EXHIBIT 10.1 7,000,000 Shares SKECHERS U.S.A., INC. Class A Common Stock ($0.001 Par Value) UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT June 9, 1999 BT Alex. Brown Incorporated Prudential Securities Incorporated As Representatives of the Several Underwriters c/o BT Alex. Brown Incorporated One South Street Baltimore, Maryland 21202 Ladies and Gentlemen: Skechers U.S.A., Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), proposes to sell to the several underwriters (the "UNDERWRITERS") named in Schedule I hereto for whom you are acting as representatives (the "REPRESENTATIVES") an aggregate of 7,000,000 shares (the "FIRM SHARES") of the Company's Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value (the "CLASS A COMMON STOCK"). The respective amounts of the Firm Shares to be so purchased by the several Underwriters are set forth opposite their names in Schedule I hereto. A certain selling stockholder named in Schedule II hereto (the "SELLING STOCKHOLDER") also proposes to sell at the Underwriters' option an aggregate of up to 1,050,000 additional shares of the Company's Class A Common Stock (the "OPTION SHARES") as set forth below. The Company and the Selling Stockholder are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the "SELLERS." -1- As the Representatives, you have advised the Company and the Selling Stockholder (a) that you are authorized to enter into this Agreement on behalf of the several Underwriters, and (b) that the several Underwriters are willing, acting severally and not jointly, to purchase the numbers of Firm Shares set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I, plus their pro rata portion of the Option Shares if you elect to exercise the over-allotment option in whole or in part for the accounts of the several Underwriters. The Firm Shares and the Option Shares (to the extent the aforementioned option is exercised) are herein collectively called the "SHARES." The shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, $0.001 par value (the "CLASS B COMMON STOCK"), of the Company to be outstanding after giving effect to the sales contemplated hereby are hereinafter referred to as the "COMMON STOCK." In consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein and of the interests of the parties in the transactions contemplated hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows: 1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY AND THE SELLING STOCKHOLDER. (a) The Company and the Selling Stockholder, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to each of the Underwriters as follows: (i) A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-60065) with respect to the Shares has been prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "ACT"), and the Rules and Regulations (the "RULES AND REGULATIONS") of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "COMMISSION") thereunder and has been filed with the Commission. Copies of such registration statement, including any amendments thereto, the preliminary prospectuses (meeting the requirements of the Rules and Regulations) contained therein and the exhibits, financial statements and schedules, as finally amended and revised, have heretofore been delivered by the Company to you. Such registration statement, together with any registration statement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Act and post-effective amendments no. 1 and no. 2 filed with the Commission on June 8, 1999 and June 9, 1999 (the "POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENTS"), herein referred to as the "REGISTRATION STATEMENT," which shall be deemed to include all information omitted therefrom in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the Prospectus referred to below, has become effective under the Act and, except for the Post-Effective Amendments, no other post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed as of the date of this Agreement. "PROSPECTUS" means the form of prospectus first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b). Each preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement prior to the time it becomes effective is herein referred to as a "PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS." Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or to the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any supplements or amendments thereto, filed with the Commission after the date of filing of the Prospectus under Rules 424(b) or 430A, and prior to the termination of the offering of the Shares by the Underwriters. (ii) The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement. The subsidiary of the -2- Company listed in Exhibit 21 to Item 16(a) of the Registration Statement (the "SUBSIDIARY") has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, with corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement. The Company and the Subsidiary are duly qualified to transact business in all jurisdictions in which the conduct of their business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a material adverse effect on the earnings, business, management, properties, assets, rights, operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and the Subsidiary taken as a whole. The outstanding shares of capital stock of the Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the Company free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and equities and claims; and no options, warrants or other rights to purchase, agreements or other obligations to issue or other rights to convert any obligations into shares of capital stock or ownership interests in the Subsidiary are outstanding. (iii) Except for the Subsidiary, the Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity. (iv) The outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, including all shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder, have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the Shares to be issued and sold by the Company have been duly authorized and when issued and paid for as contemplated herein will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; and no preemptive rights of stockholders exist with respect to any of the Shares or the issue and sale thereof. Neither the filing of the Registration Statement nor the offering or sale of the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement gives rise to any rights, other than those which have been waived or satisfied, for or relating to the registration of any shares of Common Stock. (v) The information set forth under the caption "Capitalization" in the Prospectus is true and correct. All of the Shares conform to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement. The form of certificates for the Shares conforms to the corporate law of the jurisdiction of the Company's incorporation. (vi) The Commission has not issued an order preventing or suspending the use of any Prospectus relating to the proposed offering of the Shares nor instituted proceedings for that purpose. The Registration Statement contains, and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto will contain, all statements which are required to be stated therein by, and will conform, to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations. The Registration Statement and any amendment thereto do not contain, and will not contain, any untrue statement of a material fact and do not omit, and will not omit, to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus and any amendments and supplements thereto do not contain, and will not contain, any untrue statement of material fact; and do not omit, and will not omit, to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or -3- the Prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives, specifically for use in the preparation thereof. (vii) The financial statements of the Company and the Subsidiary, together with related notes and schedules as set forth in the Registration Statement, present fairly the financial position and the results of operations and cash flows of the Company and the Subsidiary, at the indicated dates and for the indicated periods. Such financial statements and related schedules have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted principles of accounting, consistently applied throughout the periods involved, except as disclosed therein, and all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of results for such periods have been made. The financial data set forth in the Prospectus under the captions "Prospectus Summary - Summary Financial Data", "Selected Financial Data" and "Capitalization" presents fairly the information shown therein and such data has been compiled on a basis consistent with the financial statements presented therein and the books and records of the Company. (viii) KPMG LLP, who have certified certain of the financial statements filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement, are independent public accountants as required by the Act and the Rules and Regulations. (ix) There is no action, suit, claim or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or the Subsidiary before any court or administrative agency or otherwise which if determined adversely to the Company or the Subsidiary might result in any material adverse change in the earnings, business, management, properties, assets, rights, operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and of the Subsidiary, taken as a whole, or to prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except as set forth in the Registration Statement. (x) The Company and the Subsidiary have good and marketable title to all of the properties and assets reflected in the financial statements (or as described in the Registration Statement) hereinabove described, subject to no lien, mortgage, pledge, charge or encumbrance of any kind except those reflected in such financial statements (or as described in the Registration Statement) or which 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 and the Subsidiary. The Company and the Subsidiary occupy their leased properties under valid and binding 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, conforming in all material respects to the description thereof set forth in the Registration Statement. (xi) The Company and the Subsidiary have filed all Federal, State, local and foreign tax returns which have been required to be filed and have paid all taxes indicated by said returns and all assessments received by them or either of them to the extent that such taxes have become due and are not being contested in good faith and for which an adequate reserve for accrual has been established in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. All tax liabilities have been adequately provided -4- for in the financial statements of the Company, and the Company has not received any notification of taxes due and owing from the Internal Revenue Service or California taxation authorities. (xii) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, as it may be amended or supplemented, there has not been any material adverse change or any development known to the Company that is likely to result in the future in a material adverse change in or affecting the earnings, business, management, properties, assets, rights, operations or condition (financial or otherwise), of the Company and the Subsidiary taken as a whole, whether or not occurring in the ordinary course of business, there has not been any material transaction entered into by the Company or the Subsidiary, other than transactions in the ordinary course of business and changes and transactions described in the Registration Statement, as it may be amended or supplemented, and the Company and the Subsidiary have not incurred any material contingent obligations. (xiii) Neither the Company nor the Subsidiary is or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, will be in violation of or in default under its Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, as applicable, or under any agreement, lease, contract, indenture or other instrument or obligation to which it is a party or by which it, or any of its properties, is bound and which default would have a material adverse effect on the earnings, business, management, properties, assets, rights, operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and the Subsidiary taken as a whole. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated and the fulfillment of the terms hereof will not conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or instrument that is material to the Company and the Subsidiary taken as a whole, or of the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company or any order, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or the Subsidiary of any court or of any regulatory body or administrative agency or other governmental body having jurisdiction. (xiv) Each approval, consent, order, authorization, designation, declaration or filing by or with any regulatory, administrative or other governmental body necessary in connection with the execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated (except such additional steps as may be required by the Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") or such additional steps as may be necessary to qualify the Shares for public offering by the Underwriters under state securities or Blue Sky laws) has been obtained or made and is in full force and effect. (xv) The Company and the Subsidiary own or possess adequate licenses or other rights to use all patents, patent rights inventions, trade secrets, copyrights, trademarks, service marks, trade names, technology and know-how currently employed or proposed to be employed by it in connection with their business as described in the Prospectus. Neither the Company nor the Subsidiary is obligated to pay a royalty, grant a license, or provide other consideration to any third party in connection with its patents, copyrights, trademarks, service marks, trade names, or technology other than royalties, licenses or other consideration that would not be material to the business of the Company and the Subsidiary taken as a whole or as disclosed in the Prospectus, and except as disclosed in the Prospectus, neither the Company nor -5- the Subsidiary has received any notice of infringement or conflict with (and neither the Company nor the Subsidiary knows of any infringement or conflict with) asserted rights of others with respect to any patents, patent rights, inventions, trade secrets, copyrights, trademarks, service marks, trade names, technology or know-how which infringement or conflict, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, would be material to the business of the Company and the Subsidiary taken as a whole. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the discoveries, inventions, products or processes of the Company and the Subsidiary referred to in the Prospectus do not, to the knowledge of the Company or the Subsidiary, infringe or conflict with any right or patent of any third party, or any discovery, invention, product or process which is the subject of a patent application filed by any third party, known to the Company or the Subsidiary, which infringement or conflict is material to the business of the Company and the Subsidiary taken as a whole. (xvi) Neither the Company nor, to the Company's knowledge, any of its affiliates has taken or may take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or which has constituted or which might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of the shares of Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares. (xvii) Neither the Company nor the Subsidiary is, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Prospectus neither the Company nor the Subsidiary will be, an "investment company" or an "affiliated person" of or "promoter" or "principal underwriter" for an "investment company," within the meaning of such terms under the Investment Company Act of 1940, (as amended, the "1940 ACT") and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. (xviii) The Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management's general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. (xix) The Company and the Subsidiary carry, or is covered by, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for the conduct of their respective businesses and the value of their respective properties and as is customary for companies engaged in similar industries. (xx) The Company is in compliance in all material respects with all presently applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder ("ERISA"), the violation of which would have a material adverse effect on the earnings, business, management, properties, assets, rights, operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company; no "reportable event" (as defined in ERISA) has occurred with respect to any "pension plan" (as defined in ERISA) for which the Company would have any material liability; the Company has not incurred and does not expect to incur liability under (i) Title IV of -6- ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any "pension plan" or (ii) Sections 412 or 4971 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the "CODE"); and each "pension plan" for which the Company would have any material liability that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified in all material respects and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification. (xxi) To the Company's knowledge, there are no affiliations or associations between any member of the NASD and any of the Company's officers, directors or 5% or greater securityholders, except as set forth in the Registration Statement. (xxii) The Company has full corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and perform the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and binding obligation the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms except as rights to indemnity and contribution hereunder may be limited as a matter of applicable public policy or by applicable laws and except as the enforcement hereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally, or by general equitable principles. (xxiii) The execution and delivery of the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of May 7, 1999 (the "MERGER AGREEMENT") between Skechers U.S.A., Inc., a California corporation (the "CALIFORNIA CORPORATION"), and the Company, effecting the reincorporation of the California Corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware, was duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of each of the California Corporation and the Company. Each of the California Corporation and the Company had all corporate power and authority to execute and deliver the Merger Agreement, to file the Merger Agreement with the Secretary of State of California and the Secretary of State of Delaware and to consummate the reincorporation contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and the Merger Agreement at the time of execution and filing constituted a valid and binding obligation of each of the California Corporation and the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms and except as the enforcement hereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally, or by general equitable principles. (xxiv) No material labor dispute with the employees of the Company or the Subsidiary exists, except as described in the Prospectus, or, to the knowledge of the Company and the Subsidiary, is imminent. (xxv) No business relationship, or related party transactions, exists between or among the Company or the Subsidiary, on the one hand, and the directors officers, stockholders, customers or suppliers of the Company or the Subsidiary, on the one hand, which is required to be described in the Prospectus that is not so described. -7- (xxvi) Neither the Company nor the Subsidiary, nor any director, officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or the Subsidiary, has used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; violated or is in violation of any provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1972; or made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment. (xxvii) Neither the Company nor the Subsidiary is a "passive foreign investment company" within the meaning of Section 1296 of the Code for its taxable year which includes the date hereof and to the knowledge of the Company and the Subsidiary, neither the Company nor the Subsidiary will be a "passive foreign investment company" for the subsequent taxable year. (xxviii) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there is no (i) administrative or judicial proceeding pending or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened to which the Company or the Subsidiary is a party or to which any of the properties of the Company or the Subsidiary is subject arising under any Federal, state or local provisions that have been enacted or adopted regulating the discharge of materials into the environment or primarily for the purpose of protecting the environment; or (ii) material adverse effect upon the Company or the Subsidiary arising from compliance with Federal, state and local provisions which have been enacted or adopted regulating the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment. (xxix) For all periods from its election under Subchapter S of the Code until June 8, 1999 (the "TERMINATION DATE"), the California Corporation was qualified as an S Corporation pursuant to an election validly made under Subchapter S of the Code and any applicable state statute (which election has not been and will not be revoked or terminated for any such period) and the California Corporation has not been and will not be subject to Federal corporate taxes for such periods. The Subchapter S election of the California Corporation will be terminated on the Termination Date, and the Company will be subject to federal corporate income taxes from and after the date of such termination but not for any prior period. In connection with the termination, income and loss of the California Corporation for the S termination year will not be allocated pro rata under Section 1362(e) of the Code. (xxx) The Final 1998 Distribution and the Final Tax Distribution (as such terms are defined in the Prospectus) are legal and valid under Section 170 of the Delaware General Corporation Law and, to the extent applicable, Section 500 of the California General Corporation Law. (b) The Selling Stockholder represents and warrants as follows: (i) Such Selling Stockholder now has and at the Option Closing Date (as such date is hereinafter defined) will have good and marketable title to the Option Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder, free and clear of any liens, encumbrances, equities and claims, and full right, power and authority to effect the sale and delivery of such Option Shares; and upon the delivery of, against -8- payment for, such Option Shares pursuant to this Agreement, the Underwriters will acquire good and marketable title thereto, free and clear of any liens, encumbrances, equities and claims. (ii) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Selling Stockholder and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of such Selling Stockholder enforceable in accordance with its terms except as rights to indemnity and contribution hereunder may be limited as a matter of applicable public policy or by applicable laws and except as the enforcement hereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally, or by general equitable principles. Such Selling Stockholder has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, the Power of Attorney and the Custody Agreement referred to below and to perform its obligations under such Agreements. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation by such Selling Stockholder of the transactions herein contemplated and the fulfillment by such Selling Stockholder of the terms hereof will not require any consent, approval, authorization, or other order of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental body (except as may be required under the Act, state securities laws or Blue Sky laws) and will not result in a breach of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or instrument to which such Selling Stockholder is a party, or of any order, rule or regulation applicable to such Selling Stockholder of any court or of any regulatory body or administrative agency or other governmental body having jurisdiction the effect of which would prevent consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. (iii) Such Selling Stockholder has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or which has constituted, or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common Stock of the Company and, other than as permitted by the Act, such Selling Stockholder will not distribute any prospectus or other offering material in connection with the offering of the Shares. (iv) Such Selling Stockholder is familiar with the Registration Statement and has no knowledge of any material fact, condition or information not disclosed in the Registration Statement which has materially adversely affected or may materially adversely affect the business of the Company or the Subsidiary; and the sale of the Option Shares by such Selling Stockholder pursuant hereto is not prompted by any information concerning the Company or the Subsidiary which is not set forth in the Registration Statement. The information pertaining to such Selling Stockholder under the caption "Principal Stockholders" in the Prospectus is complete and accurate in all material respects. 2. PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE FIRM SHARES. (a) On the basis of the representations, warranties and covenants herein contained, and subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to the Underwriters and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase, at a price of $10.23 per share, the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of each Underwriter in Schedule I hereof, subject to adjustments in accordance with Section 9 hereof. -9- (b) Payment for the Firm Shares to be sold hereunder is to be made in Federal (same day) funds to an account designated by the Company against delivery of certificates therefor to the Representatives for the several accounts of the Underwriters. Such payment and delivery are to be made through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company at 10:00 a.m., New York time, on the third business day after the date of this Agreement or at such other time and date not later than five business days thereafter as you and the Company shall agree upon, such time and date being herein referred to as the "CLOSING DATE." (As used herein, "BUSINESS DAY" means a day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which banks in New York are open for business and not permitted by law or executive order to be closed.) The certificates for the Firm Shares will be delivered in such denominations and in such registrations as the Representatives request in writing not later than the second full business day prior to the Closing Date, and will be made available for inspection by the Representatives at least one business day prior to the Closing Date. (c) In addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Selling Stockholder hereby grants an option to the several Underwriters to purchase the Option Shares at the price per share as set forth in the first paragraph of this Section 2. The option granted hereby may be exercised in whole or in part by giving written notice (i) at any time before the Closing Date and (ii) only once thereafter within 30 days after the date of this Agreement, by you, as Representatives of the several Underwriters, to the Attorney-in-Fact and the Custodian setting forth the number of Option Shares as to which the several Underwriters are exercising the option, the names and denominations in which the Option Shares are to be registered and the time and date at which such certificates are to be delivered. The time and date at which certificates for Option Shares are to be delivered shall be determined by the Representatives but shall not be earlier than three nor later than 10 full business days after the exercise of such option, nor in any event prior to the Closing Date (such time and date being herein referred to as the "OPTION CLOSING DATE"). If the date of exercise of the option is three or more days before the Closing Date, the notice of exercise shall set the Closing Date as the Option Closing Date. The number of Option Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be in the same proportion to the total number of Option Shares being purchased as the number of Firm Shares being purchased by such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Shares, adjusted by you in such manner as to avoid fractional shares. The option with respect to the Option Shares granted hereunder may be exercised only to cover over-allotments in the sale of the Firm Shares by the Underwriters. You, as Representatives of the several Underwriters, may cancel such option at any time prior to its expiration by giving written notice of such cancellation to either of the Attorneys-in-Fact. To the extent, if any, that the option is exercised, payment for the Option Shares shall be made on the Option Closing Date in Federal (same day) funds drawn to the order of "Robert M. Greenberg and M. Susan Greenberg as Trustees of the Greenberg Family Trust" against delivery of certificates therefor through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company, New York, New York. (d) Certificates in negotiable form for the total number of the Shares to be sold hereunder by the Selling Stockholder have been placed in custody with American Stock Transfer and Trust Company as custodian (the "CUSTODIAN") pursuant to the Custody Agreement executed by the Selling -10- Stockholder for delivery of all Option Shares to be sold hereunder by the Selling Stockholder. The Selling Stockholder specifically agrees that the Option Shares represented by the certificates held in custody for the Selling Stockholder under the Custody Agreement are subject to the interests of the Underwriters hereunder, that the arrangements made by the Selling Stockholder for such custody are to that extent irrevocable, and that the obligations of the Selling Stockholder hereunder shall not be terminable by any act or deed of the Selling Stockholder (or by any other person, firm or corporation including the Company, the Custodian or the Underwriters) or by operation of law (including the dissolution or other termination of the Selling Stockholder) or by the occurrence of any other event or events, except as set forth in the Custody Agreement. If any such event should occur prior to the delivery to the Underwriters of the Option Shares hereunder, certificates for the Option Shares shall be delivered by the Custodian in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement as if such event has not occurred. (e) If on the Option Closing Date the Selling Stockholder fails to sell the Option Shares, the Company agrees that it will sell or arrange for the sale of that number of shares of Class A Common Stock to the Underwriters which represents the Option Shares which such Selling Stockholder has failed to so sell, as set forth in Schedule II hereto, or such lesser number as may be requested by the Representatives. 3. OFFERING BY THE UNDERWRITERS. It is understood that the several Underwriters are to make a public offering of the Firm Shares as soon as the Representatives deem it advisable to do so. The Firm Shares are to be initially offered to the public at the initial public offering price set forth in the Prospectus. The Representatives may from time to time thereafter change the public offering price and other selling terms. To the extent, if at all, that any Option Shares are purchased pursuant to Section 2 hereof, the Underwriters will offer them to the public on the foregoing terms. It is further understood that you will act as the Representatives for the Underwriters in the offering and sale of the Shares in accordance with a Master Agreement Among Underwriters entered into by you and the several other Underwriters. 4. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY AND THE SELLING STOCKHOLDER. (a) The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that: (i) The Company will (A) use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become effective or, if the procedure in Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations is followed, to prepare and timely file with the Commission under Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations a Prospectus in a form approved by the Representatives containing information previously omitted at the time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement in reliance on Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations and (B) not file any amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus of which the Representatives shall not previously have been advised and furnished with a copy or to which the -11- Representatives shall have reasonably objected in writing or which is not in compliance with the Rules and Regulations and (C) file on a timely basis all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of the Shares by the Underwriters. (ii) The Company will advise the Representatives promptly (A) when the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto shall have become effective, (B) of receipt of any comments from the Commission, (C) of any request of the Commission for amendment of the Registration Statement or for supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, and (D) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the use of the Prospectus or of the institution of any proceedings for that purpose. The Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus and to obtain as soon as possible the lifting thereof, if issued. (iii) The Company will cooperate with the Representatives in endeavoring to qualify the Shares for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably have designated in writing and will make such applications, file such documents, and furnish such information as may be reasonably required for that purpose, provided the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or required to file such a consent. The Company will, from time to time, prepare and file such statements, reports, and other documents, as are or may be required to continue such qualifications in effect for so long a period as the Representatives may reasonably request for distribution of the Shares. (iv) The Company will deliver to, or upon the order of, the Representatives, from time to time, as many copies of any Preliminary Prospectus as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will deliver to, or upon the order of, the Representatives during the period when delivery of a Prospectus is required under the Act, as many copies of the Prospectus in final form, or as thereafter amended or supplemented, as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will deliver to the Representatives at or before the Closing Date, four signed copies of the Registration Statement and all amendments thereto including all exhibits filed therewith, and will deliver to the Representatives such number of copies of the Registration Statement (including such number of copies of the exhibits filed therewith that may reasonably be requested), and of all amendments thereto, as the Representatives may reasonably request. (v) The Company will comply with the Act and the Rules and Regulations, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "EXCHANGE ACT"), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Shares as contemplated in this Agreement and the Prospectus. If during the period in which a prospectus is required by law to be delivered by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur as a result of which, in the judgment of the Company or in the reasonable opinion of the Underwriters, it becomes necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time -12- the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or, if it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with any law, the Company promptly will prepare and file with the Commission an appropriate amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus so that the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when it is so delivered, be misleading, or so that the Prospectus will comply with the law. (vi) The Company will make generally available to its security holders, as soon as it is practicable to do so, but in any event not later than 15 months after the effective date of the Registration Statement, an earning statement (which need not be audited) in reasonable detail, covering a period of at least 12 consecutive months beginning after the effective date of the Registration Statement, which earning statement shall satisfy the requirements of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 of the Rules and Regulations and will advise you in writing when such statement has been so made available. (vii) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company will furnish to the Underwriters, as soon as they have been prepared by or are available to the Company, a copy of any unaudited interim financial statements of the Company for any period subsequent to the period covered by the most recent financial statements appearing in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. (viii) No offering, sale, short sale or other disposition of any shares of Common Stock of the Company or other securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Common Stock or derivative of Common Stock (or agreement for such) will be made for a period of 180 days after the date of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, by the Company otherwise than hereunder or with the prior written consent of BT Alex. Brown Incorporated on behalf of the Underwriters, except for the grant of options to purchase shares of Common Stock pursuant to the 1998 Stock Option, Deferred Stock and Restricted Stock Plan and shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the exercise of options granted under such plan and the grant of purchase rights and issuance of shares under the 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, provided that such options and grants shall not vest, or the Company shall obtain the written consent of the holder thereof not to transfer such shares, until the end of such 180-day period. (ix) The Company will list, subject to notice of issuance, the Shares on the New York Stock Exchange. (x) The Company has caused each officer, director, stockholder and optionholder of the Company to furnish to you, on or prior to the date of this agreement, a letter or letters, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, pursuant to which each such person agrees, subject to certain limited exceptions set forth therein, not to offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, sell short, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, or enter into any swap or similar agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock, for a period commencing on the date of the Prospectus and continuing to a date 180 days after such date, except with the prior written consent of BT Alex. Brown Incorporated on behalf of the Underwriters ("LOCKUP AGREEMENTS"). -13- (xi) The Company has caused each stockholder of the Company to enter into, on or prior to the date of this agreement, an S Corporation Termination, Tax Allocation and Indemnification Agreement substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the "S CORPORATION AGREEMENT"). (xii) The Company shall apply the net proceeds of its sale of the Shares as set forth in the Prospectus and shall include such disclosure in reports with the Commission with respect to the sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds therefrom as may be required in accordance with Rule 463 under the Act. (xiii) The Company shall not invest, or otherwise use the proceeds received by the Company from its sale of the Shares in such a manner as would require the Company or the Subsidiary to register as an investment company under the 1940 Act. (xiv) The Company will maintain a transfer agent and, if necessary under the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company, a registrar for the Class A Common Stock. (xv) The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company. (b) The Selling Stockholder covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that: (i) The Selling Stockholder will not offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, sell short, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, or enter into any swap or similar agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock, for a period commencing on the date of the Prospectus and continuing to a date 180 days after such date, otherwise than hereunder or with the prior written consent of alex. Brown & Sons Incorporated on behalf of the Underwriters; provided, however, that such restrictions shall not apply to the Shares; and, provided, further, that such restrictions shall not apply to shares of Class A Common Stock purchased by the Selling Stockholder in the open market following the offering of the Shares. (ii) In order to document the Underwriters' compliance with the reporting and withholding provisions of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 and the Interest and Dividend Tax Compliance Act of 1983 with respect to the transactions herein contemplated, the Selling Stockholder agrees to deliver to you prior to or at the Closing Date a properly completed and executed United States Treasury Department Form W-8 or W-9 (or other applicable form or statement specified by Treasury Department regulations in lieu thereof). -14- (iii) The Selling Stockholder will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company. 5. COSTS AND EXPENSES. The Company will pay all costs, expenses and fees incident to the performance of the obligations of the Sellers under this Agreement, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following: accounting fees of the Company; the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and the Selling Stockholder; the cost of printing and delivering to, or as requested by, the Underwriters copies of the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectuses, the Prospectus, this Agreement, the Underwriters' Selling Memorandum, the Underwriters' Invitation Letter, the Listing Application, the Blue Sky Survey and any supplements or amendments thereto; the filing fees of the Commission; the filing fees and expenses (including legal fees and disbursements) incident to securing any required review by the NASD of the terms of the sale of the Shares; the Listing Fee of the New York Stock Exchange; and the expenses, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters, incurred in connection with the qualification of the Shares under state securities or Blue Sky laws. To the extent, if at all, that the Selling Stockholder engages special legal counsel to represent it in connection with this offering, the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be borne by such Selling Stockholder. Any transfer taxes imposed on the sale of the Shares to the several Underwriters will be paid by the Sellers pro rata. The Company agrees to pay all costs and expenses of the Underwriters, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters, incident to the offer and sale of directed shares of the Class A Common Stock by the Underwriters to employees and persons having business relationships with the Company and the Subsidiary. The Sellers shall not, however, be required to pay for any of the Underwriters expenses (other than those related to qualification under NASD regulation and state securities or Blue Sky laws) except that, if this Agreement shall not be consummated because the conditions in Section 6 hereof are not satisfied, or because this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives pursuant to Section 11 hereof, or by reason of any failure, refusal or inability on the part of the Company or the Selling Stockholder to perform any undertaking or satisfy any condition of this Agreement or to comply with any of the terms hereof on their part to be performed, unless such failure to satisfy said condition or to comply with said terms is due to the default or omission of any Underwriter, then the Company shall reimburse the several Underwriters for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred in connection with investigating, marketing and proposing to market the Shares or in contemplation of performing their obligations hereunder; but the Company and the Selling Stockholder shall not in any event be liable to any of the several Underwriters for damages on account of loss of anticipated profits from the sale by them of the Shares. -15- 6. CONDITIONS OF OBLIGATIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS. The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Firm Shares on the Closing Date and the Option Shares, if any, on the Option Closing Date are subject to the accuracy, as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, of the representations and warranties of the Company and the Selling Stockholder contained herein, and to the performance by the Company and the Selling Stockholder of their covenants and obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions: (a) The Registration Statement and all post-effective amendments thereto shall have become effective and any and all filings required by Rule 424 and Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations shall have been made, and any request of the Commission for additional information (to be included in the Registration Statement or otherwise) shall have been disclosed to the Representatives and complied with to their reasonable satisfaction. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been taken or, to the knowledge of the Company or the Selling Stockholder, shall be contemplated by the Commission and no injunction, restraining order, or order of any nature by a Federal or state court of competent jurisdiction shall have been issued as of the Closing Date which would prevent the issuance of the Shares. (b) The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the opinion of Freshman, Marantz, Orlanski, Cooper & Klein ("FMOCK"), counsel for the Company and the Selling Stockholder, dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, addressed to the Underwriters (and stating that it may be relied upon by counsel to the Underwriters) to the effect that: (i) The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement; the Subsidiary has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, with corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement; the Company and the Subsidiary are duly qualified to transact business in all jurisdictions in which the conduct of their business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a materially adverse effect upon the business of the Company and the Subsidiary taken as a whole; and the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the Company; and, to the best of such counsel's knowledge, the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Subsidiary are owned free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and equities and claims, and no options, warrants or other rights to purchase, agreements or other obligations to issue or other rights to convert any obligations into any shares of capital stock or of ownership interests in the Subsidiary are outstanding. -16- (ii) To such counsel's knowledge, except for the Subsidiary, the Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity; (iii) The Company has authorized and outstanding capital stock as set forth under the caption "Capitalization" in the Prospectus; the authorized shares of the Company's Common Stock have been duly authorized; the outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock, including the Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder, have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; all of the Shares conform to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus; the certificates for the Shares, assuming they are in the form filed with the Commission, are in due and proper form; the shares of Common Stock, including the Option Shares, if any, to be sold by the Company pursuant to this Agreement have been duly authorized and will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable when issued and paid for as contemplated by this Agreement; and no preemptive rights of stockholders arising under the Company's Certificate of Incorporation or, to such counsel's knowledge, otherwise exist with respect to any of the Shares or the issue or sale thereof. (iv) Except as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus, to the knowledge of such counsel, there are no outstanding securities of the Company convertible or exchangeable into or evidencing the right to purchase or subscribe for any shares of capital stock of the Company and there are no outstanding or authorized options, warrants or rights of any character obligating the Company to issue any shares of its capital stock or any securities convertible or exchangeable into or evidencing the right to purchase or subscribe for any shares of such stock; and except as described in the Prospectus, to the knowledge of such counsel, no holder of any securities of the Company or any other person has the right, contractual or otherwise, which has not been satisfied or effectively waived, to cause the Company to sell or otherwise issue to them, or to permit them to underwrite the sale of, any of the Shares or the right to have any Common Stock or other securities of the Company included in the Registration Statement or the right, as a result of the filing of the Registration Statement, to require registration under the Act of any shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company. (v) The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act and, to such counsel's knowledge, no stop order proceedings with respect thereto have been instituted or are pending or threatened under the Act. (vi) The Registration Statement, the Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder (except that such counsel need express no opinion as to the financial statements and related schedules therein). (vii) The statements (A) in the Prospectus under the captions "Risk Factors -- Anti-Takeover Provisions, "Risk Factors -- Shares Eligible for Future Sale," "Management," "Certain Transactions," "Description of Capital Stock" and "Shares Eligible for Future Sale; Registration Rights" and (B) in the Registration Statement in Items 14 and 15, in each case insofar as such statements -17- constitute a summary of documents referred to therein or matters of law, fairly summarize in all material respects the information called for with respect to such documents and matters. (viii) Such counsel does not know of any contracts or documents required to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which are not so filed or described as required, and such contracts and documents as are summarized in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus are fairly summarized in all material respects. (ix) Such counsel knows of no legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened against the Company or the Subsidiary, except as set forth in the Prospectus, which, if determined adversely to the Company would have a material adverse effect on the business of the Company. (x) The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated do not and will not conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under any agreement or instrument known to such counsel to which the Company or the Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or the Subsidiary may be bound, which default would have a material adverse effect on the business of the Company and the Subsidiary, taken as a whole, or affect the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or under the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company. (xi) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company. (xii) No approval, consent, order, authorization, designation, declaration or filing by or with any regulatory, administrative or other governmental body is necessary in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated (other than as may be required by the NASD or as required by state securities and Blue Sky laws as to which such counsel need express no opinion) except such as have been obtained or made, specifying the same. (xiii) The Company is not, and will not become, as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Prospectus, required to register as an investment company under the 1940 Act. (xiv) Each of this Agreement, the Power of Attorney and the Custody Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered on behalf of the Selling Stockholder. (xv) The Selling Stockholder has full legal right, power and authority, and any approval required by law (other than as required by state securities and Blue Sky laws as to which such counsel need express no opinion), to sell, assign, transfer and deliver the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder. -18- (xvi) The Custody Agreement and the Power of Attorney executed and delivered by the Selling Stockholder is valid and binding. (xvii) To our knowledge, the Underwriters (assuming that they are bona fide purchasers within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code) have acquired good and marketable title to the Shares being sold by the Selling Stockholder on the Closing Date, and the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities and claims. In rendering such opinion FMOCK may rely as to matters governed by the laws of states other than Delaware or Federal laws on local counsel in such jurisdictions, provided that in each case FMOCK shall state that they believe that they and the Underwriters are justified in relying on such other counsel. In addition to the matters set forth above, such opinion shall also include a statement to the effect that nothing has come to the attention of such counsel which leads them to believe that (i) the Registration Statement, at the time it became effective under the Act (but after giving effect to any modifications incorporated therein pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act) and as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and (ii) the Prospectus, or any supplement thereto, on the date it was filed pursuant to the Rules and Regulations and as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading (except that such counsel need express no view as to financial statements, schedules and statistical information therein). With respect to such statement, FMOCK may state that their belief is based upon the procedures set forth therein, but is without independent check and verification. (c) The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the opinion of Kleinberg & Lerner, special intellectual property counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, addressed to the Underwriters (and stating that it may be relied upon by counsel to the Underwriters) to the effect that: (i) the Company is listed in the records of the United States Patent and Trademark Office ("PTO") as the holder of record of the registered trademarks "SKECHERS" and the "S in Shield design" (collectively, the "TRADEMARKS"). To such counsel's knowledge, except as set forth in the Prospectus or otherwise disclosed to the Underwriters in writing, there is no claim of any party other than the Company to any ownership interest or lien with respect to any of the Trademarks. As of March 31, 1999, to the best of such counsel's knowledge based on information provided by local counsel, the Company has a valid registered trademark or trademark application corresponding to the Trademarks in each of the foreign jurisdictions listed on Exhibit A; (ii) the statements in the Prospectus under the captions "Risk Factors -- Ability to Protect Intellectual Property," and "Business -- Intellectual Property Rights" (the "INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY -19- PORTIONS"), to our knowledge, insofar as such statements relate to trademarks, patents, intellectual property or any legal matters, documents and proceedings relating thereto fairly present the information called for with respect to such legal matters, documents and proceedings and fairly summarize the matters referred to therein. (iii) to such counsel's knowledge, except as set forth in the Prospectus or otherwise disclosed to the Underwriters in writing, there is not pending or threatened in writing any action, suit, proceeding or claim by others (A) challenging the validity or scope of the Trademarks or any other material trademarks, trademark applications or domain names held by or licensed to the Company, or (B) , asserting that any trademark is infringed by the activities of the Company described in the Prospectus or by the manufacture, use, sale, promotion or advertising of any of the Company's products or use of its domain names. (iv) to such counsel's knowledge, except as set forth in the Prospectus or otherwise disclosed to the Underwriters in writing, there is not pending or threatened in writing any action, suit, proceeding or claim by the Company asserting infringement on the part of any third party of the Trademarks or any other trademarks, domain names, trade names or advertising slogans held by or licensed to the Company that are material to the business of the Company. (d) The Representatives shall have received from Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation ("WSGR"), counsel for the Underwriters, an opinion dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, substantially to the effect specified in subparagraphs (ii) (as to matters relating to the shares only), (iv) and (ix) of Paragraph (b) of this Section 6, and that the Company is a duly organized and validly existing corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware. In rendering such opinion WSGR may rely as to all matters governed other than by the laws of the State of Delaware or Federal laws on the opinion of counsel referred to in Paragraph (b) of this Section 6. In addition to the matters set forth above, such opinion shall also include a statement to the effect that nothing has come to the attention of such counsel which leads them to believe that (i) the Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, as of the time it became effective under the Act (but after giving effect to any modifications incorporated therein pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act) as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and (ii) the Prospectus, or any supplement thereto, on the date it was filed pursuant to the Rules and Regulations and as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact, necessary in order to make the statements, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading (except that such counsel need express no view as to financial statements, schedules and statistical information therein). With respect to such statement, WSGR may state that their belief is based upon the procedures set forth therein, but is without independent check and verification. (e) You shall have received, on each of the dates hereof, the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, a letter dated the date hereof, the Closing Date or the Option -20- Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to you, of KPMG LLP confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Act and the applicable published Rules and Regulations thereunder and stating that in their opinion the financial statements and schedules examined by them and included in the Registration Statement comply in form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the related published Rules and Regulations; and containing such other statements and information as is ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" to Underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial and statistical information contained in the Registration Statement and Prospectus. (f) The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate or certificates of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, signing on behalf of the Company, to the effect that, as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, each of them severally represents as follows: (i) The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued, and no proceedings for such purpose have been taken or are, to the Company's knowledge, contemplated by the Commission; (ii) The representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 1 hereof are true and correct as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be; (iii) All filings required to have been made pursuant to Rules 424 or 430A under the Act have been made; (iv) As of the effective date of the Registration Statement, the statements contained in the Registration Statement were true and correct, and such Registration Statement and Prospectus did not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, and since the effective date of the Registration Statement, no event has occurred which should have been set forth in a supplement to or an amendment of the Prospectus which has not been so set forth in such supplement or amendment; and (v) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, there has not been any material adverse change or any development involving a prospective material adverse change in or affecting the condition, financial or otherwise, of the Company and the Subsidiary taken as a whole or the earnings, business, management, properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the aeompany and the Subsidiary taken as a whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business. (g) The Firm Shares and Option Shares, if any, shall have been listed subject to notice of issuance on the New York Stock Exchange. -21- (h) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by the Selling Stockholder (or by their attorney-in-fact on their behalf), to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Selling Stockholder contained in Section 1 of this Agreement are true and correct as of the Closing Date and that each Selling Shareholder has complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder on or prior to before the Closing Date (i) The Lockup Agreements described in Section 4(x) shall have been delivered to the Company and shall not have been amended. (j) The S Corporation Agreement described in Section 4(xi) shall have been delivered to the Company and shall not have been amended. The opinions and certificates mentioned in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in all material respects satisfactory to the Representatives and to WSGR, counsel for the Underwriters. If any of the conditions hereinabove provided for in this Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement to be fulfilled, the obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be terminated by the Representatives by notifying the Company and the Selling Stockholder of such termination in writing or by telegram at or prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be. In such event, the Selling Stockholder, the Company and the Underwriters shall not be under any obligation to each other (except to the extent provided in Sections 5 and 8 hereof). 7 CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE SELLERS. The obligations of the Sellers to sell and deliver the portion of the Shares required to be delivered as and when specified in this Agreement are subject to the conditions that at the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and in effect or proceedings therefor initiated or threatened. 8 INDEMNIFICATION. (a) The Company agrees: (1) to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such Underwriter or any such controlling person may become subject under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material -22- fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading any act or failure to act, or (iii) any alleged act or failure to act by any Underwriter in connection with, or relating in any manner to, the Shares or the offering contemplated hereby, and which is included as part of or referred to in any loss, claim, damage, liability or action arising out of or based upon matters covered by clause (i) or (ii) above (provided, that the Company shall not be liable under this clause (iii) to the extent that it is determined in a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction that such loss, claim, damage, liability or action resulted directly from any such acts or failures to act undertaken or omitted to be taken by such Underwriter through its gross negligence or willful misconduct); provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement, or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, or such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or through the Representatives specifically for use in the preparation thereof. (2) to reimburse each Underwriter and each such controlling person upon demand for any legal or other out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter or such controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage or liability, action or proceeding or in responding to a subpoena or governmental inquiry related to the offering of the Shares, whether or not such Underwriter or controlling person is a party to any action or proceeding. In the event that it is finally judicially determined that the Underwriters were not entitled to receive payments for legal and other expenses pursuant to this subparagraph, the Underwriters will promptly return all sums that had been advanced pursuant hereto. (b) The Selling Stockholder agrees to indemnify the Underwriters and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such Underwriter or controlling person may become subject under the Act or otherwise to the same extent as indemnity is provided by the Company pursuant to Section 8(a) above. In no event, however, shall the liability of the Selling Stockholder for indemnification under this Section 8(a) exceed the sum of (i) the proceeds received by the Selling Stockholder from the Underwriters in the offering and (ii) the lesser of (A) the amount received by the Selling Stockholder in repayment of promissory notes issued by the Company, which had an aggregate of $12.2 million principal amount at December 31, 1998, and (B) $10.0 million. This indemnity obligation will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have. (c) Each Underwriter severally and not jointly will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who have signed the Registration Statement, the Selling Stockholder, and each person, if any, who controls the Company or the Selling Stockholder within the meaning of the Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company or any such director, officer, Selling Stockholder or controlling person may become subject under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out -23- of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or (ii) the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances under which they were made; and will reimburse upon demand any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or any such director, officer, Selling Stockholder or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action or proceeding; provided, however, that each Underwriter will be liable in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission has been made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or through the Representatives specifically for use in the preparation thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Underwriter may otherwise have. (d) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to this Section 8, such person (the "INDEMNIFIED PARTY") shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "INDEMNIFYING PARTY") in writing. No indemnification provided for in Section 8(a), (b) or (c) shall be available to any party who shall fail to give notice as provided in this Section 8(d) if the party to whom notice was not given was unaware of the proceeding to which such notice would have related and was materially prejudiced by the failure to give such notice, but the failure to give such notice shall not relieve the indemnifying party or parties from any liability which it or they may have to the indemnified party for contribution or otherwise than on account of the provisions of Section 8(a), (b) or (c). In case any such proceeding shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party and shall pay as incurred the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel at its own expense. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnifying party shall pay as incurred (or within 30 days of presentation) the fees and expenses of the counsel retained by the indemnified party in the event (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel, (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them or (iii) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense and employ counsel acceptable to the indemnified party within a reasonable period of time after notice of commencement of the action. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm for all such indemnified parties. Such firm shall be designated in writing by you in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(a) or (b) and by the Company and the Selling Stockholder in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(c). The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent but if settled with such -24- consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. In addition, the indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding of which indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether or not any indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such claim, action or proceeding) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action or proceeding. (e) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 8(a), (b) or (c) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling Stockholder on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Shares. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company and the Selling Stockholder on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling Stockholder 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 and the Selling Stockholder bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Selling Stockholder on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company, the Selling Stockholder and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 8(e) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 8(e). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred to above in this Section 8(e) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (e), (i) no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the Shares purchased by such Underwriter, (ii) no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the -25- meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation, and (iii) the Selling Stockholder shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the sum of (x) the proceeds received by the Selling Stockholder from the Underwriters in the offering and (y) the lesser of (A) the amount received by the Selling Stockholder in repayment of promissory notes issued by the Company, which had an aggregate of $12.2 million principal amount at December 31, 1998, and (B) $10.0 million. The Underwriters' obligations in this Section 8(e) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint. (f) In any proceeding relating to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any supplement or amendment thereto, each party against whom contribution may be sought under this Section 8 hereby consents to the jurisdiction of any court having jurisdiction over any other contributing party, agrees that process issuing from such court may be served upon him or it by any other contributing party and consents to the service of such process and agrees that any other contributing party may join him or it as an additional defendant in any such proceeding in which such other contributing party is a party. (g) Any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses for which an indemnified party is entitled to indemnification or contribution under this Section 8 shall be paid by the indemnifying party to the indemnified party as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are incurred. The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 8 and the representations and warranties of the Company and the Selling Stockholder set forth in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any person controlling any Underwriter, the Company, its directors or officers or any persons controlling the Company, (ii) acceptance of any Shares and payment therefor hereunder, and (iii) any termination of this Agreement. A successor to any Underwriter, or to the Company, its directors or officers, or any person controlling the Company, shall be entitled to the benefits of the indemnity, contribution and reimbursement agreements contained in this Section 8. -26- 9 DEFAULT BY UNDERWRITERS. If on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, any Underwriter shall fail to purchase and pay for the portion of the Shares which such Underwriter has agreed to purchase and pay for on such date (otherwise than by reason of any default on the part of the Company or the Selling Stockholder), you, as Representatives of the Underwriters, shall use your reasonable efforts to procure within 36 hours thereafter one or more of the other Underwriters, or any others, to purchase from the Company and the Selling Stockholder such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms set forth herein, the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to purchase. If during such 36 hours you, as such Representatives, shall not have procured such other Underwriters, or any others, to purchase the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, agreed to be purchased by the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then (a) if the aggregate number of shares with respect to which such default shall occur does not exceed 10% of the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, covered hereby, the other Underwriters shall be obligated, severally, in proportion to the respective numbers of Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, which they are obligated to purchase hereunder, to purchase the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to purchase, or (b) if the aggregate number of shares of Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, with respect to which such default shall occur exceeds 10% of the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, covered hereby, the Company and the Selling Stockholder or you as the Representatives of the Underwriters will have the right, by written notice given within the next 36-hour period to the parties to this Agreement, to terminate this Agreement without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters or of the Company or of the Selling Stockholder except to the extent provided in Section 8 hereof. In the event of a default by any Underwriter or Underwriters, as set forth in this Section 9, the Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the case may be, may be postponed for such period, not exceeding seven days, as you, as Representatives, may determine in order that the required changes in the Registration Statement or in the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. The term "Underwriter" includes any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter. Any action taken under this Section 9 shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement. 10 NOTICES. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and, except as otherwise provided herein, will be mailed, delivered, telecopied or telegraphed and confirmed as follows: if to the Underwriters, to BT Alex. Brown Incorporated, One South Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, Attention: Gregory J. Shaia; with a copy to BT Alex. Brown Incorporated, One Bankers Trust Plaza, 130 Liberty Street, New York, New York 10006, Attention: General Counsel; if to the Company or the Selling Stockholder, to 228 Manhattan Beach Boulevard, Manhattan Beach, California 90266, Attention: Robert Greenberg. -27- 11 TERMINATION. (a) This Agreement may be terminated by you by notice to the Sellers at any time prior to the Closing Date if any of the following has occurred: (i) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, any material adverse change or any development involving a prospective material adverse change in or affecting the condition, financial or otherwise, of the Company and the Subsidiary taken as a whole or the earnings, business, management, properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company and the Subsidiary taken as a whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or declaration of war or national emergency or other national or international calamity or crisis or change in economic or political conditions if the effect of such outbreak, escalation, declaration, emergency, calamity, crisis or change on the financial markets of the United States would, in your reasonable judgment, make it impracticable or inadvisable to market the Shares or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Shares, or (iii) suspension of trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or the American Stock Exchange or limitation on prices (other than limitations on hours or numbers of days of trading) for securities on either such Exchange, (iv) the enactment, publication, decree or other promulgation of any statute, regulation, rule or order of any court or other governmental authority which in your opinion materially and adversely affects or may materially and adversely affect the business or operations of the Company, (v) declaration of a banking moratorium by United States or New York State authorities, (vi) any downgrading, or placement on any watch list for possible downgrading, in the rating of the Company's debt securities by any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization" (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Exchange Act); (vii) the suspension of trading of the Company's Class A Common Stock by the New York Stock Exchange, the Commission, or any other governmental authority or, (viii) the taking of any action by any governmental or regulatory body or agency in respect of its monetary or fiscal affairs which in your reasonable opinion has a material adverse effect on the securities markets in the United States; or (b) as provided in Sections 6 and 9 of this Agreement. 12 SUCCESSORS. This Agreement has been and is made solely for the benefit of the Underwriters, the Company and the Selling Stockholder and their respective successors, executors, administrators, heirs and assigns, and the officers, directors and controlling persons referred to herein, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. No purchaser of any of the Shares from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign merely because of such purchase. 13 INFORMATION PROVIDED BY UNDERWRITERS. The Company, the Selling Stockholder and the Underwriters acknowledge and agree that the only information furnished or to be furnished by any Underwriter to the Company for inclusion in any Prospectus or the Registration Statement consists of the information set forth in the last paragraph on the -28- front cover page (insofar as such information relates to the Underwriters), the legend set forth on the inside front cover of the Prospectus and the information under the caption "Underwriting" in the Prospectus. 14 MISCELLANEOUS. The reimbursement, indemnification and contribution agreements contained in this Agreement and the representations, warranties and covenants in this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of (a) any termination of this Agreement, (b) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or controlling person thereof, or by or on behalf of the Company or its directors or officers and (c) delivery of and payment for the Shares under this Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Maryland. If the foregoing letter is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicates hereof, whereupon it will become a binding agreement among the Selling Stockholder, the Company and the several Underwriters in accordance with its terms. Any person executing and delivering this Agreement as Attorney-in-Fact for a Selling Stockholder represents by so doing that he has been duly appointed as Attorney-in-Fact by such Selling Stockholder pursuant to a validly existing and binding Power of Attorney which authorizes such Attorney-in-Fact to take such action. -29- Very truly yours, SKECHERS U.S.A., INC. By: /s/ Robert Greenberg -------------------------------------- Chief Executive Officer SELLING STOCKHOLDER Robert M. Greenberg and M. Susan Greenberg as Trustees of The Greenberg Family Trust /s/ Robert Greenberg ------------------------------------------ Robert M. Greenberg /s/ M. Susan Greenberg ------------------------------------------ M. Susan Greenberg The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written. BT ALEX. BROWN INCORPORATED PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED As Representatives of the several Underwriters listed on Schedule I By: BT Alex. Brown Incorporated By: /s/ illegible ----------------------------- Authorized Officer SCHEDULE I SCHEDULE OF UNDERWRITERS
NUMBER OF FIRM SHARES UNDERWRITER TO BE PURCHASED - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ BT Alex. Brown Incorporated........................................................ 1,715,000 Prudential Securities Incorporated................................................. 735,000 Bear Stearns & Co. Inc............................................................. 300,000 CIBC World Markets................................................................. 300,000 Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities............................................ 300,000 Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated................................. 300,000 Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated.................................................. 300,000 Salomon Smith Barney Inc........................................................... 300,000 Wasserstein Perella Securities, Inc................................................ 300,000 Blaylock & Partners, L.P........................................................... 175,000 J.C. Bradford & Co................................................................. 175,000 Dain Rauscher Wessels.............................................................. 175,000 EBI Securities Corporation......................................................... 175,000 Ferris, Baker Watts, Inc........................................................... 175,000 Gerard Klauer Mattison & Co., Inc.................................................. 175,000 Gruntal & Co., L.L.C............................................................... 175,000 Josephthal & Co. Inc............................................................... 175,000 McDonald Investments Inc., a Keycorp Company....................................... 175,000 Edgar M. Norris & Co. Inc.......................................................... 175,000 Suntrust Equitable Securities Corporation.......................................... 175,000 Tucker Anthony Incorporated........................................................ 175,000 First Security Van Kasper.......................................................... 175,000 Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc...................................................... 175,000 TOTAL.............................................................................. 7,000,000 ---------
SCHEDULE II SCHEDULE OF SELLING STOCKHOLDER
NUMBER OF OPTION SHARES SELLING STOCKHOLDER TO BE PURCHASED - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------- Robert M. Greenberg and M. Susan Greenberg as trustees of the Greenberg Family Trust 1,050,000 TOTAL 1,050,000