EXHIBIT 10.3
EXECUTION COPY
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of December 18, 1997
by and among
SEALY MATTRESS COMPANY,
The Guarantors Named on the Signature Pages Hereto,
and
XXXXXXX, XXXXX & CO.,
X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES INC.
AND
BT ALEX. XXXXX INCORPORATED
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and entered
into as of December 18, 1997, by and among Sealy Mattress Company, an Ohio
corporation (the "Company"), the guarantors named on the signature pages hereto
(the "Guarantors") and Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co., X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc. and BT
Alex. Xxxxx Incorporated (each an "Initial Purchaser" and, collectively, the
"Initial Purchasers"), each of whom has agreed to purchase the Company's (i) 9-
7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007 (the "Senior Subordinated Notes") and
(ii) 10-7/8% Senior Subordinated Discount Notes due 2007 (the "Senior
Subordinated Discount Notes," and together with the Senior Subordinated Notes,
the "Notes") pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated December
11, 1997, (the "Purchase Agreement," by and among the Company, the Guarantors
and the Initial Purchasers. In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to
purchase the Notes, the Company and the Guarantors have agreed to provide the
registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement is a condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchasers set
forth in Section 7 of the Purchase Agreement.
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined are used as defined
in either of the Indentures (as defined herein).
The parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the
following meanings:
Accreted Value: As defined in the Senior Subordinated Discount Notes
Indenture.
Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Affiliate: As defined in Rule 144 of the Act.
Broker-Dealer: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.
Closing Date: The date hereof.
Commission: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
Consummate: An Exchange Offer shall be deemed "Consummated" for purposes of
this Agreement upon the occurrence of (i) the filing and effectiveness under the
Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Notes
to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (ii) the maintenance of such Exchange Offer
Registration Statement continuously effective and the keeping of the Exchange
Offer open for a period not less than the minimum period required pursuant to
Section 3(b) hereof and (iii) the delivery by the Company to the Registrar under
the applicable Indenture of Exchange Notes in the same aggregate principal
amount as the aggregate principal amount of Notes tendered by Holders thereof
pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
Effectiveness Deadline: As defined in Section 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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Exchange Notes: Both the Company's (i) 9-7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due
2007 and (ii) 10-7/8% Senior Subordinated Discount Notes due 2007, in each case,
to be issued pursuant to the applicable Indenture : (x) in the Exchange Offer or
(y) as contemplated by Section 4 hereof.
Exchange Offer: The exchange and issuance by the Company of a principal
amount at maturity of Exchange Notes (which shall be registered pursuant to the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement) equal to the outstanding principal amount
at maturity of the Notes that are tendered by such Holders in connection with
such exchange and issuance.
Exchange Offer Registration Statement: The Registration Statement relating
to an Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.
Filing Deadline: As defined in Section 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.
Guarantors: The Guarantors defined in the preamble hereto and any Person
which becomes a guarantor of either series of Notes, in each case after the date
hereof pursuant to the terms of either of the Indentures.
Holders: As defined in Section 2 hereof.
Indemnified Holder: As defined in Section 8(a) hereof.
Indentures: The Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture and the Senior
Subordinated Discount Notes Indenture.
Participating Broker-Dealer: Any Broker-Dealer that holds Exchange Notes
that were acquired in the Exchange Offer in exchange for Notes that such Broker-
Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of market making activities or
other trading activities (other than Notes acquired directly from the Company or
any of its affiliates)
Person: An individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation,
trust, unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political
subdivision thereof.
Prospectus: The prospectus included in a Registration Statement at the time
such Registration Statement is declared effective, as amended or supplemented by
any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments thereto, including post-
effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference into such
Prospectus.
Recommencement Date: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
Registration Default: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company and the
Guarantors relating to (a) an offering of any Exchange Notes (including
guarantees thereof by the Guarantors) pursuant to an Exchange Offer or (b) the
registration for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement, in each case, (i) that is filed pursuant to the
provisions of this Agreement and (ii) including the Prospectus included therein,
all amendments and supplements thereto (including post-effective amendments) and
all exhibits and material incorporated by reference therein.
Regulation S: Regulation S promulgated under the Act.
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Rule 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.
Securities: The Notes and the Exchange Notes (including guarantees thereof
by the Guarantors).
Senior Subordinated Discount Notes Indenture: The indenture, dated the
Closing Date, among the Company, the Guarantors and The Bank of New York, as
trustee (the "Senior Subordinated Discount Notes Trustee"), pursuant to which
the Senior Subordinated Discount Notes are to be issued, as such indenture is
amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture: The indenture, dated the Closing Date,
among the Company, the Guarantors and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the
"Senior Subordinated Notes Trustee"), pursuant to which the Senior Subordinated
Notes are to be issued, as such indenture is amended or supplemented from time
to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
Shelf Registration Statement: As defined in Section 4 hereof.
Suspension Notice: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Section 77aaa-77bbbb) as in
effect on the date of the Indentures.
Transfer Restricted Securities: Each Security, until the earliest to occur
of (a) the date on which such Security is exchanged in an Exchange Offer and
entitled to be resold to the public by the Holder thereof without complying with
the prospectus delivery requirements of the Act, (b) the date on which such
Security has been disposed of in accordance with a Shelf Registration Statement,
(c) the date on which such Security is disposed of by a Broker-Dealer pursuant
to the "Plan of Distribution" contemplated by an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement (including delivery of the Prospectus contained therein) or (d) the
date on which such Security is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144
under the Act.
SECTION 2. HOLDERS
A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (each,
a "Holder") whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities.
SECTION 3. REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER
(a) Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permitted by applicable federal
law or policy of the Commission (after the procedures set forth in Section
6(a)(i) below have been complied with), the Company and the Guarantors shall (i)
cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be filed with the Commission
as soon as practicable after the Closing Date (the "Exchange Offer Filing
Date"), but in no event later than 90 days after the Closing Date (such 90th day
being the "Filing Deadline"), (ii) use its best efforts to cause such Exchange
Offer Registration Statement to become effective at the earliest possible time,
but in no event later than 150 days after the Closing Date (such 150th day being
the "Effectiveness Deadline"), (iii) in connection with the foregoing, (A) file
all pre-effective amendments to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement as
may be necessary in order to cause it to become effective, (B) file, if
applicable, a post-effective amendment to such Exchange Offer Registration
Statement pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act and (C) cause all necessary
filings, if any, in connection with the registration and qualification of the
Exchange Notes to be made under the Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as are
necessary to permit Consummation of the Exchange Offer, and (iv) upon the
effectiveness of such Exchange Offer Registration Statement, use its best
efforts to commence and
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Consummate the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall be on the appropriate
form permitting registration of the Exchange Notes to be offered in exchange for
the Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities and to permit resales of
Exchange Notes by Broker-Dealers that tendered into the Exchange Offer for Notes
that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of market
making activities or other trading activities (other than Notes acquired
directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates) as contemplated by Section
3(c) below.
(b) The Company and the Guarantors shall use their respective best efforts
to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be effective continuously,
and shall keep the Exchange Offer open for a period of not less than the minimum
period required under applicable federal and state securities laws to Consummate
the Exchange Offer; provided, however, that in no event shall such period be
less than 20 Business Days. The Company and the Guarantors shall cause the
Exchange Offer to comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws.
No securities other than the Exchange Notes shall be included in the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement. The Company and the Guarantors shall use their
respective best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be Consummated on the
earliest practicable date after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has
become effective, but in no event later than 30 Business Days thereafter.
(c) The Company and the Guarantors shall include a "Plan of Distribution"
section in the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
and indicate therein that any Broker-Dealer who holds Transfer Restricted
Securities that were acquired for the account of such Broker-Dealer as a result
of market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Transfer
Restricted Securities acquired directly from the Company or any Affiliate of the
Company), may exchange such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the
Exchange Offer; however, such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an "underwriter"
within the meaning of the Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting
the requirements of the Act in connection with its initial sale of any Exchange
Notes received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer and that the
Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement may be used to
satisfy such prospectus delivery requirement. Such "Plan of Distribution"
section shall also contain all other information with respect to such sales by
such Broker-Dealers that the Commission may require in order to permit such
sales pursuant thereto, but such "Plan of Distribution" shall not name any such
Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by
any such Broker-Dealer, except to the extent required by the Commission as a
result of a change in policy, rules or regulations after the date of this
Agreement.
To the extent necessary to ensure that the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement is available for sales of Exchange Notes by Broker-Dealers, the
Company and the Guarantors agree to use their respective best efforts to keep
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented
and amended as required by the provisions of Section 6(c) hereof and in
conformity with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies,
rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a
period of 180 days from the date on which the Exchange Offer is Consummated, or
such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities
covered by such Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto. The
Company and the Guarantors shall promptly provide sufficient copies of the
latest version of such Prospectus to such Broker-Dealers promptly upon request,
and in no event later than one day after such request, at any time during such
period.
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SECTION 4. SHELF REGISTRATION
(a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Exchange Offer is not permitted by
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applicable law or policy of the Commission (after the Company and the Guarantors
have complied with the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below) or (ii)
any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall notify the Company in writing
within 20 Business Days following the Consummation of the Exchange Offer that
(A) such Holder was prohibited by law or Commission policy from participating in
the Exchange Offer or (B) such Holder may not resell the Exchange Notes acquired
by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and
the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not
appropriate or available for such resales by such Holder or (C) such Holder is a
Broker-Dealer and holds Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its
Affiliates, then the Company and the Guarantors shall:
(x) cause to be filed, on or prior to 45 days after the earlier of (i) the
date on which the Company determines that the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement cannot be filed as a result of clause (a)(i) above and (ii) the date
on which the Company receives the notice specified in clause (a) (ii) above,
(such earlier date, the "Filing Deadline"), a shelf registration statement
pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act (which may be an amendment to the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement (the "Shelf Registration Statement")), relating to
all Transfer Restricted Securities, and
(y) shall use their respective best efforts to cause such Shelf
Registration Statement to become effective on or prior to 90 days after the
Filing Deadline (such 90th day the "Effectiveness Deadline").
If, after the Company has filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement
that satisfies the requirements of Section 3(a) above, the Company is required
to file and make effective a Shelf Registration Statement solely because the
Exchange Offer is not permitted under applicable federal law or policy of the
Commission, then the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement shall
be deemed to satisfy the requirements of clause (x) above; provided that, in
such event, the Company shall remain obligated to meet the Effectiveness
Deadline set forth in clause (y).
The Company and the Guarantors shall use their respective best efforts to
keep any Shelf Registration Statement required by this Section 4(a) continuously
effective, supplemented and amended as required by and subject to the provisions
of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof to the extent necessary to ensure that it is
available for sales of Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof
entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a), and to ensure that it conforms
with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and
regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of at
least two years (as extended pursuant to Section 6(c)(i)) following the date on
which such Shelf Registration Statement first becomes effective under the Act,
or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities
covered by such Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto.
(b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with the
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Shelf Registration Statement. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may
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include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration
Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to
the Company in writing, within 20 days after receipt of a request therefor, the
information specified in Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, of
the Act for use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or
Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus included therein. No Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities shall be entitled to liquidated damages pursuant to
Section 5 hereof unless and until such Holder shall have provided all such
information. Each selling Holder agrees to promptly
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furnish additional information required to be disclosed in order to make the
information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially
misleading.
SECTION 5. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
If (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not filed
with the Commission on or prior to the applicable Filing Deadline, (ii) any such
Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the Commission on or
prior to the applicable Effectiveness Deadline, (iii) the Exchange Offer has not
been Consummated within 30 Business Days after the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement is first declared effective by the Commission or (iv) any Registration
Statement required by this Agreement is filed and declared effective but shall
thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be usable for its intended purpose
without being succeeded immediately by a post-effective amendment to such
Registration Statement that cures such failure and that is itself declared
effective immediately (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv),
a "Registration Default"), then the Company and the Guarantors hereby jointly
and severally agree to pay to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
affected thereby liquidated damages in an amount equal to $.05 per week per
$1,000 in (x) principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities, if such
Securities are Senior Subordinated Notes, and (y) Accreted Value of Transfer
Restricted Securities, if such Securities are Senior Subordinated Discount
Notes, held by such Holder for each week or portion thereof that the
Registration Default continues for the first 90-day period immediately following
the occurrence of such Registration Default. The amount of the liquidated
damages shall increase by an additional $.05 per week per $1,000 in principal
amount or Accreted Value, as applicable, of Transfer Restricted Securities with
respect to each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have
been cured, up to a maximum amount of liquidated damages of $.50 per week per
$1,000 in principal amount or Accreted Value, as applicable, of Transfer
Restricted Securities; provided that the Company and the Guarantors shall in no
event be required to pay liquidated damages for more than one Registration
Default at any given time. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth
herein, (1) upon filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if
applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of (i) above, (2)
upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if
applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of (ii) above, (3)
upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer, in the case of (iii) above, or (4) upon
the filing of a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or an
additional Registration Statement that causes the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement) to again be
declared effective or made usable in the case of (iv) above, the liquidated
damages payable with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities as a result
of such clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), as applicable, shall cease.
All accrued liquidated damages shall be paid to the Holders entitled
thereto, in the manner provided for the payment of interest in the Senior
Subordinated Notes Indenture or Senior Subordinated Discount Notes Indenture, as
applicable, on each respective Interest Payment Date, as more fully set forth in
each of the Indentures and the Securities. All obligations of the Company and
the Guarantors set forth in the preceding paragraph that are outstanding with
respect to any Transfer Restricted Security at the time such security ceases to
be a Transfer Restricted Security shall survive until such time as all such
obligations with respect to such Security shall have been satisfied in full.
SECTION 6. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. In connection with the Exchange
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Offer, the Company and the Guarantors shall comply with all applicable
provisions of Section 6(c) below, shall use their respective best efforts to
effect such exchange and to permit the resale of Exchange Notes by
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Broker-Dealers that tendered in the Exchange Offer Notes that such Broker-Dealer
acquired for its own account as a result of its market making activities or
other trading activities (other than Notes acquired directly from the Company or
any of its Affiliates) being sold in accordance with the intended method or
methods of distribution thereof, and shall comply with all of the following
provisions :
(i) If, following the date hereof there has been announced a
change in Commission policy with respect to exchange offers such as the
Exchange Offer, that in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company
raises a substantial question as to whether the Exchange Offer is permitted
by applicable federal law, the Company and the Guarantors hereby agree to
seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision from the Commission
allowing the Company and the Guarantors to Consummate an Exchange Offer for
such Transfer Restricted Securities. The Company and the Guarantors hereby
agree to pursue the issuance of such a decision to the Commission staff
level. In connection with the foregoing, the Company and the Guarantors
hereby agree to take all such other actions as may be requested by the
Commission or otherwise required in connection with the issuance of such
decision, including without limitation (A) participating in telephonic
conferences with the Commission, (B) delivering to the Commission staff an
analysis prepared by counsel to the Company setting forth the legal bases,
if any, upon which such counsel has concluded that such an Exchange Offer
should be permitted and (C) diligently pursuing a resolution (which need
not be favorable) by the Commission staff.
(ii) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer,
each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (including, without
limitation, any Holder who is a Broker Dealer) shall furnish, upon the
request of the Company, prior to the Consummation of the Exchange Offer, a
written representation to the Company and the Guarantors (which may be
contained in the letter of transmittal contemplated by the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement) to the effect that (A) it is not an Affiliate of
the Company, (B) it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in,
and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in,
a distribution of the Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and
(C) it is acquiring the Exchange Notes in its ordinary course of business.
Each Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of
the Exchange Notes hereby acknowledges and agrees that, if the resales are
of Exchange Notes obtained by such Holder in exchange for Notes acquired
directly from the Company or an Affiliate thereof, it (1) could not, under
Commission policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement, rely on the
position of the Commission enunciated in Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx and Co., Inc.
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(available June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available
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May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the Commission's letter to Shearman &
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Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and similar no-action letters (including, if
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applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above),
and (2) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery
requirements of the Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction
and that such a secondary resale transaction must be covered by an
effective registration statement containing the selling security holder
information required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K.
(iii) Prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall provide a supplemental
letter to the Commission (A) stating that the Company and the Guarantors
are registering the Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the
Commission enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May
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13, 1988), Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) as
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interpreted in the Commission's letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2,
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1993, and, if applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause
(i) above, (B) including a representation that neither the
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Company nor any Guarantor has entered into any arrangement or understanding
with any Person to distribute the Exchange Notes to be received in the
Exchange Offer and that, to the best of the Company's and each Guarantor's
information and belief, each Holder participating in the Exchange Offer is
acquiring the Exchange Notes in its ordinary course of business and has no
arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the
distribution of the Exchange Notes received in the Exchange Offer and (C)
any other undertaking or representation required by the Commission as set
forth in any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above, if
applicable.
(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall comply with all the
provisions of Section 6(c) below and shall use their respective best efforts to
effect such registration to permit the sale of the Transfer Restricted
Securities being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of
distribution thereof (as indicated in the information furnished to the Company
pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof), and pursuant thereto the Company and the
Guarantors will prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement
relating to the registration on any appropriate form under the Act, which form
shall be available for the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities in
accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof within
the time periods and otherwise in accordance with the provisions hereof.
(c) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration Statement and
any related Prospectus required by this Agreement, the Company and the
Guarantors shall :
(i) use their respective best efforts to keep such Registration
Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite financial
statements for the period specified in Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement, as
applicable. Upon the occurrence of any event that would cause any such
Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain a
material misstatement or omission or (B) not to be effective and usable for
resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during the period required by this
Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors shall file promptly an
appropriate amendment to such Registration Statement curing such defect,
and, if Commission review is required, use their respective best efforts to
cause such amendment to be declared effective as soon as practicable.
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and
post-effective amendments to the applicable Registration Statement as may
be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the
applicable period set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as the case may be;
cause the Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus
supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under
the Act, and to comply fully with Rules 424, 430A and 462, as applicable,
under the Act in a timely manner; and comply with the provisions of the Act
with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such
Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the
intended method or methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth
in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;
(iii) advise the selling Holders promptly and, if requested by such
Persons, confirm such advice in writing, (A) when the Prospectus or any
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with
respect to any applicable Registration Statement or any post-effective
amendment thereto, when the same has become effective, (B) of any request
by the Commission for amendments to the Registration Statement or
amendments or supplements to
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the Prospectus or for additional information relating thereto, (C) of the
issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness
of the Registration Statement under the Act or of the suspension by any
state securities commission of the qualification of the Transfer Restricted
Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation of
any proceeding for any of the preceding purposes, (D) of the existence of
any fact or the happening of any event that makes any statement of a
material fact made in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any
amendment or supplement thereto or any document incorporated by reference
therein untrue, or that requires the making of any additions to or changes
in the Registration Statement in order to make the statements therein not
misleading, or that requires the making of any additions to or changes in
the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If at any time
the Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement, or any state securities commission or other
regulatory authority shall issue an order suspending the qualification or
exemption from qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under
state securities or Blue Sky laws, the Company and the Guarantors shall use
their respective best efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such
order at the earliest possible time;
(iv) subject to Section 6(c)(i), if any fact or event contemplated
by Section 6(c)(iii)(D) above shall exist or have occurred, prepare a
supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or
related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or
file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the
purchasers of Transfer Restricted Securities, the Prospectus will not
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(v) furnish to the Initial Purchasers and each selling Holder
named in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in connection with such
sale, if any, before filing with the Commission, copies of any Registration
Statement or any Prospectus included therein or any amendments or
supplements to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all
documents incorporated by reference after the initial filing of such
Registration Statement), which documents will be subject to the review and
comment of such Holders in connection with such sale, if any, for a period
of at least five Business Days, and the Company will not file any such
Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any
such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all such documents
incorporated by reference) to which the selling Holders of the Transfer
Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement in connection
with such sale, if any, shall reasonably object within five Business Days
after the receipt thereof. A selling Holder shall be deemed to have
reasonably objected to such filing if such Registration Statement,
amendment, Prospectus or supplement, as applicable, as proposed to be
filed, contains a material misstatement or omission or fails to comply with
the applicable requirements of the Act;
(vi) promptly prior to the filing of any document that is to be
incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or Prospectus,
provide copies of such document to the selling Holders in connection with
such sale, if any, make the Company's and the Guarantors' representatives
available for discussion of such document and other customary due diligence
matters, and include such information in such document prior to the filing
thereof as such selling Holders may reasonably request;
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(vii) make available at reasonable times for inspection by the
selling Holders participating in any disposition pursuant to such
Registration Statement and any attorney or accountant retained by such
selling Holders, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate
documents of the Company and the Guarantors and cause the Company's and the
Guarantors' officers, directors and employees to supply all information
reasonably requested by any such selling Holder, attorney or accountant in
connection with such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment
thereto subsequent to the filing thereof and prior to its effectiveness;
(viii) if requested by any selling Holders in connection with such
sale, if any, promptly include in any Registration Statement or Prospectus,
pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if necessary, such
information as such selling Holders may reasonably request to have included
therein, including, without limitation, information relating to the "Plan
of Distribution" of the Transfer Restricted Securities; and make all
required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment
as soon as practicable after the Company is notified of the matters to be
included in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;
(ix) furnish to each selling Holder in connection with such sale,
if any, without charge, at least one copy of the Registration Statement, as
first filed with the Commission, and of each amendment thereto, including
all documents incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits (including
exhibits incorporated therein by reference);
(x) deliver to each selling Holder, without charge, as many
copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any
amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may request; the
Company and the Guarantors hereby consent to the use (in accordance with
law) of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each of
the selling Holders in connection with the offering and the sale of the
Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment
or supplement thereto;
(xi) upon the request of any selling Holder, enter into such
agreements (including underwriting agreements) and make such
representations and warranties and take all such other actions in
connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of
the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to any applicable Registration
Statement contemplated by this Agreement as may be reasonably requested by
any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with any sale or
resale pursuant to any applicable Registration Statement and in such
connection, the Company and the Guarantors shall:
(A) upon request of any selling Holder, furnish (or in the case
of paragraphs (2) and (3), use its best efforts to cause to be
furnished) to each selling Holder, upon the effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration Statement or upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer, as
the case may be:
(1) (1) a certificate, dated such date, signed on behalf of
the Company and each Guarantor by (x) the President or any Vice
President and (y) a principal financial or accounting officer of the
Company and such Guarantor, confirming, as of the date thereof, the
matters set forth in Section 7(h) of the Purchase Agreement and such
other similar matters as the selling Holders may reasonably request;
Page 10
(2) an opinion, dated the date of Consummation of the
Exchange Offer, or the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration
Statement, as the case may be, of counsel for the Company and the
Guarantors covering matters similar to those set forth in Section 7(b)
of the Purchase Agreement and such other matter as the selling Holders
may reasonably request, and in any event including a statement to the
effect that such counsel has participated in conferences with officers
and other representatives of the Company and the Guarantors,
representatives of the independent public accountants for the Company
and the Guarantors and have considered the matters required to be
stated therein and the statements contained therein, although such
counsel has not independently verified the accuracy, completeness or
fairness of such statements; and that such counsel advises that, on
the basis of the foregoing (relying as to materiality to the extent
such counsel deems appropriate upon the statements of officers and
other representatives of the Company and the Guarantors), no facts
came to such counsel's attention that caused such counsel to believe
that the applicable Registration Statement, at the time such
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto became
effective and, in the case of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, as of the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer,
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, or that the Prospectus contained in
such Registration Statement as of its date and, in the case of the
opinion dated the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer, as of
the date of Consummation, contained an untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading. Without limiting the foregoing, such
counsel may state further that such counsel assumes no responsibility
for, and has not independently verified, the accuracy, completeness or
fairness of the financial statements, notes and schedules and other
financial data included in any Registration Statement contemplated by
this Agreement or the related Prospectus; and
(3) a customary comfort letter, dated the date of
Consummation of the Exchange Offer, or as of the date of effectiveness
of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, from the
Company's independent accountants, in the customary form and covering
matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters to
underwriters in connection with underwritten offerings, and affirming
the matters set forth in the comfort letters delivered pursuant to
Section 7(c) of the Purchase Agreement;
(B) set forth in full or incorporated by reference in the
underwriting agreement, if any, the indemnification provisions and
procedures of Section 8 hereof with respect to all parties to be
indemnified pursuant to said Section; and
(C) deliver such other documents and certificates as may be
reasonably requested by the selling Holders to evidence compliance with
clause (A) above and with any customary conditions contained in the any
agreement entered into by the Company and the Guarantors pursuant to
this clause (xi).
If at any time the representations and warranties of the Company and
each of the Guarantors set forth in the certificate contemplated in clause
(A)(1) above cease to be true and correct, the Company shall so advise the
Initial Purchasers and the underwriters, if any, and each selling Holder
promptly and, if requested by such Persons, shall confirm such advice in
writing;
Page 11
(xii) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted
Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders and their counsel in
connection with the registration and qualification of the Transfer
Restricted Securities under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions as the selling Holders may request and do any and all other
acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such
jurisdictions of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the
applicable Registration Statement; provided, however, that neither the
Company nor any Guarantor shall be required to register or qualify as a
foreign corporation where it is not now so qualified or to take any action
that would subject it to the service of process in suits or to taxation,
other than as to matters and transactions relating to the Registration
Statement, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject;
(xiii) issue, upon the request of any Holder of Notes covered by any
Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, Exchange Notes
having an aggregate principal amount or Accreted Value equal to the
aggregate principal amount or Accreted Value of Senior Subordinated Notes
or Senior Subordinated Discount Notes, respectively, surrendered to the
Company by such Holder in exchange therefor or being sold by such Holder;
such Exchange Notes to be registered in the name of such Holder or in the
name of the purchasers of such Exchange Notes, as the case may be; in
return, the Notes held by such Holder shall be surrendered to the Company
for cancellation;
(xiv) in connection with any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities
that will result in such securities no longer being Transfer Restricted
Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Transfer Restricted
Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and to
register such Transfer Restricted Securities in such denominations and such
names as the selling Holders may request at least two Business Days prior
to such sale of Transfer Restricted Securities;
(xv) use their respective best efforts to cause the disposition of
the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Registration Statement to
be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or
authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof to
consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities, subject
to the proviso contained in clause (xii) above;
(xvi) provide a CUSIP number for all Transfer Restricted Securities
not later than the effective date of a Registration Statement covering such
Transfer Restricted Securities and provide the Senior Subordinated Notes
Trustee and the Senior Subordinated Discount Notes Trustee under Indentures
with printed certificates for the Transfer Restricted Securities which are
in a form eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company;
(xvii) otherwise use their respective best efforts to comply with
all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally
available to its security holders with regard to any applicable
Registration Statement, as soon as practicable, a consolidated earnings
statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158 (which need not be audited)
covering a twelve-month period beginning after the effective date of the
Registration Statement (as such term is defined in paragraph (c) of Rule
158 under the Act);
(xviii) make appropriate officers of the Company available to the
selling Holders for meetings with prospective purchasers of the Transfer
Restricted Securities and prepare and
Page 12
present to potential investors customary "road show" material in a manner
consistent with other new issuances of other securities similar to the
Transfer Restricted Securities; and
(viii) cause the Indentures to be qualified under the TIA not
later than the effective date of the first Registration Statement
required by this Agreement and, in connection therewith, cooperate with
the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to the Indentures as
may be required for such Indentures to be so qualified in accordance with
the terms of the TIA; and execute and use its best efforts to cause the
Trustee to execute, all documents that may be required to effect such
changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the
Commission to enable such Indentures to be so qualified in a timely
manner; and
(ix) provide promptly to each Holder upon request each document
filed with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or
Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(d) Restrictions on Holders. Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a
-----------------------
Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of the notice referred to in
Section 6(c)(i) or any notice from the Company of the existence of any fact of
the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof (in each case, a "Suspension
Notice"), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Transfer
Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement until
(i) such Holder has received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus
contemplated by Section 6(c)(iv) hereof, or (ii) such Holder is advised in
writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed, and has
received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated
by reference in the Prospectus (in each case, the "Recommencement Date"). Each
Holder receiving a Suspension Notice hereby agrees that it will either (i)
destroy any Prospectuses, other than permanent file copies, then in such
Holder's possession which have been replaced by the Company with more recently
dated Prospectuses or (ii) deliver to the Company (at the Company's expense) all
copies, other than permanent file copies, then in such Holder's possession of
the Prospectus covering such Transfer Restricted Securities that was current at
the time of receipt of the Suspension Notice. The time period regarding the
effectiveness of such Registration Statement set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof,
as applicable, shall be extended by a number of days equal to the number of days
in the period from and including the date of delivery of the Suspension Notice
to the date of delivery of the Recommencement Date.
SECTION 7. REGISTRATION EXPENSES
(a) All expenses incident to the Company's and the Guarantors'
performance of or compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company,
regardless of whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including
without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses; (ii) all
fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state Blue Sky or
securities laws; (iii) all expenses of printing (including printing certificates
for the Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of
Prospectuses), messenger and delivery services and telephone; (iv) all fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company and the Guarantors; (v) all application
and filing fees in connection with listing the Exchange Notes on a national
securities exchange or automated quotation system pursuant to the requirements
hereof; and (vi) all fees and disbursements of independent certified public
accountants of the Company and the Guarantors (including the expenses of any
special audit and comfort letters required by or incident to such performance).
The Company will, in any event, bear its and the Guarantors' internal
expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its
officers and employees performing legal or accounting
Page 13
duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any
Person, including special experts, retained by the Company or the Guarantors.
(b) In connection with any Registration Statement required by this
Agreement (including, without limitation, the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement and the Shelf Registration Statement), the Company and the Guarantors
will reimburse the Purchasers and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities
being tendered in the Exchange Offer and/or resold pursuant to the "Plan of
Distribution" contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or
registered pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable, for the
reasonable fees and disbursements of not more than one counsel (not to exceed
$25,000), who shall be Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx, unless another firm shall be chosen by
the Holders of a majority in principal amount (or Accreted Value, as the case
may be) of the Transfer Restricted Securities for whose benefit such
Registration Statement is being prepared. Such Holders shall be responsible for
any and all other out-of-pocket expenses of the Holders incurred in connection
with the registration of the Securities.
SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION
(a) The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, agree to
indemnify and hold harmless (i) each Holder and (ii) each person, if any, who
controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act) any Holder (any of the persons referred to in this clause (ii)
being hereinafter referred to as a "controlling person") and (iii) the
respective officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives and agents
of any Holder or any controlling person (any person referred to in clause (i),
(ii) or (iii) may hereinafter be referred to as an "Indemnified Holder"), from
and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments,
(including without limitation, any legal or other expenses incurred in
connection with investigating or defending any matter, including any action that
could give rise to any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments)
caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus or Prospectus
(or any amendment or supplement thereto) provided by the Company to any holder
or any prospective purchaser of Exchange Notes, or caused by any omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments are caused by an untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission that is based upon
information relating to any of the Holders furnished in writing to the Company
by any of the Holders.
(b) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agrees, severally
and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Guarantors,
and their respective directors and officers, and each person, if any, who
controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act) the Company or the Guarantors, to the same extent as the foregoing
indemnity from the Company and the Guarantors to each of the Indemnified
Holders, but only with reference to information relating to such Indemnified
Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Indemnified Holder expressly
for use in any Registration Statement. In no event shall any Indemnified Holder
be liable or responsible for any amount in excess of the amount by which the
total amount received by such Indemnified Holder with respect to its sale of
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds the
amount paid by such Indemnified Holder for such Transfer Restricted Securities.
(c) In case any action shall be commenced involving any person in
respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a) or 8(b) hereof
(the "indemnified party"), the
Page 14
indemnified party shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity
may be sought (the "indemnifying person") in writing and the indemnifying party
shall assume the defense of such action, including the employment of counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party and the payment of all fees and
expenses of such counsel, as incurred (except that in the case of any action in
respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to both Sections 8(a) and
8(b), an Indemnified Holder shall not be required to assume the defense of such
action pursuant to this Section 8(c), but may employ separate counsel and
participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel,
except as provided below, shall be at the expense of the Indemnified Holder).
Any indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any
such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of
such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnified party unless (i) the
employment of such counsel shall have been specifically authorized in writing by
the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume
the defense of such action or employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
indemnified party or (iii) the named parties to any such action (including any
impleaded parties) include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying
party, and the indemnified party shall have been advised by such counsel that
there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from
or additional to those available to the indemnifying party (in which case the
indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action
on behalf of the indemnified party). In any such case, the indemnifying party
shall not, in connection with any one action or separate but substantially
similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same
general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of
more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) for
all indemnified parties and all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as
they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by a majority of the
Indemnified Holders, in the case of the parties indemnified pursuant to Section
8(a), and by the Company, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section
8(b). The indemnifying party shall indemnify and hold harmless the indemnified
party from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and
judgments by reason of any settlement of any action (i) effected with its
written consent or (ii) effected without its written consent if the settlement
is entered into more than twenty business days after the indemnifying party
shall have received a request from the indemnified party for reimbursement for
the fees and expenses of counsel (in any case where such fees and expenses are
at the expense of the indemnifying party) and, prior to the date of such
settlement, the indemnifying party shall have failed to comply with such
reimbursement request. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement or compromise of, or
consent to the entry of judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened
action in respect of which the indemnified party is or could have been a party
and indemnity or contribution may be or could have been sought hereunder by the
indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes
an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability on claims
that are or could have been the subject matter of such action and (ii) does not
include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to
act, by or on behalf of the indemnified party.
(d) To the extent that the indemnification provided for in this Section
8 is unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or judgments referred to therein, then each indemnifying
party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the
amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the
Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, from their sale
of Transfer Restricted Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause
8(d)(i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate
to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 8(d)(i) above
but also the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand,
and of the Indemnified Holder, on the other hand, in connection with the
statements or omissions which
Page 15
resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments, as well as
any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company
and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and of the Indemnified Holder, on the other
hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the
untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged
omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company
or such Guarantor, on the one hand, or by the Indemnified Holder, on the other
hand, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid or
payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and
judgments referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the
limitations set forth in the second paragraph of Section 8(a), any legal or
other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with
investigating or defending any action or claim.
The Company, the Guarantors and each Holder agree that it would not be
just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) were determined
by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders 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 in the immediately preceding paragraph. The
amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to in the immediately
preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set
forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in connection with investigating or defending any matter, including any
action that could have given rise to such losses, claims, damages, liabilities
or judgments. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Holder or its
related Indemnified Holders shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate,
any amount in excess of the amount by which the total received by such Holder
with respect to the sale of its Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a
Registration Statement exceeds the sum of (A) the amount paid by such Holder for
such Transfer Restricted Securities plus (B) the amount of any damages which
such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders' obligations to contribute pursuant to
this Section 8(c) are several in proportion to the respective principal amount
or Accreted Value, as applicable, of Transfer Restricted Securities held by each
of the Holders hereunder and not joint.
SECTION 9. RULE 144A
The Company and each Guarantor hereby agrees with each Holder, for so
long as any Transfer Restricted Securities remain outstanding and during any
period in which the Company or such Guarantor is not subject to Section 13 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act, to make available, upon request of any Holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities, to any Holder or beneficial owner of Transfer
Restricted Securities in connection with any sale thereof and any prospective
purchaser of such Transfer Restricted Securities designated by such Holder or
beneficial owner, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act in
order to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule
144A.
SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) Remedies. The Company and the Guarantors acknowledge and agree that
--------
any failure by the Company and/or the Guarantors to comply with their respective
obligations under Sections 3 and 4 hereof may result in material irreparable
injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders for which there is no adequate
remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries
precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial Purchasers or
any Holder may obtain such relief as
Page 16
may be required to specifically enforce the Company's and the Guarantor's
obligations under Sections 3 and 4 hereof. The Company and the Guarantors
further agree to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a
remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor
--------------------------
will, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with
respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the
Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.
Neither the Company nor any Guarantor has previously entered into any agreement
granting any registration rights with respect to its securities to any Person.
The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and
are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company's and
the Guarantors' securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.
(c) Adjustments Affecting the Notes. Neither the Company nor any of
-------------------------------
the Guarantors shall take any action, or permit any change to occur, with
respect to the Notes that would materially and adversely affect the ability of
the Holders to Consummate any Exchange Offer.
(d) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not
----------------------
be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures
from the provisions hereof may not be given unless (i) in the case of Section 5
hereof and this Section 10(d)(i), the Company has obtained the written consent
of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) in the
case of all other provisions hereof, the Company has obtained the written
consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer
Restricted Securities (excluding Transfer Restricted Securities held by the
Company of its Affiliates). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent
to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights
of Holders whose securities are being tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer
and that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights of other Holders
whose securities are not being tendered pursuant to such Exchange Offer may be
given by the Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities subject to such Exchange Offer.
(e) Third Party Beneficiary. The Holders shall be third party
-----------------------
beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company and the
Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and
shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent they may
deem such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights
of Holders hereunder.
(f) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
-------
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail
(registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier, or air
courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(i) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of
the Registrar under the Indentures, with a copy to the Registrar under
the Indentures; and
(ii) if to the Company or the Guarantors:
Sealy Mattress Company
Halle Building, 10th Floor
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Page 17
Attention: Xxx Xxxxxx
With a copy to:
Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx
000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxx, Esq.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business
Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt
acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next business day, if timely delivered
to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the
address specified in the Indenture.
Upon the date of filing of the Exchange Offer or a Shelf Registration
Statement, as the case may be, notice shall be delivered to Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx &
Co., on behalf of the Initial Purchasers (in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
A) and shall be addressed to: Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx (Special Execution), 00
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000.
(g) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
----------------------
of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties,
including without limitation and without the need for an express assignment,
subsequent Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided, that nothing
herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition
of Transfer Restricted Securities in violation of the terms hereof or of the
Purchase Agreement or the Indenture. If any transferee of any Holder shall
acquire Transfer Restricted Securities in any manner, whether by operation of
law or otherwise, such Transfer Restricted Securities shall be held subject to
all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Transfer
Restricted Securities such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to
be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement,
including the restrictions on resale set forth in this Agreement and, if
applicable, the Purchase Agreement, and such Person shall be entitled to receive
the benefits hereof.
(h) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
------------
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(i) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
--------
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(j) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
-------------
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE
CONFLICT OF LAW RULES THEREOF.
(k) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions
------------
contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and
Page 18
enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining
provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
(l) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a
----------------
final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive
statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of
the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises,
warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein
with respect to the registration rights granted with respect to the Transfer
Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
[Registration Rights Agreement Signature Page(s) Follow]
Page 19
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
Company:
SEALY MATTRESS COMPANY
By: /s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President, General Counsel &
Secretary
Guarantors:
SEALY CORPORATION
By: /s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President, General Counsel &
Secretary
SEALY MATTRESS COMPANY OF PUERTO RICO
By: /s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President, General Counsel &
Secretary
OHIO-SEALY MATTRESS MANUFACTURING CO.,
INC. (XXXXXXXX)
By: /s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President, General Counsel &
Secretary
Registration Rights Agreement Signature Pages S-1
OHIO-SEALY MATTRESS MANUFACTURING CO.
- FT. WORTH
By: /s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President, General Counsel &
Secretary
OHIO-SEALY MATTRESS MANUFACTURING CO.
By: /s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President, General Counsel &
Secretary
OHIO-SEALY MATTRESS MANUFACTURING CO.-
HOUSTON
By: /s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President, General Counsel &
Secretary
SEALY MATTRESS COMPANY OF MICHIGAN, INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President, General Counsel &
Secretary
SEALY MATTRESS COMPANY OF KANSAS CITY, INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President, General Counsel &
Secretary
SEALY OF MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA, INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President, General Counsel &
Secretary
Registration Rights Agreement Signature Pages S-2
SEALY MATTRESS COMPANY OF ILLINOIS
By: /S/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President, General Counsel &
Secretary
X. XXXXXXXXX & COMPANY
By: /S/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President, General Counsel &
Secretary
SEALY MATTRESS COMPANY OF ALBANY, INC.
By: /S/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President, General Counsel &
Secretary
SEALY OF MINNESOTA, INC.
By: /S/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President, General Counsel &
Secretary
SEALY MATTRESS COMPANY OF MEMPHIS
By: /S/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President, General Counsel &
Secretary
THE XXXXXXX & XXXXXX BEDDING COMPANY
By: /S/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President, General Counsel &
Secretary
Registration Rights Agreement Signature Pages S-3
THE XXXXXXX & XXXXXX UPHOLSTERY
FURNITURE COMPANY
By: /s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President, General Counsel &
Secretary
SEALY, INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President, General Counsel &
Secretary
THE OHIO MATTRESS COMPANY LICENSING
AND COMPONENTS GROUP
By: /s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President, General Counsel &
Secretary
SEALY MATTRESS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President, General Counsel &
Secretary
Registration Rights Agreement Signature Pages S-4
Initial Purchasers:
XXXXXXX, XXXXX & CO.
X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES INC.
BT ALEX. XXXXX INCORPORATED
By: /s/ XXXXXXX, SACHS & CO.
--------------------------------
(Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.)
Registration Rights Agreement Signature Pages S-5
EXHIBIT A
NOTICE OF FILING OF
EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT
To: Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co.
Special Executions
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Fax: (000) 000-0000
From: Sealy Mattress Company
Halle Building, 10th Floor
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Re: 9-7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007
10-7/8% Senior Subordinated Discount Notes due 2007
Date: _______, 199_
For your information only (NO ACTION REQUIRED):
Today, ______, 199_, we filed [an Exchange Registration Statement/a Shelf
Registration Statement] with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We
currently expect this registration statement to be declared effective within
____ business days of the date hereof.
