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EXHIBIT 4.4
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of November 12, 1997
by and among
TRANSWESTERN PUBLISHING COMPANY, LLC
and
TWP CAPITAL CORP. II
and
THE INITIAL PURCHASERS
named herein
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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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................................................. 22
7. Indemnification....................................................... 23
8. Rules 144 and 144A.................................................... 27
9. Underwritten Registrations............................................ 27
10. Miscellaneous......................................................... 27
(a) Remedies.............................................................. 27
(b) Enforcement........................................................... 28
(c) No Inconsistent Agreements............................................ 28
(d) Adjustments Affecting Registrable Notes............................... 28
(e) Amendments and Waivers................................................ 28
(f) Notices............................................................... 28
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(g) Successors and Assigns................................................ 29
(h) Counterparts.......................................................... 29
(i) Headings.............................................................. 29
(j) GOVERNING LAW......................................................... 29
(k) Severability.......................................................... 30
(l) Entire Agreement...................................................... 30
(m) Joint and Several Obligations......................................... 30
(n) Notes Held by the Issuers or Their Affiliates......................... 30
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") dated as of November 12,
1997, by and among TRANSWESTERN PUBLISHING COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (the "Company"), TWP CAPITAL CORP. II, a Delaware corporation
("Capital II" and, together with the Company, the "Issuers"), and CIBC
OPPENHEIMER ("CIBC") and FIRST UNION CAPITAL MARKETS CORP., as initial
purchasers (the "Initial Purchasers").
This Agreement is entered into in connection with the Securities Purchase
Agreement, dated as of November 6, 1997 among the Issuers, TransWestern
Publishing Company, LLC, TWP Capital Corp. II, TransWestern Holdings, L.P. and
TransWestern Communications Company, Inc. and the Initial Purchasers (the
"Purchase Agreement") relating to the sale by the Company to the Initial
Purchasers of $100,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuers' 9 5/8%
Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007 (the "Notes"). In order to induce the
Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Issuers have
agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement to the
Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees and assigns. 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).
Advice: See Section 5.
Applicable Period: See Section 2(b).
Capital II: See the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
Closing: See the Purchase Agreement.
Company: See the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
Consummation Date: The 180th day after the Issue Date.
Effectiveness Date: The 135th day after the Issue Date.
Effectiveness Period: See Section 3(a).
Event Date: See Section 4(b).
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Xxxxxxxx Xxx: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
Exchange Notes: See Section 2(a).
Exchange Offer: See Section 2(a).
Exchange Registration Statement: See Section 2(a).
Filing Date: The 45th day after the Issue Date.
Holder: Any holder of a Registrable Note or Registrable Notes.
Indemnified Person: See Section 7(c).
Indemnifying Person: See Section 7(c).
Indenture: The Indenture, dated as of November 12, 1997, among the
Issuers and Wilmington Trust, as trustee, pursuant to which the Notes are being
issued, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the
terms thereof.
Initial Purchasers: See the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
Initial Shelf Registration: See Section 3(a).
Inspectors: See Section 5(o).
Issue Date: The date on which the original Notes are sold to the
Initial Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
Issuers: See the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
NASD: See Section 5(t).
Notes: See the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
Participant: See Section 7(a).
Participating Broker-Dealer: See Section 2(b).
Person: An individual, corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust,
unincorporated organization or government (including any agency or political
subdivision thereof).
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Private Exchange: See Section 2(b).
Private Exchange Notes: See Section 2(b).
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
promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any
prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion
of the Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement, 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 to this Agreement.
Records: See Section 5(o).
Registrable Notes: The Notes upon original issuance of the Notes and
at all times subsequent thereto and, if issued, the Private Exchange Notes,
until in the case of any such Notes or any such Private Exchange Notes, as the
case may be, (i) a Registration Statement covering such Notes or such Private
Exchange Notes has been declared effective by the SEC and such Notes or such
Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, have been exchanged and/or disposed
of in accordance with such effective Registration Statement, (ii) such Notes or
such Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, are sold in compliance with
Rule 144, (iii) in the case of any Note, such Note has been exchanged for an
Exchange Note or Exchange Notes pursuant to an Exchange Offer or (iv) such
Notes or such Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, cease to be
outstanding.
Registration Default: See Section 4(a).
Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company or
Capital II, including, but not limited to, the Exchange Registration Statement,
which covers any of the Registrable Notes pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement, 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
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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
an issuer 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 providing for offers and sales
of securities made in compliance therewith resulting in offers and sales by
subsequent holders that are not affiliates of an issuer of such securities
being free of the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act.
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.
SEC: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules
and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
Shelf Notice: See Section 2(c).
Shelf Registration: See Section 3(b).
Subsequent Shelf Registration: See Section 3(b).
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
Trustee: The trustee under the Indenture and, if existent, the trustee
under any indenture governing the Exchange Notes and Private Exchange Notes (if
any).
Underwritten registration or underwritten offering: A registration
under the Securities Act in which securities of the Company are sold to an
underwriter(s) for reoffering to the public.
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2. Exchange Offer
(a) Each of the Issuers jointly and severally agrees to use its
reasonable best efforts to file with the SEC as soon as practicable after the
Closing, but in no event later than the Filing Date, documents pertaining to an
offer to exchange (the "Exchange Offer") any and all of the Registrable Notes
for a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities of the Issuers which
are identical in all material respects to the Notes (the "Exchange Notes") (and
which are entitled to the benefits of the Indenture or a trust indenture which
is substantially identical to the Indenture (other than such changes to the
Indenture or any such identical trust indenture as are necessary to comply with
any requirements of the SEC to effect or maintain the qualification thereof
under the TIA) and which, in either case, has been qualified under the TIA),
except that the Exchange Notes shall have been registered pursuant to an
effective registration statement under the Securities Act and will not contain
terms with respect to transfer restrictions. The Exchange Offer will be
registered under the Securities Act on the appropriate form (the "Exchange
Registration Statement"), and the Exchange Offer will comply with all
applicable tender offer rules and regulations under the Exchange Act. Each of
the Issuers jointly and severally agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to
(x) cause the Exchange Registration Statement to become effective under the
Securities Act on or before the Effectiveness Date; (y) keep the Exchange Offer
open for at least 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 with respect to all Notes validly tendered on or prior to
the 60th day following the date the Exchange Registration Statement is declared
effective (in any event on or prior to the Consummation Date) (or, in the event
of any extension of the Exchange Offer required by applicable law, the earliest
day following any such extension). Each Holder who participates in the
Exchange Offer will be required to represent that any Exchange Notes 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, that such
Holder is not an affiliate of either of the Issuers within the meaning of Rule
405 promulgated under the Securities Act or if it is such an affiliate, that it
will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act, to the extent applicable, and that is not acting on behalf of
any Person who could not truthfully make the foregoing representations. Upon
consummation of the Exchange Offer in accordance with this Section 2, the
provisions of this Agreement shall continue to apply, mutatis mutandis, solely
with respect to Registrable Notes
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that are Private Exchange Notes 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 Exchange Notes held by
Participating Broker-Dealers) pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement.
(b) The Issuers shall include within the Prospectus contained in the
Exchange 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 SEC with
respect to the potential "underwriter" status of any broker-dealer that is the
beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act)
of Exchange Notes received by such broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer (a
"Participating Broker-Dealer"), whether such positions or policies have been
publicly disseminated by the staff of the SEC or such positions or policies, in
the reasonable judgment of the Initial Purchasers, represent the prevailing
views of the staff of the SEC. Such "Plan of Distribution" section shall also
allow the use of the Prospectus by all Persons subject to the prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities Act, including all Participating
Broker-Dealers, and include a statement describing the means by which
Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Notes.
Each of the Issuers shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the
Exchange Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the
Prospectus contained therein in order to permit such Prospectus to be lawfully
delivered by all Persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act for such period of time as such Persons must comply with such
requirements in order to resell the Exchange Notes, provided that such period
shall not exceed 180 days (or such longer period if extended pursuant to the
last paragraph of Section 5) (the "Applicable Period").
If, prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Initial
Purchasers hold any Notes acquired by them and having, or which are reasonably
likely to be determined to have, the status as an unsold allotment in the
initial distribution, the Issuers upon the request of such Initial Purchasers
shall, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Notes in the Exchange
Offer, issue and deliver to such Initial Purchasers, in exchange (the "Private
Exchange") for the Notes held by such Initial Purchasers, a like principal
amount of debt securities of the Issuers that are identical in all material
respects to the Exchange Notes (the "Private Exchange Notes") (and which are
issued pursuant to the same indenture as the Exchange Notes) except for the
placement of a restrictive legend on the Private Exchange Notes. If possible,
the Private Exchange Notes shall bear the same CUSIP number as the Exchange
Notes. Interest on the Exchange Notes and Private
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Exchange Notes will accrue from the last interest payment date on which
interest was paid on the Notes surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no
interest has been paid on the Notes, from the Issue Date.
In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Issuers shall:
(i) mail to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part of the
Exchange Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of
transmittal and related documents;
(ii) utilize the services of a depositary for the Exchange Offer with
an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York; and
(iii) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Notes at any time prior to
the close of business, New York City time, on the last business day on
which the Exchange Offer shall remain open.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer or the
Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Issuers shall:
(i) accept for exchange all Notes tendered and not validly withdrawn
pursuant to the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange;
(ii) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Notes so accepted
for exchange; and
(iii) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to each
Holder of Notes, 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 Notes and the Private Exchange Notes may be issued under
(i) the Indenture or (ii) an indenture substantially identical to the
Indenture, which in either event will provide that (1) the Exchange Notes
will not be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture
and (2) the Private Exchange Notes will be subject to the transfer
restrictions set forth in the Indenture. The Indenture or such indenture
shall provide that the Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange Notes and the
Notes will have the right to vote and give consents together on all matters
presented to such holders for votes or consents as one class and that
neither the Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange Notes nor the Notes will
have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter.
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(c) If (1) prior to the consummation of the Exchange Offer, the
Issuers or Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Registrable Notes reasonably determine in good faith that (i) the Exchange Notes
would not, upon receipt, be freely transferable by such Holders which are not
affiliates (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Issuers without
restriction under the Securities Act and without restrictions under applicable
state securities laws, (ii) the interests of the Holders under this Agreement
would be adversely affected by the consummation of the Exchange Offer or (iii)
after conferring with counsel, the SEC is unlikely to permit the commencement of
the Exchange Offer prior to the Effectiveness Date, (2) subsequent to the
consummation of the Private Exchange, any holder of the Private Exchange Notes
so requests or (3) the Exchange Offer is commenced and not consummated prior to
the Consummation Date, then the Issuers shall promptly deliver to the Holders
and the Trustee written notice thereof (the "Shelf Notice") and shall file an
Initial Shelf Registration pursuant to Section 3. The parties hereto agree that
following the delivery of a Shelf Notice to the Holders of Registrable Notes (in
the circumstances contemplated by clauses (1) and (3) of the preceding
sentence), the Issuers shall not have any further obligation to conduct the
Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange under this Section 2.
3. Shelf Registration
If a Shelf Notice is required to be delivered as contemplated by
Section 2(c), then:
(a) Initial Shelf Registration. The Issuers shall prepare and 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 then existing Registrable Notes
(the "Initial Shelf Registration"). If the Issuers shall have not yet filed an
Exchange Registration Statement, each of the Issuers shall use its reasonable
best efforts to file with the SEC the Initial Shelf Registration on or prior to
the Filing Date. In any other instance, each of the Issuers shall use its
reasonable best efforts to file with the SEC the Initial Shelf Registration as
promptly as practicable but, in any event, within 45 days following delivery of
the Shelf Notice. The Initial Shelf Registration shall be on Form S-1 or
another appropriate form permitting registration of such Registrable Notes for
resale by such Holders in the manner or manners designated by them (including,
without limitation, one or more underwritten offerings). The Issuers shall not
permit any securities other than the Registrable Notes to be included in the
Initial Shelf Registration or any Subsequent Shelf Registration. Each of the
Issuers shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Initial Shelf
Registration to be declared effective under the Securities Act, if an Exchange
Registration Statement has not yet been
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declared effective, on or prior to the Effectiveness Date, or, in any other
instance, as soon as practicable after the filing thereof and in no event
later than 60 days after filing of the Initial Shelf Registration, and to keep
the Initial Shelf Registration continuously effective under the Securities Act
until the date which is 24 months from the date on which such Initial Shelf
Registration is declared effective (subject to extension pursuant to the last
paragraph of Section 5 hereof), or such shorter period ending when (i) all
Registrable Notes covered by the Initial Shelf Registration have been sold in
the manner set forth and as contemplated in the Initial Shelf Registration or
(ii) a Subsequent Shelf Registration covering all of the Registrable Notes has
been declared effective under the Securities Act (the "Effectiveness Period").
(b) Subsequent Shelf Registrations. If the Initial Shelf
Registration or any Subsequent Shelf Registration ceases to be effective for any
reason at any time prior to the termination of the Effectiveness Period, each of
the Issuers shall use its reasonable best efforts to promptly restore the
effectiveness thereof, and in any event shall, within 45 days of such cessation
of effectiveness, amend the Shelf Registration in a manner reasonably expected
to restore the effectiveness thereof, or file an additional "shelf" Registration
Statement pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of the then existing Registrable
Notes (a "Subsequent Shelf Registration"). If a Subsequent Shelf Registration
is filed, each of the Issuers shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the
Subsequent Shelf Registration to be declared effective as soon as practicable
after such filing and to keep such Registration Statement 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.
(c) Supplements and Amendments. The Issuers shall promptly
supplement and amend the Shelf Registration if required by the rules,
regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used for such
Shelf Registration or if required by the Securities Act. The Issuers shall
promptly supplement and amend the Shelf Registration if any such supplement or
amendment is requested by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement or by any
underwriter(s) of such Registrable Notes.
4. Additional Interest
(a) The Issuers and the Initial Purchasers agree that the Holders of
Registrable Notes will suffer damages if the
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Company and Capital II fail to fulfill their 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 Company and Capital II agree to
pay additional interest on the Notes ("Additional Interest") under the
circumstances and to the extent set forth below:
(i) if neither the Exchange Registration Statement nor the Initial
Shelf Registration has been filed on or prior to the Filing Date;
(ii) if neither the Exchange Registration Statement nor the Initial
Shelf Registration has been declared effective on or prior to the
Effectiveness Date;
(iii) if an Initial Shelf Registration required by Section 2(c)(2) has
not been filed on or prior to the date 45 days after delivery of the Shelf
Notice;
(iv) if an Initial Shelf Registration required by Section 2(c)(2) has
not been declared effective on or prior to the date 105 days after the
delivery of the Shelf Notice; and/or
(v) if (A) the Company and Capital II have not exchanged the
Exchange Notes for all Notes validly tendered in accordance with the terms
of the Exchange Offer on or prior to the Consummation Date or (B) the
Exchange Registration Statement ceases to be effective at any time prior to
the time that the Exchange Offer is consummated as to all Notes validly
tendered or (C) if applicable, the Shelf Registration has been declared
effective and such Shelf Registration ceases to be effective at any time
prior to the termination of the Effectiveness Period.
(each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above is a "Registration
Default"). The sole remedy available to Holders of the Notes for a Registration
Default will be the accrual of Additional Interest as follows: the per annum
interest rate on the Notes will increase by .50% during the first 90-day period
following the occurrence of a Registration Default and until it is waived or
cured; and the per annum interest rate will increase by an additional .25% for
each subsequent 90-day period during which the Registration Default remains
uncured, up to a maximum additional interest rate of 2.0% per annum, provided,
however, that only Holders of Private Exchange Notes shall be entitled to
receive Additional Interest as a result of a Registration Default pursuant to
clause (iii) or (iv), provided, further, that (1) upon the filing of the
Exchange Registration Statement or the Initial Shelf Registration (in the case
of (i) above), (2) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Registration
Statement or a Shelf
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Registration (in the case of (ii) above), (3) upon the filing of the Shelf
Registration (in the case of (iii) above), (4) upon the effectiveness of the
Shelf Registration (in the case of (iv) above), or (5) upon the exchange of
Exchange Notes for all Notes tendered or the effectiveness of a Shelf
Registration (in the case of (v)(A) above), or upon the subsequent
effectiveness of the Exchange Registration Statement which had ceased to remain
effective or the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration (in the case of (v)(B)
above), or upon the subsequent effectiveness of the Shelf Registration which
had ceased to remain effective (in the case of (v)(C) above), Additional
Interest on the Notes as a result of such clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v)
(or the relevant subclause thereof), as the case may be, shall cease to accrue
and the interest rate on the Notes will revert to the interest rate originally
borne by the Notes.
(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), (a)(iii), (a)(iv) or (a)(v)
of this Section 4 will be payable in cash semi-annually on each November 15 and
May 15 (to the Holders of record on the and immediately preceding such dates),
commencing with the first such date occurring after any such Additional Interest
commences to accrue and until such Registration Default is cured, by depositing
with the Trustee, in trust for the benefit of such Holders, immediately
available funds in sums sufficient to pay such Additional Interest. 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.
5. Registration Procedures
In connection with the filing of any Registration Statement pursuant
to Section 2 or 3 hereof, the Issuers shall effect such registrations to permit
the sale of the securities covered thereby in accordance with the intended
method or methods of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto the Issuers
shall:
(a) Prepare and file with the SEC, as provided herein, a Registration
Statement or Registration Statements as prescribed by Section 2 or 3, and
use their respective reasonable best efforts to cause each such
Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective as
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provided herein, provided that, if (1) such filing is pursuant to
Section 3, or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration
Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the
Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell
Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, before filing any Registration
Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, the
Issuers shall, upon written request, furnish to and afford the Holders of
the Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement and each such
Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, their counsel and the
managing underwriter(s), 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 (to the
extent practicable, at least 5 business days prior to such filing). The
Issuers shall not file any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any
amendments or supplements thereto in respect of which the Holders must be
afforded an opportunity to review prior to the filing of such document, if
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable
Notes covered by such Registration Statement, or such Participating
Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, their counsel, or the managing
underwriter(s), if any, shall reasonably object.
(b) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective
amendments to each Shelf Registration or Exchange 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, 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) under the Securities Act; and comply with the provisions of
the Securities Act and the Exchange Act applicable to them with respect to
the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement as
so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented and with respect to the
subsequent resale of any securities being sold by a Participating
Broker-Dealer covered by any such Prospectus; the Issuers shall be deemed
not to have used their reasonable best efforts to keep a Registration
Statement effective during the Applicable Period if either of them
voluntarily takes any action that would result in selling Holders of the
Registrable Notes covered thereby or Participating Broker-Dealers seeking
to sell Exchange Notes not being able to sell such Registrable Notes or
such Exchange Notes during that period unless such action is required by
applicable law or unless the Issuers comply
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with this Agreement, including without limitation, the provisions of
clauses 5(c)(v) and (vi) below.
(c) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3, or
(2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the Securities Act
by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during
the Applicable Period, notify the selling Holders of Registrable Notes, or
each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, their counsel
and the managing underwriter(s), 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
thereto has been filed, and, with respect to a Registration Statement or
any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective
under the Securities Act (including in such notice a written statement
that any Holder may, upon request, obtain, without charge, one conformed
copy of such Registration Statement or post-effective amendment thereto
including financial statements and schedules, documents incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated by reference 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(n) below
cease to be true and correct, (iv) of the receipt by either of the Issuers
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 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
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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 the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and (vi) of
either Issuer's reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment
to a Registration Statement would be necessary or appropriate.
(d) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3, or
(2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2 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 their 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 their reasonable best efforts to obtain the
withdrawal of any such order as promptly as practicable.
(e) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 and if
requested by the managing underwriter(s), if any, or the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes being sold
in connection with an underwritten offering, (i) promptly incorporate in a
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the
managing underwriter(s), if any, or such Holders reasonably request to be
included therein and (ii) make all required filings of such Prospectus
supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after
the Company has received notification of the matters to be incorporated in
such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment.
(f) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3, or
(2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2 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
who so requests and to each such Participating Broker-Dealer who so
requests and to counsel and the managing underwriter(s), if any, without
charge, one conformed copy of the Registration Statement or Registration
Statements and each post-effective amendment thereto, including financial
statements and schedules, and, if
18
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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, or
(2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2 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 Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, their
counsel, and the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, without
charge, 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,
each of the Issuers hereby consents 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 managing underwriter or 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 Registration Statement by any
Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the
Applicable Period, to use their 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 of (or exemption from
such registration or qualification), 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, if any, reasonably request in
writing, provided 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
19
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necessary or advisable 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 that neither of the Issuers 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 any such jurisdiction where it is not
otherwise so subject.
(i) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3, 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 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
reasonably request.
(j) Use their 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 necessary to
enable the seller or sellers thereof or the managing 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 each of 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, or
(2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2 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), as promptly as reasonably practicable
prepare and (subject to Section 5(a)) file with the SEC, at the joint and
several expense of each 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
20
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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) Use their reasonable 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.
(m) 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.
(n) In connection with an underwritten offering of Registrable Notes
pursuant to a Shelf Registration, enter into an underwriting agreement
upon such reasonable terms and conditions as are customary in underwritten
offerings of debt securities similar to the Notes and take all such other
actions as are reasonably requested by the managing underwriter(s), if
any, in order to expedite or facilitate the registration or the
disposition of such Registrable Notes, and in such connection, (i) make
such reasonable representations and warranties to the managing underwriter
or underwriters on behalf of any underwriters, with respect to the
business of the Company 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 if and when requested; (ii) obtain opinions of counsel to
the Issuers and updates thereof in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the managing underwriter or underwriters, addressed to the
managing underwriter or underwriters covering the matters customarily
covered in opinions received in underwritten offerings of debt securities
similar to the Notes and such other customary matters as may be reasonably
requested by the managing underwriter(s); (iii) obtain "cold comfort"
letters and updates thereof in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the managing underwriter or underwriters from the
21
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independent certified public accountants of the Issuers (and, if
necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any
business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and
financial data are, or are required to be, included in the Registration
Statement), addressed to the managing underwriter or underwriters on
behalf of any underwriters, 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 may be reasonably requested by the
managing underwriter or underwriters; and (iv) if an underwriting
agreement is entered into, the same shall contain indemnification
provisions and procedures no less favorable 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) with respect to all parties to be indemnified
pursuant to said Section. The above shall be done at each closing under
such underwriting agreement, or as and to the extent required thereunder.
(o) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3, or
(2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2 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, the managing underwriter or
underwriters 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 (collectively, the "Inspectors"), at the offices where normally kept,
during reasonable business hours, all financial and other records,
pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company (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 to supply all information in each
case reasonably requested by any such Inspector in connection with such
Registration Statement. Records which the Company determines, in good
faith, to be confidential and any Records which they notify the Inspectors
are confidential shall not be disclosed by the Inspectors unless (i) the
disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a material
misstatement or material omission in such Registration Statement, (ii) the
release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or
22
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other order from a court of competent jurisdiction or (iii) 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 or underwriter 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 the Issuers or for any purpose other
than in connection with such Registration Statement 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 prompt
notice to the Company and allow the Company to undertake appropriate
action to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed confidential at their
expense.
(p) Provide an indenture 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), as the case may be, to be
qualified under the TIA not later than the effective date of the Exchange
Registration Statement or 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 their respective 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.
(q) Comply in all material respects with all applicable rules and
regulations of the SEC and make generally available to its 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 90 days after the end of any
12-month period (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.
23
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(r) Upon consummation of an Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange,
obtain an opinion of counsel to the Issuers, in a form reasonable and
customary for underwritten offerings of debt securities similar to the
Notes, addressed to the Trustee for the benefit of all Holders of
Registrable Notes participating in the Exchange Offer or the Private
Exchange, as the case may be, and which includes an opinion that (i) each
of the Issuers has duly authorized, executed and delivered the Exchange
Notes and Private Exchange Notes and the related indenture and (ii) each
of the Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be,
and related indenture constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of
each of the Issuers, enforceable against each of the Issuers in accordance
with its respective terms (with reasonable and customary exceptions and
qualifications).
(s) If an Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be consummated,
upon delivery of the Registrable Notes by Holders to the Issuers (or to
such other Person as directed by the Issuers) in exchange for the Exchange
Notes or the Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, the Issuers shall
xxxx, or cause to be marked, on such Registrable Notes that such
Registrable Notes are being canceled in exchange for the Exchange Notes or
the Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be; and, in no event shall
such Registrable Notes be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.
(t) Cooperate with each seller of Registrable Notes covered by any
Registration Statement and the managing underwriter(s), 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").
(u) Use their respective reasonable best efforts to take all other
reasonable steps necessary to effect the registration of the Registrable
Notes covered by a Registration Statement contemplated hereby.
The Issuers may require each seller of Registrable Notes or
Participating Broker-Dealer as to which any registration is being effected to
furnish to the Issuers such information regarding such seller or Participating
Broker-Dealer and the distribution of such Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes
to be sold by such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, as the
Issuers may, from time to time, reasonably request. The Issuers may exclude
from such registration the Registrable Notes of any seller or Participating
Broker-Dealer who fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time
after receiving such request. Each seller as to which any Shelf Registration is
being
24
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effected agrees to furnish promptly to the Issuers all information
required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished
to the Issuers by such seller not materially misleading.
Each Holder of Registrable Notes and each Participating Broker-Dealer
agrees by acquisition of such Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes to be sold by
such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, that, upon receipt of any
notice from the Company 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), or until it is advised in
writing (the "Advice") by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus
may be resumed, and has received copies of any amendments or supplements
thereto. In the event the Company 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 Holder or
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) or
(y) the Advice.
6. Registration Expenses
(a) All reasonable fees and expenses incident to the performance of
or compliance with this Agreement by the Issuers shall be borne by the Issuers,
jointly and severally, whether or not the Exchange Offer or a Shelf
Registration is filed or becomes effective, 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 in the United States (x) where the Holders of Registrable Notes
are located, in the case of the Exchange Notes, or (y) as provided in Section
5(h), in the case of Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes to be sold by a
Participating Broker-Dealer during the Applicable Period)), (ii) printing
expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for
Registrable
25
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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, or,
in respect of Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes to be sold by any
Participating Broker-Dealer during the Applicable Period, if reasonably
requested by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Registrable Notes included in any Registration Statement or of such Exchange
Notes, as the case may be), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses,
(iv) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Issuers and
reasonable fees and disbursements of special counsel for the sellers of
Registrable Notes (subject to the provisions of Section 6(b)), (v) fees and
disbursements of all independent certified public accountants referred to in
Section 5(n)(iii) (including, without limitation, the expenses of any special
audit and "cold comfort" letters required by or incident to such performance),
(vi) rating agency fees, (vii) Securities Act liability insurance, if the
Issuers desire such insurance, (viii) fees and expenses of the Trustee, (ix)
fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Issuers, (x) internal
expenses of the Issuers (including, without limitation, all salaries and
expenses of officers and employees of the Issuers performing legal or
accounting duties), (xi) the expense of any annual audit, (xii) the fees and
expenses incurred in connection with any listing of the securities to be
registered on any securities exchange and (xiii) the expenses relating to
printing, word processing and distributing all Registration Statements,
underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements, indentures and any other
documents necessary in order to comply with this Agreement. In the event of an
underwritten offering of Registrable Notes the Company shall not be responsible
for any "roadshow" expenses in connection therewith.
(b) In connection with any Shelf Registration hereunder, the Issuers,
jointly and severally, shall reimburse the Holders of the Registrable Notes
being registered in such registration for the reasonable fees and disbursements
of not more than one counsel (in addition to appropriate local counsel) chosen
by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable
Notes to be included in such Registration Statement and other reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses of the Holders of Registrable Notes incurred in
connection with the registration of the Registrable Notes.
(c) Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the Issuers shall not have
any obligation to pay any underwriting fees, discounts or commissions
attributable to the sale of Registrable Notes.
26
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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
and directors 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 and liabilities (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 Prospectus (as amended or
supplemented if the Company 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 light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except insofar
as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by 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
that the foregoing indemnity with respect to any preliminary Prospectus shall
not inure to the benefit of any Participant (or to the benefit of an officer or
director of such Participant or any Person controlling such Participant) from
whom the Person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities
purchased Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes if such untrue statement or
omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in such preliminary
Prospectus is eliminated or remedied in the related Prospectus (as amended or
supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements
thereto) and a copy of the related Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented)
shall have been furnished to such Participant at or prior to the sale of such
Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes, as the case may be, to such Person.
(b) Each Participant will be required to agree, severally and not
jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Issuers, their respective directors
and officers and each Person who controls either of the Issuers 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
Participant furnished to the Issuers in writing by such Participant expressly
for use in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, any amendment or
supplement thereto, or any
27
-24-
preliminary Prospectus. The liability of any Participant under this
paragraph (b) shall in no event exceed the proceeds received by such
Participant 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
paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 7, such Person (the "Indemnified Person")
shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the
"Indemnifying Person") in writing, and the Indemnifying Person, upon request of
the Indemnified Person, shall retain one counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person and any others the
Indemnifying Person may reasonably designate in such proceeding and shall pay
the reasonable fees and expenses incurred by such counsel related to such
proceeding. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the
right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel
shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying
Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed in writing to the
contrary, (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed to retain counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the Indemnified Person or (iii) the named parties in any such
proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying
Person and the Indemnified Person and such Indemnified Person shall have been
advised by counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it
which are different from or additional to those available to any such
Indemnifying Person. It is understood that the Indemnifying Person shall not,
in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same
jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one
separate law firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified
Persons, and that all such reasonable 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 Issuers. The Indemnifying
Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected
without its prior written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there
is a final judgment for the plaintiff for which the Indemnified Person is
entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the Indemnifying Person
agrees to indemnify any 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
28
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Indemnifying Person to reimburse the Indemnified Person for reasonable fees
and expenses 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 60 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 Party is contesting, in good faith, the
request for reimbursement. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the prior
written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending
or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is a party
and indemnity has been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such
settlement includes an unconditional release (or any other release reasonably
acceptable to the Indemnified Person) of such Indemnified Person from all
liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this
Section 7 is unavailable to an Indemnified Person in respect of any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein (other than as a result of
the proviso set forth in Section 7(a)), then each Indemnifying Person under
such paragraphs, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder,
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 Issuers on the one hand and
the Participants on the other in connection with the statements or omissions
that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any
other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Issuers on
the one hand and the Participants on the other 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 or by the
Participants and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
(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
29
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the losses, claims, damages and liabilities 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 Participant be required to contribute any amount in excess of the
amount by which proceeds received by such Participant from sales of Registrable
Notes or Exchange Notes exceeds the amount of any damages that such Participant
has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.
(f) 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 that 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 and, if at any
time the Company is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the
request of any Holder of Registrable Notes, make publicly available other
information of a like nature so long as necessary to permit sales pursuant to
Rule 144 or Rule 144A. Each of the Issuers further covenants that so long as
any Registrable Notes remain outstanding to make available to any Holder of
Registrable Notes in connection with any sale thereof, the information required
by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act in order to permit resales of such
Registrable Notes pursuant to (a) such Rule 144A, or (b) any similar rule or
regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC.
9. Underwritten Registrations
If any of the Registrable Notes covered by any Shelf Registration are
to be sold in an underwritten offering, the investment banking firm or firms
that will underwrite the offering and the 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 Issuers.
No Holder of Registrable Notes may participate in any underwritten
offering hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to
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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, powers of
attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably
required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
10. Miscellaneous
(a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by either Issuer of any of
its obligations under this Agreement, other than the occurrence of an event
which requires payment of Additional Interest, each Holder of Registrable
Notes, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein, in
the Indenture or, in the case of the Initial Purchasers, in the Purchase
Agreement or granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to
specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. Each of the Issuers,
jointly and severally, agree that monetary damages would not be adequate
compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the
provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agrees, jointly and severally,
that, in the event of any action for specific performance in respect of such
breach, it shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) Enforcement. The Trustee shall be authorized to enforce the
provisions of this Agreement for the ratable benefit of the Holders.
(c) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither of the Issuers has entered,
as of the date hereof, and the Issuers shall not enter, after the date of this
Agreement, into any agreement with respect to any of their securities that is
inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Notes in
this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. Neither of
the Issuers has entered or will enter into any agreement with respect to any of
its securities which will grant to any Person piggy-back rights with respect to
a Registration Statement required to be filed under this Agreement.
(d) Adjustments Affecting Registrable Notes. Neither of the Issuers
shall, 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.
(e) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement,
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof
may not be given, unless the
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Issuers have obtained the written consent of Holders of at least a
majority of the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of Registrable
Notes. 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 securities 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 by such Holders pursuant to such Registration
Statement, provided that the provisions of this sentence may not be amended,
modified or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of the
immediately preceding sentence.
(f) Notices. All notices and other communications (including without
limitation any notices or other communications to the Trustee) provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered
first-class mail, next-day courier or telecopier:
(f) if to a Holder of Registrable Notes or any Participating
Broker-Dealer, at the most current address given by the Trustee to the
Issuers; and
(i) if to the Issuers, to TransWestern Publishing Company, LLC and
TWP Capital Corp. II, 0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxx, XX 00000,
Attention: Chief Financial Officer and with a copy to Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx,
000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx, XX 00000, Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Esq.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: (i) when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; (ii) five business
days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; (iii) one
business day after being timely delivered to a next-day courier; and (iv) when
receipt is acknowledged by the addressee, if telecopied.
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee under the
Indenture at the address specified in such Indenture.
(g) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties,
including without limitation and without the need for an express assignment,
subsequent Holders of Registrable Notes; provided that, with respect to the
indemnity and contribution agreements in Section 7, each Holder of Registrable
Notes subsequent to the Initial Purchasers shall be
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bound by the terms thereof if such Holder elects to include Registrable Notes
in a Shelf Registration; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not
inure to the benefit of or be binding upon a successor or assign of a Holder
unless and except to the extent such successor or assign holds Registrable
Notes.
(h) 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.
(i) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(j) 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 WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES TO SUBMIT TO
THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR
PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.
(k) 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 reasonable 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.
(l) Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Purchase
Agreement and the Indenture, is intended by the parties as a final expression
of their agreement, and is intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of
the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject
matter contained herein and therein.
(m) Joint and Several Obligations. Unless otherwise stated herein,
each of the obligations of the Issuers under this Agreement shall be joint and
several obligations of each of them.
(n) 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 the Issuers or their
affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) shall
not be counted
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in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders
of such required percentage.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
TRANSWESTERN PUBLISHING COMPANY, LLC
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx
-----------------------------------
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
TWP CAPITAL CORP. II
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx
-----------------------------------
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
The foregoing Agreement is hereby TRANSWESTERN HOLDINGS, L.P.
confirmed and accepted as of the
date first above written. By: TRANSWESTERN
COMMUNICATIONS
COMPANY, INC., its
general partner
CIBC XXXXXXXXXXX
By: /s/ Xxxxxx XxXxxxxx By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx
------------------------ -----------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx XxXxxxxx Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: Managing Director Title: Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
FIRST UNION CAPITAL MARKETS CORP.
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxx TRANSWESTERN COMMUNICATIONS
------------------------------ COMPANY, INC.
Name: Xxxx Xxxxx
Title: Director
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx
-----------------------------------
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
