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EXHIBIT 4.3
ELECTRONIC RETAILING SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
$147,312,000
13 1/4% Senior Discount Notes Due 2004
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
January 20, 1997
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
UBS Securities LLC
In care of Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
As Representative of the Several Initial Purchasers
00 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Electronic Retailing Systems International, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions
stated in a purchase agreement of even date herewith (the "Purchase Agreement"),
to issue and sell to Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation and UBS Securities
LLC (collectively, the "Initial Purchasers"), 147,312 Units, each consisting of
13 1/4% Senior Discount Notes Due 2004 with a principal amount at maturity of
$1,000 (collectively the "Notes") and one warrant (collectively, the "Warrants")
to purchase 17.23 shares of the common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the
Company ("Common Stock"). The Notes will be issued pursuant to an indenture
dated as of January 24, 1997 (the "Indenture"), between the Company and United
States Trust Company of New York, as trustee (the "Trustee"). This Agreement
will have no force and effect until the Notes are issued. As an inducement to
the Initial Purchasers, the Company hereby agrees with the several Initial
Purchasers, for the benefit of the holders of the Notes (including, without
limitation, the Initial Purchasers), the Exchange Notes (as defined below) and
the Private Exchange Notes (as defined below) (collectively, the "Holders"), as
follows:
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1. Registered Exchange Offer. The Company shall, at its cost, prepare
and, not later than 45 days after (or if the 45th day is not a business day, the
first business day thereafter) the Issue Date (as defined in the Indenture) of
the Notes, file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a
registration statement (the "Exchange Offer Registration Statement") on an
appropriate form under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), with respect to a proposed offer (the "Registered Exchange Offer") to the
Holders of Transfer Restricted Notes (as defined below), who are not prohibited
by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered
Exchange Offer, to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Notes,
a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities (the "Exchange Notes") of
the Company issued under the Indenture and identical in all material respects to
the Notes (except for the transfer restrictions relating to the Notes) that
would be registered under the Securities Act. The Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to
become effective under the Securities Act within 150 days (or if the 150th day
is not a business day, the first business day thereafter) after the Issue Date
of the Notes and shall keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective
for not less than 30 days (or longer if required by applicable law) after the
date on which notice of the Registered Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holders
(such period being called the "Exchange Offer Registration Period").
If the Company effects the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company will
be entitled to close the Registered Exchange Offer 30 days after the
commencement thereof; provided, however, that the Company has accepted all the
Notes theretofore validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the
Registered Exchange Offer.
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Following the declaration of the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly commence the Registered
Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to
enable each Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes electing to exchange the Notes
for Exchange Notes (assuming that such Holder is not an affiliate of the Company
within the meaning of the Securities Act, acquires the Exchange Notes in the
ordinary course of such Holder's business, has no arrangements with any person
to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of
the Exchange Notes and is not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission
from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer) to trade such Exchange
Notes from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions under
the Securities Act and without material restrictions under the securities laws
of the several states of the United States. In connection with such Registered
Exchange Offer, the Company shall take such further action, including, without
limitation, appropriate filings under state securities laws, as may be necessary
to realize the foregoing objective subject to the proviso of Section 3(h).
The Company acknowledges that, pursuant to current interpretations by
the Commission's staff of Section 5 of the Securities Act, in the absence of an
applicable exemption therefrom, (i) each Holder that is a broker-dealer electing
to exchange Notes, acquired for its own account as a result of market making
activities or other trading activities, for Exchange Notes (an "Exchanging
Dealer"), is required to deliver a prospectus containing the information set
forth in Annex A hereto on the cover, in Annex B hereto in the "Exchange Offer
Procedures" section and the "Purpose of the Exchange Offer" section, and in
Annex C hereto in the "Plan of Distribution" section of such prospectus in
connection with a sale of any such Exchange Notes received by such Exchanging
Dealer pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and (ii) an Initial Purchaser
that elects to
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sell Exchange Notes acquired in exchange for Notes constituting any portion of
an unsold allotment is required to deliver a prospectus containing the
information required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities
Act, as applicable, in connection with such sale.
The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the
prospectus contained therein in order to permit such prospectus to be lawfully
delivered by all persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act for such period of time as such persons must comply with such
requirements in order to resell the Exchange Notes; provided, however, that (i)
in the case where such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto must
be delivered by an Exchanging Dealer or an Initial Purchaser, such period shall
be the lesser of 180 days after the expiration date of the Registered Exchange
Offer and the date on which all Exchanging Dealers and the Initial Purchasers
have sold all Exchange Notes held by them (unless such period is extended
pursuant to Section 3(j) below), and (ii) the Company shall make such prospectus
and any amendment or supplement thereto available to any broker-dealer for use
in connection with any resale of any Exchange Notes for a period not less than
90 days after the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer.
If, upon consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, any Initial
Purchaser holds Notes acquired by it as part of its initial distribution, the
Company, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Notes pursuant to the
Registered Exchange Offer, shall issue and deliver to such Initial Purchaser
upon the written request of such Initial Purchaser, in exchange (the "Private
Exchange") for the Notes held by such Initial Purchaser, a like principal amount
of debt securities of the Company issued under the Indenture and identical in
all material respects (including the existence of restrictions on
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transfer under the Securities Act and the securities laws of the several states
of the United States) to the Notes (the "Private Exchange Notes"). The Notes,
the Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes are herein collectively called
the "Securities".
In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(a) 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;
(b) 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;
(c) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered
Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of
New York, which may be the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee;
(d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Notes at any time prior to
the close of business, New York time, on the last business day on which
the Registered Exchange Offer shall remain open; and
(e) otherwise comply in all material respects with all applicable
law.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered
Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:
(i) accept for exchange all the Notes validly tendered and not
withdrawn pursuant to the Registered
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Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, as the case may be;
(ii) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all the Notes so
accepted for exchange; and
(iii) cause the Trustee to authenticate and promptly deliver to
each Holder of the Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes, as
the case may be, equal in principal amount to the Notes of each Holder
so accepted for exchange.
The Indenture will provide that the Exchange Notes will not be subject
to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture and that all the
Securities will vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that
none of the Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a class
separate from one another on any matter.
Each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer shall be
required to represent to the Company that at the time of the consummation of the
Registered Exchange Offer (i) any Exchange Notes received by such Holder will be
acquired in the ordinary course of business, (ii) such Holder will have no
arrangements or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution
of the Notes or the Exchange Notes within the meaning of the Securities Act,
(iii) such Holder is not an "affiliate", as defined in Rule 405 of the
Securities Act, of the Company or, if it is an affiliate, such Holder will
comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act to the extent applicable, (iv) if such Holder is not a
broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, the
distribution of the Exchange Notes, and (v) if such Holder is a broker-dealer,
that it will receive Exchange Notes for its own account in exchange for Notes
that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities and that it will
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deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes.
Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company will ensure
that (i) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and
any prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto will comply in
all material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, (ii) any Exchange Offer 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 Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and any supplement to
such prospectus, will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading; provided, however, that in no such case shall the
Company be responsible for information concerning any Initial Purchaser of the
Securities included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the prospectus
contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereto, as the case may be.
2. Shelf Registration. If (i) because of any change in law or in
applicable interpretations thereof by the staff of the Commission, the Company
is not permitted to effect a Registered Exchange Offer, as contemplated by
Section 1 hereof, (ii) the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated within
180 days of the date of this Agreement, (iii) any Initial Purchaser so requests
with respect to the Notes (or the Private Exchange Notes) not eligible to be
exchanged for Exchange Notes in the Registered Exchange Offer and held by it
following consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer or (iv) any Holder
(other than an Exchanging Dealer) is not eligible to participate in the
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Registered Exchange Offer or, in the case of any Holder (other than an
Exchanging Dealer) that participates in the Registered Exchange Offer, such
Holder does not receive freely tradeable Exchange Notes on the date of the
exchange, the Company shall take the following actions:
(a) The Company shall, at its cost, as promptly as practicable
(but in no event more than the later of (i) 45 days after the Issue
Date and (ii) 30 days after so required or requested pursuant to this
Section 2) file with the Commission and thereafter shall use its
reasonable best efforts to cause to be declared effective a
registration statement (the "Shelf Registration Statement" and,
together with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, a
"Registration Statement") on an appropriate form under the Securities
Act relating to the offer and sale of the Transfer Restricted Notes by
the Holders thereof from time to time in accordance with the methods of
distribution set forth in the Shelf Registration Statement and Rule 415
under the Securities Act (hereinafter, the "Shelf Registration");
provided, however, that no Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser)
shall be entitled to have the Securities held by it covered by such
Shelf Registration Statement unless such Holder agrees in writing to be
bound by all the provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder
(including certain indemnification obligations).
(b) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the
Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit
the prospectus included therein to be lawfully delivered by the Holders
of the relevant Securities, for a period of three years (or for such
longer period if extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) from the
Issue Date or such shorter period that will terminate when all the
Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement
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have been sold pursuant thereto or can be sold pursuant to Rule 144(k)
thereof. Subject to Section 6(b), the Company shall be deemed not to
have used its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration
Statement effective during the requisite period if it 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 such action is required by applicable law; provided, however,
that the Company shall not be deemed to have voluntarily taken any such
action if it enters, in good faith, into negotiations concerning, or
executes and delivers any agreement or other document relating to, any
business combination, acquisition or disposition.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the
contrary, the Company shall cause the Shelf Registration Statement and
the related prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as of
the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, amendment or
supplement, (i) to comply in all material respects with the applicable
requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission and (ii) not to contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
3. Registration Procedures. In connection with any Shelf
Registration contemplated by Section 2 hereof and, to the extent
applicable, any Registered Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 1
hereof, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) The Company shall (i) furnish to each Initial Purchaser,
prior to the filing thereof with the
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Commission, a copy of the Registration Statement and each amendment
thereof and each supplement, if any, to the prospectus included therein
and, in the event that an Initial Purchaser (with respect to any
portion of an unsold allotment from the original offering) is
participating in the Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf
Registration Statement, shall use its reasonable best efforts to
reflect in each such document, when so filed with the Commission, such
comments as such Initial Purchaser reasonably may propose; (ii) include
the information set forth in Annex A hereto on the cover, in Annex B
hereto in the "Exchange Offer Procedures" section and the "Purpose of
the Exchange Offer" section and in Annex C hereto in the "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; (iii) if requested by an Initial Purchaser,
include the information required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K
under the Securities Act, as applicable, in the prospectus forming a
part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement; (iv) include within
the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a
section entitled "Plan of Distribution", reasonably acceptable to the
Initial Purchasers, which shall contain a summary statement of the
positions taken or policies made by the staff of the Commission with
respect to the potential "underwriter" status of any broker-dealer that
is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) of Exchange
Notes received by such broker-dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer
(a "Participating Broker-Dealer"), whether such positions or policies
have been publicly disseminated by the staff of the Commission or such
positions or policies, in the reasonable judgment of the Initial
Purchasers
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based upon advice of counsel (which may be in-house counsel), represent
the prevailing views of the staff of the Commission; and (v) in the
case of a Shelf Registration Statement, include the names of the
Holders who propose to sell Securities pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement as selling securityholders.
(b) The Company shall give written notice to the Initial
Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any Participating
Broker-Dealer from whom the Company has received prior written notice
that it will be a Participating Broker-Dealer in the Registered
Exchange Offer (which notice pursuant to clauses (ii)-(v) hereof shall
be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the prospectus
until the requisite changes have been made):
(i) when the Registration Statement or any amendment
thereto has been filed with the Commission and when the
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto
has become effective;
(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or
supplements to the Registration Statement or the prospectus
included therein or for additional information (provided,
however, that with respect to any requests prior to the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the Company shall
be required to give written notice only to the Initial
Purchasers and their counsel, Cravath, Swaine & Xxxxx);
(iii) 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;
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(iv) of the receipt by the Company or its legal counsel
of any notification with respect to the suspension of the
qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction
or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such
purpose; and
(v) of the happening of any event that requires the
Company to make changes in the Registration Statement or the
prospectus in order that the Registration Statement or the
prospectus does not contain an untrue statement of a material
fact nor omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
(c) The Company shall make every reasonable effort to obtain the
withdrawal at the earliest possible time of any order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement.
(d) The Company shall furnish to each Holder of Securities
included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge,
at least one copy of the Shelf Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and
schedules, and, if the Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits
thereto (including those, if any, incorporated by reference).
(e) The Company shall deliver to each Exchanging Dealer and each
Initial Purchaser, and to any other Holder who 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 any Initial
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Purchaser or any such Holder requests, all exhibits thereto (including
those incorporated by reference).
(f) The Company shall deliver to each Holder of Securities
included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge,
as many copies of the prospectus (including each preliminary
prospectus) included in the Shelf Registration Statement and any
amendment or supplement thereto as such person may reasonably request.
The Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to
the use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto
included in the Shelf Registration Statement by each of the selling
Holders of the Securities in connection with the offering and sale of
the Securities covered by such prospectus, or any such amendment
supplement.
(g) The Company shall deliver to each Initial Purchaser, any
Exchanging Dealer, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other
persons required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered
Exchange Offer, without charge, as many copies of the final prospectus
included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment
or supplement thereto as such persons may reasonably request. The
Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the
use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by any
Initial Purchaser, if necessary, any Participating Broker-Dealer and
such other persons required to deliver a prospectus following the
Registered Exchange Offer in connection with the offering and sale of
the Exchange Notes covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, included in such Exchange Offer Registration
Statement.
(h) Prior to any public offering of the Securities, pursuant to
any Registration Statement, the
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Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify or
cooperate with the Holders of the Securities included therein and their
respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification
of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or "blue sky"
laws of such states of the United States as any Holder of the
Securities reasonably requests 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 Company shall not be required to (i)
qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not
then so qualified, (ii) take any action which would subject it to
general service of process or to taxation in any jurisdiction where it
is not then so subject or (iii) register or qualify Securities or take
any other action under the securities or "blue sky" laws of any
jurisdiction if, in the judgment of the Board of Directors of the
Company, the consequences of such registration, qualification or other
action would be unduly burdensome to the Company.
(i) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of the
Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates representing the Securities to be sold pursuant to any
Registration Statement free of any restrictive legends and in such
denominations and registered in such names as the Holders may request a
reasonable period of time prior to sales of the Securities pursuant to
such Registration Statement.
(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by paragraphs
(ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above during the period for which the
Company is required to maintain an effective Registration Statement,
the
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Company shall promptly prepare and file a post-effective amendment to
the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus
and any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to
Holders of the Notes or purchasers of Securities, the prospectus will
not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. If the Company notifies the Initial Purchasers,
the Holders of the Securities and any known Participating Broker-Dealer
in accordance with paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above to
suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes to the
prospectus have been made, then the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of
the Securities and any such Participating Broker-Dealers shall suspend
use of such prospectus, and the period of effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration Statement provided for in Section 2(b) above and the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement provided for in Section 1 above
shall each be extended (i) by the number of days from and including the
date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when the
Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any known
Participating Broker-Dealer shall have received such amended or
supplemented prospectus pursuant to this Section 3(j) or (ii) if
earlier, until the date when none of the Securities represent Transfer
Restricted Notes (as defined in Section 6(d)).
(k) Not later than the effective date of the applicable
Registration Statement, the Company will provide a CUSIP number for the
Notes, the Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange Notes, as the case
may be, and provide the applicable trustee with printed certificates
for the Notes, the Exchange Notes or the
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Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, in a form eligible for
deposit with The Depository Trust Company.
(l) The Company will comply with all rules and regulations of the
Commission to the extent and so long as they are applicable to the
Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration and will make
generally available to its security holders (or otherwise provide in
accordance with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act) an earnings
statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities
Act, no later than 45 days after the end of a 12-month period (or 90
days, if such period is a fiscal year) beginning with the first month
of the Company's first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective
date of the Registration Statement, which statement shall cover such
12-month period.
(m) The Company shall cause the Indenture to be qualified under
the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in a timely manner and
containing such changes, if any, as shall be necessary for such
qualification. In the event that such qualification would require the
appointment of a new trustee under the Indenture, the Company shall
appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions
of the Indenture.
(n) The Company may require each Holder of Securities to be sold
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the Company
such information regarding the Holder and the distribution of the
Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably require for
inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, and the Company may
exclude from such registration the Securities of any Holder that
unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time
after receiving such request.
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(o) The Company shall enter into such customary agreements
(including if requested an underwriting agreement in customary form)
and take all such other action, if any, as any Holder of the Securities
shall reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the
Securities pursuant to any Shelf Registration.
(p) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company shall (i)
make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of the
Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant
to the Shelf Registration Statement and any attorney, accountant or
other agent retained by the Holders of the Securities or any such
underwriter all relevant financial and other records, pertinent
corporate documents and properties of the Company and (ii) cause the
Company's officers, directors, employees, accountants and auditors to
supply all relevant information reasonably requested by the Holders of
the Securities or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent
in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, as
shall be reasonably necessary, in the judgment of the Holder or any
such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent referred to in this
paragraph, to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of
Section 11 of the Securities Act; provided, however, that the foregoing
inspection and information gathering shall be coordinated on behalf of
the Initial Purchasers by you and on behalf of the other parties by one
counsel designated by and on behalf of such other parties as described
in Section 4 hereof.
(q) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company, if
requested by any Holder of Securities covered thereby, shall cause (i)
its counsel to deliver an opinion and updates thereof relating to the
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Securities in customary form addressed to such Holders and the managing
underwriters, if any, thereof and dated, in the case of the initial
opinion, the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement
covering the matters customarily covered in opinions of counsel
requested in underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be
reasonably requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters;
provided, however, that counsel shall not be required to provide an
opinion with respect to the Company's status as an "investment company"
under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") other than a
statement with appropriate assumptions based exclusively on the status
of the Company's application to the Commission under Section 3(b)(2) or
Section 6(c) of the 1940 Act exempting the Company from the provisions
thereof; (ii) its officers to execute and deliver all customary
documents and certificates and updates thereof reasonably requested by
any underwriters of the applicable Securities; and (iii) its
independent public accountants to provide to the selling Holders of the
applicable Securities and any underwriter therefor a comfort letter in
customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in
comfort letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings,
subject to receipt of appropriate documentation as contemplated, and
only if permitted, by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72.
(r) In the case of the Registered Exchange Offer, if requested by
any Initial Purchaser or any known Participating Broker-Dealer, the
Company shall cause (i) its counsel to deliver to such Initial
Purchaser or such Participating Broker-Dealer a signed opinion in the
form set forth in Section 5(c) of the Purchase Agreement with such
changes as are customary in connection with the preparation of a
Registration Statement and (ii) its independent public accountants
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to deliver to such Initial Purchaser or such Participating
Broker-Dealer a comfort letter, in customary form, meeting the
requirements as to the substance thereof as set forth in Section 5(a)
of the Purchase Agreement, with appropriate date changes.
(s) If a Registered Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be
consummated, upon delivery of the Notes by Holders to the Company (or
to such other Person as directed by the Company) in exchange for the
Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, the
Company shall xxxx, or cause to be marked, on the Notes so exchanged
that such Notes are being cancelled in exchange for the Exchange Notes
or the Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be; in no event shall
the Notes be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.
(t) In the event that any broker-dealer registered under the
Exchange Act shall underwrite any Securities or participate as a member
of an underwriting syndicate or selling group or "assist in the
distribution" (within the meaning of the Rules of Fair Practice and the
By-Laws of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
("NASD")) thereof, whether as a Holder of such Securities or as an
underwriter, a placement or sales agent or a broker or dealer in
respect thereof, or otherwise, the Company shall assist such
broker-dealer in complying with the requirements of such Rules and
By-Laws (including without limitation the indemnification of any
"qualified independent underwriter" required thereby).
(u) The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the
Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be rated (or to have
any existing rating confirmed) by either Moody's or
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Standard & Poor's (or any successor to either) within two years of the
issuance of the Initial Securities.
(v) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to take all
other steps necessary to effect the registration of the Securities
covered by a Registration Statement contemplated hereby.
4. Registration Expenses. The Company shall bear all fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under Sections 1
through 3 hereof (including the reasonable fees and expenses of Cravath, Swaine
& Xxxxx, counsel for the Initial Purchasers, incurred in connection with the
Registered Exchange Offer), whether or not the Registered Exchange Offer or a
Shelf Registration is filed or becomes effective, and, in the event of a Shelf
Registration, shall bear, or reimburse the Holders of the Securities covered
thereby for, the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm of counsel
designated by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities
covered thereby to act as counsel for the Holders of the Securities in
connection therewith, it being understood that the Company shall not be
responsible for the fees and expenses of more than one counsel employed at any
one time.
5. Indemnification. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
each Holder of the Securities, any Participating Broker-Dealer and each person,
if any, who controls such Holder or such Participating Broker-Dealer within the
meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each Holder, any
Participating Broker-Dealer and such controlling persons being referred to
collectively as the "Indemnified Parties") from and against any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities, joint or several, or any actions in respect thereof
(including, but not limited to, any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
actions relating to purchases and sales of the Securities) to which each
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Indemnified Party may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act
or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions
arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any
amendment 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, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and shall reimburse,
as incurred, the Indemnified Parties for any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof; provided, however, that
(i) the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that such
loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in a
Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and
furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for
inclusion therein, (ii) with respect to any untrue statement or omission or
alleged untrue statement or omission made in any prospectus relating to the
registration statement, the indemnity agreement contained in this subsection (a)
shall not inure to the benefit of any person as to which there is a prospectus
delivery requirement (a "Delivering Seller") that sold the Securities to the
person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities to the extent
that any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such Delivering Seller results
from the fact that there was not sent or given to such person, on or prior to
the written confirmation of such sale, a copy of the relevant prospectus, as
amended and supplemented, provided that (I) the Company shall have previously
furnished copies thereof
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to such Delivering Seller in accordance with this Agreement and (II) such
furnished prospectus, as amended and supplemented, would have corrected any such
untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission, and (iii)
this indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company
may otherwise have to such Indemnified Party. The Company shall also indemnify
underwriters, selling brokers, dealer-managers and similar securities industry
professionals participating in the distribution (in each case as described in
the Registration Statement), their officers and directors and each person who
controls such persons within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange
Act to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of
the Holders of the Securities if requested by such Holders; provided, however,
that the Company shall not indemnify any such party to the extent its liability
arises from its failure to comply with the requirements described in Annexes A,
B and C hereto, as updated.
(b) Each Holder of the Securities, severally and not jointly, will
indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each person, if any, who controls
the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act from
and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities or any actions in respect
thereof to which the Company or any such controlling person may become subject
under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a
Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out
of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, but in each case only
to the extent that the untrue statement or alleged untrue
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statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to
the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein;
and, subject to the limitation set forth immediately preceding this clause,
shall reimburse, as incurred, the Company for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by the Company or any such controlling person in connection
with investigating or defending any loss, claim, damage, liability or action in
respect thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability
which such Holder may otherwise have to the Company or any of its controlling
persons.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 5
of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including a
governmental investigation), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 5,
notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the omission so
to notify the indemnifying party 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) or (b) above, except to the
extent that it is prejudiced or harmed in any material respect by failure to
give such prompt notice. In case any such action is brought against any
indemnified party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement
thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to
the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly
notified, to assume the defense thereof, with one counsel (and local counsel as
necessary) reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not,
except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying
party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party
of its election so to assume the defense thereof the indemnifying
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party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 5 for any
legal or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of investigation,
subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the
indemnified party, not to be unreasonably withheld, effect any settlement of any
pending or threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or
could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such
indemnified party unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of
such indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject
matter of such action. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any amounts
paid in settlement of any action or claim without its written consent, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is
unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
subsections (a) or (b) above for any reason other than as provided in subsection
(c) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to in subsection (a) or (b)
above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits
received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the
indemnified party on the other from the exchange of the Notes, pursuant to the
Registered Exchange Offer, or (ii) if the allocation provided by the foregoing
clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i)
above but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the
one hand and the indemnified party on the other in connection with the
statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) as well as any other
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relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the parties 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 on the one hand
or such Holder or such other indemnified person, as the case may be, on the
other, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid by
an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities
referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to
include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is
the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Section 5(d), the Holders of the Securities shall not be required to contribute
any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds received by such
Holders from the sale of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement
exceeds the amount of damages which such Holders have 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 Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from
any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes
of this paragraph (d), each officer, director, employee, representative and
agent of an indemnified party and each person, if any, who controls such
indemnified party within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act
shall have the same rights to contribution as such indemnified party, and each
officer, director, employee, representative and agent of the Company and each
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities
Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the
Company.
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(e) The agreements contained in this Section 5 shall survive the sale
of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement and shall remain in full
force and effect, regardless of any termination or cancellation of this
Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
6. Additional Interest Under Certain Circumstances. Additional cash
interest (the "Additional Interest") with respect to the Securities shall be
assessed as follows if any of the following events occurs (each such event in
clauses (i) through (iii) below a "Registration Default"):
(i) If by March 10, 1997, neither the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement nor a Shelf Registration Statement has been filed with the
Commission;
(ii) If by July 23, 1997, neither the Registered Exchange Offer is
consummated nor, if required in lieu thereof, the Shelf Registration
Statement is declared effective by the Commission; or
(iii) If after either the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the
Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective (A) such Registration
Statement thereafter ceases to be effective; or (B) such Registration
Statement or the related prospectus ceases to be usable (except as permitted
in paragraph (b)) in connection with resales of Transfer Restricted Notes
during the periods specified herein because either (1) any event occurs as a
result of which the related prospectus forming part of such Registration
Statement would include any 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, or (2)
it shall be necessary to
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amend such Registration Statement or supplement the related prospectus, to
comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules
thereunder.
Additional Interest shall accrue on the Notes at a rate of 0.50% per annum of
the Accreted Value (as defined in the Indenture) (over and above the interest
set forth in the title of the Notes) from and including the date on which any
such Registration Default shall occur until the earlier of (i) the date on which
all such Registration Defaults have been cured or (ii) the date on which all the
Notes otherwise become freely transferable by holders other than affiliates of
the Company without further registration under the Securities Act.
(b) A Registration Default referred to in Section 6(a)(iii)(B) shall be
deemed not to have occurred and be continuing in relation to a Shelf
Registration Statement or the related prospectus if (i) such Registration
Default has occurred solely as a result of (x) the filing of a post-effective
amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement to incorporate annual audited or,
if required by the rules and regulations under the Securities Act, quarterly
unaudited financial information with respect to the Company where such
post-effective amendment is not yet effective and needs to be declared effective
to permit Holders to use the related prospectus or (y) other material events or
developments with respect to the Company that would need to be described in such
Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus and (ii) in the case of
clause (y), the Company is proceeding promptly and in good faith to amend or
supplement such Shelf Registration Statement and related prospectus to describe
such events; provided, however, that in no event shall the Company be required
to disclose the business purpose for such suspension if the Company determines
in good faith that such business purpose must remain confidential; provided
further, however, that in any case if such Registration Default
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occurs for a continuous period in excess of 45 days, Additional Interest shall
be payable in accordance with the above paragraph from the day following such 45
day period until the date on which such Registration Default is cured.
(c) Any Additional Interest accruing on the Notes prior to August 1,
2000, will be payable in cash on the next succeeding February 1 or August 1 to
holders of record on the immediately preceding February 1 or August 1,
respectively. Any such Additional Interest accruing on the Notes thereafter will
be payable in cash on the regular interest payment dates with respect to the
Notes to the holders of record on the applicable record date. The amount of
Additional Interest will be calculated on the Accreted Value of the Notes as of
the Specified Date on which such Additional Interest is payable.
(d) "Transfer Restricted Notes" means each Security until (i) the date
on which such Transfer Restricted Note has been exchanged by a person other than
a broker-dealer for a freely transferrable Exchange Note in the Registered
Exchange Offer, (ii) following the exchange by a broker-dealer in the Registered
Exchange Offer of a Transfer Restricted Note for an Exchange Note, the date on
which such Exchange Note is sold to a purchaser who receives from such
broker-dealer on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the prospectus
contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (iii) the date on which
such Transfer Restricted Note has been effectively registered under the
Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration
Statement or (iv) the date on which such Transfer Restricted Note is distributed
to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or is saleable
pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act.
7. Rules 144 and 144A. The Company shall use its reasonable best
efforts to file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act
and the Exchange Act in
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a timely manner and, if at any time the Company is not required to file such
reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes,
make publicly available other information so long as necessary to permit sales
of their securities pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A. The Company covenants that
it will take such further action as any Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes may
reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such
Holder to sell Transfer Restricted Notes without registration under the
Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rules 144 and
144A (including the requirements of Rule 144A(d)(4)). The Company will provide a
copy of this Agreement to prospective purchasers of Notes identified to the
Company by the Initial Purchasers upon request. Upon the request of any Holder
of Transfer Restricted Notes, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written
statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to require the Company
to register any of its securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.
8. Underwritten Registrations. If any of the Transfer Restricted Notes
covered by any Shelf Registration are to be sold in an underwritten offering,
the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that will
administer the offering ("Managing Underwriters") will be selected by the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Transfer Restricted
Notes to be included in such offering (subject to the approval (which approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld) of the Company, provided, however, that the
Company shall not be obligated to arrange for more than one underwritten
offering during the period that such Shelf Registration is required to be
effective pursuant to this Agreement).
No person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder
unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person's Transfer Restricted Notes on
the basis
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reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the persons
entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii) completes and executes
all questionnaires, lock-up agreements, powers of attorney, indemnities,
underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms
of such underwriting arrangements.
9. Miscellaneous.
(a) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be
amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from
the provisions hereof may not be given, except by the Company and the written
consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities
affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consents.
(b) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, first-class mail,
facsimile transmission, or air courier which guarantees overnight delivery:
(1) if to a Holder of the Securities, at the most current address given
by such Holder to the Company in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 9(b), which address initially is, with respect to each Holder, the
address of such Holder to which confirmation of the sale of the Notes to
such Holder was first sent by the Initial Purchasers, with a copy in like
manner to you as follows:
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
00 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Transactions Advisory Group
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with a copy to:
Cravath, Swaine & Xxxxx
Worldwide Plaza
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
(2) if to the Initial Purchasers, at the
addresses specified in Section 9(b)(1);
(3) if to the Company, at its address as follows:
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Fax No: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Failing, Jr.
with a copy to:
Krugman, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx
Park 80 West - Plaza Two
Xxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Fax No: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three business
days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt
is acknowledged by recipient's facsimile machine operator, if sent by facsimile
transmission; and on the day delivered, if sent by overnight air courier
guaranteeing next day delivery.
(c) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not, as of the date
hereof, entered into, nor shall it, on
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or after the date hereof, enter into, any agreement with respect to its
securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders herein or
otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.
(d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the
Company and its successors and assigns.
(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.
(g) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.
(h) Severability. If 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 enforceability of any such
provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained
herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
(i) Securities Held by the Company. Whenever the consent or approval of
Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities is required
hereunder, Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (other than
subsequent Holders of Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be
affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities) shall not be
counted in
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determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such
required percentage.
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to CSFBC a counterpart hereof, whereupon this
Agreement will become a binding agreement among the Company and the several
Initial Purchasers in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
ELECTRONIC RETAILING SYSTEMS
INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By:______________________
Name:
Title:
The foregoing Registration
Rights Agreement is hereby confirmed
and accepted as of the date first
above written.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
UBS SECURITIES LLC
By: CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
By:_____________________________
Name:
Title:
35
ANNEX A
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Notes for its own account
pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes. 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 Exchange Notes received in exchange for Notes where such Notes
were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or
other trading activities. The Company has agreed that, for a period of 180 days
after the Expiration Date (as defined herein), it will make this Prospectus
available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See
"Plan of Distribution."
36
ANNEX B
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Notes for its own
account in exchange for Notes, where such Notes 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 Exchange Notes. See "Plan of Distribution."
37
ANNEX C
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Notes for its own
account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes. 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 Exchange Notes received in
exchange for Existing Notes where such Existing Notes were acquired as a result
of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed
that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date, it 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 Exchange Notes may be required to deliver
a prospectus.*
The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of
Exchange Notes by broker-dealers. Exchange Notes 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 Exchange Notes 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 or the purchasers of any such Exchange
Notes. Any broker-dealer that resells Exchange Notes 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 Exchange Notes may be deemed to be an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the
--------
*In addition, the legend required by Item 502(e) of Regulation S-K will appear
on the back cover page of the Exchange Offer prospectus.
38
Securities Act and any profit on any such resale of Exchange Notes and any
commission 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 180 days after the Expiration Date the Company
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 Company has agreed to pay all expenses
incident to the Exchange Offer (including the reasonable expenses of one counsel
for the Holders of the Notes) 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.
39
ANNEX D
----
/____/ 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: _________________________________________
_________________________________________
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 Exchange
Notes. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Notes
for its own account in exchange for Notes that were acquired as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities, it acknowledges that it
will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes;
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.
