EXHIBIT 4.3
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of November 29 2002
By and Among
▇▇▇▇▇▇, INC.,
the SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS
named herein
and
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ SECURITIES INC.
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
FLEET SECURITIES, INC.
10 7/8 % Senior Notes due 2009
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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1. Definitions...............................................................1
2. Exchange Offer............................................................5
3. Shelf Registration........................................................8
4. Additional Interest......................................................10
5. Registration Procedures..................................................12
6. Registration Expenses....................................................20
7. Indemnification..........................................................21
8. Rules 144 and 144A.......................................................25
9. Underwritten Registrations...............................................25
10. Miscellaneous............................................................26
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements..........................................26
(b) Adjustments Affecting Registrable Notes.............................26
(c) Amendments and Waivers..............................................26
(d) Notices.............................................................26
(e) Successors and Assigns..............................................28
(f) Counterparts........................................................28
(g) Headings............................................................28
(h) Governing Law.......................................................28
(i) Severability........................................................28
(j) Notes Held by the Company or its Affiliates.........................28
(k) Third Party Beneficiaries...........................................29
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This
Registration Rights Agreement (the "AGREEMENT") is dated as of
November 29, 2002, by and among ▇▇▇▇▇▇, INC. a Delaware corporation
(the "COMPANY"), the subsidiaries of the Company that are listed on the
signature pages hereto (collectively, and together with any subsidiary
that in the future executes a supplemental indenture pursuant to which such
subsidiary agrees to guarantee the Notes (as hereinafter defined), the
"GUARANTORS" and, together with the Company, the "ISSUERS"), and Deutsche Bank
Securities Inc., ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Inc., Banc of America
Securities LLC and Fleet Securities, Inc. (collectively, the "INITIAL
PURCHASERS").
This Agreement is entered into in connection with the Purchase
Agreement, dated as of November 25, 2002 by and among the Issuers and the
Initial Purchasers (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), which provides for the sale by
the Company to the Initial Purchasers of $100,000,000 principal amount of its 10
7/8 % Senior Notes due 2009 (the "NOTES"), guaranteed by the Guarantors (the
"GUARANTEES"). The Notes and the Guarantees are collectively referred to herein
as the "SECURITIES." In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the
Purchase Agreement, the Issuers have agreed, among other things, to provide the
registration rights set forth in this Agreement for the benefit of the Initial
Purchasers and any subsequent holder or holders of the Notes. The execution and
delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the Initial Purchasers' obligation
to purchase the Notes under the Purchase Agreement.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
ADDITIONAL INTEREST: See Section 4(a) hereof.
ADVICE: See the last paragraph of Section 5 hereof.
AGREEMENT: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.
APPLICABLE PERIOD: See Section 2(b) hereof.
COMPANY: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.
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EFFECTIVENESS DATE: With respect to (i) the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the 180th day after the Issue Date and (ii) any Shelf
Registration Statement, the 60th day after the Filing Date with respect thereto.
EFFECTIVENESS PERIOD: See Section 3(a) hereof.
EVENT DATE: See Section 4(b) hereof.
EXCHANGE ACT: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the
rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
EXCHANGE NOTES: See Section 2(a) hereof.
EXCHANGE OFFER: See Section 2(a) hereof.
EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT: See Section 2(a) hereof.
FILING DATE: (A) If no Registration Statement has been filed by the
Company pursuant to this Agreement, the 120th day after the Issue Date; and (B)
in any other case (which may be applicable notwithstanding the consummation of
the Exchange Offer), the 30th day after the delivery of a Shelf Notice.
GUARANTEES: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.
GUARANTORS: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.
HOLDER: Any holder of a Registrable Note or Registrable Notes.
INDEMNIFIED PERSON: See Section 7(c) hereof.
INDEMNIFYING PERSON: See Section 7(c) hereof.
INDENTURE: The Indenture, dated as of June 24, 2002, between the
Issuers and The Bank of
New York, as Trustee thereunder, pursuant to which the
Notes are issued, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance
with the terms thereof.
INITIAL PURCHASERS: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.
INITIAL SHELF REGISTRATION: See Section 3(a) hereof.
INSPECTORS: See Section 5(n) hereof.
ISSUE DATE: November 29, 2002, the date of original issuance of the
Notes.
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ISSUERS: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.
NASD: See Section 5(s) hereof.
NOTES: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.
PARTICIPANT: See Section 7(a) hereof.
PARTICIPATING BROKER-DEALER: See Section 2(b) hereof.
PERSON: An individual, trustee, corporation, partnership, joint stock
company, trust, unincorporated association, union, business association, firm or
other legal entity.
PRIVATE EXCHANGE: See Section 2(b) hereof.
PRIVATE EXCHANGE NOTES: See Section 2(b) hereof.
PROSPECTUS: The prospectus included in any Registration Statement
(including, without limitation, any prospectus subject to completion and a
prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus
filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A
under the Securities Act and any term sheet filed pursuant to Rule 434 under the
Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, and
all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective
amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
PURCHASE AGREEMENT: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.
RECORDS: See Section 5(n) hereof.
REGISTRABLE NOTES: Each Security upon its original issuance and at all
times subsequent thereto, each Exchange Note (and the related Guarantees) as to
which Section 2(c)(iv) hereof is applicable upon original issuance and at all
times subsequent thereto and each Private Exchange Note (and the related
Guarantees) upon original issuance thereof and at all times subsequent thereto,
until (i) a Registration Statement (other than, with respect to any Exchange
Note as to which Section 2(c)(iv) hereof is applicable, the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement) covering such Security, Exchange Note or Private
Exchange Note has been declared effective by the SEC and such Security, Exchange
Note or such Private Exchange Note, as the case may be, has been disposed of in
accordance with such effective Registration Statement, (ii) such Security has
been exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer for an Exchange Note or Exchange
Notes that may be resold without restriction under federal securities laws,
(iii) such Security, Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note, as the case may be,
ceases to be outstanding for purposes of the Indenture or (iv) such Security,
Exchange
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Note or Private Exchange Note, as the case may be, may be resold without
restriction pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
REGISTRATION STATEMENT: Any registration statement of the Issuers that
covers any of the Notes, the Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange Notes filed
with the SEC under the Securities Act, including the Prospectus, amendments and
supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments,
all exhibits, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
RULE 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, as such Rule
may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule (other than Rule 144A) or
regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC providing for offers and sales of
securities made in compliance therewith resulting in offers and sales by
subsequent holders that are not affiliates of the Issuers of such securities
being free of the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act.
RULE 144A: Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act, as such
rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule (other than Rule 144)
or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC.
RULE 415: Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, as such rule
may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter
adopted by the SEC.
SECURITIES ACT: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules
and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
SEC: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
SHELF NOTICE: See Section 2(c) hereof.
SHELF REGISTRATION: See Section 3(b) hereof.
SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT: Any Registration Statement relating to a
Shelf Registration.
SUBSEQUENT SHELF REGISTRATION: See Section 3(b) hereof.
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
TRUSTEE: The trustee under the Indenture.
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UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATION OR UNDERWRITTEN OFFERING: A registration in
which Notes of one or more of the Issuers are sold to an underwriter for
reoffering to the public.
2. EXCHANGE OFFER
(a) To the extent not prohibited by applicable laws, rules,
regulations or applicable interpretations of the staff of the SEC, the Issuers
shall file with the SEC, no later than the Filing Date, a Registration Statement
(the "EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT") on an appropriate registration
form with respect to a registered offer (the "EXCHANGE OFFER") to exchange any
and all of the Registrable Notes for the same aggregate principal amount of
notes (the "EXCHANGE NOTES") of the Company, guaranteed by the Guarantors, that
are identical in all material respects to the Notes except that the Exchange
Notes shall contain no restrictive legend thereon. The Exchange Offer shall
comply with all applicable tender offer rules and regulations under the Exchange
Act and other applicable laws. The Issuers shall use their reasonable best
efforts to (x) cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be declared
effective under the Securities Act on or before the Effectiveness Date; (y) keep
the Exchange Offer open for not less than 30 days (or longer if required by
applicable law) after the date that notice of the Exchange Offer is mailed to
Holders; and (z) consummate the Exchange Offer on or prior to the 45th day
following the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is
declared effective by the SEC. If, after the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement is initially declared effective by the SEC, the Exchange Offer or the
issuance of the Exchange Notes thereunder is interfered with by any stop order,
injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or any other governmental
agency or court, the Exchange Offer Registration Statement shall be deemed not
to have become effective for purposes of this Agreement.
Each Holder that participates in the Exchange Offer will be required
to represent that any Exchange Notes to be received by it will be acquired in
the ordinary course of its business, that at the time of the consummation of the
Exchange Offer such Holder will have no arrangement or understanding with any
Person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange Notes in violation of
the provisions of the Securities Act, and that such Holder is not an affiliate
of any of the Issuers within the meaning of the Securities Act.
Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer in accordance with this
Section 2, the provisions of this Agreement shall continue to apply, solely with
respect to Registrable Notes that are Private Exchange Notes, Exchange Notes as
to which Section 2(c)(iv) is applicable and Exchange Notes held by Participating
Broker-Dealers, and the Issuers shall have no further obligation to register
Registrable Notes (other than Private Exchange Notes and other than in respect
of any Exchange Notes as to which clause 2(c)(iv) hereof applies) pursuant to
this Agreement. No Notes other than the Exchange Notes shall be included in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement.
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(b) The Issuers shall include within the Prospectus contained in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement a section entitled "Plan of Distribution,"
reasonably acceptable to the Holders, which shall contain such information as
the Initial Purchasers shall reasonably request.
The Issuers shall use their 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 is necessary to comply with applicable
law in connection with any resale of the Exchange Notes covered thereby;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such period shall not exceed 180 days after such
Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective (or such longer
period if extended pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 5 hereof) (the
"APPLICABLE PERIOD").
If, prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Initial
Purchasers hold any Securities acquired by them that have, or that are
reasonably likely to be determined to have, the status of an unsold allotment in
an initial distribution, or any Holder is not entitled to participate in the
Exchange Offer, the Issuers upon the request of any such Holder shall
simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Notes in the Exchange Offer,
issue and deliver to any such Holder, in exchange (the "PRIVATE EXCHANGE") for
such Securities held by any such Holder, the same principal amount of notes (the
"PRIVATE EXCHANGE NOTES") of the Company, guaranteed by the Guarantors, that are
identical in all material respects to the Exchange Notes (except that they may
bear a customary legend with respect to restrictions on transfer). The Private
Exchange Notes shall be issued pursuant to the same indenture as the Exchange
Notes. The Issuers shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause the Private
Exchange Notes, subsequent to the sale thereof pursuant to an effective Shelf
Registration (as defined in Section 3(b) hereof) and removal of any legends
restricting the transfer of such Private Exchange Notes, to bear the same CUSIP
number as the Exchange Notes.
Interest on the Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes will
accrue from (A) the later of (i) the last interest payment date on which
interest was paid on the Notes surrendered in exchange therefor or (ii) if the
Notes are surrendered for exchange on a date in a period which includes the
record date for an interest payment date to occur on or after the date of such
exchange and as to which interest will be paid, the date of such interest
payment or (B) if no interest has been paid on the Notes, from the Issue Date.
In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Issuers shall:
(1) mail, or cause to be mailed, to each Holder entitled to
participate in the Exchange Offer a copy of the Prospectus forming part of
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate
letter of transmittal and related documents;
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(2) keep the Exchange Offer open for not less than 30 days after
the date that notice of the Exchange Offer is mailed to Holders (or longer
if required by applicable law);
(3) utilize the services of a depositary for the Exchange Offer
with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of
New York;
(4) 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
Exchange Offer shall remain open; and
(5) otherwise comply in all material respects with all applicable
laws, rules and regulations.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer
and the Private Exchange, if any, the Issuers shall:
(1) accept for exchange all Registrable Notes validly tendered and
not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer and the Private
Exchange, if any;
(2) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable Notes
so accepted for exchange; and
(3) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver to each Holder of
Securities, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be,
equal in principal amount to the Notes of such Holder so accepted for
exchange.
The Exchange Offer and the Private Exchange shall not be subject to
any conditions, other than that (i) the Exchange Offer or Private Exchange, as
the case may be, does not violate applicable law or any applicable
interpretation of the staff of the SEC, (ii) no action or proceeding shall have
been instituted or threatened in any court or by any governmental agency which
would be reasonably likely to materially impair the ability of the Issuers to
proceed with the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, and no material adverse
development shall have occurred in any existing action or proceeding with
respect to the Issuers and (iii) all governmental approvals shall have been
obtained, which approvals the Issuers deem necessary for the consummation of the
Exchange Offer or Private Exchange.
The Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes shall be issued
under (i) the Indenture or (ii) an indenture identical in all material respects
to the Indenture and which, in either case, has been qualified under the TIA or
is exempt from such qualification and shall provide that the Exchange Notes
shall not be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture.
The Indenture provides or such indenture shall provide that the
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Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange Notes and the Notes shall vote and consent
together on all matters as one class and that none of the Exchange Notes, the
Private Exchange Notes or the Notes will have the right to vote or consent as a
separate class on any matter.
(c) If, (i) because of any change in law or in currently prevailing
interpretations of the staff of the SEC, the Issuers are not permitted to effect
the Exchange Offer, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not consummated within 225 days
of the Issue Date, (iii) the Initial Purchasers or any holder of Private
Exchange Notes so requests in writing to the Company at any time after the
consummation of the Exchange Offer, or (iv) in the case of any Holder that
participates in the Exchange Offer, such Holder does not receive Exchange Notes
on the date of the exchange that may be sold without restriction under state and
federal securities laws (other than due solely to the status of such Holder as
an affiliate of the Issuers within the meaning of the Securities Act) and so
notifies the Company within 30 days after such Holder first becomes aware of
such restrictions, in the case of each of clauses (i) to and including (iv) of
this sentence, then the Issuers shall promptly deliver to the Holders and the
Trustee written notice thereof (the "SHELF NOTICE") and as promptly as possible
shall file a Shelf Registration pursuant to Section 3 hereof.
3. SHELF REGISTRATION
If at any time a Shelf Notice is delivered as contemplated by Section
2(c) hereof, then:
(a) SHELF REGISTRATION. The Issuers shall as promptly as possible
file with the SEC a Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a
continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of the Registrable Notes
not permitted to be exchanged in the Exchange Offer in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement, Private Exchange Notes and Exchange Notes as to
which Section 2(c)(iv) is applicable (the "INITIAL SHELF REGISTRATION").
The Issuers shall use their reasonable best efforts to file with the SEC
the Initial Shelf Registration on or before the applicable Filing Date. The
Initial Shelf Registration shall be on Form S1 or another appropriate form
permitting registration of such Registrable Notes for resale by Holders in
the manner or manners designated by them (including, without limitation,
one or more underwritten offerings). The Issuers shall not permit any Notes
other than the Registrable Notes to be included in the Initial Shelf
Registration or any Subsequent Shelf Registration (as defined below).
The Issuers shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause the
Initial Shelf Registration to be declared effective under the Securities
Act on or prior to the Effectiveness Date and to keep the Initial Shelf
Registration continuously effective under the Securities Act until the date
which is the earlier of two years after the Issue Date (the "EFFECTIVENESS
PERIOD"), or such shorter period ending when all Registrable
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Notes covered by the Shelf Registration have been sold in the manner set
forth and as contemplated in the Initial Shelf Registration or, if
applicable, a Subsequent Shelf Registration; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
Effectiveness Period in respect of the Initial Shelf Registration shall be
extended to the extent required to permit dealers to comply with the
applicable prospectus delivery requirements of Rule 174 under the
Securities Act and as otherwise provided herein and shall be subject to
reduction to the extent that the applicable provisions of Rule 144(k) are
amended or revised to reduce the two year holding period set forth therein.
No holder of Registrable Notes may include any of its Registrable
Notes in any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless
and until such holder furnishes to the Company in writing, within 15
business days after receipt of a request therefor, such information as the
Company may reasonably request for use in connection with any Shelf
Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary prospectus included
therein. No holder of Registrable Notes shall be entitled to Additional
Interest pursuant to Section 4 hereof unless and until such holder shall
have provided all such reasonably requested information. Each holder of
Registrable Notes as to which any Shelf Registration Statement is being
effected agrees to furnish promptly to the Company all information required
to be disclosed in order to make information previously furnished to the
Company by such Holder not materially misleading.
(b) SUBSEQUENT SHELF REGISTRATIONS. If the Initial Shelf Registration
or any Subsequent Shelf Registration ceases to be effective for any reason
at any time during the Effectiveness Period (other than because of the sale
of all of the Notes registered thereunder), the Issuers shall use their
reasonable best efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order
suspending the effectiveness thereof, and in any event shall within 30 days
of such cessation of effectiveness amend the Initial Shelf Registration in
a manner to obtain the withdrawal of the order suspending the effectiveness
thereof, or file an additional Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to
Rule 415 covering all of the Registrable Notes covered by and not sold
under the Initial Shelf Registration or an earlier Subsequent Shelf
Registration (each, a "SUBSEQUENT SHELF Registration"). If a Subsequent
Shelf Registration is filed, the Issuers shall use their reasonable best
efforts to cause the Subsequent Shelf Registration to be declared effective
under the Securities Act as soon as practicable after such filing and to
keep such subsequent Shelf Registration continuously effective for a period
equal to the number of days in the Effectiveness Period less the aggregate
number of days during which the Initial Shelf Registration or any
Subsequent Shelf Registration was previously continuously effective. As
used herein the term "SHELF REGISTRATION" means the Initial Shelf
Registration and any Subsequent Shelf Registration.
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(c) SUPPLEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS. The Issuers shall promptly supplement
and amend any Shelf Registration if required by the rules, regulations or
instructions applicable to the registration form used for such Shelf
Registration, if required by the Securities Act, or if reasonably requested
by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement or by any
underwriter of such Registrable Notes.
(d) WITHDRAWAL OF STOP ORDERS. If the Shelf Registration ceases to be
effective for any reason at any time during the Effectiveness Period (other
than because of the sale of all of the Notes registered thereunder), the
Issuers shall use their reasonable best efforts to obtain the prompt
withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness thereof.
4. ADDITIONAL INTEREST
(a) The Issuers and the Initial Purchasers agree that the Holders will
suffer damages if the Issuers fail to fulfill their respective obligations under
Section 2 or Section 3 hereof and that it would not be feasible to ascertain the
extent of such damages with precision. Accordingly, the Issuers agree, to pay,
jointly and severally, as liquidated damages, additional interest on the Notes
("ADDITIONAL INTEREST") under the circumstances and to the extent set forth
below (each of which shall be given independent effect):
(i) if (A) neither the Exchange Offer Registration Statement nor
the Initial Shelf Registration has been filed on or prior to the Filing
Date applicable thereto or (B) notwithstanding that the Issuers have
consummated or will consummate the Exchange Offer, the Issuers are required
to file a Shelf Registration and such Shelf Registration is not filed on or
prior to the Filing Date applicable thereto, then, commencing on the day
after any such Filing Date, Additional Interest shall accrue on the
principal amount of the Notes at a rate of 0.50% per annum for the first 90
days immediately following such applicable Filing Date, and such Additional
Interest rate shall increase by an additional 0.50% per annum at the
beginning of each subsequent 90 day period; or
(ii) if (A) neither the Exchange Offer Registration Statement nor
the Initial Shelf Registration is declared effective by the SEC on or prior
to the Effectiveness Date applicable thereto or (B) notwithstanding that
the Issuers have consummated or will consummate the Exchange Offer, the
Issuers are required to file a Shelf Registration and such Shelf
Registration is not declared effective by the SEC on or prior to the
Effectiveness Date applicable to such Shelf Registration, then, commencing
on the day after such Effectiveness Date, Additional Interest shall accrue
on the principal amount of the Notes at a rate of 0.50% per annum for the
first 90 days immediately following the day after such Effectiveness Date,
and such Additional
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Interest rate shall increase by an additional 0.50% per annum at the
beginning of each subsequent 90 day period; or
(iii) if (A) the Issuers have not exchanged Exchange Notes for all
Notes validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer
on or prior to the 45th day after the date on which the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement relating thereto was declared effective or (B) if
applicable, a Shelf Registration has been declared effective and such Shelf
Registration ceases to be effective at any time during the Effectiveness
Period, then Additional Interest shall accrue on the principal amount of
the Notes at a rate of 0.50% per annum for the first 90 days commencing on
the (x) 46th day after such effective date, in the case of (A) above, or
(y) the day such Shelf Registration ceases to be effective in the case of
(B) above, and such Additional Interest rate shall increase by an
additional 0.50% per annum at the beginning of each such subsequent 90 day
period;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Additional Interest rate on the Notes may not accrue
under more than one of the foregoing clauses (i)-(iii) at any one time and at no
time shall the aggregate amount of additional interest accruing exceed in the
aggregate 1.0% per annum; PROVIDED, FURTHER, HOWEVER, that (1) upon the filing
of the applicable Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the applicable Shelf
Registration as required hereunder (in the case of clause (i) above of this
Section 4), (2) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or the applicable Shelf Registration Statement as required hereunder
(in the case of clause (ii) of this Section 4), or (3) upon the exchange of the
Exchange Notes for all Notes tendered (in the case of clause (iii)(A) of this
Section 4), or upon the effectiveness of the applicable Shelf Registration
Statement which had ceased to remain effective (in the case of (iii)(B) of this
Section 4), Additional Interest on the Notes in respect of which such events
relate as a result of such clause (or the relevant subclause thereof), as the
case may be, shall cease to accrue.
(b) The Issuers shall notify the Trustee within one business day after
each and every date on which an event occurs in respect of which Additional
Interest is required to be paid (an "EVENT DATE"). Any amounts of Additional
Interest due pursuant to (a)(i), (a)(ii) or (a)(iii) of this Section 4 will be
payable in cash semiannually on each June 15 and December 15 (to the holders of
record on the June 1 and December 1 immediately preceding such dates),
commencing with the first such date occurring after any such Additional Interest
commences to accrue. The amount of Additional Interest will be determined by
multiplying the applicable Additional Interest rate by the principal amount of
the Registrable Notes, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of days such Additional Interest rate was applicable during such period
(determined on the basis of a 360 day year comprised of twelve 30 day months
and, in the case of a partial month, the actual number of days elapsed), and the
denominator of which is 360.
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5. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
In connection with the filing of any Registration Statement pursuant
to Sections 2 or 3 hereof, the Issuers shall effect such registrations to permit
the sale of the Notes covered thereby in accordance with the intended method or
methods of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto and in connection with any
Registration Statement filed by the Issuers hereunder each of the Issuers shall:
(a) Prepare and file with the SEC prior to the applicable Filing Date,
a Registration Statement or Registration Statements as prescribed by
Sections 2 or 3 hereof, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause each
such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective as
provided herein; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, if (1) such filing is pursuant to
Section 3 hereof or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be
delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who
seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period relating thereto,
before filing any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or
supplements thereto, the Issuers shall furnish to and afford the Holders of
the Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement or each such
Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, their counsel and the
managing underwriters, if any, a reasonable opportunity to review copies of
all such documents (including copies of any documents to be incorporated by
reference therein and all exhibits thereto) proposed to be filed (in each
case at least five business days prior to such filing, or such later date
as is reasonable under the circumstances). The Issuers shall not file any
Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements
thereto if the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement, their counsel, or
the managing underwriters, if any, shall reasonably object.
(b) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective
amendments to each Shelf Registration Statement or Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, as the case may be, as may be necessary to keep
such Registration Statement continuously effective for the Effectiveness
Period or the Applicable Period or until consummation of the Exchange
Offer, as the case may be; cause the related Prospectus to be supplemented
by any Prospectus supplement required by applicable law, and as so
supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions
then in force) promulgated under the Securities Act; and comply with the
provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act applicable to it with
respect to the disposition of all Notes covered by such Registration
Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented and with
respect to the subsequent resale of any Notes being sold by a Participating
Broker-Dealer covered by any such Prospectus.
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(c) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof,
or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the
Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell
Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period relating thereto from whom any
Issuer has received written notice that it will be a Participating
Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, notify the selling Holders of
Registrable Notes, or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case
may be, their counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, promptly (but
in any event within two business days), and confirm such notice in writing,
(i) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment has been filed, and, with respect to a Registration Statement or
any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective under the
Securities Act (including in such notice a written statement that any
Holder may, upon request, obtain, at the sole expense of the Issuers, one
conformed copy of such Registration Statement or post-effective amendment
including financial statements and schedules, documents incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated by reference therein and exhibits), (ii) of the
issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a
Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of
any preliminary prospectus or the initiation of any proceedings for that
purpose, (iii) if at any time when a prospectus is required by the
Securities Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Registrable
Notes or resales of Exchange Notes by Participating Broker-Dealers the
representations and warranties of the Issuers contained in any agreement
(including any underwriting agreement) contemplated by Section 5(m) hereof
cease to be true and correct in all material respects, (iv) of the receipt
by any Issuer of any notification with respect to the suspension of the
qualification or exemption from qualification of a Registration Statement
or any of the Registrable Notes or the Exchange Notes to be sold by any
Participating Broker-Dealer for offer or sale in any jurisdiction, or the
initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the
happening of any event, the existence of any condition or any information
becoming known that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement
or related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that
requires the making of any changes in or amendments or supplements to such
Registration Statement, Prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the
Registration Statement, it will not contain any 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 not misleading, and
that in the case of the Prospectus, it will not contain any 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, and (vi) of
the Issuers' determination that a post-effective amendment to a
Registration Statement would be appropriate.
14
(d) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof,
or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the
Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell
Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, use its reasonable best
efforts to prevent the issuance of any order suspending the effectiveness
of a Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the
use of a Prospectus or suspending the qualification (or exemption from
qualification) of any of the Registrable Notes or the Exchange Notes to be
sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer, for sale in any jurisdiction, and,
if any such order is issued, to use its best efforts to obtain the
withdrawal of any such order at the earliest possible date.
(e) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 and if
requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters (if any), the Holders
of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes being
sold in connection with an underwritten offering or any Participating
Broker-Dealer, (i) promptly as commercially practicable incorporate in a
prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the
managing underwriter or underwriters (if any), such Holders, any
Participating Broker-Dealer or counsel for any of them reasonably request
to be included therein, (ii) make all required filings of such prospectus
supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as commercially
practicable after any Issuer has received notification of the matters to be
incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment, and
(iii) supplement or make amendments to such Registration Statement.
(f) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof,
or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the
Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell
Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, furnish to each selling Holder
of Registrable Notes and to each such Participating Broker-Dealer who so
requests and to counsel and each managing underwriter, if any, at the sole
expense of the Issuers, one conformed copy of the Registration Statement or
Registration Statements and each post-effective amendment thereto,
including financial statements and schedules, and, if requested, all
documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference
and all exhibits.
(g) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof,
or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the
Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell
Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, deliver to each selling Holder
of Registrable Notes, or each such Participating
15
Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, their respective counsel, and the
underwriters, if any, at the sole expense of the Issuers, as many copies of
the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of preliminary
prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto and any documents
incorporated by reference therein as such Persons may reasonably request;
and, subject to the last paragraph of this Section 5, the Issuers hereby
consent to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement
thereto by each of the selling Holders of Registrable Notes or each such
Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, and the underwriters or
agents, if any, and dealers (if any), in connection with the offering and
sale of the Registrable Notes covered by, or the sale by Participating
Broker-Dealers of the Exchange Notes pursuant to, such Prospectus and any
amendment or supplement thereto.
(h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Notes or any delivery
of a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement by
any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the
Applicable Period, to use its reasonable best efforts to register or
qualify, and to cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Notes or
each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, the managing
underwriter or underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel in
connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from such
registration or qualification) of such Registrable Notes for offer and sale
under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the
United States as any selling Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer, or the
managing underwriter or underwriters reasonably request in writing;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that where Exchange Notes held by Participating
Broker-Dealers or Registrable Notes are offered other than through an
underwritten offering, the Issuers agree to cause their counsel to perform
Blue Sky investigations and file registrations and qualifications required
to be filed pursuant to this Section 5(h); keep each such registration or
qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the period such
Registration Statement is required to be kept effective and do any and all
other acts or things reasonably necessary to enable the disposition in such
jurisdictions of the Exchange Notes held by Participating Broker-Dealers or
the Registrable Notes covered by the applicable Registration Statement;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no Issuer shall be required to (A) qualify
generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so
qualified, (B) take any action that would subject it to general service of
process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or (C)
subject itself to taxation in excess of the dollar amount in any such
jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(i) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof,
cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Notes and the managing
underwriter or underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation
and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Notes to be sold,
which certificates shall not bear any restrictive legends
16
and shall be in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust
Company; and enable such Registrable Notes to be in such denominations and
registered in such names as the managing underwriter or underwriters, if
any, or Holders may request.
(j) Use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registrable Notes
covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by
such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be reasonably
necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof or the underwriter or
underwriters, if any, to consummate the disposition of such Registrable
Notes, except as may be required solely as a consequence of the nature of
such selling Holder's business, in which case the Issuers will cooperate in
all reasonable respects with the filing of such Registration Statement and
the granting of such approvals.
(k) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof,
or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the
Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell
Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, upon the occurrence of any
event contemplated by paragraph 5(c)(v) or 5(c)(vi) hereof, as promptly as
commercially practicable prepare and (subject to Section 5(a) hereof) file
with the SEC, at the sole expense of the Issuers, a supplement or
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to
the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference, or file any other required document so
that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Notes
being sold thereunder or to the purchasers of the Exchange Notes to whom
such Prospectus will be delivered by a Participating Broker-Dealer, any
such Prospectus will not 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, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading.
(l) Prior to the effective date of the first Registration Statement
relating to the Registrable Notes, (i) provide the Trustee with
certificates for the Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes, as the case may
be, in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company and
(ii) provide a CUSIP number for the Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes, as
the case may be.
(m) In connection with any underwritten offering of Registrable Notes
pursuant to a Shelf Registration, enter into an underwriting agreement as
is customary in underwritten offerings of debt securities similar to the
Notes in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company and take
all such other actions as are reasonably requested by the managing
underwriter or underwriters in order to expedite
17
or facilitate the registration or the disposition of such Registrable Notes
and, in such connection, (i) make such representations and warranties to,
and covenants with, the underwriters with respect to the business of the
Company and its subsidiaries and the Registration Statement, Prospectus and
documents, if any, incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference
therein, in each case, as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters
in underwritten offerings of debt securities similar to the Notes, and
confirm the same in writing if and when requested in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Issuers; (ii) obtain the written opinion of
counsel to the Issuers and written updates thereof in form, scope and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriter or
underwriters, addressed to the underwriters covering the matters
customarily covered in opinions reasonably requested in underwritten
offerings of debt securities similar to the Notes and such other matters as
may be reasonably requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters;
(iii) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain "cold comfort" letters and
updates thereof in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
managing underwriter or underwriters from the independent certified public
accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent
certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any
business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and
financial data are, or are required to be, included or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement), addressed to the underwriter,
such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type
customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in connection with
underwritten offerings of debt securities similar to the Notes and such
other matters as reasonably requested by the managing underwriter or
underwriters as permitted by the Statement on Auditing Standards No. 72;
and (iv) if an underwriting agreement is entered into, the same shall
contain indemnification provisions and procedures no less favorable to the
sellers and underwriters, if any, than those set forth in Section 7 hereof
(or such other provisions and procedures acceptable to Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of Registrable Notes covered by such
Registration Statement and the managing underwriter or underwriters or
agents, if any). The above shall be done at each closing under such
underwriting agreement, or as and to the extent required thereunder.
(n) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof,
or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the
Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell
Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, make available for inspection
by any selling Holder of such Registrable Notes being sold, or each such
Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, any underwriter
participating in any such disposition of Registrable Notes, if any, and any
attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such selling Holder or
each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, or underwriter
(collectively, the
18
"INSPECTORS"), at the offices where normally kept, during reasonable
business hours, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate
documents and instruments of the Company and its subsidiaries
(collectively, the "RECORDS") as shall be reasonably necessary to enable
them to exercise any applicable due diligence responsibilities, and cause
the officers, directors and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries
to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector in
connection with such Registration Statement and Prospectus. Each Inspector
shall agree in writing that it will keep the Records confidential and that
it will not disclose any of the Records unless (i) the disclosure of such
Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in such
Registration Statement or Prospectus, (ii) the release of such Records is
ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent
jurisdiction, (iii) disclosure of such information is necessary or
advisable, in the opinion of counsel for any Inspector, in connection with
any action, claim, suit or proceeding, directly or indirectly, involving or
potentially involving such Inspector and arising out of, based upon,
relating to, or involving this Agreement or the Purchase Agreement, or any
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or arising hereunder or
thereunder, or (iv) the information in such Records has been made generally
available to the public. Each selling Holder of such Registrable Notes and
each such Participating Broker-Dealer will be required to agree that
information obtained by it as a result of such inspections shall be deemed
confidential and shall not be used by it as the basis for any market
transactions in the securities of any Issuer unless and until such is made
generally available to the public. Each selling Holder of such Registrable
Notes and each such Participating Broker-Dealer will be required to further
agree that it will, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought
in a court of competent jurisdiction, give notice to the Company and allow
the Company to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of the
Records deemed confidential at the Issuers' expense.
(o) Provide the Trustee for the Registrable Notes or the Exchange
Notes, as the case may be, and cause the Indenture or the trust indenture
provided for in Section 2(a) hereof, as the case may be, to be qualified
under the TIA not later than the effective date of the first Registration
Statement relating to the Registrable Notes; and in connection therewith,
cooperate with the trustee under any such indenture and the Holders of the
Registrable Notes, to effect such changes to such indenture as may be
required for such indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms
of the TIA; and execute, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such
trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such
changes, and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the
SEC to enable such indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner.
19
(p) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and
make generally available to their respective securityholders earnings
statements satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act
and Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar rule promulgated under the
Securities Act) no later than 45 days after the end of any 12 month period
(or 90 days after the end of any 12 month period if such period is a fiscal
year) (i) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Registrable
Notes are sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts
underwritten offering and (ii) if not sold to underwriters in such an
offering, commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the
Company after the effective date of a Registration Statement, which
statements shall cover said 12 month periods.
(q) If the Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be consummated,
upon delivery of the Registrable 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 Issuers shall
▇▇▇▇, or cause to be marked, on such Registrable Notes that such
Registrable Notes are being cancelled in exchange for the Exchange Notes or
the Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be; in no event shall such
Registrable Notes be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.
(r) Use its best efforts to cause the Registrable Notes covered by a
Registration Statement or the Exchange Notes, as the case may be, to be
rated with the appropriate rating agencies, if so requested by the Holders
of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Registrable Notes covered by
such Registration Statement or the Exchange Notes, as the case may be, or
the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any.
(s) Cooperate with each seller of Registrable Notes covered by any
Registration Statement and each underwriter, if any, participating in the
disposition of such Registrable Notes and their respective counsel in
connection with any filings required to be made with the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD").
(t) Use its reasonable best efforts to take all other steps reasonably
necessary to effect the registration of the Exchange Notes and/or
Registrable Notes covered by a Registration Statement contemplated hereby.
The Issuers may require each seller of Registrable Notes as to which
any registration is being effected to furnish to the Company such information
regarding such seller and the distribution of such Registrable Notes as the
Company may, from time to time, reasonably request. The Issuers may exclude from
such registration the Registrable Notes of any seller so long as such seller
fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such
request. Each seller as to which any Shelf Registration is being effected agrees
20
to furnish promptly to the Company all information required to be disclosed in
order to make the information previously furnished to the Company by such seller
not materially misleading.
Each Holder of Registrable Notes and each Participating Broker-Dealer
agrees by its acquisition of such Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes to be sold
by such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, that, upon actual
receipt of any notice from the Issuers of the happening of any event of the kind
described in Section 5(c)(ii), 5(c)(iv), 5(c)(v), or 5(c)(vi) hereof, such
Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Notes covered
by such Registration Statement or Prospectus or Exchange Notes to be sold by
such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, until such
Holder's or Participating Broker-Dealer's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(k) hereof, or until
it is advised in writing (the "ADVICE") by the Issuers that the use of the
applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any amendments
or supplements thereto. In the event that the Issuers shall give any such
notice, each of the Effectiveness Period and the Applicable Period shall be
extended by the number of days during such periods from and including the date
of the giving of such notice to and including the date when each seller of
Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement or Exchange Notes to be
sold by such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, shall have
received (x) the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated
by Section 5(k) hereof or (y) the Advice.
6. REGISTRATION EXPENSES
All reasonable fees and expenses incident to the performance of or
compliance with this Agreement by the Issuers shall be borne by the Issuers
whether or not the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or any Shelf
Registration Statement is filed or becomes effective or the Exchange Offer is
consummated, including, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees
(including, without limitation, (A) fees with respect to filings required to be
made with the NASD in connection with an underwritten offering and (B) fees and
expenses of compliance with state securities or Blue Sky laws (including,
without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in connection
with Blue Sky qualifications of the Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes and
determination of the eligibility of the Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes for
investment under the laws of such jurisdictions (x) where the holders of
Registrable Notes are located, in the case of the Exchange Notes, or (y) as
provided in Section 5(h) hereof, in the case of Registrable Notes or Exchange
Notes to be sold by a Participating Broker-Dealer during the Applicable
Period)), (ii) reasonable printing expenses, including, without limitation,
reasonable expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Notes or Exchange
Notes in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company and of
printing prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is reasonably requested by
the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, by the Holders of a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes included in any
Registration Statement or in respect of Exchange
21
Notes to be sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer during the Applicable
Period, as the case may be, (iii) reasonable messenger, telephone and delivery
expenses, (iv) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Issuers and,
in the case of a Shelf Registration, reasonable fees and disbursements of one
special counsel for all of the sellers of Registrable Notes (exclusive of any
counsel retained pursuant to Section 7 hereof), (v) fees and disbursements of
all independent certified public accountants referred to in Section 5(m)(iii)
hereof (including, without limitation, the expenses of any special audit and
"cold comfort" letters required by or incident to such performance), (vi)
Securities Act liability insurance, if the Issuers desire such insurance, (vii)
fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by any of the Issuers, (viii)
internal expenses of the Issuers (including, without limitation, all salaries
and expenses of officers and employees of the Issuers performing legal or
accounting duties), (ix) the expense of any annual audit, (x) the fees and
expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Notes to be registered
on any securities exchange, and the obtaining of a rating of the Notes, in each
case, if applicable, and (xi) the reasonable expenses relating to printing, word
processing and distributing all Registration Statements, underwriting
agreements, indentures and any other documents necessary in order to comply with
this Agreement.
7. INDEMNIFICATION
(a) Each of the Issuers, jointly and severally, agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless each Holder of Registrable Notes and each Participating
Broker-Dealer selling Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, the officers,
directors, employees and agents of each such Person, and each Person, if any,
who controls any such Person within the meaning of either Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each, a "PARTICIPANT"), from
and against any and all losses, claims, damages, judgments, liabilities and
expenses (including, without limitation, the reasonable legal fees and other
expenses actually incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or
any claim asserted) caused by, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto) or Prospectus (as amended or supplemented
if any Issuer shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or any
preliminary prospectus, or caused by, arising out of or based upon any omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the case of the
Prospectus in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, EXCEPT insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are
caused by, arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or omission or
alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity
with information relating to any Participant furnished to the Company in writing
by such Participant expressly for use therein; provided, however, that no Issuer
will be liable if such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement
or omission was contained or made in any preliminary prospectus and corrected in
the final Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto and any such loss,
liability, claim, or damage or expense suffered or
22
incurred by the Participants resulted from any action, claim or suit by any
Person who purchased Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes which are the subject
thereof from such Participant and it is established in the related proceeding
that such Participant failed to deliver or provide a copy of the final
Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) to such Person with or prior to the
confirmation of the sale of such Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes sold to
such Person if required by applicable law, unless such failure to deliver or
provide a copy of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) was a result of
noncompliance by any Issuer with Section 5 of this Agreement.
(b) Each Holder of Registrable Notes and each Participating
Broker-Dealer selling Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period agrees,
severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Issuers,
their directors, their officers who sign the Registration Statement and their
employees and agents and each Person, if any, who controls each Issuer within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Issuers to each
Participant, but only with reference to information relating to such Holder of
Registrable Notes or Participating Broker-Dealer selling Exchange Notes during
the Applicable Period furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder of
Registrable Notes or each Participating Broker-Dealer selling Exchange Notes
during the Applicable Period expressly for use in any Registration Statement or
Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, or any preliminary prospectus.
The liability of any Holder of Registrable Notes and each Participating
Broker-Dealer that sells Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period under this
paragraph shall in no event exceed the proceeds received by such Holder of
Registrable Notes and each Participating Broker-Dealer that sells Exchange Notes
during the Applicable Period from sales of Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes
giving rise to such obligations.
(c) If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or
regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against
any Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to either of the
two preceding paragraphs, such Person (the "INDEMNIFIED PERSON") shall promptly
notify the Persons against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "INDEMNIFYING
PERSONS") in writing, and the Indemnifying Persons, upon request of the
Indemnified Person, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person and any others the
Indemnifying Persons may reasonably designate in such proceeding and shall pay
the reasonable fees and expenses actually incurred by such counsel related to
such proceeding; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the failure to so notify the
Indemnifying Persons shall not relieve any of them of any obligation or
liability which any of them may have hereunder unless and to the extent such
failure results in the forfeiture by the Indemnifying Persons of substantial
rights and defenses and will not, in any even, relieve the Indemnifying Persons
from any obligations to any Indemnified Persons other than the indemnification
obligations provided hereunder. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person
shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but
23
the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such
Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Persons and the Indemnified
Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary, (ii) the Indemnifying Persons
shall have failed within a reasonable period of time to retain counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person or (iii) the named parties in
any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both any
Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person or any affiliate thereof and
representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to
actual or potential conflicting interests between them. It is understood that,
unless there exists a conflict among Indemnified Persons, the Indemnifying
Persons shall not, in connection with such proceeding or separate but
substantially similar related proceeding in the same jurisdiction arising out of
the same general allegations, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than
one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified
Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are
incurred. Any such separate firm for the Participants and such control Persons
of Participants shall be designated in writing by Participants who sold a
majority in interest of Registrable Notes and Exchange Notes sold by all such
Participants and any such separate firm for the Issuers, their directors, their
officers and such control Persons of the Issuers shall be designated in writing
by the Company and shall be reasonably acceptable to the Holders. The
Indemnifying Persons shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding
effected without its prior written consent (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed), but if settled with such consent or if there
be a final nonappealable judgment for the plaintiff for which the Indemnified
Person is entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, each of the
Indemnifying Persons agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified
Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or
judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified
Person shall have requested an Indemnifying Person to reimburse the Indemnified
Person for reasonable fees and expenses actually incurred by counsel as
contemplated by the third sentence of this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person
agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected
without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30
days after receipt by such Indemnifying Person of the aforesaid request and (ii)
such Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in
accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement
effected without its consent pursuant to this sentence if the Indemnifying
Person is contesting, in good faith, the request for reimbursement. No
Indemnifying Person shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified
Persons (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), effect
any settlement or compromise of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect
of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party, or indemnity
could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such
settlement (A) includes an unconditional written release of such Indemnified
Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified
Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such
24
proceeding and (B) does not include any statement as to an admission of fault,
culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in clauses (a) and (b) of this
Section 7 is for any reason unavailable to, or insufficient to hold harmless, an
Indemnified Person in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities
referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraphs, in
lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder and in order to provide
for just and equitable contribution, shall contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
fault of the Indemnifying Person or Persons on the one hand and the Indemnified
Person or Persons on the other in connection with the statements or omissions or
alleged statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) as well as any other 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 any Issuer on the one hand or
such Participant or such other Indemnified Person, as the case may be, on the
other, the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission, and any other
equitable considerations appropriate in the circumstances.
(e) The parties agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by PRO RATA allocation
(even if the Participants were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any
other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount
paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims,
damages, judgments, liabilities and expenses referred to in the immediately
preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set
forth above, any reasonable legal or other expenses actually incurred by such
Indemnified Person in connection with investigating or defending any such action
or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, in no event shall, a
Holder of Registrable Notes or any Participating Broker-Dealer that Exchange
Notes during the Applicable Period, be required to contribute any amount in
excess of the amount by which proceeds received by such Holder of Registrable
Notes or any Participating Broker-Dealer that Exchange Notes during the
Applicable Period from sales of Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes, as the case
may be, exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder of Registrable Notes
or any Participating Broker-Dealer that Exchange Notes during the Applicable
Period has otherwise been required to pay or has paid 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.
25
(f) Any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses for which an
indemnified party is entitled to indemnification or contribution under this
Section 7 shall be paid by the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified Party as
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are incurred. The
indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 7 and the
representations and warranties of the Issuers set forth in this Agreement shall
remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Holder or any person who controls a
Holder, any Issuer and its directors, officers, employees or agents or any
person controlling such Issuer, and (ii) any termination of this Agreement.
(g) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this
Section 7 will be in addition to any liability which the Indemnifying Persons
may otherwise have to the Indemnified Persons referred to above.
8. RULES 144 AND 144A
Each of the Issuers covenants and agrees that, so long as Registrable
Notes remain outstanding, it will file the reports required to be filed by it
under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
adopted by the SEC thereunder in a timely manner in accordance with the
requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and, if at any time such
Issuer is not permitted to file such reports, such Issuer will, upon the request
of any Holder or beneficial owner of Registrable Notes, make publicly available
annual reports and such information, documents and other reports of the type
specified in Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Each Issuer further
covenants for so long as any Registrable Notes remain outstanding, to make
available to any Holder or beneficial owner of Registrable Notes in connection
with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Registrable Notes
from such Holder or beneficial owner the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4)
under the Securities Act in order to permit resales of such Registrable Notes
pursuant to Rule 144A.
9. UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATIONS
If any of the Registrable 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 manage the offering will be selected
by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Registrable
Notes included in such offering and shall be reasonably acceptable to the
Company.
No Holder of Registrable Notes may participate in any underwritten
registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder's
Registrable Notes on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements
approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b)
completes and executes all questionnaires,
26
powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents
required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
10. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) NO INCONSISTENT AGREEMENTS. As of the date hereof, no Issuer has
entered into any agreement with respect to any of its Notes that 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 any of the Issuers' other issued and
outstanding Notes. As of the date hereof, no Issuer has entered into any
agreement with respect to any of its Notes which will grant to any Person
piggyback registration rights with respect to any Registration Statement
required to be filed by the Issuers pursuant to this Agreement.
(b) ADJUSTMENTS AFFECTING REGISTRABLE NOTES. No Issuer shall
knowingly, directly or indirectly, take any action with respect to the
Registrable Notes as a class that would adversely affect the ability of the
Holders of Registrable Notes to include such Registrable Notes in a registration
undertaken pursuant to this Agreement.
(c) 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, otherwise than with the prior written
consent of (I) the Issuers and (II)(A) the Holders of not less than a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Registrable Notes and (B)
in circumstances that would adversely affect the Participating Broker-Dealers,
the Participating Broker-Dealers holding not less than a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Exchange Notes held by all Participating Broker-Dealers;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Section 7 and this Section 10(c) may not be amended,
modified or supplemented without the prior written consent of each Holder and
each Participating Broker-Dealer (including any person who was a Holder or
Participating Broker-Dealer of Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes, as the case
may be, disposed of pursuant to any Registration Statement) affected by any such
amendment, modification or supplement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver
or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that
relates exclusively to the rights of Holders of Registrable Notes whose Notes
are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly
or indirectly affect, impair, limit or compromise the rights of other Holders of
Registrable Notes may be given by Holders of at least a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Registrable Notes being sold pursuant to such
Registration Statement.
(d) NOTICES. All notices and other communications (including, without
limitation, any notices or other communications to the Trustee) provided for or
permitted
27
hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, registered first-class
mail, next-day air courier or facsimile:
(i) if to a Holder of the Registrable Notes or any Participating
Broker-Dealer, at the most c.urrent address of such Holder or Participating
Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, set forth on the records of the
registrar under the Indenture, with a copy in like manner to the Initial
Purchasers as follows:
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile No: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: Corporate Finance
with a copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile No: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
(ii) if to the Initial Purchasers, at the address specified in
Section 10(d)(i);
(iii) if to the Company, at the address as follows:
▇▇▇▇▇▇, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: General Counsel
with a copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five business days after
being deposited in
28
the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; one business day after being timely
delivered to a next-day air courier; and upon receiving confirmation receipt by
the addressee, if sent by facsimile.
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 and in the manner specified in such Indenture.
(e) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto,
the Holders and the Participating Broker-Dealers, 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 or the
Indenture.
(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 LAWS OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK, AS APPLIED TO
CONTRACTS MADE AND PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN THE STATE OF
NEW YORK, WITHOUT
REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.
(i) SEVERABILITY. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction
of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties
hereto shall use their best efforts to find and employ an alternative means to
achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such
term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared
to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that
may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(j) NOTES HELD BY THE ISSUERS OR THEIR AFFILIATES. Whenever the
consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Notes is
required hereunder, Registrable Notes held by any Issuer or any of its
affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule
29
405 under the Securities Act) shall not be counted in determining whether such
consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.
(k) THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. Holders of Registrable Notes and
Participating Broker-Dealers are intended third party beneficiaries of this
Agreement, and this Agreement may be enforced by such Persons.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
▇▇▇▇▇▇, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
-----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
Title: Senior Vice President
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:
PRINTCO., INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
-----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
Title: Senior Vice President
WEBCRAFT, LLC
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
-----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
Title: Senior Vice President
WEBCRAFT CHEMICALS, LLC
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
-----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
Title: Senior Vice President
31
ENTERON GROUP, LLC
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
-----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
Title: Senior Vice President
BIG FLOWER DIGITAL SERVICES
(DELAWARE), INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
-----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
Title: Senior Vice President
BIG FLOWER DIGITAL LLC
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
-----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
Title: Senior Vice President
32
INITIAL PURCHASERS:
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Managing Director
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Managing Director
▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ SECURITIES INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
-----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
-----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President
FLEET SECURITIES, INC.
By: /s/ Marc Mancelli
-----------------------------------
Name: Marc Mancelli
Title: Director
