EXHIBIT 4.2
$150,000,000
CHAMPION HOME BUILDERS CO.
11 1/4% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2007
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
April 22, 2002
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation,
FIRST UNION SECURITIES, INC.
c/o Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
Eleven Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Champion Home Builders Co., a Michigan corporation (the "COMPANY"),
proposes to issue and sell to Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation and First
Union Securities, Inc. (the "INITIAL PURCHASERS"), upon the terms set forth in a
purchase agreement of even date herewith (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT"),
$150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 11 1/4% Senior Notes due 2007
(the "NOTES") to be guaranteed (the "GUARANTEES") by Champion Enterprises, Inc.,
a Michigan corporation and the parent of the Company ("PARENT") and the
subsidiaries of Parent listed on the signature pages hereto (the "SUBSIDIARY
GUARANTORS" and, together with Parent, the "GUARANTORS"). The Company, Parent
and the Subsidiary Guarantors are collectively referred to herein as the
"ISSUERS." The Notes and the Guarantees are together referred to as the "INITIAL
SECURITIES". The Initial Securities will be issued pursuant to an Indenture,
dated as of April 22, 2002 (the "INDENTURE"), among the Company, Parent and the
Subsidiary Guarantors and Bank One Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the
"TRUSTEE"). As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the
Purchase Agreement, the Issuers agree, jointly and severally, with the Initial
Purchasers, for the benefit of the Initial Purchasers and the holders of the
Securities (as defined below) (collectively the "HOLDERS"), as follows:
1. Registered Exchange Offer. Unless not permitted by applicable law
(after the Issuers have complied with the ultimate paragraph of this Section 1),
the Issuers shall prepare and, not later than 90 days (or if the 90th day is not
a business day, the first business day thereafter) (such 90th day, or if the
90th day is not a business day, the first business day thereafter, being a
"FILING DEADLINE") after the date on which the Initial Purchasers purchases the
Initial Securities pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (the "CLOSING DATE"),
files with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "COMMISSION") a
registration statement (the "EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT") on an
appropriate form under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"SECURITIES ACT"), with respect to a proposed offer (the "REGISTERED EXCHANGE
OFFER") to the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined in Section
6 hereof), who are not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from
participating in the Registered Exchange Offer, to issue and deliver to such
Holders, in exchange for the Initial Securities, a like aggregate principal
amount of debt securities (the "EXCHANGE SECURITIES") of the Company issued
under the Indenture, identical in all material respects to the Initial
Securities (except that the Exchange Securities will not contain certain
restrictions on transfer) and registered under the Securities Act. The Issuers
shall use their best efforts to (i) cause such Exchange Offer Registration
Statement to become effective under the Securities Act within 180 days after the
Closing Date (such 180th day (or, if the 180th day is not a business day, the
first business day thereafter) being an "EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE") and (ii) keep
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective for not less than 20
business days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date notice
of the Registered Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holders (such period being
called the "EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION PERIOD").
If the Issuers commence the Registered Exchange Offer, the Issuers (i)
will be entitled to consummate the Registered Exchange Offer 30 days after such
commencement (provided that the Issuers have accepted all the Initial Securities
theretofore validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Registered
Exchange Offer) and (ii) will be required to consummate the Registered Exchange
Offer no later than 30 days after the date on which the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement is declared effective (such 30th day being the
"CONSUMMATION DEADLINE").
Following the declaration of the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the Issuers shall promptly commence the Registered
Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to
enable each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined in Section 6(d)
hereof) electing to exchange the Initial Securities for Exchange Securities
(assuming that such Holder is not an affiliate of the Issuers within the meaning
of the Securities Act, acquires the Exchange Securities in the ordinary course
of such Holder's business and has no arrangements with any person to participate
in the distribution of the Exchange Securities and is not prohibited by any law
or policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer)
to trade such Exchange Securities from and after their receipt without any
limitations or restrictions under the Securities Act and without material
restrictions under the securities laws of the several states of the United
States.
The Issuers acknowledge that, pursuant to current interpretations by
the Commission's staff of Section 5 of the Securities Act, in the absence of an
applicable exemption therefrom, (i) each Holder which is a broker-dealer
electing to exchange Initial Securities, acquired for its own account as a
result of market making activities or other trading activities, for Exchange
Securities (an "EXCHANGING DEALER"), is required to deliver a prospectus
containing the information set forth in (a) Annex A hereto on the cover, (b)
Annex B hereto in the "Exchange Offer Procedures" section and the "Purpose of
the Exchange Offer" section, and (c) Annex C hereto in the "Plan of
Distribution" section of such prospectus in connection with a sale of any such
Exchange Securities received by such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to the
Registered Exchange Offer and (ii)
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an Initial Purchaser that elects to sell Securities (as defined below) acquired
in exchange for Initial Securities constituting any portion of an unsold
allotment, is required to deliver a prospectus containing the information
required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as
applicable, in connection with such sale.
The Issuers shall use their respective best efforts to keep the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the
prospectus contained therein, in order to permit such prospectus to be lawfully
delivered by all persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act for such period of time as such persons must comply with such
requirements in order to resell the Exchange Securities; provided, however, that
(i) in the case where such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto
must be delivered by an Exchanging Dealer or the Initial Purchasers, such period
shall be the lesser of 180 days and the date on which all Exchanging Dealers and
the Initial Purchasers have sold all Exchange Securities held by them (unless
such period is extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) and (ii) the Company
shall make such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto available to
any broker-dealer for use in connection with any resale of any Exchange
Securities for a period of not less than 180 days after the consummation of the
Registered Exchange Offer.
If, upon consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, the Initial
Purchasers hold Initial Securities acquired by them as part of their initial
distribution, the Issuers, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange
Securities pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, shall issue and deliver to
the Initial Purchasers upon the written request of the Initial Purchasers, in
exchange (the "PRIVATE EXCHANGE") for the Initial Securities held by the Initial
Purchasers, a like principal amount of debt securities of the Company issued
under the Indenture and identical in all material respects (including the
existence of restrictions on transfer under the Securities Act and the
securities laws of the several states of the United States) to the Initial
Securities (the "PRIVATE EXCHANGE SECURITIES"). The Initial Securities, the
Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities are herein collectively
called the "SECURITIES".
In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Issuers shall:
(a) mail to each Holder a copy of the prospectus forming part
of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an
appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;
(b) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than
20 business days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the
date notice thereof is mailed to the Holders;
(c) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered
Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of
New York, which may be the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee;
(d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities at any time
prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last business day
on which the Registered Exchange Offer shall remain open; and
(e) otherwise comply with all applicable laws.
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As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange Offer
or the Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Issuers shall:
(x) accept for exchange all the Securities validly tendered
and not withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and the
Private Exchange;
(y) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all the Initial
Securities so accepted for exchange; and
(z) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to
each Holder of the Initial Securities, Exchange Securities or Private
Exchange Securities, as the case may be, equal in principal amount to
the Initial Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.
The Indenture will provide that the Exchange Securities will not be
subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture and that all the
Securities will vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that
none of the Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a class
separate from one another on any matter.
Interest on each Exchange Security and Private Exchange Security issued
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and in the Private Exchange will
accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the
Initial Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been
paid on the Initial Securities, from the date of original issue of the Initial
Securities.
Each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer shall be
required to represent to the Issuers that at the time of the consummation of the
Registered Exchange Offer (i) any Exchange Securities received by such Holder
will be acquired in the ordinary course of business, (ii) such Holder will have
no arrangements or understanding with any person to participate in the
distribution of the Securities or the Exchange Securities within the meaning of
the Securities Act, (iii) such Holder is not an "affiliate," as defined in Rule
405 of the Securities Act, of the Issuers or if it is an affiliate, such Holder
will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act to the extent applicable, (iv) if such Holder is not a
broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, the
distribution of the Exchange Securities and (v) if such Holder is a
broker-dealer, that it will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in
exchange for Initial Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities and that it will be required to
acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such Exchange Securities.
Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Issuers will ensure
that (i) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and
any prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto complies in all
material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, (ii) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment
thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (iii) any prospectus
forming part of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and any supplement to
such prospectus, does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or
4
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.
If following the date hereof there has been announced a change in
Commission policy with respect to exchange offers that in the reasonable opinion
of counsel to the Issuers raises a substantial question as to whether the
Registered Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable federal law, the Company
will seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision from the Commission
allowing the Company to consummate the Registered Exchange Offer. The Issuers
will pursue the issuance of such a decision to the Commission staff level. In
connection with the foregoing, the Issuers will take all such other actions as
may be requested by the Commission or otherwise required in connection with the
issuance of such decision, including without limitation (i) participating in
telephonic conferences with the Commission, (ii) delivering to the Commission
staff an analysis prepared by counsel to the Issuers setting forth the legal
bases, if any, upon which such counsel has concluded that the Registered
Exchange Offer should be permitted and (iii) diligently pursuing a resolution
(which need not be favorable) by the Commission staff.
2. Shelf Registration. If, (i) because of any change in law or in
applicable interpretations thereof by the staff of the Commission, the Issuers
are not permitted to effect a Registered Exchange Offer, as contemplated by
Section 1 hereof, (ii) the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated by the
210th day (or if the 210th day is not a business day, the first business day
thereafter,) after the Closing Date, (iii) the Initial Purchasers, within 10
business days of receiving written notice from the Issuers of completion of the
Registered Exchange Offer, notify the Company that the Initial Securities (or
the Private Exchange Securities) held by it are not eligible to be exchanged for
Exchange Securities in the Registered Exchange Offer or (iv) any Holder (other
than an Exchanging Dealer), within 10 business days following completion of the
Registered Exchange Offer notifies the Company that such Holder is not eligible
to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer, that such Holder may not resell
the Exchange Notes to the public without delivering a prospectus and the
prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not
appropriate or available for such resales by such Holder or that such Holder is
a broker/dealer and holds Initial Securities that are part of an unsold
allotment from the original sale of the Notes, the Issuers shall take the
following actions (the date on which any of the conditions described in the
foregoing clauses (i) through (iv) occur, including in the case of clauses (iii)
or (iv) the receipt of the required notice, being a "TRIGGER DATE"):
(a) The Issuers shall, as promptly as practicable, (but in no
event more than 90 days after the Trigger Date (such 90th day being a
"FILING DEADLINE")) file with the Commission and thereafter use their
best efforts to cause to be declared effective no later than 180 days
after the Trigger Date (such 180th day being an "EFFECTIVENESS
DEADLINE") a registration statement (the "SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT"
and, together with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, a
"REGISTRATION STATEMENT") on an appropriate form under the Securities
Act relating to the offer and sale of the Transfer Restricted
Securities by the Holders thereof from time to time in accordance with
the methods of distribution set forth in the Shelf Registration
Statement and Rule 415 under the Securities Act (hereinafter, the
"SHELF REGISTRATION"); provided, however, that no Holder (other than
the Initial Purchasers) shall be entitled to have the Securities held
by it
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covered by such Shelf Registration Statement unless such Holder agrees
in writing to be bound by all the provisions of this Agreement
applicable to such Holder.
(b) The Issuers shall use their best efforts to keep the Shelf
Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit the
prospectus included therein to be lawfully delivered by the Holders of
the relevant Securities, for a period of two years (or for such longer
period if extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) from the date of its
effectiveness or such shorter period that will terminate when all the
Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement (i) have been
sold pursuant thereto or (ii) are no longer restricted securities (as
defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or any successor rule
thereof). The Issuers shall be deemed not to have used their best
efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective during the
requisite period if any Issuer voluntarily takes any action that would
result in Holders of Securities covered thereby not being able to offer
and sell such Securities during that period, unless such action (i) is
required by applicable law or (ii) is taken by the Company on the basis
of a good faith determination that its failure to take such action
would adversely affect a material disposition of stock or assets,
merger or other comparable transaction, so long as the Company promptly
thereafter complies with the requirements of Section 3(j) hereof, if
applicable; provided, however, that the period during which the Holders
of such Securities are not able to offer or sell such Securities
pursuant to this clause (ii) shall not exceed 60 days in the aggregate.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to
the contrary, the Issuers shall cause the Shelf Registration Statement
and the related prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as
of the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, amendment or
supplement, (i) to comply in all material respects with the applicable
requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission and (ii) not to contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
3. Registration Procedures. In connection with any Shelf Registration
contemplated by Section 2 hereof and, to the extent applicable, any Registered
Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 1 hereof, the following provisions shall
apply:
(a) The Issuers shall (i) furnish to the Initial Purchasers, prior to
the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of the Registration Statement and
each amendment thereof and each supplement, if any, to the prospectus included
therein and, in the event that the Initial Purchasers (with respect to any
portion of an unsold allotment from the original offering) are participating in
the Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration Statement, the Issuers
shall use their best efforts to reflect in each such document, when so filed
with the Commission, such comments as the Initial Purchasers reasonably may
propose; (ii) include the information set forth in Annex A hereto on the cover,
in Annex B hereto in the "Exchange Offer Procedures" section and the "Purpose of
the Exchange Offer" section and in Annex C hereto in the "Plan of Distribution"
section of the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement and include the information set forth in Annex D hereto in the Letter
of Transmittal delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer; (iii) if
requested by the Initial Purchasers, include the information required by Items
507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in the
prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement; (iv)
include within the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement a section entitled "Plan of Distribution," reasonably acceptable to
the Initial Purchasers, which shall contain a summary statement of the positions
taken or policies made by the staff of the Commission with respect to the
potential "underwriter" status of any broker-dealer that is the beneficial owner
(as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act")) of Exchange Securities received by such broker-dealer in
the Registered Exchange Offer (a "PARTICIPATING BROKER-DEALER"), whether such
positions or policies have been publicly disseminated by the staff of the
Commission or such positions or policies, in the reasonable
6
judgment of the Initial Purchasers based upon advice of counsel (which
may be in-house counsel), represent the prevailing views of the staff
of the Commission; and (v) in the case of a Shelf Registration
Statement, include the names of the Holders who propose to sell
Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement as selling
securityholders.
(b) The Issuers shall give written notice to the Initial
Purchasers, and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the
Holders of the Securities and, in the case of an Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, any Participating Broker-Dealer from whom the
Issuers have received prior written notice that it will be a
Participating Broker-Dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer (which
notice pursuant to clauses (ii) - (v) hereof shall be accompanied by an
instruction to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite
changes have been made):
(i) when the Registration Statement or any amendment
thereto has been filed with the Commission and when the
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto
has become effective;
(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments
or supplements to the Registration Statement or the prospectus
included therein or for additional information;
(iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that
purpose;
(iv) of the receipt by the Company or its legal
counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of
the qualification of the Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any
proceeding for such purpose; and
(v) of the happening of any event that requires the
Issuers to make changes in the Registration Statement or the
prospectus in order that the Registration Statement or the
prospectus do not contain an untrue statement of a material
fact nor omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the
case of the prospectus, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made) not misleading.
(c) The Issuers shall make every reasonable effort to obtain
the withdrawal at the earliest possible time, of any order suspending
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.
(d) The Issuers shall furnish to each Holder of Securities
included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge,
at least one copy of the Shelf Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and
schedules, and, if the Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits
thereto (including those, if any, incorporated by reference).
(e) The Issuers shall deliver to each Exchanging Dealer and
the Initial Purchasers, and to any other Holder who so requests,
without charge, at least one copy of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial
statements and schedules, and, if the Initial Purchasers or any such
Holder requests, all exhibits thereto (including those incorporated by
reference).
(f) The Issuers shall, during the Shelf Registration Period,
deliver to each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of
the Shelf Registration, without charge, as many copies of the
prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) included in the
Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as
such person may reasonably request. The
7
Issuers consent, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the
use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of
the selling Holders of the Securities in connection with the offering
and sale of the Securities covered by the prospectus, or any amendment
or supplement thereto, included in the Shelf Registration Statement.
(g) The Issuers shall deliver to the Initial Purchasers, any
Exchanging Dealer, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other
persons required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered
Exchange Offer, without charge, as many copies of the final prospectus
included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment
or supplement thereto as such persons may reasonably request. The
Issuers consent, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the
use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by the
Initial Purchasers, if necessary, any Participating Broker-Dealer and
such other persons required to deliver a prospectus following the
Registered Exchange Offer in connection with the offering and sale of
the Exchange Securities covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, included in such Exchange Offer Registration
Statement.
(h) Prior to any public offering of the Securities pursuant to
any Registration Statement the Issuers shall register or qualify or
cooperate with the Holders of the Securities included therein and their
respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification
of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or "blue sky"
laws of such states of the United States as any Holder of the
Securities reasonably requests in writing and do any and all other acts
or things necessary or advisable to enable the offer and sale in such
jurisdictions of the Securities covered by such Registration Statement;
provided, however, that the Issuers shall not be required to (i)
qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where they are not
then so qualified or (ii) take any action which would subject it to
general service of process or to taxation in any jurisdiction where it
is not then so subject; provided further that the Issuers shall not be
required to pay any expenses in connection therewith after the
effective date of any applicable Registration Statement.
(i) The Issuers shall cooperate with the Holders of the
Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates representing the Securities to be sold pursuant to any
Registration Statement free of any restrictive legends and in such
denominations and registered in such names as the Holders may request a
reasonable period of time prior to sales of the Securities pursuant to
such Registration Statement.
(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by
paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above during the period for
which the Issuers are required to maintain an effective Registration
Statement, the Issuers shall promptly prepare and file a post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related
prospectus and any other required document so that, as thereafter
delivered to Holders of the Securities or purchasers of Securities, the
prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading. If the Issuers notify the
Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any known
Participating Broker-Dealer in accordance with paragraphs (ii) through
(v) of Section 3(b) above to suspend the use of the prospectus until
the requisite changes to the prospectus have been made, then the
Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any such
Participating Broker-Dealers shall suspend use of such prospectus, and
the period of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement
provided for in Section 2(b) above and the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement provided for in Section 1 above shall each be extended by the
number of days from and including the date of the giving of such notice
to and including the date when the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of
the Securities and any known Participating Broker-Dealer shall have
received such amended or supplemented prospectus pursuant to this
Section 3(j).
(k) Not later than the effective date of the applicable
Registration Statement, the Issuers will provide a CUSIP number for the
Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private
8
Exchange Securities, as the case may be, and provide the applicable
trustee with printed certificates for the Initial Securities, the
Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may
be, in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.
(l) The Issuers will comply with all rules and regulations of
the Commission to the extent and so long as they are applicable to the
Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration and will make
generally available to their security holders (or otherwise provide in
accordance with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act) an earnings
statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities
Act, no later than 45 days after the end of a 12-month period (or 90
days, if such period is a fiscal year) beginning with the first month
of the Parent's first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective
date of the Registration Statement, which statement shall cover such
12-month period.
(m) The Issuers shall cause the Indenture to be qualified
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in a timely manner
and containing such changes, if any, as shall be necessary for such
qualification. In the event that such qualification would require the
appointment of a new trustee under the Indenture, the Issuers shall
appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions
of the Indenture.
(n) The Issuers may require each Holder of Securities to be
sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the
Issuers such information regarding the Holder and the distribution of
the Securities as the Issuers may from time to time reasonably require
for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, and the Issuers may
exclude from such registration the Securities of any Holder that
unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time
after receiving such request.
(o) The Issuers shall enter into such customary agreements
(including, if requested, an underwriting agreement in customary form)
and take all such other action, if any, as any Holder of the Securities
shall reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the
Securities pursuant to any Shelf Registration.
(p) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Issuers shall
(i) make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of the
Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant
to the Shelf Registration Statement and any attorney, accountant or
other agent retained by the Holders of the Securities or any such
underwriter all relevant financial and other records, pertinent
corporate documents and properties of the Issuers and (ii) cause the
Issuers' officers, directors, employees, accountants and auditors to
supply all relevant information reasonably requested by the Holders of
the Securities or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent
in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, as
shall be reasonably necessary to enable such persons, to conduct a
reasonable investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the
Securities Act; provided, however, that the foregoing inspection and
information gathering shall be coordinated on behalf of the Initial
Purchasers by you and on behalf of the other parties, by one counsel
designated by and on behalf of such other parties as described in
Section 4 hereof; provided, further, that any information that is
designated in writing by the Company, in good faith, as confidential at
the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by
the Holders or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent,
unless such disclosure is made in connection with a court proceeding or
required by law, or such information becomes available to the public
generally or through a third party without an accompanying obligation
of confidentiality.
(q) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Issuers, if
requested by any Holder of Securities covered thereby, shall cause (i)
their counsel (which may be in-house counsel) to deliver an opinion and
updates thereof relating to the Securities in customary form addressed
to such Holders and the managing underwriters, if any, thereof and
dated, in the case of the initial opinion, the effective date of such
Shelf Registration Statement (it being agreed that the matters to be
covered by such opinion shall include, without limitation, the due
incorporation and good
9
standing of the Company, the Parent and its subsidiaries; the
qualification of the Company, the Parent and its subsidiaries to
transact business as foreign corporations; the due authorization,
execution and delivery of the relevant agreement of the type referred
to in Section 3(o) hereof; the due authorization, execution,
authentication and issuance, and the validity and enforceability, of
the applicable Securities; the absence of material legal or
governmental proceedings involving the Company, the Parent and its
subsidiaries; the absence of governmental approvals required to be
obtained in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, the
offering and sale of the applicable Securities, or any agreement of the
type referred to in Section 3(o) hereof; the compliance as to form of
such Shelf Registration Statement and any documents incorporated by
reference therein and of the Indenture with the requirements of the
Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act, respectively; and, as of
the date of the opinion and as of the effective date of the Shelf
Registration Statement or most recent post-effective amendment thereto,
as the case may be, the absence from such Shelf Registration Statement
and the prospectus included therein, as then amended or supplemented,
and from any documents incorporated by reference therein of an untrue
statement of a material fact or the omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading (in the case of any such documents,
in the light of the circumstances existing at the time that such
documents were filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act); (ii)
their officers to execute and deliver all customary documents and
certificates and updates thereof requested by any underwriters of the
applicable Securities and (iii) their independent public accountants to
provide to the selling Holders of the applicable Securities and any
underwriter therefor a comfort letter in customary form and covering
matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters in
connection with primary underwritten offerings, subject to receipt of
appropriate documentation as contemplated, and only if permitted, by
Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72.
(r) In the case of the Registered Exchange Offer, if requested
by the Initial Purchasers or any known Participating Broker-Dealer, the
Company shall cause (i) its counsel to deliver to such Initial
Purchaser or such Participating Broker-Dealer a signed opinion in the
form set forth in Section 6(c) of the Purchase Agreement with such
changes as are customary in connection with the preparation of a
Registration Statement and (ii) its independent public accountants to
deliver to such Initial Purchaser or such Participating Broker-Dealer a
comfort letter, in customary form, meeting the requirements as to the
substance thereof as set forth in Section 6(a) of the Purchase
Agreement, with appropriate date changes.
(s) If a Registered Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to
be consummated, upon delivery of the Initial Securities by Holders to
the Company (or to such other Person as directed by the Company) in
exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange
Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall xxxx, or cause to be
marked, on the Initial Securities so exchanged that such Initial
Securities are being canceled in exchange for the Exchange Securities
or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be; in no event
shall the Initial Securities be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.
(t) The Issuers will use their reasonable best efforts to (a)
if the Initial Securities have been rated prior to the initial sale of
such Initial Securities, confirm such ratings will apply to the
Securities covered by a Registration Statement, or (b) if the Initial
Securities were not previously rated, cause the Securities covered by a
Registration Statement to be rated with the appropriate rating
agencies, if so requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of Securities covered by such Registration Statement,
or by the managing underwriters, if any.
(u) In the event that any broker-dealer registered under the
Exchange Act shall underwrite any Securities or participate as a member
of an underwriting syndicate or selling group or "assist in the
distribution" (within the meaning of the Conduct Rules (the "RULES") of
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD")) thereof,
whether as a Holder of such Securities or as an underwriter, a
placement or sales agent or a broker or dealer in respect thereof, or
otherwise, the Issuers will assist such broker-dealer in complying with
the requirements of such Rules, including, without limitation, by (i)
if such Rules, including Rule 2720, shall so require,
10
engaging a "qualified independent underwriter" (as defined in Rule
2720) to participate in the preparation of the Registration Statement
relating to such Securities, to exercise usual standards of due
diligence in respect thereto and, if any portion of the offering
contemplated by such Registration Statement is an underwritten offering
or is made through a placement or sales agent, to recommend the yield
of such Securities, (ii) indemnifying any such qualified independent
underwriter to the extent of the indemnification of underwriters
provided in Section 5 hereof and (iii) providing such information to
such broker-dealer as may be required in order for such broker-dealer
to comply with the requirements of the Rules.
(v) The Issuers shall use their best efforts to take all other
steps necessary to effect the registration of the Securities covered by
a Registration Statement contemplated hereby.
4. Registration Expenses. (a) All expenses incident to the Company's
performance of its obligations under Sections 1 through 3 hereof will be borne
by the Company, regardless of whether a Registration Statement is ever filed or
becomes effective, including without limitation;
(i) all registration and filing fees and expenses;
(ii) all fees and expenses of compliance with federal
securities and state "blue sky" or securities laws;
(iii) all expenses of printing (including printing
certificates for the Securities to be issued in the Registered Exchange
Offer and the Private Exchange and printing of Prospectuses), messenger
and delivery services and telephone;
(iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;
(v) all application and filing fees in connection with
listing the Exchange Securities on a national securities exchange or
automated quotation system pursuant to the requirements hereof; and
(vi) all fees and disbursements of independent certified
public accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any
special audit and comfort letters required by or incident to such
performance).
The Company will bear its internal expenses (including, without limitation, all
salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or
accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the fees and expenses
of any person, including special experts, retained by the Company.
(b) In connection with any Registration Statement required by this
Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Initial Purchasers and the Holders of
Transfer Restricted Securities who are tendering Initial Securities in the
Registered Exchange Offer and/or selling or reselling Securities pursuant to the
"Plan of Distribution" contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or
the Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable, for the reasonable fees and
disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall be Weil, Gotshal & Xxxxxx
LLP unless another firm shall be chosen by the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities for whose benefit such
Registration Statement is being prepared.
11
5. Indemnification. (a) The Issuers agree to indemnify and hold
harmless each Holder of the Securities, any Participating Broker-Dealer and each
person, if any, who controls such Holder or such Participating Broker-Dealer
within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each Holder, any
Participating Broker-Dealer and such controlling persons are referred to
collectively as the "INDEMNIFIED PARTIES") from and against any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities, joint or several, or any actions in respect thereof
(including, but not limited to, any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
actions relating to purchases and sales of the Securities) to which each
Indemnified Party may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act
or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions
arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a
Shelf Registration, or arise out of, or are based upon, the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and shall reimburse, as
incurred, the Indemnified Parties for any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof; provided, however, that
(i) the Issuers shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that such
loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in a
Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and
furnished to the Issuers by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for
inclusion therein and (ii) with respect to any untrue statement or omission or
alleged untrue statement or omission made in any preliminary prospectus relating
to a Shelf Registration Statement, the indemnity agreement contained in this
subsection (a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder or Participating
Broker-Dealer (or any person controlling such Holder or Participating
Broker-Dealer) from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities purchased the Securities concerned, to the extent that a
prospectus relating to such Securities was required to be delivered by such
Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer under the Securities Act in connection
with such purchase and any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such Holder
or Participating Broker-Dealer results from the fact that there was not sent or
given to such person, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of
such Securities to such person, a copy of the final prospectus if the Issuers
had previously furnished copies thereof to such Holder or Participating
Broker-Dealer; provided further, however, that this indemnity agreement will be
in addition to any liability which the Issuers may otherwise have to such
Indemnified Party. The Issuers shall also indemnify underwriters, their officers
and directors and each person who controls such underwriters within the meaning
of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act to the same extent as provided above
with respect to the indemnification of the Holders of the Securities if
requested by such Holders.
(b) Each Holder of the Securities, severally and not jointly, will
indemnify and hold harmless the Issuers, their directors and officers and each
person, if any, who controls the Issuers within the meaning of the Securities
Act or the Exchange Act from and against any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities or any actions in respect thereof, to
12
which the Issuers or any such controlling person may become subject under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a
Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out
of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in
each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Issuers by or
on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein; and, subject to the
limitation set forth immediately preceding this clause, shall reimburse, as
incurred, the Issuers for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the
Issuers or any such controlling person in connection with investigating or
defending any loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof. This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Holder may
otherwise have to the Issuers or any of their controlling persons.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 5
of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including a
governmental investigation), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 5,
notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the omission so
to notify the indemnifying party will not, in any event, relieve the
indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the
indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. In case any
such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the
indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be
entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly
with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense
thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who
shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the
indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such
indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof the
indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this
Section 5 for any legal or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of
investigation, subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection
with the defense thereof. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or
threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have
been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified
party unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such
indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter
of such action, and does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault,
culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is
unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
subsections (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to in
subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as is
13
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party
or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other from the
exchange of the Securities, pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, or (ii)
if the allocation provided by the foregoing clause (i) is not permitted by
applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the
relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of
the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on
the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) as well
as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the
parties shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the
untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged
omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Issuers
on the one hand or such Holder or such other indemnified party, as the case may
be, on the other, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims,
damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d)
shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any action
or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Section 5(d), the Holders of the Securities shall not be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net
proceeds received by such Holders from the sale of the Securities pursuant to a
Registration Statement exceeds the amount of damages which such Holders have
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this paragraph (d), each person,
if any, who controls such indemnified party within the meaning of the Securities
Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such
indemnified party and each person, if any, who controls the Issuers within the
meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to
contribution as the Issuers.
(e) The agreements contained in this Section 5 shall survive the sale
of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement and shall remain in full
force and effect, regardless of any termination or cancellation of this
Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
6. Additional Interest Under Certain Circumstances. (a) Additional
interest (the "ADDITIONAL INTEREST") with respect to the Securities shall be
assessed as follows if any of the following events occur (each such event in
clauses (i) through (iv) below being herein called a "REGISTRATION DEFAULT"):
(i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not
filed with the Commission on or prior to the applicable Filing
Deadline;
(ii) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not
declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the
applicable Effectiveness Deadline;
14
(iii) the Registered Exchange Offer has not been consummated on or
prior to the Consummation Deadline; or
(iv) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement has been
declared effective by the Commission but (A) such Registration
Statement thereafter ceases to be effective or (B) such
Registration Statement or the related prospectus ceases to be
usable in connection with resales of Transfer Restricted
Securities during the periods specified herein because either
(1) any event occurs as a result of which the related
prospectus forming part of such Registration Statement would
include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact necessary to make the statements
therein in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made not misleading, or (2) it shall be necessary to
amend such Registration Statement or supplement the related
prospectus, to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange
Act or the respective rules thereunder.
Each of the foregoing will constitute a Registration Default whatever the reason
for any such event and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is beyond the
control of the Company or pursuant to operation of law or as a result of any
action or inaction by the Commission.
Additional Interest shall accrue on the Securities over and above the
interest set forth in the title of the Securities from and including the date on
which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the date on
which all such Registration Defaults have been cured, at a rate of 0.25% per
annum (the "ADDITIONAL INTEREST RATE") for the first 90-day period immediately
following the occurrence of such Registration Default. The Additional Interest
Rate shall increase by an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each
subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to
a maximum Additional Interest Rate of 1.0% per annum.
(b) A Registration Default referred to in Section 6(a)(iv) hereof shall
be deemed not to have occurred and be continuing in relation to a Shelf
Registration Statement or the related prospectus if (i) such Registration
Default has occurred solely as a result of (x) the filing of a post-effective
amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement to incorporate annual audited
financial information with respect to the Company where such post-effective
amendment is not yet effective and needs to be declared effective to permit
Holders to use the related prospectus or (y) other material events, with respect
to the Issuers that would need to be described in such Shelf Registration
Statement or the related prospectus and (ii) in the case of clause (y), the
Issuers are proceeding promptly and in good faith to amend or supplement such
Shelf Registration Statement and related prospectus to describe such events;
provided, however, that in any case if such Registration Default occurs for a
continuous period in excess of 45 days, Additional Interest shall be payable in
accordance with the above paragraph from the day such Registration Default
occurs until such Registration Default is cured.
(c) Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to Section 6(a)
will be payable in the same manner as specified in the Indenture for the payment
of interest on the Securities on the regular interest payment dates with respect
to the Securities. The amount of Additional Interest will be determined by
multiplying the applicable Additional Interest Rate by the principal amount of
the Securities and further multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is
the number of days such Additional Interest Rate
15
was applicable during such period (determined on the basis of a 360-day year
comprised of twelve 30-day months), and the denominator of which is 360.
(d) "TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES" means each Security until (i) the
date on which such Security has been exchanged by a person other than a
broker-dealer for a freely transferable Exchange Security in the Registered
Exchange Offer, (ii) following the exchange by a broker-dealer in the Registered
Exchange Offer of an Initial Security for an Exchange Security, the date on
which such Exchange Security is sold to a purchaser who receives from such
broker-dealer on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the prospectus
contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (iii) the date on which
such Security has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and
disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (iv) the date
on which such Security is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under
the Securities Act or is saleable pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities
Act.
7. Rules 144 and 144A. The Issuers shall use their respective best
efforts to file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act
and the Exchange Act in a timely manner and, if at any time the Issuers are not
required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder of
Securities, make publicly available other information so long as necessary to
permit sales of their securities pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A. So long as the
Transfer Restricted Securities remain outstanding, the Issuers covenant that
they will take such further action as any Holder of Securities may reasonably
request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to
sell Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the
limitation of the exemptions provided by Rules 144 and 144A (including the
requirements of Rule 144A(d)(4)). So long as the Transfer Restricted Securities
remain outstanding, the Issuers will provide a copy of this Agreement to
prospective purchasers of Initial Securities identified to the Issuers by the
Initial Purchasers upon request. Upon the request of any Holder of Initial
Securities, the Issuers shall deliver to such Holder a written statement as to
whether it has complied with such requirements. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to require the Issuers to register any
of their securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.
8. Underwritten Registrations. If any of the Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by any Shelf Registration are to be sold in an underwritten
offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers
that will administer the offering ("MANAGING UNDERWRITERS") will be selected by
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Transfer
Restricted Securities to be included in such offering subject to the consent of
the Company (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), and such
Holders shall be responsible for all underwriting commissions and discounts in
connection therewith.
No person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder
unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person's Transfer Restricted
Securities on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements
approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii)
completes and executes all
16
questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and
other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting
arrangements.
9. Miscellaneous.
(a) Remedies. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 6(a) hereof,
the Issuers acknowledge and agree that any failure by the Issuers to comply with
their obligations under Section 1 and 2 hereof may result in material
irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders for which there is
no adequate remedy at law, that, in the event that the Issuers are unable to
comply with their obligations under Section 6, it will not be possible to
measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such
failure to comply with Section 1 or 2 and Section 6 hereof, the Initial
Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to
specifically enforce the Issuers' obligations under Sections 1 and 2 hereof. The
Issuers further agree to waive the defense in any action for specific
performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Issuers will not on or after the
date of this Agreement enter into any agreement with respect to their securities
that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders 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 Issuers' securities under any agreement
in effect on the date hereof.
(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, except by the Issuers and the written
consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities
affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consents.
(d) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, first-class mail,
facsimile transmission, or air courier which guarantees overnight delivery:
(1) if to a Holder of the Securities, at the most current
address given by such Holder to the Issuers.
(2) if to the Initial Purchasers;
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
Eleven Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn.: Transactions Advisory Group
17
with a copy to:
Weil, Gotshal & Xxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn.: Xxx Xxxxxx Esq.
(3) if to the Issuers, at their address as follows:
Champion Enterprises, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xx., Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attn.: Treasurer
with a copy to:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP
0 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx, Esq.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three business
days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt
is acknowledged by recipient's facsimile machine operator, if sent by facsimile
transmission; and on the day delivered, if sent by overnight air courier
guaranteeing next day delivery.
(e) Third Party Beneficiaries. The Holders shall be third party
beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Issuers, on the one
hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to
enforce such agreements directly to the extent they may deem such enforcement
necessary or advisable to protect their rights or the rights of Holders
hereunder.
(f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the
Issuers and their successors and assigns.
(g) 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.
(h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(i) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.
THE ISSUERS HEREBY SUBMIT TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE
FEDERAL AND STATE COURTS IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK IN
ANY SUIT OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE
TRANSACTIONS
18
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, AS THEIR AUTHORIZED AGENT IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN
THE CITY OF NEW YORK UPON WHICH PROCESS MAY BE SERVED IN ANY SUCH SUIT OR
PROCEEDING, AND AGREES THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON SUCH AGENT, AND WRITTEN
NOTICE OF SAID SERVICE TO THE ISSUERS, BY THE PERSON SERVING THE SAME TO THE
ADDRESS PROVIDED IN XXXXXXX 00, XXXXX XX DEEMED IN EVERY RESPECT EFFECTIVE
SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON THE COMPANY IN ANY SUCH SUIT OR PROCEEDING. THE ISSUERS
FURTHER AGREE TO TAKE ANY AND ALL ACTION AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN SUCH
DESIGNATION AND APPOINTMENT OF SUCH AGENT IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT FOR A PERIOD
OF SEVEN YEARS FROM THE DATE OF THIS AGREEMENT.
(j) Severability. If any one or more of the provisions contained
herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal
or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such
provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained
herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
(k) Securities Held by the Issuers. Whenever the consent or approval of
Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities is required
hereunder, Securities held by the Issuers or their affiliates (other than
subsequent Holders of Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be
affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities) shall not be
counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders
of such required percentage.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
19
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Issuers a counterpart hereof, whereupon
this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement
among the Initial Purchasers and the Issuers in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
CHAMPION HOME BUILDERS CO.
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
CHAMPION ENTERPRISES, INC.
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
[GUARANTORS]
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
20
The foregoing Registration Rights
Agreement is hereby confirmed and
accepted as of the date first above
written.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
FIRST UNION SECURITIES, INC.
By: CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
By: ____________________________________
Name:
Title:
21
ANNEX A
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own
account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. The Letter
of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection
with resales of Exchange Securities received in exchange for Initial Securities
where such Initial Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities. The Issuers have agreed
that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date (as defined herein), it
will make this Prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection
with any such resale. See "Plan of Distribution."
22
ANNEX B
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own
account in exchange for Initial Securities, where such Initial Securities were
acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other
trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in
connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. See "Plan of
Distribution."
23
ANNEX C
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own
account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. This
Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used
by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Securities received in
exchange for Initial Securities where such Initial Securities were acquired as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Issuers have
agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date, they will make
this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for
use in connection with any such resale. In addition, until , 2002, all
dealers effecting transactions in the Exchange Securities may be required to
deliver a prospectus.(1)
The Issuers will not receive any proceeds from any sale of Exchange
Securities by broker-dealers. Exchange Securities received by broker-dealers for
their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time
in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated
transactions, through the writing of options on the Exchange Securities or a
combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time
of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated
prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through
brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or
concessions from any such broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such Exchange
Securities. Any broker-dealer that resells Exchange Securities that were
received by it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker
or dealer that participates in a distribution of such Exchange Securities may be
deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and any
profit on any such resale of Exchange Securities and any commission or
concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting
compensation under the Securities Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that, by
acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act.
For a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date the Issuers will
promptly send additional copies of this Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement to this Prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents
in the Letter of Transmittal. The Issuers have agreed to pay all expenses
incident to the Exchange Offer (including the
--------
(1) In addition, the legend required by Item 502(e) of Regulation S-K
will appear on the back cover page of the Exchange Offer prospectus.
24
expenses of one counsel for the Holders of the Securities) other than
commissions or concessions of any brokers or dealers and will indemnify the
Holders of the Securities (including any broker-dealers) against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
25
ANNEX D
[ ] CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL
COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.
Name:
--------------------------------------------------
Address:
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If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is
not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange
Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange
Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities that were
acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it
acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such Exchange Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a
prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.
26
