriters that: (a) If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement is prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will file the Prospectus with the Commission pursuant to and in accordance with subparagraph (1) (or, if applicable and if consented to by the Representatives, subparagraph (4)) of Rule 424(b) not later than the earlier of (A) the second business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement or (B) the fifteenth business day after the Effective Date of the Initial Registration Statement. The Company will advise the Representatives promptly of any such filing pursuant to Rule 424(b). If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement is prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and an additional registration statement is necessary to register a portion of the Offered Securities under the Act but the Effective Time thereof has not occurred as of such execution and delivery, the Company will file the additional registration statement or, if filed, will file a post-effective amendment thereto with the Commission pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 462(b) on or prior to 10:00 P.M., New York time, on the date of this Agreement or, if earlier, on or prior to the time the Prospectus is printed and distributed to any Underwriter, or will make such filing at such later date as shall have been consented to by the Representatives. (b) The Company will advise the Representatives promptly of any proposal to amend or supplement the initial or any additional registration statement as filed or the related prospectus or the Initial Registration Statement, the Additional Registration Statement (if any) or the Prospectus and will not effect such amendment or supplement without the Representatives' consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld); and the Company will also advise the Representatives promptly of the effectiveness of each Registration Statement (if its Effective Time is subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement) and of any amendment or supplement of a Registration Statement or the Prospectus and of the institution by the Commission of any stop order proceedings in respect of a Registration Statement and will use reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order and to obtain as soon as possible its lifting, if issued. (c) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Offered Securities is required to be delivered under the Act in connection with sales by any Underwriter or dealer, any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the 8 light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend the Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives of such event and will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, at its own expense, an amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or omission or an amendment which will effect such compliance. Neither the Representatives' consent to, nor the Underwriters' delivery of, any such amendment or supplement shall constitute a waiver of any of the conditions set forth in Section 6. (d) As soon as practicable, but not later than the Availability Date (as defined below), the Company will make generally available to its securityholders an earnings statement covering a period of at least 12 months beginning after the Effective Date of the Initial Registration Statement (or, if later, the Effective Date of the Additional Registration Statement) which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act. For the purpose of the preceding sentence, "AVAILABILITY DATE" means the 45th day after the end of the fourth fiscal quarter following the fiscal quarter that includes such Effective Date, except that, if such fourth fiscal quarter is the last quarter of the Company's fiscal year, "AVAILABILITY DATE" means the 90th day after the end of such fourth fiscal quarter. (e) The Company will furnish to the Representatives copies of each Registration Statement (four of which will be signed and will include all exhibits), each related preliminary prospectus, and, so long as a prospectus relating to the Offered Securities is required to be delivered under the Act in connection with sales by any Underwriter or dealer, the Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to such documents, in each case in such quantities as the Representatives reasonably request. The Prospectus shall be so furnished on or prior to 3:00 P.M., New York time, on the business day following the later of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement. All other such documents shall be so furnished as soon as available. The Company will pay the expenses of printing and distributing to the Underwriters all such documents. (f) The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to arrange for the qualification of the Offered Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives reasonably request and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Offered Securities, provided that the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction. (g) For a period of 180 days after the date of the initial public offering of the Offered Securities, the Company will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the Commission a registration statement under the Act (other than a registration statement on Form S-8) relating to, any additional shares of the Securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of the Securities, or publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, except grants of employee stock options pursuant to the terms of a plan in effect on the date hereof, issuances of Securities pursuant to the exercise of such options or the exercise of any other employee stock options outstanding on the date hereof or issuances of Securities pursuant to the Company's dividend reinvestment plan. (h) The Company agrees with the several Underwriters that the Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement (including, without limitation, fees of the Company's counsel, accounting fees and fees related to the listing of the Offered Securities on the New York Stock Exchange), for any filing fees and other expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) in connection with qualification of the Offered Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives designate and the printing of memoranda relating thereto, for the filing fee incident to the review by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. of the Offered Securities, for any travel expenses of the Company's officers and employees and any other expenses of the Company in connection with attending or hosting meetings with prospective purchasers of the Offered Securities including 50% of the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with attending or hosting such meetings and for expenses incurred in distributing preliminary prospectuses and the Prospectus (including any 9 amendments and supplements thereto) to the Underwriters; provided that the Underwriters shall, severally and not jointly, reimburse the Company for out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred by the Company under this subsection (h) in connection with the offering of the Offered Securities, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1.5 million. (i) The Designated Underwriter will pay all fees and disbursements of counsel incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program and stamp duties, similar taxes or duties or other taxes, if any, incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program. Furthermore, the Company covenants with the Underwriters that the Company will comply with all applicable securities and other applicable laws, rules and regulations in each foreign jurisdiction in which the Directed Shares are offered in connection with the Directed Share Program. 6. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Firm Securities on the First Closing Date and the Optional Securities to be purchased on each Optional Closing Date will be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company herein, to the accuracy of the statements of Company officers made pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions precedent: (a) The Representatives shall have received a letter, dated the date of delivery thereof (which, if the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement is prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, shall be on or prior to the date of this Agreement or, if the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement is subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, shall be prior to the filing of the amendment or post-effective amendment to the registration statement to be filed shortly prior to such Effective Time), of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Act and the applicable published Rules and Regulations thereunder and stating to the effect that: (i) in their opinion the financial statements examined by them and included in the Registration Statements comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the related published Rules and Regulations; (ii) they have performed the procedures specified by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for a review of interim financial information as described in Statement of Auditing Standards No. 100, Interim Financial Information, on the unaudited financial statements included in the Registration Statements; (iii) on the basis of the review referred to in clause (ii) above, a reading of the latest available interim financial statements of the Company, inquiries of officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters and other specified procedures, nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe that: (A) the unaudited financial statements included in the Registration Statements do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the related published Rules and Regulations or any material modifications should be made to such unaudited financial statements for them to be in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles; (B) at the date of the latest available balance sheet read by such accountants, or at a subsequent specified date not more than three business days prior to the date of this Agreement, there was any change in the capital stock or any increase in short-term indebtedness or long-term debt of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries or, at the date of the latest available balance sheet read by such accountants, there was any decrease in consolidated net current assets or 10 net assets, as compared with amounts shown on the latest balance sheet included in the Prospectus; or (C) for the period from the closing date of the latest income statement included in the Prospectus to the closing date of the latest available income statement read by such accountants there were any decreases, as compared with the corresponding period of the previous year, in consolidated net sales or net operating income in the total or per share amounts of consolidated net income; except in all cases set forth in clauses B and C above for changes, increases or decreases which the Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur or which are described in such letter; and (iv) they have compared specified dollar amounts (or percentages derived from such dollar amounts) and other financial information contained in the Registration Statements (in each case to the extent that such dollar amounts, percentages and other financial information are derived from the general accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries subject to the internal controls of the Company's accounting system or are derived directly from such records by analysis or computation) with the results obtained from inquiries, a reading of such general accounting records and other procedures specified in such letter and have found such dollar amounts, percentages and other financial information to be in agreement with such results, except as otherwise specified in such letter. For purposes of this subsection, (i) if the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statements is subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, "REGISTRATION STATEMENTS" shall mean the initial registration statement as proposed to be amended by the amendment or post-effective amendment to be filed shortly prior to its Effective Time, (ii) if the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statements is prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement but the Effective Time of the Additional Registration Statement is subsequent to such execution and delivery, "REGISTRATION Statements" shall mean the Initial Registration Statement and the additional registration statement as proposed to be filed or as proposed to be amended by the post-effective amendment to be filed shortly prior to its Effective Time, and (iii) "PROSPECTUS" shall mean the prospectus included in the Registration Statements. (b) If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement is not prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, such Effective Time shall have occurred not later than 10:00 P.M., New York time, on the date of this Agreement or such later date as shall have been consented to by the Representatives. If the Effective Time of the Additional Registration Statement (if any) is not prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, such Effective Time shall have occurred not later than 10:00 P.M., New York time, on the date of this Agreement or, if earlier, the time the Prospectus is printed and distributed to any Underwriter, or shall have occurred at such later date as shall have been consented to by the Representatives. If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement is prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission in accordance with the Rules and Regulations and Section 5(a) of this Agreement. Prior to such Closing Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or, to the knowledge of Company or the Representatives, shall be contemplated by the Commission. (c) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred (i) any change, or any development or event involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or other), business, properties or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole which, in the reasonable judgment of a majority in interest of the Underwriters including the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with completion of the public offering or the sale of and payment for the Offered Securities; (ii) any downgrading in the rating of any debt securities of the Company by any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization" (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Act), or any public announcement that any such organization has under surveillance or review its 11 rating of any debt securities of the Company (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading, and no implication of a possible downgrading, of such rating); (iii) any change in U.S. or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls as would, in the reasonable judgment of a majority in interest of the Underwriters including the Representatives, be likely to prejudice materially the success of the proposed issue, sale or distribution of the Offered Securities, whether in the primary market or in respect of dealings in the secondary market; (iv) any material suspension or material limitation of trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, or any setting of minimum prices for trading on such exchange; (v) any suspension of trading of any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market; (vi) any banking moratorium declared by U.S. Federal or New York authorities; (vii) any major disruption of settlements of securities or clearance services in the United States or (viii) any attack on, outbreak or escalation of hostilities or act of terrorism involving the United States, any declaration of war by Congress or any other national or international calamity or emergency if, in the reasonable judgment of a majority in interest of the Underwriters including the Representatives, the effect of any such attack, outbreak, escalation, act, declaration, calamity or emergency makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with completion of the public offering or the sale of, delivery and payment for the Offered Securities. (d) The Representatives shall have received an opinion, dated such Closing Date, of Baker Botts L.L.P., counsel for the Company, to the effect that: (i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is an existing corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus; (ii) The Offered Securities delivered on such Closing Date and all other outstanding shares of the Common Stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and conform to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus; and the stockholders of the Company have no preemptive rights under the charters or bylaws of the Company, the Delaware General Corporation Law or, to the best of the knowledge of such counsel, any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party, with respect to the Securities; (iii) Except as described in the Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings known to such counsel between the Company and any person granting such person the right to require the Company to file a registration statement under the Act with respect to any securities of the Company owned or to be owned by such person or to require the Company to include such securities in the securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or in any securities being registered pursuant to any other registration statement filed by the Company under the Act that have not been validly waived or satisfied prior to the date hereof; (iv) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Offered Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Prospectus, will not be an "investment company" as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; (v) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing with, any governmental agency or body or any court is required to be obtained or made by the Company for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in connection with the sale of the Offered Securities, except such as have been obtained and made under the Act, such consents, approvals or filings as may be required by or with the NASD (as to which such counsel need express no opinion) and such as may be required under state securities or blue sky laws (as to which such counsel need express no opinion); (vi) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the sale of the Offered Securities will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, (A) any statute, rule or regulation of, or order of any governmental agency or body or any court having jurisdiction in, the United States, the State of Texas or the State of New York, and the Delaware General Corporation Law (provided, however, that such counsel need express no opinion with respect to compliance with any state securities or antifraud law, rule or regulation), (B) any agreement or instrument listed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or the Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2004, by and between North American Bristol Corporation and Bristolpipe Corporation (collectively, the "MATERIAL AGREEMENTS"), or (C) the charter or by-laws of the Company, other than, in the case of clauses (A) or (B) above, such conflicts, breaches, violations or defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; (vii) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company; (viii) Based on certain assumptions set forth therein, statements of legal conclusion set forth in the Prospectus under the caption "Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences to Non-United States Holders" are such counsel's opinion; the statements contained in the Prospectus under the caption "Description of Certain Indebtedness" insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of certain indebtedness of the Company, accurately summarize in all material respects the terms of the indebtedness; and the statements contained in the Prospectus under the caption "Description of Capital Stock" insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the Securities, accurately summarize in all material respects the terms of the Securities; (ix) The Initial Registration Statement was declared effective under the Act as of the date and time specified in such opinion, the Additional Registration Statement (if any) was filed and became effective under the Act as of the date and time (if determinable) specified in such opinion, the Prospectus either was filed with the Commission pursuant to the subparagraph of Rule 424(b) specified in such opinion on the date specified therein or was included in the Initial Registration Statement or the Additional Registration Statement (as the case may be), and, to the best of the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or any part thereof has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or contemplated under the Act, and each Registration Statement and the Prospectus (other than the financial statements and schedules, the notes thereto and the auditors' report thereon and other financial and accounting data included therein, or omitted therefrom, as to which such counsel need express no opinion), and each amendment or supplement thereto, as of their respective effective or issue dates, complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations; and Such counsel shall also include, in a separate paragraph of its opinion, statements to the following effect: such counsel has participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company, with representatives of the independent accountants of the Company, with representatives of and counsel for the Underwriters, at which the contents of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus were discussed, and although such counsel did not independently verify such information, and is not passing upon and does not assume any responsibility for, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement or Prospectus (except to the extent set forth in paragraphs (ii) and (viii) above), on the basis of the foregoing, no facts have come to such counsel's attention that lead such counsel to believe that (A) the Registration Statement (other than the financial statements and schedules, the notes thereto and the auditors' reports thereon and the other financial and accounting data included therein or omitted therefrom, as to which such counsel has not been asked to comment) as of its effective date or as of the Closing Date included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, and (B) the Prospectus or any amendments thereto (other than the financial statements and schedules, the notes thereto and the auditors' reports thereon and the other financial and accounting data 13 included therein or omitted therefrom, as to which such counsel has not been asked to comment) as of its effective date or as of the Closing Date included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading. (e) The Representatives shall have received an opinion, dated such Closing Date, of Stephen Wallace, Vice President and General Counsel of the Company, to the effect that: (i) The Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) Each subsidiary of the Company listed on Exhibit A hereto has been duly incorporated or formed and is an existing corporation or other entity in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, with power and authority (corporate and other organizational) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus; and each subsidiary listed on Exhibit A hereto is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation or other entity in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; all of the issued and outstanding capital stock or limited partnership interests, as applicable, of each subsidiary of the Company has been duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and nonassessable; and the capital stock or limited partnership interests, as applicable, of each subsidiary owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, is owned free from liens and encumbrances, except to the extent that (i) such capital stock or limited partnership interest is subject to a lien or encumbrance in connection with the Debt Agreements or (ii) any failure of such capital stock or limited partnership interests to be free from liens and encumbrances would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not result in (A) a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, the charter or by-laws or other organizational documents of any subsidiary of the Company, or (B) any agreement or instrument to which the Company or any subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any such subsidiary is bound or to which any of the properties of the Company or any such subsidiary is subject (excluding the Material Agreements, as to which such counsel need express no opinion), other than, in the case of clause (B) above, such conflicts, breaches, violations or defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Such counsel shall also include, in a separate paragraph of its opinion, statements to the following effect: such counsel has participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company, with representatives of the independent accountants of the Company, with representatives of and counsel for the Underwriters, at which the contents of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus were discussed, and although such counsel did not independently verify such information, and is not passing upon and does not assume any responsibility for, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment thereto, on the basis of the foregoing, no facts have come to such counsel's attention that lead such counsel to believe that (A) the Registration Statement (other than the financial statements and schedules, the notes thereto and the auditors' reports thereon and the other financial and accounting data included therein or omitted therefrom, as to which such counsel has not been asked to comment) as of its effective date or as of the Closing Date included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, and (B) the Prospectus or any amendment thereto (other than the financial statements and schedules, the notes thereto and the auditors' reports thereon and the other financial and accounting data included therein or 14 omitted therefrom, as to which such counsel has not been asked to comment) as of its effective date or as of the Closing Date included an 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. (f) The Representatives shall have received from Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated such Closing Date, with respect to the incorporation of the Company, the validity of the Offered Securities delivered on such Closing Date, the Registration Statements, the Prospectus and other related matters as the Representatives may require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters. (g) The Representatives shall have received a certificate, dated such Closing Date, of the President or any Vice President and a principal financial or accounting officer of the Company in which such officers, to the best of their knowledge after reasonable investigation, shall state that: the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct; the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Closing Date; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are contemplated by the Commission; the Additional Registration Statement (if any) satisfying the requirements of subparagraphs (1) and (3) of Rule 462(b) was filed pursuant to Rule 462(b), including payment of the applicable filing fee in accordance with Rule 111(a) or (b) under the Act, prior to the time the Prospectus was printed and distributed to any Underwriter; and, subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements in the Prospectus, there has been no material adverse change, nor any development or event involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition (financial or other), business, properties or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as set forth in the Prospectus or as described in such certificate. (h) The Representatives shall have received a letter, dated such Closing Date, of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP which meets the requirements of subsection (a) of this Section, except that the specified date referred to in such subsection will be a date not more than three days prior to such Closing Date for the purposes of this subsection. (i) On or prior to the date of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received a lockup letter substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto from Westlake Polymer & Petrochemical, Inc. and TTWF LP. (j) On or prior to the date of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received lockup letters from each of the executive officers and directors of the Company who own, or as a result of the offering of the Offered Securities will own, any Securities. (k) No Underwriter shall have received notice of an adverse claim on the Offered Securities within the meaning of Section 8-102 of the Uniform Commercial Code. (l) Any and all amounts payable to Avi Nash LLC under the Consulting Agreement shall have been paid by the Company, and the Representatives shall have received written confirmation of any such payments. The Company will furnish the Representatives with such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and documents as the Representatives reasonably request. The Representatives may in their discretion waive on behalf of the Underwriters compliance with any conditions to the obligations of the Underwriters hereunder, whether in respect of an Optional Closing Date or otherwise. 7. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its partners, members, directors and officers and each person, if any who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue 15 statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any related preliminary prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission from any of such documents in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in subsection (b) below; and provided, further, that with respect to any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission from any preliminary prospectus the indemnity agreement contained in this subsection (a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased the Offered Securities concerned, to the extent that a prospectus relating to such Offered Securities was required to be delivered by such Underwriter under the Act in connection with such purchase and any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such Underwriter results from the fact that there was not sent or given to such person, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such Offered Securities to such person, a copy of the Prospectus if the Company had previously furnished copies thereof to such Underwriter. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Designated Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls the Designated Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (the "DESIGNATED ENTITIES"), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) (i) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any material prepared by or with the consent of the Company for distribution to Participants in connection with the Directed Share Program or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (ii) caused by the failure of any Participant to pay for and accept delivery of Directed Shares that the Participant agreed to purchase; or (iii) related to, arising out of, or in connection with the Directed Share Program, other than losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or expenses relating thereto) that are finally judicially determined to have resulted from the bad faith or gross negligence of the Designated Entities. (b) Each Underwriter will severally and not jointly indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any related preliminary prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, and will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the fourth paragraph under the caption "Underwriting" and the information contained in the eighth paragraph under the caption "Underwriting." (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under subsection (a) or (b) above, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under subsection (a) or (b) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture 16 of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided further that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under subsection (a) or (b) above, except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights and defenses) by such failure. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action and (ii) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of an indemnified party. (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above (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 from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Underwriters and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint. (e) The obligations of the Company under this Section shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act; and the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section shall be in addition to any liability which the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each director of the Company, to each officer of the Company who has signed a Registration Statement and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act. 8. Default of Underwriters. If any Underwriter or Underwriters default in their obligations to purchase Offered Securities hereunder on either the First or any Optional Closing Date and the aggregate number of shares of Offered Securities that such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to 17 purchase does not exceed 10% of the total number of shares of Offered Securities that the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on such Closing Date, the Representatives may make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the purchase of such Offered Securities by other persons, including any of the Underwriters, but if no such arrangements are made by such Closing Date, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated severally, in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder, to purchase the Offered Securities that such defaulting Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase on such Closing Date. If any Underwriter or Underwriters so default and the aggregate number of shares of Offered Securities with respect to which such default or defaults occur exceeds 10% of the total number of shares of Offered Securities that the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on such Closing Date and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company for the purchase of such Offered Securities by other persons are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement will terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except as provided in Section 9 (provided that if such default occurs with respect to Optional Securities after the First Closing Date, this Agreement will not terminate as to the Firm Securities or any Optional Securities purchased prior to such termination). As used in this Agreement, the term "Underwriter" includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section. Nothing herein will relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default. 9. Survival of Certain Representations and Obligations. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company or its officers and of the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the Company or any of their respective representatives, officers or directors or any controlling person, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Offered Securities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 8 or if for any reason the purchase of the Offered Securities by the Underwriters is not consummated, the Company shall remain responsible for the expenses to be paid or reimbursed by it pursuant to Section 5 and the respective obligations of the Company and the Underwriters pursuant to Section 7 shall remain in effect, and if any Offered Securities have been purchased hereunder, the representations and warranties in Section 2 and all obligations under Section 5 shall also remain in effect. If the purchase of the Offered Securities by the Underwriters is not consummated for any reason other than solely because of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8 or the occurrence of any event specified in clause (iii), (iv), (vi), (vii) or (viii) of Section 6(c), the Company will reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) reasonably incurred by them in connection with the offering of the Offered Securities. 10. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and, if sent to the Underwriters, will be mailed, delivered or faxed and confirmed to the Representatives, c/o Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010-3629, Attention: Transactions Advisory Group (fax: (212) 325-4296), or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or faxed and confirmed to it at 2801 Post Oak Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77056, Attention: General Counsel (fax (713) 629-6239); provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 7 will be mailed, delivered or faxed and confirmed to such Underwriter. 11. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 7, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. 12. Representation. The Representatives will act for the several Underwriters in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and any action under this Agreement taken by the Representatives jointly or by CSFB (provided, however, CSFB will not take any such action without obtaining the consent of the other Representatives) will be binding upon all the Underwriters. 13. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement. 14. APPLICABLE LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS. 18 The Company hereby submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. 19 If the foregoing is in accordance with the Representatives' understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company one of the counterparts hereof, whereupon it will become a binding agreement between the Company and the several Underwriters in accordance with its terms. Very truly yours, WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION By ------------------------------- Name: Title: The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written. CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON LLC J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC. DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC. Acting on behalf of themselves and as the Representatives of the several Underwriters. By CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON LLC By ------------------------- Name: Title: By J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC. By ------------------------- Name: Title: By DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC. By ------------------------- Name: Title: SCHEDULE A
NUMBER OF FIRM SECURITIES UNDERWRITER TO BE SOLD BY THE COMPANY ----------- ------------------------- Credit Suisse First Boston LLC............................... J.P. Morgan Securities Inc................................... Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (other than Directed Shares)... Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (Directed Shares).............. Banc of America Securities LLC............................... Goldman, Sachs & Co. ........................................ UBS Securities LLC .......................................... ------------------------- Total............................. =========================
EXHIBIT A MATERIAL SUBSIDIARIES NORTH AMERICAN BRISTOL CORPORATION NORTH AMERICAN PIPE CORPORATION WESTLAKE STYRENE LP WESTLAKE POLYMERS LP WPT LP WESTECH BUILDING PRODUCTS, INC. WESTLAKE PETROCHEMICALS LP WESTLAKE PVC CORPORATION WESTLAKE VINYLS, INC. EXHIBIT B FORM OF LOCKUP LETTER ____, 2004 Westlake Chemical Corporation 2801 Post Oak Boulevard Houston, Texas 77056 Credit Suisse First Boston LLC J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. As Representatives of the Several Underwriters c/o Credit Suisse First Boston LLC Eleven Madison Avenue New York, NY 10010-3629 Dear Sirs: As an inducement to the Underwriters to execute the Underwriting Agreement, pursuant to which an offering will be made that is intended to result in the establishment of a public market for common stock (the "SECURITIES") of Westlake Chemical Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and any successor (by merger or otherwise) thereto (the "COMPANY"), the undersigned hereby agrees that from the date hereof and until 180 days after the public offering date set forth on the final prospectus used to sell the Securities (the "PUBLIC OFFERING DATE") pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, to which you are or expect to become parties, the undersigned will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any Securities, enter into a transaction which would have the same effect, or enter into any swap, hedge or other arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Securities, whether any such aforementioned transaction is to be settled by delivery of the Securities or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, or publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge or disposition, or to enter into any such transaction, swap, hedge or other arrangement, without, in each case, the prior written consent the Representatives. In addition, the undersigned agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, it will not, during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending 180 days after the Public Offering Date, make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any Securities or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for the Securities. Any Securities received upon exercise of options granted to the undersigned will also be subject to this Agreement. Any Securities acquired by the undersigned in the open market will not be subject to this Agreement. A transfer of Securities to a family member or trust may be made, provided the transferee agrees to be bound in writing by the terms of this Agreement prior to such transfer and such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value. [FOR PURPOSES OF THE LOCKUP LETTER EXECUTED BY WESTLAKE POLYMER & PETROCHEMICAL, INC. BUT NOT FOR ANY OTHER LOCKUP LETTERS (INCLUDING THE LOCKUP LETTER EXECUTED BY TTWF LP), THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE MAY BE INCLUDED: For the avoidance of doubt, this lockup letter will not apply to any of the transactions described in the Prospectus under the caption "The Transactions."] In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company and its transfer agent and registrar are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of shares of Securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding on the undersigned and the successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns of the undersigned. This Agreement shall lapse and become null and void if (i) the Public Offering Date shall not have occurred on or before October 31, 2004, (ii) the Underwriting Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms or (iii) prior to the execution and delivery of the Underwriting Agreement, the Company notifies you in writing that it has abandoned the offering of the Securities. Very truly yours,