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Exhibit 4.3
EXECUTION COPY
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT") is made and entered
into July 15, 1998, between AERCO LIMITED, a Jersey limited liability company
(the "ISSUER"), and XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INTERNATIONAL LIMITED (the
"REPRESENTATIVE").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated as of
June 23, 1998 (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), among the Issuer and the
Representative, on behalf of itself and the several other initial purchasers
named in Schedule I thereto (the "INITIAL PURCHASERS"), which provides for the
issue and sale by the Issuer to the Initial Purchasers of $800,000,000
aggregate principal amount of the Issuer's notes in the class and subclass
designations and in the respective aggregate principal amounts set forth in
Schedule I thereto (the "NOTES"). In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to
enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Issuer has agreed to provide to the
Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees the registration
rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution of this Agreement is a
condition to the closing under the Purchase Agreement.
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms shall
have the following meanings:
"1933 ACT" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from
time to time.
"1934 ACT" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended from time to time.
"CLOSING DATE" shall mean the Closing Date as defined in the
Purchase Agreement.
"ISSUER" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall
also include the Issuer's successors.
"EXCHANGE OFFER" shall mean the exchange offer by the Issuer of
Exchange Notes for Registrable Notes pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
"EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION" shall mean a registration under the
1933 Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
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"EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT" shall mean an exchange offer
registration statement on Form F-4 (or, if applicable, on another
appropriate form) and all amendments and supplements to such registration
statement, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all
exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.
"EXCHANGE NOTES" shall mean the subclasses of securities issued by the
Issuer under a supplement to the Indenture, containing terms identical to
the subclasses of Notes (except that (i) interest thereon shall accrue from
the last date on which interest was paid on the Notes or, if no such
interest has been paid, from July 15, 1998, and (ii) the interest rate per
annum on each subclass of the Exchange Notes shall be the applicable
interest rate set forth in the form of such subclass of Notes without
giving effect to any increase in such interest rate pursuant to the
definition of "Stated Interest Rate" contained in the Indenture) and to be
offered to Holders of Registrable Notes in exchange for Registrable Notes
pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
"HOLDER" shall mean the Representative, for so long as it owns any
Registrable Notes, and each of its successors, assigns and direct and
indirect transferees who become registered owners of Registrable Notes
under the Indenture; provided that for purposes of Sections 4 and 5 of
this Agreement, the term "Holder" shall include Participating
Broker-Dealers (as defined in Section 4(a)).
"INDENTURE" shall mean the Indenture relating to the Notes dated as of
July 15, 1998 between the Issuer and Bankers Trust Company, as trustee, as
the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time in accordance with the terms thereof.
"MAJORITY HOLDERS" shall mean the Holders of a majority of the
aggregate principal amount of outstanding Registrable Notes; provided
that whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified
percentage of Registrable Notes is required hereunder, Registrable Notes
held by the Issuer shall not be counted in determining whether such
consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage
or amount.
"REPRESENTATIVE" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
"PERSON" shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation, trust
or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political
subdivision thereof.
"PURCHASE AGREEMENT" shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble.
"PROSPECTUS" shall mean the prospectus included in a Registration
Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus
as
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amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a
prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any
portion of the Registrable Notes covered by a Shelf Registration
Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to such
prospectus, and in each case including all material incorporated by
reference therein.
"REGISTRABLE NOTES" shall mean the Notes; provided, however, that
the Notes shall cease to be Registrable Notes (i) when a Registration
Statement with respect to such Notes shall have been declared effective
under the 1933 Act and such Notes shall have been disposed of pursuant to
such Registration Statement, (ii) when such Notes have been sold to the
public pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any similar provision then in force,
but not Rule 144A) under the 1933 Act or (iii) when such Notes shall have
ceased to be outstanding.
"REGISTRATION EXPENSES" shall mean any and all expenses incident to
performance of or compliance by the Issuer with this Agreement, including
without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange or National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc. registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees
and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities
or "blue sky" laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel for any underwriters or Holders in connection with "blue sky"
qualification of any of the Exchange Notes or Registrable Notes), (iii)
all expenses of any Persons in preparing or assisting in preparing, word
processing, printing and distributing any Registration Statement, any
Prospectus, any amendments or supplements thereto, any underwriting
agreements, securities sales agreements and other documents relating to
the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all rating
agency fees, (v) all fees and disbursements relating to the qualification
of the Indenture under applicable securities laws, (vi) the fees and
disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel, (vii) the fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Issuer and, in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement, the fees and disbursements of one counsel for the
Holders which counsel shall be counsel for the Initial Purchasers and
(viii) the fees and disbursements of the independent public accountants
of the Issuer, including the expenses of any special audits or "cold
comfort" letters required by or incident to such performance and
compliance, but excluding fees and expenses of counsel to the
underwriters (other than fees and expenses set forth in clause (ii)
above) or the Holders and underwriting discounts and commissions and
transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of
Registrable Notes by a Holder.
"REGISTRATION STATEMENT" shall mean any registration statement of
the Issuer that covers any of the Exchange Notes or Registrable Notes
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and all amendments and
supplements to any 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.
"SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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"SHELF REGISTRATION" shall mean a registration effected pursuant to
Section 2(b) hereof.
"SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT" shall mean a "shelf" registration
statement of the Issuer pursuant to the provisions of Section 2(b) of
this Agreement which covers all of the Registrable Notes (but no other
securities unless approved by the Holders whose Registrable Notes are
covered by such Shelf Registration Statement) on an appropriate form
under Rule 415 under the 1933 Act, or any similar rule that may be
adopted by the SEC, and 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.
"TRUSTEE" shall mean the trustee with respect to the Notes under the
Indenture.
"UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATION" or "UNDERWRITTEN OFFERING" shall mean a
registration in which Registrable Notes are sold to an Underwriter (as
hereinafter defined) for reoffering to the public.
2. Registration Under the 1933 Act.
(a) To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or applicable
interpretation of the Staff of the SEC, the Issuer shall use its best efforts
to cause to be filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement covering the
offer by the Issuer to the Holders to exchange all of the Registrable Notes for
Exchange Notes and to have such Registration Statement remain effective until
the closing of the Exchange Offer. The Issuer shall commence the Exchange
Offer promptly after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has been
declared effective by the SEC and use its best efforts to have the Exchange
Offer consummated not later than 60 days after such effective date. The Issuer
shall commence the Exchange Offer by mailing the related exchange offer
Prospectus and accompanying documents to each Holder stating, in addition to
such other disclosures as are required by applicable law:
(i) that the Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to this
Registration Rights Agreement and that all Registrable Notes validly
tendered will be accepted for exchange;
(ii) the dates of acceptance for exchange (which shall be a period
of not less than 20 business days commencing from the date such notice is
mailed) (the "EXCHANGE DATES");
(iii) that any Registrable Security not tendered will remain
outstanding and continue to accrue interest, but will not retain any
rights under this Registration Rights Agreement;
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(iv) that Holders electing to have a Registrable Security exchanged
pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to surrender such
Registrable Security, together with the enclosed letters of transmittal,
to the institutions and at the addresses (located in the Borough of
Manhattan, The City of New York and in Luxembourg) specified in the
notice prior to the close of business on the last Exchange Date; and
(v) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election, not
later than the close of business on the last Exchange Date, by sending to
the applicable institution and at the address (located in either the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York or Luxembourg) specified in
the notice a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting
forth the name of such Holder, the principal amount of Registrable Notes
delivered for exchange and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing
his election to have such Notes exchanged.
As soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date, the Issuer shall:
(i) accept for exchange Registrable Notes or portions thereof
tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer; and
(ii) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for
cancellation all Registrable Notes or portions thereof so accepted for
exchange by the Issuer and issue, and cause the Trustee to promptly
authenticate and mail to each Holder, Exchange Notes equal in principal
amount to the principal amount of the Registrable Notes surrendered by
such Holder.
The Issuer shall use its best efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as
provided above and shall comply with the applicable requirements of the 1933
Act, the 1934 Act and other applicable laws and regulations in connection with
the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any conditions,
other than that the Exchange Offer does not violate applicable law or any
applicable interpretation of the Staff of the SEC. The Issuer shall inform the
Representative of the names and addresses of the Holders to whom the Exchange
Offer is made, and the Representative shall have the right, subject to
applicable law, to contact such Holders and otherwise facilitate the tender of
Registrable Notes in the Exchange Offer.
(b) In the event that (i) the Issuer determines that the Exchange Offer
Registration provided for in Section 2(a) above is not available or may not be
consummated as soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date because it
would violate applicable law or the applicable interpretations of the Staff of
the SEC, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not for any other reason consummated by the
date that is 270 days after the Closing Date or (iii) the Exchange Offer has
been completed and in the opinion of counsel for the Initial Purchasers a
Registration Statement must be filed and a Prospectus must be delivered by the
Representative in connection with any offering or sale of Registrable Notes,
the Issuer shall use its best efforts to cause to be filed as soon as
practicable after such determination, date or notice of such opinion of counsel
is given to the Issuer, as the case may be, a Shelf
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Registration Statement providing for the sale by the Holders of all of the
Registrable Notes and to have such Shelf Registration Statement declared
effective by the SEC. The Issuer agrees to use its best efforts to keep the
Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective until the second
anniversary of the Closing Date or such shorter period that will terminate when
all of the Registrable Notes covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have
been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement. The Issuer further
agrees to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement if required by
the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used
by the Issuer for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the 1933 Act or by
any other rules and regulations thereunder for shelf registration or if
reasonably requested by a Holder with respect to information relating to such
Holder, and to use its best efforts to cause any such amendment to become
effective and such Shelf Registration Statement to become usable as soon as
thereafter practicable. The Issuer agrees to furnish to the Holders of
Registrable Notes copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly after its
being used or filed with the SEC.
(c) The Issuer shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with the
registration pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b). Each Holder shall pay
all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating
to the sale or disposition of such Holder's Registrable Notes pursuant to the
Shelf Registration Statement.
(d) An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a)
hereof or a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof will
not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by
the SEC; provided, however, that, if, after it has been declared effective, the
offering of Registrable Notes pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement is
interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of
the SEC or any other governmental agency or court, such Registration Statement
will be deemed not to have become effective during the period of such
interference until the offering of Registrable Notes pursuant to such
Registration Statement may legally resume. As provided for in the Indenture,
from and after the date that is 270 days after the Closing Date, the interest
rate on each subclass of Notes will be increased by 0.50% per annum until the
completion of an Exchange Offer or the date a Shelf Registration Statement is
declared effective by the SEC, whereupon the interest rate on each subclass of
Notes will permanently decrease to the applicable interest rate provided for
such subclass of Note.
(e) Without limiting the remedies available to the Representative and the
Holders, the Issuer acknowledges that any failure by the Issuer to comply with
its obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof may result in
material irreparable injury to the Representative or the Holders for which
there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure
damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure,
the Representative or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to
specifically enforce the Issuer's obligations under Section 2(a) and Section
2(b) hereof.
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3. Registration Procedures.
In connection with the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the
Registration Statements pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof, the
Issuer shall as expeditiously as possible:
(a) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on the
appropriate form under the 1933 Act, which form (x) shall be selected by
the Issuer and (y) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be
available for the sale of the Registrable Notes by the selling Holders
thereof and (z) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the
requirements of the applicable form and include all financial statements
required by the SEC to be filed therewith, and use its best efforts to
cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain
effective in accordance with Section 2 hereof;
(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective
amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep
such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period and cause
each Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement
and, as so supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933
Act; to keep each Prospectus current during the period described under
Section 4(3) and Rule 174 under the 1933 Act that is applicable to
transactions by brokers or dealers with respect to the Registrable Notes
or Exchange Notes;
(c) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of
Registrable Notes, to counsel for the Representative, to counsel for the
Holders and to each Underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of
Registrable Notes, if any, without charge, as many copies of each
Prospectus, including each preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment or
supplement thereto and such other documents as such Holder or Underwriter
may reasonably request, in order to facilitate the public sale or other
disposition of the Registrable Notes; and the Issuer consents to the use
of such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance
with applicable law by each of the selling holders of Registrable Notes
and any such Underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the
Registrable Notes covered by and in the manner described in such
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with
applicable law;
(d) use its best efforts to register or qualify the Registrable
Notes under all applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws of such
jurisdictions as any Holder of Registrable Notes covered by a Registration
Statement shall reasonably request in writing by the time the applicable
Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, to cooperate with
such Holders in connection with any filings required to be made with the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and do any and all other
acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable
such Holder to consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction of
such Registrable Notes owned by such Holder; provided, however, that the
Issuer shall
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not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in
securities in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to
qualify but for this Section 3(d), (ii) file any general consent to
service of process or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such
jurisdiction if it is not so subject;
(e) in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Holder of
Registrable Notes, counsel for the Holders and counsel for the
Representative promptly and, if requested by any such Holder or counsel,
confirm such advice in writing (i) when a Registration Statement has
become effective and when any post-effective amendment thereto has been
filed and becomes effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any state
securities authority for amendments and supplements to a Registration
Statement and Prospectus or for additional information after the
Registration Statement has become effective, (iii) of the issuance by the
SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any
proceedings for that purpose, (iv) if, between the effective date of a
Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Notes
covered thereby, the representations and warranties of the Issuer
contained in any underwriting agreement, securities sales agreement or
other similar agreement, if any, relating to the offering cease to be
true and correct in all material respects or if the Issuer receives any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the
Registrable Notes for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any
proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the happening of any event during the
period a Shelf Registration Statement is effective which makes any
statement made in such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus
untrue in any material respect or which requires the making of any
changes in such Registration Statement or Prospectus in order to make the
statements therein not misleading and (vi) of any determination by the
Issuer that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would
be appropriate;
(f) make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of any
order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement at the
earliest possible moment and provide immediate notice to each Holder of
the withdrawal of any such order;
(g) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of
Registrable Notes, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto (without
documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless
requested);
(h) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the selling
Holders of Registrable Notes to facilitate the timely preparation and
delivery of certificates representing Registrable Notes to be sold and
not bearing any restrictive legends and enable such Registrable Notes to
be in such denominations (consistent with the provisions of the
Indenture) and registered in such names as the selling Holders may
reasonably request at least two business days prior to the closing of any
sale of Registrable Notes;
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(i) in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon the occurrence of any
event contemplated by Section 3(e)(v) hereof, use its best efforts to
prepare and file with the SEC a supplement or post-effective amendment to
a Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any document
incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so
that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Notes,
such Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. The Issuer agrees to notify the Holders to suspend use of
the Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an
event, and the Holders hereby agree to suspend use of the Prospectus
until the Issuer has amended or supplemented the Prospectus to correct
such misstatement or omission;
(j) a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Registration
Statement, any Prospectus, any amendment to a Registration Statement or
amendment or supplement to a Prospectus or any document which is to be
incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or a Prospectus
after initial filing of a Registration Statement, provide copies of such
document to the Representative and its counsel (and, in the case of a
Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders and their counsel) and make
such of the representatives of the Issuer as shall be reasonably
requested by the Representative or its counsel (and, in the case of a
Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders or their counsel) available for
discussion of such document, and shall not at any time file or make any
amendment to the Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any amendment
of or supplement to a Registration Statement or a Prospectus or any
document which is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration
Statement or a Prospectus, of which the Representative and its counsel
(and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders and
their counsel) shall not have previously been advised and furnished a
copy or to which the Representative or its counsel (and, in the case of a
Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders or their counsel) shall object;
(k) obtain a CUSIP number and such other identification numbers as
may be necessary for all Exchange Notes or Registrable Notes, as the case
may be, not later than the effective date of a Registration Statement;
(l) use its best efforts to list the Exchange Notes, if any, on the
Luxembourg Stock Exchange not later than the Effective Date of an Exchange
Offer Registration Statement;
(m) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939, as amended (the "TIA"), in connection with the registration
of the Exchange Notes or Registrable Notes, as the case may be, cooperate
with the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture
as may be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with
the terms of the TIA and execute, and use its best efforts to cause the
Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to
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effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be
filed with the SEC to enable the Indenture to be so qualified in a timely
manner;
(n) in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available for
inspection by a representative of the Holders of the Registrable Notes,
any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Shelf
Registration Statement, and attorneys and accountants designated by the
Holders, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all financial
and other records, pertinent documents and properties of the Issuer, and
cause the respective officers, directors and employees of the Issuer to
supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative,
Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with a Shelf
Registration Statement;
(o) in the case of a Shelf Registration, use its best efforts to
cause all Registrable Notes to be listed on any securities exchange or
any automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the
Issuer are then listed if requested by the Majority Holders, to the
extent such Registrable Notes satisfy applicable listing requirements;
(p) use its best efforts to cause the Exchange Notes or Registrable
Notes, as the case may be, to be rated by Standard Poor's Ratings Group,
Xxxxx'x Investors Service, Inc. and Duff & Xxxxxx Credit Rating Co. or
two other nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (as such
term is defined in Rule 436(g)(2) under the 0000 Xxx);
(q) if reasonably requested by any Holder of Registrable Notes
covered by a Registration Statement, (i) promptly incorporate in a
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information with
respect to such Holder as such Holder reasonably requests to be included
therein and (ii) make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement
or such post-effective amendment as soon as the Issuer has received
notification of the matters to be incorporated in such filing; and
(r) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such customary
agreements and take all such other actions in connection therewith
(including those requested by the Holders of a majority of the
Registrable Notes being sold) in order to expedite or facilitate the
disposition of such Registrable Notes including, but not limited to, an
Underwritten Offering and in such connection, (i) to the extent possible,
make such representations and warranties to the Holders and any
Underwriters of such Registrable Notes with respect to the business of
the Issuer and its subsidiaries, the Registration Statement, Prospectus
and documents incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by
reference, if any, in each case, in form, substance and scope as are
customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings and
confirm the same if and when requested, (ii) obtain opinions of counsel
to the Issuer (which counsel and opinions, in form, scope and substance,
shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Holders and such Underwriters and
their respective counsel) addressed to each selling Holder and
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Underwriter of Registrable Notes, covering the matters customarily
covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings, (iii) obtain
"cold comfort" letters from the independent certified public accountants
of the Issuer (and, if necessary, any other certified public accountant
of any subsidiary of the Issuer, or of any business acquired by the
Issuer for which financial statements and financial data are or are
required to be included in the Registration Statement) addressed to each
selling Holder and Underwriter of Registrable Notes, such letters to be
in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in
"cold comfort" letters in connection with underwritten offerings, and
(iv) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably
requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Registrable Notes being sold or the Underwriters, and which are
customarily delivered in underwritten offerings, to evidence the
continued validity of the representations and warranties of the Issuer
made pursuant to clause (i) above and to evidence compliance with any
customary conditions contained in an underwriting agreement.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Issuer may require each
Holder of Registrable Notes to furnish to the Issuer such information regarding
the Holder and the proposed distribution by such Holder of such Registrable
Notes as the Issuer may from time to time reasonably request in writing.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder agrees that,
upon receipt of any notice from the Issuer of the happening of any event of the
kind described in Section 3(e)(v) hereof, such Holder will forthwith
discontinue disposition of Registrable Notes pursuant to a Registration
Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or
amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(i) hereof, and, if so directed by
the Issuer, such Holder will deliver to the Issuer (at its expense) all copies
in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder's
possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Notes current at the
time of receipt of such notice. If the Issuer shall give any such notice to
suspend the disposition of Registrable Notes pursuant to a Registration
Statement, the Issuer shall extend the period during which the Registration
Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the
number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of
such notice to and including the date when the Holders shall have received
copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to resume such
dispositions. The Issuer may give any such notice only twice during any 365
day period and any such suspensions may not exceed 30 days for each suspension
and there may not be more than two suspensions in effect during any 365 day
period.
The Holders of Registrable Notes covered by a Shelf Registration Statement
who desire to do so may sell such Registrable Notes in an Underwritten
Offering. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment banker or
investment bankers and manager or managers (the "UNDERWRITERS") that will
administer the offering will be selected by the Majority Holders of the
Registrable Notes included in such offering.
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4. Participation of Broker-Dealers in Exchange Offer.
(a) The Issuer shall require each holder of Notes who wishes to exchange
any such Notes for Exchange Notes in the Exchange Offer to represent that (i)
it is neither an affiliate of the Issuer nor a broker-dealer tendering Notes
acquired directly from the Issuer for its own account, (ii) any Exchange Notes
to be received by it are being acquired in the ordinary course of its business
and (iii) at the time of commencement of the Exchange Offer, it has no
arrangement with any person to participate in a distribution (within the
meaning of the 0000 Xxx) of the Exchange Notes.
(b) The Staff of the SEC has taken the position that any broker-dealer
that receives Exchange Notes for its own account in the Exchange Offer in
exchange for Notes that were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of
market-making or other trading activities (a "PARTICIPATING BROKER-DEALER"), may
be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the 1933 Act and must
deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with
any resale of such Exchange Notes.
The Issuer understands that it is the Staff's position that if the
Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement includes a
plan of distribution containing a statement to the above effect and the means
by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Notes, without
naming the Participating Broker-Dealers or specifying the amount of Exchange
Notes owned by them, such Prospectus may be delivered by Participating
Broker-Dealers to satisfy their prospectus delivery obligation under the 1933
Act in connection with resales of Exchange Notes for their own accounts, so
long as the Prospectus otherwise meets the requirements of the 1933 Act.
(b) In light of the above, notwithstanding the other provisions of this
Agreement, the Issuer agrees that the provisions of this Agreement as they
relate to a Shelf Registration shall also apply to an Exchange Offer
Registration to the extent, and with such reasonable modifications thereto as
may be reasonably requested by the Representative or by one or more
Participating Broker-Dealers, in each case as provided in clause (ii) below, in
order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of any Exchange Notes by
Participating Broker-Dealers consistent with the positions of the Staff recited
in Section 4(a) above; provided that:
(i) the Issuer shall not be required to amend or supplement the
Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as
would otherwise be contemplated by Section 3(i), for a period exceeding
180 days after the last Exchange Date (as such period may be extended
pursuant to the penultimate paragraph of Section 3 of this Agreement) and
Participating Broker-Dealers shall not be authorized by the Issuer to
deliver and shall not deliver such Prospectus after such period in
connection with the resales contemplated by this Section 4; and
(ii) the application of the Shelf Registration procedures set forth
in Section 3 of this Agreement to an Exchange Offer Registration, to the
extent not required by the positions of the Staff of the SEC or the 1933
Act and the rules and
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regulations thereunder, will be in conformity with the reasonable request
to the Issuer by the Representative or with the reasonable request in
writing to the Issuer by one or more broker-dealers who certify to the
Representative and the Issuer in writing that they anticipate that they
will be Participating Broker-Dealers; and provided further that, in
connection with such application of the Shelf Registration procedures set
forth in Section 3 to an Exchange Offer Registration, the Issuer shall be
obligated (x) to deal only with one entity representing the Participating
Broker-Dealers, which shall be the Representative unless it elects not to
act as such representative, (y) to pay the fees and expenses of only one
counsel representing the Participating Broker-Dealers, which shall be
counsel to the Representative unless such counsel elects not to so act
and (z) to cause to be delivered only one, if any, "cold comfort" letter
with respect to the Prospectus in the form existing on the last Exchange
Date and with respect to each subsequent amendment or supplement, if any,
effected during the period specified in clause (i) above.
(c) The Representative shall have no liability to the Issuer or any Holder
with respect to any request that it may make pursuant to Section 4(b) above.
5. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The Issuer agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Representative,
each Holder and each person, if any, who controls the Representative or any
Holder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of
the 1934 Act, or is under common control with, or is controlled by, the
Representative or any Holder, from and against all losses, claims, damages and
liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by the Representative, any Holder or any such controlling
or affiliated person in connection with defending or investigating any such
action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
a material fact contained in any Registration Statement (or any amendment
thereto) pursuant to which Exchange Notes or Registrable Notes were registered
under the 1933 Act, including all documents incorporated therein by reference,
or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, or caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the
Issuer shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or caused
by any 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, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission based upon information relating to an Initial
Purchaser or any Holder furnished to the Issuer in writing by the
Representative or any selling Holder expressly for use therein. In connection
with any Underwritten Offering permitted by Section 3, the Issuer will also
indemnify the Underwriters, if any, selling brokers, dealers and similar
securities industry professionals participating in the distribution, their
officers and directors and each Person who controls such Persons (within the
meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act) to the same
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extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders, if
requested in connection with any Registration Statement.
(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold
harmless the Issuer, the Representative and the other selling Holders, and each
of their respective trustees, directors, officers who sign the Registration
Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Issuer, the Representative
and any other selling Holder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the
1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act to the same extent as the foregoing
indemnity from the Issuer to the Representative and the Holders, but only with
reference to information relating to such Holder furnished to the Issuer in
writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement (or any
amendment thereto) or any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation)
shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be
sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) above, such person (the
"INDEMNIFIED PARTY") shall promptly notify the person against whom such
indemnity may be sought (the "INDEMNIFYING PARTY") in writing and the
indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified
party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and
shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding.
In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its
own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense
of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the
named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include
both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both
parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party
shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same
jurisdiction, be liable for (a) the fees and expenses of more than one separate
firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the Representative and all persons,
if any, who control the Representative within the meaning of either Section 15
of the 1933 Act or Xxxxxxx 00 xx xxx 0000 Xxx, (x) the fees and expenses of more
than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the Issuer, its
directors, its officers who sign the Registration Statement and each person, if
any, who controls the Issuer within the meaning of either such Section and (c)
the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local
counsel) for all Holders and all persons, if any, who control any Holders within
the meaning of either such Section, and that all such fees and expenses shall be
reimbursed as they are incurred. In such case involving the Representative and
persons who control the Representative, such firm shall be designated in writing
by the Representative. In such case involving the Holders and such persons who
control Holders, such firm shall be designated in writing by the Majority
Holders. In all other cases, such firm shall be designated by the Issuer. The
indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding
effected without its written consent but, if settled with such consent or if
there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to
indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason
of such
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settlement or judgment. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or
threatened proceeding in respect of which such 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 claims that are the subject matter
of such proceeding.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b)
of this Section 4 is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in
respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, then each indemnifying
party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party
thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified
party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying
party or parties on the one hand and of the indemnified party or parties on the
other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault of the Issuer and the Holders 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 Issuer or by the
Holders and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Holders'
respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 5(d) are several
in proportion to the respective number of Registrable Notes of such Holder that
were registered pursuant to a Registration Statement.
(e) The Issuer and each Holder agree that it would not be just or
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of
the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount
paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims,
damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to
include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating
or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Section 5, no Holder shall be required to indemnify or contribute any amount in
excess of the amount by which the total price at which Registrable Notes were
sold by such Holder exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 0000 Xxx) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 5 are not
exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be
available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 5
shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any
termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of
the Representative, any Holder
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or any person controlling the Representative or any Holder, or by or on behalf
of the Issuer, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Issuer,
(iii) acceptance of any of the Exchange Notes and (iv) any sale of Registrable
Notes pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement.
6. Miscellaneous.
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Issuer has not entered into, and on
or after the date of this Agreement will not enter into, any agreement which is
inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Notes in this
Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted
to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not
inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Issuer's other issued
and outstanding securities under any such agreements.
(b) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including
the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented,
and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be
given unless the Issuer has obtained the written consent of Holders of at least
a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Notes
affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent;
provided, however, that no amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or
consents to any departure from the provisions of Section 5 hereof shall be
effective as against any Holder of Registrable Notes unless consented to in
writing by such Holder.
(c) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered
first-class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight
delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder
to the Issuer by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of
this Section 6(c), which address initially is, with respect to the
Representative, the address set forth in the Purchase Agreement; and (ii) if to
the Issuer, initially at the Issuer's address set forth in the Purchase
Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c).
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five business
days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when
answered back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on
the next business day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing
overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands, or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the person giving the same to the Trustee, at the
address specified in the Indenture.
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(d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of each of the
parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an express
assignment, subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to
permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable Notes in
violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement. If any transferee of any
Holder shall acquire Registrable Notes, in any manner, whether by operation of
law or otherwise, such Registrable Notes shall be held subject to all of the
terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Notes such
person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to
perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and such person shall
be entitled to receive the benefits hereof. The Representative (in its
capacity as Representative) shall have no liability or obligation to the Issuer
with respect to any failure by a Holder to comply with, or any breach by any
Holder of, any of the obligations of such Holder under this Agreement.
(e) Third Party Beneficiary. The Holders shall be third party
beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Issuer, on the one
hand, and the Representative, on the other hand, and shall have the right to
enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such enforcement
necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of Holders
hereunder.
(f) 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.
(g) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(h) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.
(i) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions
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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.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
AERCO LIMITED
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Xx.
_____________________________________
Name: Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xx.
Title: Director
Confirmed and accepted as of
the date first above written:
XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
By: /s/ C. Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
________________________________________
Name: C. Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Managing Director
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