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EXHIBIT 4.3
MSX INTERNATIONAL, INC.
$100,000,000
11 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2008
REGISTRATION AGREEMENT
January 22, 1998
Salomon Brothers Inc
Xxxxxx Brothers Inc.
First Chicago Capital Markets, Inc.
c/o Salomon Brothers Inc
Seven Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
MSX International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
proposes to issue and sell to certain purchasers (the "Purchasers"), upon the
terms set forth in a purchase agreement of even date herewith (the "Purchase
Agreement"), its $100,000,000 aggregate principal amount 11 3/8% Senior
Subordinated Notes due 2008 (the "Securities"), which securities will be
guaranteed by Geometric Results Incorporated, a Delaware corporation, MSX
International Engineering Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation, MSX
International Business Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation, MSX
International (Holdings), Inc. and MSX International (USA), Inc., a Delaware
corporation, (each a "Subsidiary Guarantor" and collectively, the "Subsidiary
Guarantors") (the "Initial Placement"). The Company and the Subsidiary
Guarantors are referred to herein as the "Issuers." As an inducement to the
Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement and in satisfaction of a
condition to your obligations thereunder, the Issuers agree with you, (i) for
your benefit and the benefit of the other Purchasers and (ii) for the benefit
of the holders from time to time of the Securities (including you and the other
Purchasers) (each of the foregoing, a "Holder" and, together, the "Holders"),
as follows:
1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein without definition
shall have their respective meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement. As
used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms shall have the
following meanings:
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"Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
"Affiliate" of any specified person means any other person who,
directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common
control with, such specified person. For purposes of this definition, control
of a person means the power, direct or indirect, to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of such person whether by contract or
otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings
correlative to the foregoing.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
"Exchange Offer Registration Period" means the 180 day period following
the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, exclusive of any period
during which any stop order shall be in effect suspending the effectiveness of
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.
"Exchange Offer Registration Statement" means a registration statement
of the Company on an appropriate form under the Act with respect to the
Registered Exchange Offer, all amendments and supplements to such registration
statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the
Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material
incorporated by reference therein.
"Exchanging Dealer" means any Holder (which may include the Purchasers)
which is a broker-dealer, electing to exchange Securities acquired for its own
account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities,
for New Securities.
"Final Memorandum" means the Offering Memorandum dated January 16,
1998.
"Holder" has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
"Indenture" means the Indenture relating to the Securities dated as of
January 15, 1998, by and among the Company,
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the Subsidiary Guarantors and IBJ Xxxxxxxx Bank & Trust Company, as trustee,
as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms
thereof.
"Initial Placement" has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
"Issue Date" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
"Majority Holders" means the Holders of a majority of the aggregate
principal amount of securities registered under a Registration Statement.
"Managing Underwriters" means the investment banker or investment
bankers and manager or managers that shall administer an underwritten offering.
"New Securities" means debt securities of the Company identical in all
material respects to the Securities (except that the interest rate step-up
provisions and the transfer restrictions will be modified or eliminated, as
appropriate) to be issued under the Indenture or the New Securities Indenture.
"New Securities Indenture" means an indenture by and among the Company,
the Subsidiary Guarantors and the New Securities Trustee, identical in all
material respects with the Indenture (except that the interest rate step-up
provisions will be modified or eliminated, as appropriate).
"New Securities Trustee" means a bank or trust company reasonably
satisfactory to the Purchaser, as trustee with respect to the New Securities
under the New Securities Indenture.
"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in any Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that discloses
information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A under the Act), as amended or
supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the
offering of any portion of the Securities or the New Securities, covered by
such Registration Statement, and all amendments and supplements to the
Prospectus, including post-effective amendments.
"Registered Exchange Offer" means the proposed offer to the Holders to
issue and deliver to such Holders, in ex-
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change for the securities, a like principal amount of the New Securities.
"Registration Statement" means any Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or Shelf Registration Statement that covers any of the Securities or
the New Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, amendments and
supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective
amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all
exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.
"Securities" has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
"Shelf Registration" means a registration effected pursuant to Section
3 hereof.
"Shelf Registration Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b)
hereof.
"Shelf Registration Statement" means a "shelf" registration statement
of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 hereof which covers some
or all of the Securities or New Securities, as applicable, on an appropriate
form under Rule 415 under the Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by
the Commission, amendments and supplements to such registration statement,
including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus
contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by
reference therein.
"Trustee" means the trustee with respect to the Securities under the
Indenture.
"underwriter" means any underwriter of Securities in connection with an
offering thereof under a Shelf Registration Statement.
2. Registered Exchange Offer; Resales of New Securities by
Exchanging Dealers; Private Exchange. (a) The Issuers shall prepare and, not
later than 90 days following the Issue Date, shall file with the Commission the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement with respect to the Registered Exchange
Offer. The Issuers shall use their best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement to become effective under the Act within 180 days of the
Issue Date.
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(b) Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, the Issuers shall promptly commence the Registered Exchange Offer,
it being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable each Holder
electing to exchange Securities for New Securities (assuming that such Holder
is not an affiliate of any of the Issuers within the meaning of the Act,
acquires the New Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder's business
and has no arrangements with any person to participate in the distribution of
the New Securities) to trade such New Securities from and after their receipt
without any limitations or restrictions under the Act and without material
restrictions under the securities laws of a substantial proportion of the
several states of the United States.
(c) In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Issuers
shall:
(i) mail to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming
part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an
appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;
(ii) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than 30
days (or longer if required by applicable law) after the date notice thereof
is mailed to the Holders;
(iii) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered
Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of
New York; and
(iv) comply in all respects with all laws applicable to the
Registered Exchange Offer.
(d) As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered
Exchange Offer, the Issuers shall:
(i) accept for exchange all Securities validly tendered and
not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer;
(ii) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all securities
so accepted for exchange; and
(iii) cause the Trustee or the New Securities Trustee, as the
case may be, promptly to authenticate and deliver to each Holder of
Securities, New Securities equal in
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principal amount to the Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.
(e) The Purchasers and the Issuers acknowledge that, pursuant to
interpretations by the Commission's staff of Section 5 of the Act, and in the
absence of an applicable exemption therefrom, each Exchanging Dealer is
required to deliver a Prospectus in connection with a sale of any New
Securities received by such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to the Registered
Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities acquired for its own account as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities. Accordingly,
the Issuers shall:
(i) include the information set forth in Annex A hereto on the cover
of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, in Annex B hereto in the
forepart of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in a section
setting forth details of the Exchange Offer, and in Annex C hereto in the
underwriting or plan of distribution section of the Prospectus forming a
part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and include the
information set forth in Annex D hereto in the Letter of Transmittal
delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer; and
(ii) use their best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement continuously effective under the Act during the Exchange Offer
Registration Period for delivery by Exchanging Dealers in connection with
sales of New Securities received pursuant to the Registered Exchange
Offer, as contemplated by Section 4(h) below.
3. Shelf Registration. If (i) because of any change in law or
applicable interpretations thereof by the Commission's staff, the Issuers
determine upon advice of their outside counsel that they are not permitted to
effect the Registered Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section 2 hereof, or
(ii) for any other reason the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated
within 180 days of the date hereof, or (iii) any Purchaser so requests with
respect to Securities not eligible to be exchanged for New Securities in a
Registered Exchange Offer and held by it following consummation of the
Registered Exchange Offer, or (iv) any Holder (other than a Purchaser) shall
notify the Company in writing that it is not eligible under applicable law to
participate in the Registered Exchange Offer (other than because it has an
understanding or arrangement with any person to participate in a distribution
of the New Securities) or (v) in the case of any Purchaser that participates in
the Registered Exchange Offer, such Purchaser does not receive
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freely tradeable New Securities in exchange for Securities constituting any
portion of an unsold allotment (it being understood that, for purposes of this
Section 3, (x) the requirement that a Purchaser deliver a Prospectus containing
the information required by Items 507 and/or 508 of Regulation S-K under the
Act in connection with sales of New Securities acquired in exchange for such
Securities shall result in such New Securities being not "freely tradeable" but
(y) the requirement that an Exchanging Dealer deliver a Prospectus in
connection with sales of New Securities acquired in the Registered Exchange
Offer in exchange for Securities acquired as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities shall not result in such New Securities
being not "freely tradeable") or (vi) if the Company so elects; provided that
any such election shall not relieve the Company of its obligations pursuant to
Section 2 hereof, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) The Issuers shall as promptly as practicable file with the
Commission and thereafter shall use their best efforts to cause to be
declared effective under the Act a Shelf Registration Statement relating
to the offer and sale of the Securities or the New Securities, as
applicable, by the Holders from time to time in accordance with the
methods of distribution elected by such Holders and set forth in such
Shelf Registration Statement; provided that, with respect to New
Securities received by a Purchaser in exchange for securities
constituting any portion of an unsold allotment, the Issuers may, if
permitted by current interpretations by the Commission's staff, file a
post-effective amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
containing the information required by Regulation S-K Items 507 and/or
508, as applicable, in satisfaction of their obligations under this
paragraph (a) with respect thereto, and any such Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, as so amended, shall be referred to herein as,
and governed by the provisions herein applicable to, a Shelf Registration
Statement.
(b) The Issuers shall use their best efforts to keep the Shelf
Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit the
Prospectus forming part thereof to be usable by Holders for a period of
two years (or until one year after its effective date if such Shelf
Registration Statement is filed at the request of any of the Purchasers)
from the date the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective (the
"Expiration Date") by the Commission or such shorter period that will
terminate when all the Securities or New Securities, as applicable,
covered by
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the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement (in any such case, such period being called the
"Shelf Registration Period"); provided however that during any consecutive
365-day period, the Company shall have the option to suspend availability
of the Shelf Registration Statement for up to two 30-consecutive-day
periods, except for the consecutive 30-day period immediately prior to the
Expiration Date, if the Company's Board of Directors determines in the
exercise of its reasonable judgment that there is a valid business purpose
for such suspension; provided further that if the Shelf Registration Period
terminates and all the Securities or New Securities, as applicable, covered
by the Shelf Registration Statement have not been sold, the Company will
cause the effectiveness to be extended by the number of days during which
the Registration Statement was not usable pursuant to the preceding
proviso. The Issuers shall be deemed not to have used their best efforts
to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective during the requisite
period if any Issuer voluntarily takes any action that would result in
Holders of securities covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such
securities during that period, unless (i) such action is required by
applicable law, or (ii) such action is taken by such Issuer in good faith
and for valid business reasons (not including avoidance of such Issuer's
obligations hereunder), including the acquisition or divestiture of assets,
so long as such Issuer promptly thereafter complies with the requirements
of Section 4(k) hereof, if applicable.
4. Registration Procedures. In connection with any Shelf
Registration Statement and, to the extent applicable, any Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) The Issuers shall furnish to you, prior to the filing thereof
with the Commission, a copy of any Shelf Registration Statement and any
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and each amendment thereof and
each amendment or supplement, if any, to the Prospectus included therein
and shall use their best efforts to reflect in each such document, when
so filed with the Commission, such comments as you reasonably may
propose.
(b) The Issuers shall ensure that (i) any Registration Statement and
any amendment thereto and any Prospectus forming part thereof and any
amendment or supplement thereto complies in all material respects with
the Act and
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the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) any Registration Statement and
any amendment thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading and (iii) any Prospectus forming part of any Registration
Statement, and any amendment or supplement to such Prospectus, does not
include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact necessary in order to make the statements, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(c) (1) The Issuers shall advise you or your representative and, in
the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders of securities
covered thereby, and, if requested by you or your representative or any
such Holder, confirm such advice in writing:
(i) when a Registration Statement and any amendment thereto
has been filed with the Commission and when the Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become
effective; and
(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or
supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
included therein or for additional information.
(2) The Issuers shall advise you or your representative and, in the
case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders of securities covered
thereby, and, in the case of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
any Exchanging Dealer which has provided in writing to the Company a
telephone or facsimile number and address for notices, and, if requested
by you or your representative or any such Holder or Exchanging Dealer,
confirm such advice in writing:
(i) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;
(ii) of the receipt by the Issuers of any notification with
respect to the suspension of the qualification of the securities
included therein for sale
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in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any
proceeding for such purpose; and
(iii) of the happening of any event that requires the making
of any changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus so
that, as of such date, the statements therein are not misleading
and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of
the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made) not misleading.
(d) The Issuers shall use their best efforts to obtain the
withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration
Statement at the earliest possible time.
(e) The Issuers shall furnish to each Holder of securities included
within the coverage of any Shelf Registration Statement, without charge,
at least one copy of such Shelf Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and
schedules, and, if the Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits
(including those incorporated by reference).
(f) The Issuers shall, during the Shelf Registration Period, deliver
to each Holder of securities included within the coverage of any Shelf
Registration Statement, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus
(including each preliminary Prospectus) included in such Shelf
Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such
Holder may reasonably request; and the Issuers consent to the use of the
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling
Holders of securities in connection with the offering and sale of the
securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto.
(g) The Issuers shall furnish to each Exchanging Dealer which so
requests, without charge, at least one copy of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto,
including financial statements and schedules, and, if the Exchanging
Dealer so requests in writing, all exhibits (including those incorporated
by reference).
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(h) The Issuers shall, during the Exchange Offer Registration
Period, promptly deliver to each Exchanging Dealer, without charge, as
many copies of the Prospectus included in such Exchange Offer
Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such
Exchanging Dealer may reasonably request for delivery by such Exchanging
Dealer in connection with a sale of New Securities received by it
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer; and the Issuers consent to the
use of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by any such
Exchanging Dealer, as aforesaid.
(i) Prior to the Registered Exchange Offer or any other offering of
securities pursuant to any Registration Statement, the Issuers shall use
their respective best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with
the Holders of securities included therein and their respective counsel
in connection with the registration or qualification of such securities
for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such
jurisdictions as any such Holders reasonably request in writing and do
any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the
offer and sale in such jurisdictions of the securities covered by such
Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Issuers will not be
required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where
they are not then so qualified or to take any action which would subject
them to general service of process or to taxation in any such
jurisdiction where they are not then so subject.
(j) The Issuers shall cooperate with the Holders of Securities to
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates
representing Securities to be sold pursuant to any Registration Statement
free of any restrictive legends and in such denominations and registered
in such names as Holders may request prior to sales of securities
pursuant to such Registration Statement.
(k) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by paragraph
(c)(2)(iii) above during the period for which the Issuers are required to
maintain an effective registration statement, the Issuers shall promptly
prepare a post-effective amendment to any Registration Statement or an
amendment or supplement to the related Prospectus or file any other
required document so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the
Securities included therein, the Prospectus will not include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
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necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading.
(l) Not later than the effective date of any such Registration
Statement hereunder, the Issuers shall provide a CUSIP number for the
Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, registered under such
Registration Statement, and provide the applicable trustee with printed
certificates for such Securities or New Securities, in a form eligible
for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.
(m) The Issuers shall use their best efforts to comply with all
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and shall make
generally available to their security holders as soon as practicable
after the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement an
earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act.
(n) The Issuers shall cause the Indenture or the New Securities
Indenture, as the case may be, to be qualified under the Trust Indenture
Act in a timely manner.
(o) The Issuers may require each Holder of Securities to be sold
pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the Issuers
such information regarding the Holder and the distribution of such
Securities as the Issuers may from time to time reasonably require for
inclusion in such Registration Statement. No Holder may include any of
its Securities in any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this
Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to the Issuers in
writing, within 10 days after receipt of a written request therefor, such
information as the Issuers may reasonably request, including, but not
limited to, information specified by Regulation S-K or otherwise required
by the Commission for use in connection with any Shelf Registration
Statement or Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus included therein. Each
Holder as to which any Shelf Registration Statement is being effected
agrees to furnish promptly to the Issuers all information required to be
disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the
Issuers by such Holder not materially misleading.
(p) The Issuers shall, if requested, promptly incorporate in a
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amend-
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ment to a Shelf Registration Statement, such information as the
Managing Underwriters and Majority Holders reasonably agree should be
included therein and shall make all required filings of such Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as notified of the matters
to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment.
(q) In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, the Issuers
shall enter into such agreements (including underwriting agreements) and
take all other appropriate actions in order to expedite or facilitate the
registration or the disposition of the Securities, and in connection
therewith, if an underwriting agreement is entered into, cause the same
to contain indemnification provisions and procedures no less favorable
than those set forth in Section 6 (or such other provisions and
procedures acceptable to the Majority Holders and the Managing
Underwriters, if any,) with respect to all parties to be indemnified
pursuant to Section 6 from Holders of Securities to the Company.
(r) In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, the Issuers
shall (i) make reasonably available for inspection by a representative
acting for a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Holders of
Securities to be registered thereunder, and any underwriter participating
in any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement, and any
attorney, accountant or other agent retained by the Holders or any such
underwriter all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate
documents and properties of the Issuers and their subsidiaries; (ii)
cause the Issuers' officers, directors and employees to supply all
relevant information reasonably requested by the Holders or any such
underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with any such
Registration Statement as is customary for similar due diligence
examinations; provided, however, that any information that is designated
in writing by the Issuers, in good faith, as confidential at the time of
delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by the Holders or
any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent, unless such
disclosure is made in connection with a court proceeding or required by
law, or such information becomes available to the public generally or
through a third party without an accompanying obligation of
confidentiality; (iii) make such representations and warranties to the
Holders of Securities registered thereunder and the underwriters, if
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any, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by Issuers
to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings and covering matters
including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Purchase Agreement;
(iv) obtain opinions of counsel to the Issuers and updates thereof (which
counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the Managing Underwriters, if any) addressed to each
selling Holder of Securities registered thereunder and the underwriters,
if any, in customary form and covering such matters as are customarily
covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings; (v) use their
reasonable best efforts to obtain "cold comfort" letters and updates
thereof from the independent certified public accountants of the Issuers
(and, if necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of
any subsidiary of the Issuers or of any business acquired by the Issuers
for which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to
be, included in the Registration Statement), addressed to each selling
Holder of securities registered thereunder and the underwriters, if any,
in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in
"cold comfort" letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings;
and (vi) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably
requested by the Majority Holders and the Managing Underwriters, if any,
including those to evidence compliance with Section 4(k) and with any
customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other
agreement entered into by the Issuers. The foregoing actions set forth
in clauses (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) of this Section 4(r) shall be
performed at (A) the effectiveness of such Registration Statement and (B)
each closing under any underwriting or similar agreement as and to the
extent required thereunder.
(s) In the case of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the
Issuers shall, to the extent requested by a representative acting for a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Purchasers, (i) make
reasonably available for inspection by such Purchasers, and any attorney,
accountant or other agent retained by such Purchasers, all relevant
financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties
of the Issuers and any of their subsidiaries; (ii) cause the Issuers
officers, directors and employees to supply all relevant information
reasonably requested by such Purchasers or any such attorney, accountant
or agent in connection with any such Registration Statement as is
customary for similar due diligence exami-
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nations; provided, however, that any information that is designated
in writing by the Issuers, in good faith, as confidential at the time of
delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by such
Purchasers or any such attorney, accountant or agent, unless such
disclosure is made in connection with a court proceeding or required by
law, or such information becomes available to the public generally or
through a third party without an accompanying obligation of
confidentiality; (iii) make such representations and warranties to such
Purchasers, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by
Issuers to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings and covering
matters including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Purchase
Agreement; (iv) obtain opinions of counsel to the Issuers and updates
thereof which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall
be reasonably satisfactory to such Purchasers and its counsel, addressed
to such Purchasers, covering such matters as are customarily covered in
opinions requested in underwritten offerings; (v) use their reasonable
best efforts to obtain "cold comfort" letters and updates thereof from
the independent certified public accountants of the Issuers (and, if
necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any
subsidiary of the Issuers or of any business acquired by the Issuers for
which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be,
included in the Registration Statement), addressed to such Purchaser, in
customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in
"cold comfort" letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings,
or if requested by such Purchaser or its counsel in lieu of a "cold
comfort" letter, an agreed-upon procedures letter under Statement on
Auditing Standards No. 35, covering matters requested by such Purchaser
or its counsel; and (vi) deliver such documents and certificates as may
be reasonably requested by such Purchaser or its counsel, including those
to evidence compliance with Section 4(k) and with conditions customarily
contained in underwriting agreements. The foregoing actions set forth in
clauses (iii), (iv), (v), and (vi) of this Section 4(s) shall be
performed at the close of the Registered Exchange Offer and the effective
date of any post-effective amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement.
5. Registration Expenses. The Issuers shall bear all expenses
incurred in connection with the performance of their obligations under Sections
2, 3 and 4 hereof and, in the event of any Shelf Registration Statement, will
reimburse the
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Holders for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm or counsel
designated by the Majority Holders to act as counsel for the Holders in
connection therewith, and, in the case of any Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, will reimburse the Purchasers for the reasonable fees and
disbursements of one firm or counsel acting in connection therewith.
6. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) In connection with any
Registration Statement, the Issuers, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify
and hold harmless each Holder of Securities covered thereby (including each
Purchaser and, with respect to any Prospectus delivery as contemplated in
Section 4(h) hereof, each Exchanging Dealer), the directors, officers,
employees and agents of each such Holder and each person who controls any such
Holder within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act against any and
all losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which they or any of them may
become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state
statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise
out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in the Registration Statement as originally filed or in
any amendment thereof, or in any preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, or in
any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon
the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal
or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating
or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided,
however, that the Issuers will not be liable in any case to the extent that any
such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Issuers by or on behalf of any such Holder specifically for
inclusion therein and provided, further, with respect to any untrue statement
or omission of a material fact made in any Preliminary Prospectus, the
indemnity agreement contained in this Section 6(a) shall not inure to the
benefit of any Holder (or any of the directors, officers and employees of such
Holder or any controlling person of such Holder) from whom the person asserting
any such loss, claim, damage or liability purchased the Securities concerned,
to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such Holder
occurs under circumstances where (x) the Issuers had previously fur-
17
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nished copies of the Prospectus to the Holder, (y) the untrue statement or
omission of a material fact contained in the Preliminary Prospectus was
corrected in the Prospectus and (z) there was not sent or given to such person,
at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such Securities to such
person, a copy of the Prospectus. This indemnity agreement will be in addition
to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.
The Issuers also agree to indemnify or contribute to Losses of, as
provided in Section 6(d), any underwriters of Securities registered under a
Shelf Registration Statement, their officers and directors and each person who
controls such underwriters on substantially the same basis as that of the
indemnification of the Purchaser and the selling Holders provided in this
Section 6(a) and shall, if requested by any Holder, enter into an underwriting
agreement reflecting such agreement, as provided in Section 4(q) hereof.
(b) Each Holder of Securities covered by a Registration Statement
(including each Purchaser and, with respect to any Prospectus delivery as
contemplated in Section 4(h) hereof, each Exchanging Dealer) severally agrees
to indemnify and hold harmless (i) the Issuers, (ii) each of their directors,
(iii) each of their respective officers who signs such Registration Statement
and (iv) each person who controls the Issuers within the meaning of either the
Act or the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the
Issuers to each such Holder, but only with reference to written information
relating to such Holder furnished to the Issuers by or on behalf of such Holder
specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing
indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which
any such Holder may otherwise have.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified
party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
indemnifying party under this Section 6, notify the indemnifying party in
writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the
indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a)
or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action
and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of
substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the
indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the
indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a)
18
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or (b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel
of the indemnifying party's choice at the indemnifying party's expense to
represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is
sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be
responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the
indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however,
that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party.
Notwithstanding the indemnifying party's election to appoint counsel to
represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have
the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the
indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such
separate counsel (and local counsel) if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the
indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such
counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants
in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the
indemnifying party and counsel to the indemnified party shall have reasonably
concluded that there may be legal defenses available to such indemnified party
and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to
those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) the indemnifying party shall
not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to
represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the
institution of such action or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the
indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying
party. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of
the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any
judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or
proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought
hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential
parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent
includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability
arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding whether or not such
indemnified party is named as a party to such claim, action, suit or
proceeding.
(d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or
(b) of this Section 6 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an
indemnified party for any reason, then each applicable indemnifying party, in
lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall have a joint and several
obligation to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and
liabilities (including legal or other expenses rea-
19
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sonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending same)
(collectively, "Losses") to which such indemnified party may be subject in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by such
indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified party, on the other
hand, from the Initial Placement and the Registration Statement which resulted
in such Losses; provided, however, that in no case shall any Purchaser or any
subsequent Holder of any Security or New Security be responsible, in the
aggregate, for any amount in excess of the purchase discount or commission
applicable to such Security, or in the case of a New Security, applicable to
the Security which was exchangeable into such New Security, as set forth on the
cover page of the Final Memorandum, nor shall any underwriter be responsible
for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount or commission applicable
to the Securities purchased by such underwriter under the Registration
Statement which resulted in such Losses. If the allocation provided by the
immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the indemnifying
party and the indemnified party shall contribute in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative
fault of such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified party,
on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which
resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
Benefits received by the Issuers shall be deemed to be equal to the proceeds
from the Initial Placement net of purchase discounts and commissions (before
deducting expenses) as set forth on the cover page of the Final Memorandum.
Benefits received by the Purchasers shall be deemed to be equal to the total
purchase discounts and commissions as set forth on the cover page of the Final
Memorandum, and benefits received by any other Holders shall be deemed to be
equal to the value of receiving Securities or New Securities, as applicable,
registered under the Act. Benefits received by any underwriter shall be deemed
to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, as set forth
on the cover page of the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration
Statement which resulted in such Losses. Relative fault shall be determined by
reference to whether any alleged untrue statement or omission relates to
information provided by the indemnifying party, on the one hand, or by the
indemnified party, on the other hand. The parties agree that it would not be
just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or
any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
paragraph (d), no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be enti-
20
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tled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 6, each person who controls a
Holder within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and each
director, officer, employee and agent of such Holder shall have the same rights
to contribution as such Holder, and each person who controls the Issuers within
the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the Issuers
who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of the
Issuers shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company or the
Subsidiary Guarantors respectively, subject in each case to the applicable
terms and conditions of this paragraph (d).
(e) The provisions of this Section 6 will remain in full force and
effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Holder or
the Issuers or any of the officers, directors or controlling persons referred
to in Section 6 hereof, and will survive the sale by a Holder of securities
covered by a Registration Statement.
7. Miscellaneous.
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Issuers have not, as of the
date hereof, entered into, nor shall they on or after the date hereof, enter
into, any agreement with respect to their securities that is inconsistent with
the rights granted to the Holders herein or otherwise conflicts with the
provisions hereof.
(b) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement,
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, qualified,
modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the
provisions hereof may not be given, unless the Issuers have obtained the
written consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding
aggregate principal amount of Securities (or, after the consummation of any
Exchange Offer in accordance with Section 2 hereof, of New Securities);
provided that, with respect to any matter that directly or indirectly affects
the rights of any Purchaser hereunder, the Issuers shall obtain the written
consent of each such Purchaser against which such amendment, qualification,
supplement, waiver or consent is to be effective. Notwithstanding the
foregoing (except the foregoing proviso), a waiver or consent to departure from
the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the
rights of Holders whose securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration
Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other
Holders may be given by the Majority Holders,
21
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determined on the basis of securities being sold rather than registered under
such Registration Statement.
(c) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class
mail, telex, telecopier, or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(1) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such holder
to the Issuers in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7(c),
which address initially is, with respect to each Holder, the address of
such Holder maintained by the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy
in like manner to Salomon Brothers Inc;
(2) if to you, initially at the respective addresses set forth in
the Purchase Agreement; and
(3) if to the Issuers, initially at the address of the Company set
forth in the Purchase Agreement with copies as indicated therein.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given when received.
The Purchasers or the Issuers by notice to the other may designate
additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
(d) 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 the need for an express assignment or any consent
by the Issuers thereto, subsequent Holders of Securities and/or New Securities.
The Issuers hereby agrees to extend the benefits of this Agreement to any
Holder of Securities and/or New Securities and any such Holder may specifically
enforce the provisions of this Agreement as if an original party hereto.
(e) 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.
(f) Headings. The headings in this agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
22
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(g) Governing Law. This agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York
applicable to agreements made and to be performed in said State.
(h) Severability. In the event that any one of more of the
provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances,
is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the
validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other
respect and of the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired
or affected thereby, it being intended that all of the rights and privileges of
the parties shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
(i) Securities Held by the Issuers, etc. Whenever the consent or
approval of Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities
or New Securities is required hereunder, Securities or New Securities, as
applicable, held by the Issuers or their Affiliates (other than subsequent
Holders of Securities or New Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed
to be Affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities or New
Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or
approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.
23
Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement
among the Issuers and you.
Very truly yours,
MSX INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By: Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
-----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: Secretary
GEOMETRIC RESULTS INCORPORATED
By: Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
-----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: Secretary
MSX INTERNATIONAL ENGINEERING
SERVICES, INC.
By: Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
-----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: Secretary
MSX INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
SERVICES, INC.
By: Xxxxx Xxxxx
-----------------------------
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxx
Title Secretary
MSX INTERNATIONAL (USA), INC.
By: Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
-----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: Secretary
24
MSX INTERNATIONAL (HOLDINGS), INC.
By: Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: Secretary
25
Accepted January 22, 1998
SALOMON BROTHERS INC
XXXXXX BROTHERS INC.
FIRST CHICAGO CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
By: SALOMON BROTHERS INC
By: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
-----------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Director
26
ANNEX A
Annex A
Each broker-dealer that receives New Securities for its own account pursuant to
the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in
connection with any resale of such New Securities. The Letter of Transmittal
states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer
will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of
the Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from
time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of New
Securities received in exchange for Securities where such New Securities were
acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other
trading activities. The Issuers have agreed that, starting on the Expiration
Date (as defined herein) and ending on the close of business on the first
anniversary of the Expiration Date, they will make this Prospectus available to
any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See "Plan of
Distribution."
27
ANNEX B
Annex B
Each broker-dealer that receives New Securities for its own account in exchange
for Securities, where such Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must
acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such New Securities. See "Plan of Distribution."
28
ANNEX C
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each broker-dealer that receives New Securities for its own account
pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Securities. This
Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used
by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of New Securities received in
exchange for Securities where such Securities were acquired as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities. The Issuers have agreed
that, starting on the Expiration Date and ending on the close of business on
the first anniversary of the Expiration Date, they will make this Prospectus,
as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in
connection with any such resale. In addition, until __________, 199_, all
dealers effecting transactions in the New Securities may be required to
deliver a prospectus.
The Issuers will not receive any proceeds from any sale of New
Securities by broker-dealers. New Securities received by broker-dealers for
their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time
in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated
transactions, through the writing of options on the New Securities or a
combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time
of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated
prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through
brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or
concessions from any such broker-dealer and/or the purchasers of any such New
Securities. Any broker-dealer that resells New Securities that were received
by it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker or
dealer that participates in a distribution of such New Securities may be deemed
to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit
of any such resale of New Securities and any commissions or concessions
received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation
under the Securities Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that by
acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within
the meaning of the Securities Act.
For a period of one year after the Expiration Date, the Issuers will
promptly send additional copies of this Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement to this Prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents
in the Letter of Transmittal. The Issuers have agreed to pay all expenses
inci-
29
dent to the Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the
holders of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers
or dealers and will indemnify the holders of the Securities (including any
broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act.
If applicable, add information required by Regulation S-K Items 507
and/or 508.
C-2
30
ANNEX D
Rider A
CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10
ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS
OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.
Name: ____________________________________
Address: _________________________________
_________________________________
Rider B
If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it
is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of New
Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive New
Securities for its own account in exchange for securities, it represents that
the Securities to be exchanged for New Securities were acquired by it as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities and acknowledges
that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New
Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the
undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act.
