EXHIBIT 4(gg)
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated January 13, 1998
among
TEXAS UTILITIES COMPANY
and
SALOMON BROTHERS INC
and
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & CO.
and
▇▇▇▇▇▇ BROTHERS INC.
________________
as Initial Purchasers
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered
into as of January 13, 1998 between TEXAS UTILITIES COMPANY, a Texas corporation
(the "Company"), and SALOMON BROTHERS INC ("Salomon Brothers") and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ BROTHERS INC. (collectively, the "Initial Purchasers").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement dated January 8,
1998 (the "Purchase Agreement"), among the Company, as issuer of the 6.375%
Series C Senior Notes due 2008 (the "Notes"), and the Initial Purchasers, which
provides for, among other things, the sale by the Company to the Initial
Purchasers of $200,000,000 principal amount of the Notes. In order to induce
the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company has
agreed to provide to the Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect
transferees the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution
and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Purchase
Agreement.
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms shall
have the following meanings:
"Additional Interest" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(e)
hereof.
"Advice" shall have the meaning set forth in the last paragraph of Section
3 hereof.
"Applicable Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(t)
hereof.
"Business Day" shall mean a day other than (i) a Saturday or a Sunday, (ii)
a day on which banks in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law or
executive order to remain closed or (iii) a day on which the Trustee's principal
corporate trust office is closed for business.
"Closing Date" shall mean the Closing Date as defined in the Purchase
Agreement.
"Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this
Agreement and also includes the Company's successors and permitted assigns.
"Depositary" shall mean The Depository Trust Company, or any other
depositary appointed by the Trust; provided, however, that such depositary must
have an address in the Borough of Manhattan, in The City of New York.
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b)
hereof.
"Eligible Holder" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) hereof.
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
from time to time.
"Exchange Offer" shall mean the offer by the Company to the Holders to
exchange the Registrable Securities for a like principal amount of Exchange
Securities pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
"Exchange Offer Registration" shall mean a registration under the
Securities Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
"Exchange Offer Registration Statement" shall mean an exchange offer
registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate
form), and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, in
each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and
all material incorporated by reference therein.
"Exchange Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) hereof.
"Exchange Notes" shall mean the 6.375% Series C Senior Notes due 2008
containing terms identical to the Notes (except that they will not contain terms
with respect to the transfer restrictions under the Securities Act and will not
provide for any Additional Interest to be payable with respect thereto).
"Holder" shall mean the Initial Purchasers, for so long as they own any
Registrable Securities, and each of their respective successors, assigns and
direct and indirect transferees who become registered owners of Registrable
Securities under the Indenture.
"Indenture" shall mean the Indenture (for Unsecured Debt Securities Series
C) relating to the Notes and the Exchange Notes dated as of January 1, 1998
between the Company, as issuer, and The Bank of New York, as the Trustee, as the
same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
"Initial Purchasers" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of
this Agreement.
"Inspectors" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(n) hereof.
"Issue Date" shall mean the date of original issuance of the Notes.
"Majority Holders" shall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate
principal amount of outstanding Notes.
"Notes" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
"Participating Broker-Dealer" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3(t) hereof.
"Person" shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation, trust or
unincorporated organization, limited liability company, or a government or
agency or political subdivision thereof.
"Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus included in a Registration
Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as
amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a prospectus
supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the
Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all
other amendments and supplements to a prospectus, including post-effective
amendments, and in each case including all material incorporated by reference
therein.
"Purchase Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of
this Agreement.
"Records" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(n) hereof.
"Registrable Securities" shall mean the Notes; provided, however, that the
Notes shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (i) a Registration Statement
with respect to such Notes shall have been declared effective under the
Securities Act and such Notes shall have been disposed of pursuant to such
Registration Statement, (ii) such Notes shall have been sold to the public
pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any similar provision then in force, but not Rule
144A) under the Securities Act, (iii) such Notes shall have ceased to be
outstanding, (iv) such Notes have been exchanged for Exchange Notes upon
consummation of the Exchange Offer and are thereafter freely tradable by the
holder thereof (other than an affiliate of the Company) or (v) two years (or
such shorter period as may hereafter be provided in Rule 144(k) under the
Securities Act (or similar rule)) have elapsed since the date of original
issuances of the Notes.
"Registration Expenses" shall mean any and all expenses incident to
performance of or compliance by the Company with this Agreement, including,
without limitation: (i) all SEC or National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. (the "NASD") registration and filing fees; (ii) all fees and expenses
incurred in connection with compliance with state securities or blue sky laws
(including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for any underwriters or
Holders in connection with blue sky qualification of any of the Exchange Notes
or Registrable Securities)
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and compliance with the rules of the NASD in an amount not exceeding $15,000 in
the aggregate, (iii) all expenses of any Persons in preparing or assisting in
preparing, word processing, printing and distributing any Registration
Statement, any Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, and in
preparing or assisting in preparing, printing and distributing any Registration
Statement, any Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, and in
preparing or assisting in preparing, printing and distributing any underwriting
agreements, securities sales agreements and other documents relating to the
performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all rating agency fees,
(v) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, of Winthrop, Stimson,
▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, as counsel for the Holders hereunder in connection with the
Exchange Offer, and of the independent certified public accountants of the
Company, including the expenses of any "cold comfort" letters required by or
incident to such performance and compliance, (vi) the fees and expenses of the
Trustee, and any paying agent, exchange agent or custodian, (vii) all fees and
expenses incurred in connection with the listing, if any, of any of the
Registrable Securities or the Exchange Notes on any securities exchange or
exchanges and (viii) the reasonable fees and expenses of any special experts
retained by the Company in connection with any Registration Statement.
"Registration Statement" shall mean any registration statement of the
Company which covers any of the Exchange Notes or Registrable Securities
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, and all amendments and supplements
to any such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, in each
case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all
material incorporated by reference therein.
"Rule 144(k) Period" shall mean the period of two years (or such shorter
period as may hereafter be provided in Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act (or
similar successor rule)) commencing on the Issue Date.
"SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from
time to time.
"Shelf Registration" shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section
2(b) hereof.
"Shelf Registration Event" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2b
hereof.
"Shelf Registration Event Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(b) hereof.
"Shelf Registration Statement" shall mean a "shelf" registration statement
of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 2(b) hereof which covers
all of the Registrable Securities, on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under
the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all
amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-
effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein,
all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.
"TIA" shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended from time to
time.
"Trustee" shall mean The Bank of New York, and any successor thereto, as
trustee under the Indenture.
2. Registration Under the Securities Act.
(a) Exchange Offer. To the extent not prohibited by any applicable
law or applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC, the Company shall, for
the benefit of the Holders, at the Company's cost, (i) cause to be filed with
the SEC an Exchange Offer Registration Statement on an appropriate form under
the Securities Act covering the Exchange Offer, (ii) use its reasonable best
efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be declared
effective under the Securities Act by the
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SEC not later than the date which is 180 days after the Issue Date, and
(iii) use its reasonable best efforts to keep such Exchange Offer Registration
Statement effective for not less than 30 calendar days (or longer if required by
applicable law) after the date notice of the Exchange Offer is mailed to the
Holders. Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
the Company shall promptly commence the Exchange Offer, it being the objective
of such Exchange Offer to enable each Holder electing to exchange Registrable
Securities for a like principal amount of Exchange Notes (assuming that such
Holder is not an affiliate of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under
the Securities Act and is not a broker-dealer tendering Registrable Securities
acquired directly from the Company for its own account, acquires the Exchange
Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder's business and has no
arrangements or understandings with any Person to participate in the Exchange
Offer for the purpose of distributing the Exchange Securities) (any Holder
meeting all such requirements, hereinafter an "Eligible Holder"), and to
transfer such Exchange Securities from and after their receipt without any
limitations or restrictions under the Securities Act and under state securities
or blue sky laws.
In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(i) 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 (together, the
"Notice");
(ii) use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Exchange
Offer open for acceptance for a period of not less than 30 days after
the date Notice thereof is mailed to the Holders (or longer if
required by applicable law) (such period referred to herein as the
"Exchange Period");
(iii) utilize the services of the Depositary for the Exchange
Offer;
(iv) permit Holders to withdraw, at any time prior to the
close of business, New York time, on the last Business Day of the
Exchange Period, any Notes tendered for exchange by sending to the
institution specified in the Notice, a telegram, telex, facsimile
transmission or letter, received before aforesaid time, setting forth
the name of such Holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for
exchange, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election
to have such Notes exchanged;
(v) notify each Holder by means of the Notice that any Note
not tendered by such Holder in the Exchange Offer will remain
outstanding and continue to accrue interest, but will not retain any
rights under this Agreement (except in the case of the Initial
Purchasers and Participating Broker-Dealers as provided herein); and
(vi) otherwise comply in all respects with all applicable laws
relating to the Exchange Offer.
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As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer, the
Company shall:
accept for exchange all Notes or portions thereof tendered and
not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer;
deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for
cancellation all Notes or portions thereof so accepted for exchange by
the Company; and
issue, and cause the Trustee to promptly authenticate and deliver
to each Holder, Exchange Notes equal in principal amount to the
principal amount of the Notes surrendered by such Holder.
Interest on each Exchange Note issued pursuant to the Registered
Exchange Offer will accrue from the last date on which interest was paid on the
Note surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid on such
Note, from the Issue Date. To the extent not prohibited by any law or
applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC, the Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as provided above, and
shall comply with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the
Exchange Act and other applicable laws in connection with the Exchange Offer.
The Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any conditions, other than that the
Exchange Offer does not violate applicable law or any applicable interpretation
of the staff of the SEC and that each Holder tendering Notes for exchange shall
be an Eligible Holder. Each Holder of Registrable Securities who wishes to
exchange such Registrable Securities for Exchange Notes in the Exchange Offer
will be required to make certain customary representations in connection
therewith, including representations that (i) it is not an affiliate of the
Company, (ii) the Exchange Notes to be received by it were acquired in the
ordinary course of its business and (iii) at the time of the Exchange Offer, it
has no arrangement with any person to participate in the distribution (within
the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Notes. Each Holder hereby
acknowledges and agrees that any Participating Broker-Dealer and any such Holder
using the Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the Exchange Notes:
(1) could not under SEC policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement rely
on the position of the SEC enunciated in ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Co., Inc. (available
June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988),
as interpreted in the SEC's letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993,
and similar no-action letters (including any no-action letter obtained based on
the representations in clause (i) above), and (2) must comply with the
registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in
connection with the secondary resale transaction and that such a secondary
resale transaction should be covered by an effective registration statement
containing the selling security holder information required by Item 507 and 508,
as applicable, of Regulation S-K if the resales are of Exchange Notes obtained
by such Holder in exchange for Notes acquired by such Holder directly from the
Company.
Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer in accordance with this
Section 2(a), the provisions of this Agreement shall continue to apply, mutatis
mutandis, solely with respect to Registrable Securities that are Exchange Notes
held by Participating Broker-Dealers, and the Company shall have no further
obligation to register the Registrable Securities (other than pursuant to
Section 2(b)(iii)) pursuant to Section 2(b) of this Agreement.
(b) Shelf Registration. In the event that (i) the Company is not
permitted to effect the Exchange Offer because of any change in law or in
currently prevailing interpretations of the staff of the SEC, (ii) the Exchange
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Offer Registration Statement is not declared effective within 180 days of the
Issue Date, or (iii) (1) any Initial Purchaser is not permitted, in the
reasonable opinion of Winthrop, Stimson, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, pursuant to
applicable law or applicable interpretations of the staff of the SEC, to
participate in the Exchange Offer and thereby receive securities that are freely
tradeable without restriction under the Securities Act and applicable blue sky
or state securities laws, (2) such Initial Purchaser requests registration of
Registrable Securities held by such Initial Purchaser and (3) such Initial
Purchaser's request is received by the Company no later than the later of (A)
the date of filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and (B) 120 days
following the Issue Date (any of the events specified in (i) - (iii) being a
"Shelf Registration Event" and the date of occurrence thereof, the "Shelf
Registration Event Date"), the Company shall promptly deliver to the Holders and
the Trustee written notice thereof and, at its cost, file as promptly as
practicable after such Shelf Registration Event Date, and, in any event, within
45 days after such Shelf Registration Event Date (which shall be no earlier than
90 days after the Closing Date) a Shelf Registration Statement providing for the
sale by the holders of all of the Registrable Securities, and shall use its
reasonable best efforts to have such Shelf Registration Statement declared
effective by the SEC as soon as practicable; provided, however that if the Shelf
Registration Event is pursuant to clause (iii), the Company may register such
Registrable Securities together with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
filed pursuant to Section 2(a), and the requirements as to timing applicable
thereto. No Holder of Registrable Securities shall be entitled to include any of
its Registrable Securities in any Shelf Registration pursuant to this Agreement
unless and until such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by all of the
provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder and furnishes to the
Company in writing, within 15 days after receipt of a request therefor, such
information as the Company may, after conferring with counsel with regard to
information relating to Holders that would be required by the SEC to be included
in such Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus included therein, reasonably
request for inclusion in any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus included
therein. Each Holder as to which any Shelf Registration is being effected agrees
promptly to furnish to the Company all information with respect to such Holder
necessary to make the information previously furnished to the Company by such
Holder not materially misleading.
The Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf
Registration Statement continuously effective for the Rule 144(k) Period
(subject to extension pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 3 hereof) or for
such shorter period which will terminate when all of the securities covered by
the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement or cease to be Registrable Securities ( the
"Effectiveness Period"). The Company shall not permit any securities other than
Registrable Securities to be included in the Shelf Registration. The Company
will, in the event a Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective, provide
to each Holder a reasonable number of copies of the Prospectus which is a part
of the Shelf Registration Statement and notify each such Holder when the Shelf
Registration has become effective. The Company further agrees, if necessary,
to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement, if required by the
rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by
the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the Securities Act or by
any other rules and regulations thereunder for shelf registrations, and the
Company agrees to furnish to the Holders of Registrable Securities copies of any
such supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the
SEC.
(c) Expenses. The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in
6
connection with the registration pursuant to Section 2(a) or 2(b) hereof. Except
as provided herein, each Holder shall pay all expenses of its counsel,
underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to
the sale or disposition of such Holder's Registrable Securities pursuant to the
Shelf Registration Statement.
(d) Effective Registration Statement. An Exchange Offer
Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof or a Shelf Registration
Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof (or a combination of the two) will not
be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the
SEC; provided, however, that if, after it has been declared effective, the
offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement is
interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of
the SEC or any other governmental agency or court, such Registration Statement
will be deemed not to have been effective during the period of such
interference, until the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to such
Registration Statement may legally resume. The Company will be deemed not to
have used its reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, to become, or
to remain, effective during the requisite period if the Company voluntarily
takes any action that would result in any such Registration Statement not being
declared effective or in the Holders of Registrable Securities covered thereby
not being able to exchange or offer and sell such Registrable Securities during
that period unless such action is required by applicable law.
(e) Additional Interest. In the event that:
(i) notwithstanding that the Company has consummated or will
consummate an Exchange Offer, the Company is required to file a Shelf
Registration Statement and such Shelf Registration Statement is not
filed on or prior to the date required by Section 2(b) hereof, then
commencing on the day after the applicable required filing date,
additional interest shall accrue on the principal amount of the Notes
("Additional Interest") at a rate of 0.25% per annum; or
(ii) (A) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not
declared effective by the SEC on or prior to the 180th day after the
Issue Date or (B) whether or not the Company has consummated or will
consummate an Exchange Offer, the Company is required to file a Shelf
Registration Statement and such Shelf Registration Statement is not
declared effective by the SEC on or prior to the 30th day after the
date such Shelf Registration Statement was required to be filed, then,
commencing on the 181st day after the Issue Date or the 31st day after
the applicable required filing date, as the case may be, Additional
Interest shall accrue on the principal amount of the Notes at a rate
of 0.25% per annum; or
(iii) (A) the Company has not exchanged the Exchange Notes for
the Notes validly tendered, in accordance with the terms of the
Exchange Offer, on or prior to the 40th day after the date on which
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement was declared effective or
(B) the Shelf
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Registration Statement has been declared effective and such Shelf
Registration Statement ceases to be effective at any time prior to the
expiration of the Rule 144(k) Period (other than after such time as
all Notes have been disposed of thereunder or otherwise cease to be
Registrable Securities), then Additional Interest shall accrue on the
principal amount of Notes, at a rate of 0.25% per annum, commencing on
the 41/st/ day after the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement was declared effective or the day such Shelf Registration
Statement ceases to be effective, as the case may be ;
provided, however, that the Additional Interest rate on the Notes may
not exceed in the aggregate 0.25% per annum; provided further,
however, that (1) upon the filing of the Shelf Registration Statement
(in the case of clause (i) above), (2) upon the effectiveness of the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement or a Shelf Registration
Statement (in the case of clause (ii) above), (3) upon the exchange of
Exchange Notes for all Notes tendered (in the case of clause (iii)(A)
above), or upon the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement
which had ceased to remain effective (in the case of clause (iii) (B)
above), or (4) upon the expiration of the Rule 144(k) Period,
Additional Interest on the Notes as a result of such clause (or the
relevant subclause thereof), as the case may be, shall cease to
accrue.
Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to Section 2(e)(i),
(ii) or (iii) above will be payable in cash on the relevant payment dates for
the payment of interest pursuant to the Indenture.
(f) Specific Enforcement. Without limiting the remedies available
to the Holders, the Company acknowledges that any failure of the Company to
comply with its obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof may
result in material irreparable injury to the Holders for which there is no
adequate remedy at law, that it would not be possible to measure damages for
such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, any Holder
may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the Company's
obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof.
3. Registration Procedures.
In connection with the obligations of the Company with respect to the
Registration Statements pursuant to Sections 2(a) and 2(b) hereof, the Company
shall:
(a) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement or
Registration Statements as prescribed by Sections 2(a) and 2(b) hereof within
(in the case of Section 2(b) hereof) the relevant time period specified and on
the appropriate form(s) under the Securities Act, which form(s) (i) shall be
selected by the Company, (ii) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be
available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the selling Holders
thereof and (iii) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the
requirements of the applicable form and include all financial statements
required by the SEC to be filed therewith; and use its reasonable best efforts
to cause such Registration Statement(s) to become effective and remain effective
in accordance with Section 2 hereof; provided, however, that if (1) such filing
is pursuant to Section 2(b), or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Offer
Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) is required to be
delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks
to sell Exchange Notes, before filing any Registration Statement or Prospectus
or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Company shall furnish to and
afford the Holders of the
8
Registrable Securities and each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case
may be, covered by such Registration Statement, their counsel and the managing
underwriters, if any, a reasonable opportunity to review copies of all such
documents (including copies of any documents to be incorporated by reference
therein and all exhibits thereto) proposed to be filed. The Company 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 Majority Holders or such
Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, their counsel or the managing
underwriters, if any, shall reasonably object;
(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective
amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such
Registration Statement effective for the Effectiveness Period or the Applicable
Period, as the case may be, and cause each Prospectus to be supplemented, if so
determined by the Company or requested by the SEC, by any required prospectus
supplement and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any
similar provision then in force) under the Securities Act, and comply with the
provisions of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder applicable to it with respect to the disposition of all
securities covered by each Registration Statement during the Effectiveness
Period or the Applicable Period, as the case may be, in accordance with the
intended method or methods of distribution by the selling Holders thereof
described in this Agreement (including sales by any Participating Broker-
Dealer);
(c) in the case of a Shelf Registration, (i) notify each Holder of
Registrable Securities included in the Shelf Registration Statement, at least
three Business Days prior to filing, that a Shelf Registration Statement with
respect to the Registrable Securities is being filed and advising such Holder
that the distribution of Registrable Securities will be made in accordance with
the method selected by the Majority Holders, (ii) furnish to each Holder of
Registrable Securities included in the Shelf Registration Statement and to each
underwriter of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, if any,
without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, including each preliminary
Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto and such other documents as
such Holder or underwriter may reasonably request, in order to facilitate the
public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities, (iii) consent to
the use of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the
selling Holders of Registrable Securities included in the Shelf Registration
Statement in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities
covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto and (iv)
furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities either a summary of the terms
of this Agreement or a copy of this Agreement;
(d) in the case of a Shelf Registration, to register or qualify the
Registrable Securities under all applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws
of such jurisdictions by the time the applicable Registration Statement is
declared effective by the SEC as any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by
a Registration Statement and each underwriter of an underwritten offering of
Registrable Securities shall reasonably request in writing in advance of such
date of effectiveness; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required
to (i) qualify as a
9
foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it
would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d), (ii) file
any general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction where it would not
otherwise be subject to such service of process or (iii) file annual reports or
comply with any other requirements deemed by the Company in its reasonable
judgment to be unduly burdensome;
(e) in the case of (1) a Shelf Registration or (2) Participating
Broker-Dealers from whom the Company has received prior written notice that they
will be utilizing the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement as provided in Section 3(t) hereof, are seeking to sell Exchange Notes
and are required to deliver Prospectuses, notify each Holder of Registrable
Securities, or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, their
counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, promptly and promptly confirm
such notice in writing (i) when a Registration Statement has become effective
and when any post-effective amendments and supplements thereto become effective,
(ii) of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments
and supplements to a Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional
information after the Registration Statement has become effective, (iii) of the
issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the qualification of
the Registrable Securities or the Exchange Notes to be offered or sold by any
Participating Broker-Dealer in any jurisdiction described in paragraph 3(d)
hereof or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) in the case
of a Shelf Registration, if, between the effective date of a Registration
Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities covered thereby,
the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any purchase
agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar agreement, if any cease
to be true and correct in all material respects, (v) of the happening of any
event or the failure of any event to occur or the discovery of any facts or
otherwise, during the Effectiveness Period which makes any statement made in
such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus untrue in any material
respect or which causes such Registration Statement or Prospectus to omit to
state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (vi) when the
Company reasonably determines that a post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement would be appropriate;
(f) make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of any
order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement at the earliest
possible moment;
(g) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of
Registrable Securities included within the coverage of such Shelf Registration
Statement, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration
Statement relating to such Shelf Registration and any post-effective amendment
thereto (without documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits
thereto, unless requested);
(h) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the selling
Holders of Registrable Securities to
10
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing
Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends and in
such denominations (consistent with the provisions of the Indenture) and
registered in such names as the selling Holders or the underwriters, if any, may
reasonably request at least two Business Days prior to the closing of any sale
of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement;
(i) in the case of a Shelf Registration or an Exchange Offer
Registration, upon the occurrence of any circumstance contemplated by Section
3(e)(ii), 3(e)(iii), 3(e)(v) or 3(e)(vi) hereof, prepare a supplement or post-
effective amendment to a Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any
document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document
so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable
Securities, such Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and
notify each Holder to suspend use of the Prospectus as promptly as practicable
after the occurrence of such an event, and each Holder hereby agrees to suspend
use of the Prospectus until the Company has amended or supplemented the
Prospectus to correct such misstatement or omission;
(j) in the case of a Shelf Registration, a reasonable time prior to
the filing of any document which is to be incorporated by reference into a
Registration Statement or a Prospectus after the initial filing of a
Registration Statement, provide a reasonable number of copies of such document
to the Holders and make such of the representatives of the Company as shall be
reasonably requested by the Holders of Registrable Securities or the Initial
Purchasers on behalf of such Holders available for reasonable discussion of such
document;
(k) obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Notes, no later than the
effective date of a Registration Statement, and provide the Trustee with printed
certificates for the Exchange Notes or the Registrable Securities, as the case
may be, in a form eligible for deposit with the Depositary;
(l) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA in connection
with the registration of the Exchange Notes or Registrable Securities, as the
case may be, and effect such changes to such documents as may be required for
them to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA and execute, and
use its reasonable best efforts to cause the 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 documents to be so qualified in
a timely manner;
(m) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such agreements
(including underwriting agreements) as are customary in underwritten offerings
and consistent with the terms of the Purchase Agreement and take all such other
appropriate actions as are reasonably requested in order to expedite or
facilitate the registration or the disposition of such Registrable Securities,
and in such connection, whether or not an underwriting agreement is entered into
and whether or not the registration is with respect to an underwritten offering,
if requested by (x) any Initial
11
Purchaser, in the case where an Initial Purchaser holds Registrable Securities
acquired by it as part of its initial distribution and (y) other Holders of
Notes covered thereby: (i) make such representations and warranties to Holders
of such Registrable Securities and the underwriters (if any), with respect to
the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as then conducted 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, and confirm the same if
and when requested; (ii) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and updates
thereof (which may be in the form of a reliance letter) in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriters (if any) and the Holders of
a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold,
addressed to each selling Holder and the underwriters (if any) covering the
matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings and
such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such underwriters (it being
agreed that the matters to be covered by such opinions may be subject to
customary qualifications and exceptions); (iii) obtain "cold comfort" letters
and updates thereof in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
managing underwriters (if any) from the independent certified public accountants
of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public
accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the
Company for which financial statements and financial data are, or are required
to be, included in the Registration Statement), addressed to each of such
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 and such other matters as reasonably requested by such
underwriters in accordance with Statement on Auditing Standards No. 72 and (iv)
if an underwriting agreement is entered into, the same shall contain
indemnification provisions and procedures no less favorable than those set forth
in Section 4 hereof (or such other provisions and procedures acceptable to
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Registrable Securities
covered by such Registration Statement and the managing underwriters or agents)
with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to said Section
(including, without limitation, such underwriters and selling Holders). The
above shall be done at each closing under such underwriting agreement or, as and
to the extent required thereunder and as consistent with the terms of, the
Purchase Agreement;
(n) if (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 2(b)
or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2(a) 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 reasonably available for inspection by any selling
Holder of such Registrable Securities being sold, or each such Participating
Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, any underwriter participating in any such
disposition of Registrable Securities, if any, and any attorney, accountant or
other agent retained by any such selling Holder or each such Participating
Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, or underwriter (collectively, the
"Inspectors"), at the offices where normally kept, during reasonable business
hours, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and
properties of the Company and its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Records") as
shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise any applicable due
diligence responsibilities, and cause the officers, directors and employees of
the Company and its subsidiaries to supply all relevant information in each case
reasonably requested by any such Inspector in connection with such Registration
Statement; provided,
12
however, that the foregoing inspection and information gathering shall be
coordinated on behalf of all such parties by Company-designated Holders'
counsel, at the expense of such parties as described in Section 2(c) hereof.
Records which the Company determines, in good faith, to be confidential and any
records which it notifies 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 omission in such Registration
Statement, provided that the Company shall be consulted prior to any such
disclosure, (ii) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena
or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction or is necessary in
connection with any action, suit or proceeding or (iii) the information in such
Records has been made available to the public. Each selling Holder of such
Registrable Securities and each such Participating Broker-Dealer will be
required to agree in writing that information obtained by it or any Inspector
retained by it as a result of such inspections shall be deemed confidential and
shall not be used by it or any Inspector retained by it as the basis for any
market transactions in the securities of the Company unless and until such is
made generally available to the public. Each selling Holder of such Registrable
Securities and each such Participating Broker-Dealer will be required to further
agree in writing that it will, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is
sought in a court of competent jurisdiction, give notice to the Company and
allow the Company at its expense to undertake appropriate action to prevent
disclosure of the Records deemed confidential;
(o) comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC so
long as any provision of this Agreement shall be applicable and make generally
available to its security holders earning 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), with such adjustments as are
necessary to reflect the merger transactions in August 1997 involving the
Company and the predecessors of the Company, no later than 60 days after the end
of any 12-month period (or 120 days after the end of any 12-month period if such
period is a fiscal year) (i) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in
which Registrable Securities 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;
(p) upon consummation of an Exchange Offer, if requested by the
Trustee, obtain an opinion of counsel to the Company addressed to the Trustee
for the benefit of all Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the
Exchange Offer and which includes an opinion that (i) the Company has duly
authorized, executed and delivered the Exchange Notes, and (ii) each of the
Exchange Notes constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms (with customary
exceptions);
(q) if an Exchange Offer is to be consummated, upon delivery of the
Registrable Securities by Holders to the Company (or to such other Person as
directed by the Company), in exchange for the Exchange Notes, ▇▇▇▇, or cause to
be marked, on such Registrable Securities delivered by such Holders that such
Registrable Securities are being cancelled in exchange for the Exchange
13
Notes, and in no event shall such Registrable Securities be marked as paid or
otherwise satisfied;
(r) cooperate with each seller of Registrable Securities covered by
any Registration Statement and each underwriter, if any, participating in the
disposition of such Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement
contemplated hereby;
(s) use its reasonable best efforts to take all other steps
necessary to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities covered by a
Registration Statement contemplated hereby;
(t) (A) in the case of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (i)
(a) indicate in a "Plan of Distribution" section contained in the Prospectus
contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement that any broker or dealer
registered under the Exchange Act who holds Notes that are Registrable
Securities and that were acquired for its own account as a result of market-
making activities or other trading activities (other than Registrable Securities
acquired directly from the Company) (such broker or dealer, a "Participating
Broker-Dealer"), may exchange such Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer;
however, such Participating Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an "underwriter"
within the meaning of the Securities Act and must, therefore, deliver a
prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any
resales of the Exchange Notes received by such Participating Broker-Dealer in
the Exchange Offer, which prospectus delivery requirement may be satisfied by
the delivery by such Participating Broker-Dealer of the Prospectus contained in
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and (b) include in such "Plan of
Distribution" section all other information with respect to such resales by
Participating Broker-Dealers that the SEC may require in order to permit such
resales pursuant thereto, but such "Plan of Distribution" shall not name any
such Participating Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Exchange Notes held
by any such Participating Broker-Dealer except to the extent required by the
Commission as a result of a change in policy announced after the date of this
Agreement, (ii) furnish to each Participating Broker-Dealer who has delivered to
the Company the notice referred to in Section 3(e), without charge, as many
copies of each Prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
including any preliminary prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto,
as such Participating Broker-Dealer may reasonably request (the Company hereby
consents to the use of the Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto by any Person
subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, including
all Participating Broker-Dealers, in connection with the sale or transfer of the
Exchange Notes covered by the Prospectus or any amendment of supplement
thereto), (iii) use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the Prospectus
contained therein in order to permit such Prospectus to be lawfully delivered by
all Persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act for such period of time as such Persons must comply with such requirements
under the Securities Act and applicable rules and regulations in order to resell
the Exchange Notes; provided, however, that such period shall not be required to
exceed 90 days (or such longer period if extended pursuant to the last sentence
of Section 3 hereof) (the "Applicable Period") and (iv) include in the
transmittal letter or similar documentation to be executed by an exchange
offeree
14
in order to participate in the Exchange Offer (x) the following provision:
"If the exchange offeree is a broker-dealer holding Registrable
Notes acquired for its own account as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities, it will deliver a prospectus
meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any
resale of Exchange Notes received in respect of such Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer,"
and (y) a statement to the effect that by a broker-dealer making the
acknowledgement described in clause (x) and by delivering a Prospectus in
connection with the exchange of Registrable Securities, the broker-dealer will
not be deemed to admit that it is an underwriter within the meaning of the
Securities Act; and
(B) in the case of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, deliver
to the Initial Purchasers or to another representative of the Participating
Broker-Dealers, if requested by any such Initial Purchasers or such other
representative of the Participating Broker-Dealers, on behalf of the
Participating Broker-Dealers upon consummation of the Exchange Offer (i) an
opinion of counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Initial
Purchasers or such other representative of the Participating Broker-Dealers,
covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in connection
with Exchange Offer Registration Statements and such other matters as may be
reasonably requested (it being agreed that the matters to be covered by such
opinion may be subject to customary qualifications and exceptions), (ii) an
officers' certificate containing certifications substantially similar to those
set forth in certificates delivered pursuant to Section 8 of the Purchase
Agreement and such additional certifications as are customarily delivered in a
public offering of debt securities and (iii) as well as upon the effectiveness
of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, a comfort letter, in each case, in
customary form as permitted by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 72 and with
such variations necessary to reflect the merger transactions in August 1997
involving the Company and the predecessors of the Company. Each of the
foregoing shall be consistent with the terms of the Purchase Agreement.
The Company may require each seller of Registrable Securities as to
which any registration is being effected to furnish to the Company such
information regarding such seller as may be required by the Staff of the SEC to
be included in a Registration Statement. The Company may exclude from such
registration the Registrable Securities of any seller who unreasonably fails to
furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such request.
The Company shall have no obligation to register under the Securities Act the
Registrable Securities of a seller who so fails to furnish such information.
In the case of (1) a Shelf Registration Statement or (2) Participating
Broker-Dealers who have notified the Company that they will be utilizing the
Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement as provided in
Section 3(t) hereof, are seeking to sell Exchange Notes and are required to
deliver Prospectuses, each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from
the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section
3(e)(ii), 3(e)(iii), 3(e)(v) or 3(e)(vi) hereof, such Holder will forthwith
discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration
Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or
amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(i) hereof or until it is advised in
writing (the "Advice") by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus
may be resumed, and, if so directed by the Company, such Holder will deliver to
the Company (at the Company's expense) all copies in such Holder's possession,
other than permanent file copies then in such Holder's possession, of the
Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities or Exchange Notes, as the case
may be, current at the time of receipt of such notice. If the Company shall
give any such notice to suspend the disposition of Registrable Securities
15
or Exchange Notes, as the case may be, pursuant to a Registration Statement, the
Company shall file and use its best efforts to have declared effective (if an
amendment) as soon as practicable an amendment or supplement to the Registration
Statement and shall extend the period during which such Registration Statement
shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days
in the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and
including the date when the Company shall have made available to the Holders (x)
copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to resume such
dispositions or (y) the Advice.
4. Indemnification.
(a) In connection with any Registration Statement, the Company shall
indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser, each Holder, each
underwriter who participates in an offering of the Registrable Securities, each
Participating Broker-Dealer, and each Person, if any, who controls any of such
parties within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of
the Exchange Act (each an "Indemnified Party") from and against any and all
losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any
of them may become subject under the Securities Act or any other statute or
common law and shall reimburse each such Indemnified Party for any legal or
other expenses (including, to the extent hereinafter provided, reasonable
counsel fees) incurred by them in connection with investigating any such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities or in connection with defending any actions,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, expenses or actions arise
out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus or Prospectus, or in a
Registration Statement, or the 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; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this
Section 4 as to any Indemnified Party shall not apply to any such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities, expenses or actions arising out of, or based upon,
any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement, or any such omission or
alleged omission, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon
information furnished in writing to the Company by such Indemnified Party for
use in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to either thereof, or arising out of,
or based upon, statements in or omissions from the part of the Registration
Statement which shall constitute the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification
of the Trustee under the TIA; and provided further, that the indemnity agreement
contained in this Section 4 with respect to the Prospectus (if the Company shall
have furnished any amendment or supplement thereto) shall not inure to the
benefit of any Indemnified Party on account of any such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities, expenses or actions arising from the sale of Registrable Securities
to any person if a copy of the Prospectus (exclusive of any documents
incorporated by reference) shall not have been given or sent to such person by
or on behalf of such Indemnified Party with or prior to the written confirmation
of the sale involved unless, with respect to the delivery of any amendment or
supplement to the Prospectus, the alleged omission or alleged untrue statement
was not corrected in such amendment or supplement at the time of such written
confirmation. The indemnity agreement of the Company contained in this Section 4
shall remain
16
operative and in full force and effect regardless of any termination of this
Agreement or of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Indemnified Party,
and shall survive the registration of the Registrable Securities.
(b) Each Holder shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the
Company and any underwriter and other selling Holder, and their respective
officers and directors, and each person who controls the Company or any
underwriter or any other selling Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject
under the Securities Act or any other statute or common law and shall reimburse
each of them for any legal or other expenses (including, to the extent
hereinafter provided, reasonable counsel fees) incurred by them in connection
with investigating any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities or in
connection with defending any actions, insofar as such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities, expenses 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 the Prospectus, or 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, if such statement or omission was made in
reliance upon information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of
such Holder, for use in connection with the preparation of the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to either thereof.
The indemnity agreement of the respective Holders contained in this Section 4
shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any
termination of this Agreement or of any investigation made by or on behalf of
the Company, any underwriter, or any other selling Holder, or their respective
directors or officers, or any such controlling person, and shall survive the
registration of the Registrable Securities; provided, however, that, in the case
of a Shelf Registration Statement, no such Holder shall be liable for any claims
hereunder in excess of the amount of net proceeds received by such Holder from
the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration
Statement.
(c) The Company and the Holders each shall, upon the receipt of
notice of the commencement of any action against it or any person controlling it
as aforesaid, in respect of which indemnity may be sought on account of any
indemnity agreement contained herein, promptly give written notice of the
commencement thereof to the party or parties against whom indemnity shall be
sought hereunder, but the omission so to notify such indemnifying party or
parties of any such action shall not relieve such indemnifying party or parties
from any liabilities which it or they may have to the indemnified party
otherwise than on account of such indemnity agreement. In case such notice of
any such action shall be so given, such indemnifying party shall be entitled to
participate at its own expense in the defense, or, if it so elects, to assume
(in conjunction with any other indemnifying parties) the defense of such action,
in which event such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by such
indemnifying party or parties and satisfactory to the indemnified party or
parties who shall be defendant or defendants in such action, and such defendant
or defendants shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel
retained by them; but if the indemnifying party shall elect not to assume the
defense of such action, such indemnifying party will reimburse such indemnified
party or parties for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by
them; provided, however, if the defendants in any such
17
action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and counsel
for the indemnifying party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a
conflict of interest involved in the representation by such counsel of both the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party, the indemnified party or parties
shall have the right to select separate counsel, satisfactory to the
indemnifying party, to participate in the defense of such action on behalf of
such indemnified party or parties (it being understood, however, that the
indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one
separate counsel representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such
action).
(d) If the indemnification provided for in (a) or (b) above shall be
unenforceable under applicable law by an indemnified party, each indemnifying
party agrees to contribute to such indemnified party with respect to any and all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses for which each such
indemnification provided for in (a) or (b) above shall be unenforceable, in such
proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative fault of each
indemnifying party on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other in
connection with the statement or omissions which have resulted in such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities and expenses, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations; provided, however, that no indemnified party guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the
Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any indemnifying party
not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Relative fault 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 such indemnifying party or
the indemnified party and each such party's relative intent, knowledge, access
to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or
omission. The Company and each of the Holders agree that it would not be just
and equitable if contributions pursuant to this paragraph (d) were to be
determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one
entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not
taken account of the equitable consideration referred to above.
5. Participation in Underwritten Registrations. No Holder may
participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless such Holder (a)
agrees to sell such Holder's Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any
underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve
such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all reasonable questionnaires,
powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements, lock-up letters and
other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting
arrangements.
6. Selection of Underwriters. The Holders of Registrable Securities
covered by the Shelf Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell the
securities covered by such Shelf Registration in an underwritten offering. In
any such underwritten offering, the underwriter or underwriters and manager or
managers that will administer the offering will be selected by the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities included in
such offering; provided, however, that such underwriters and managers must be
reasonably satisfactory to the Company.
18
7. Miscellaneous.
(a) Rule 144 and Rule 144A. For so long as the Company is subject
to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15 of the Exchange Act and any
Registrable Securities remain outstanding, the Company will file the reports
required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and Section 13(a) or 15(d)
of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder.
If the Company ceases to be so required to file such reports, it will, upon the
request of any Holder of Registrable Securities (a) make publicly available such
information as is necessary to permit sales of their securities pursuant to Rule
144 under the Securities Act, (b) deliver such information to prospective
purchasers as is necessary to permit sales of their securities pursuant to Rule
144A under the Securities Act and take such further action as any Holder of
Registrable Securities may reasonably request and (c) take such further action
that is reasonable in the circumstances, in each case, to the extent required
from time to time to enable such Holder to sell its Registrable Securities
without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the
exemptions provided by (i) Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such rule may
be amended from time to time, (ii) Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as such
rule may be amended from time to time or (iii) any similar rules or regulations
hereafter adopted by the SEC. Upon the request of any Holder of Registrable
Securities, the Company will deliver to such Holder a written statement as to
whether it has complied with such requirements.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not entered into
nor will the Company on or after the date of this Agreement enter into any
agreement which is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of
Registrable Securities 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 Company's other issued and outstanding securities under any such agreements.
(c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement,
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers of consents to departures from the provisions hereof
may not be given unless the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders
of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement,
waiver or departure; provided no departure with respect to the provisions of
Section 4 hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of Registrable
Securities without the unanimous consent of the Holders. Notwithstanding the
foregoing sentence, (i) this Agreement may be amended, without the consent of
any Holder of Registrable Securities, by written agreement signed by the Company
and Salomon Brothers, to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision
of this Agreement that may be inconsistent with any other provision of this
Agreement or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions
arising under this Agreement which shall not be inconsistent with other
provisions of this Agreement, (ii) this Agreement may be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers and consents to departures from the provisions
19
hereof may be given, by written agreement signed by the Company and Salomon
Brothers to the extent that any such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver
or consent is, in their reasonable judgment, necessary or appropriate to comply
with applicable law (including any interpretation of the Staff of the SEC) or
any change therein and (iii) to the extent any provision of this Agreement
relates to the Initial Purchasers, such provision may be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from such provisions may be
given, by written agreement signed by Salomon Brothers and the Company.
(d) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-
class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight delivery
(i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to the
Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 7(d), which address initially is, with respect to the Initial
Purchasers, the address set forth in the Purchase Agreement and (ii) if to the
Company, initially at the Company's address set forth in the Purchase Agreement
and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance
with the provisions of this Section 7(d).
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business
Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when
answered back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on
the next Business Day, if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing
overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands, or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee, at the
address specified in the Indenture.
(e) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of the
Initial Purchasers, including, without limitation and without the need for an
express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided, however, that nothing herein
shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of
Registrable Securities in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement or
the Indenture. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable
Securities, in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such
Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this
Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities, such Person
shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of
the terms and provisions of this Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to
receive the benefits hereof.
(f) Third Party Beneficiary. Each of the Initial Purchasers shall
be a third party beneficiary of the agreements made hereunder between the
Company and the Holders and shall have the right to enforce such agreements
directly to the extent it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to
protect its rights or the rights of Holders hereunder.
(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
20
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 DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN MADE
IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE VALIDITY AND INTERPRETATION OF THIS AGREEMENT, AND
THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH HEREIN, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY
PROVISIONS RELATING TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS. 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.
(j) Severability. In the event that 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 Company or its Affiliates. Whenever the
consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable
Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company or
any of its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities
Act) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was
given by the Holders of such required percentage.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the date first written above.
TEXAS UTILITIES COMPANY
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Treasurer
Confirmed and accepted as of
the date first above written:
SALOMON BROTHERS INC
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Director
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & CO.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Sachs & Co.
---------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.
Title:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ BROTHERS INC.
By:/s/ M. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------------------
Name: M. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Castello
Title: Managing Director
