Exhibit 4.4
EXECUTION COPY
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A/B EXCHANGE
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of December 22, 2003
by and among
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
THE GUARANTORS LISTED ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HERETO
AND
XXXXXX BROTHERS INC.
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
and
XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED
XX XXXXX SECURITIES CORPORATION
WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
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A/B EXCHANGE REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of December 22, 2003 by and among L-3 Communications
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company") the guarantors listed on the
signature pages hereto (collectively, the "Existing Guarantors"), and Xxxxxx
Brothers Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co.
Incorporated, XX Xxxxx Securities Corporation and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC,
as representatives of the several initial purchasers (the "Initial Purchasers")
named in Schedule 1 to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below), each of whom
has agreed to purchase the Company's 6-1/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014
(the "Series A Notes") pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated as of
December 16, 2003 (the "Purchase Agreement"), by and among the Company, the
Existing Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers. In order to induce the Initial
Purchasers to purchase the Series A Notes, the Company and the Existing
Guarantors have agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this
Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the
obligations of the Initial Purchasers set forth in Section 3 of the Purchase
Agreement.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1 DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have
the following meanings:
Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Additional Guarantor: Any subsidiary of the Company that executes a
Subsidiary Guarantee under the Indenture after the date of this Agreement.
Broker-Dealer: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.
Closing Date: The date of this Agreement.
Commission: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
Consummate: A Registered Exchange Offer shall be deemed "Consummated"
for purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (i) the filing and
effectiveness under the Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
relating to the Series B Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (ii) the
maintenance of such Registration Statement continuously effective and the
keeping of the Exchange Offer open for a period not less than the minimum period
required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof and (iii) the delivery by the Company
to the Registrar under the Indenture of Series B Notes in the same aggregate
principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes that were
tendered by Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
Damages Payment Date: With respect to the Series A Notes, each Interest
Payment Date.
Effectiveness Target Date: As defined in Section 5.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Exchange Offer: The registration by the Company under the Act of the
Series B Notes (including the Subsidiary Guarantees) pursuant to a Registration
Statement pursuant to which the Company offers the Holders of all outstanding
Transfer Restricted Securities the opportunity to exchange all such outstanding
Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holders for Series B Notes and
registered Subsidiary Guarantees in an aggregate principal amount equal to the
aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities tendered in
such exchange offer by such Holders.
Exchange Offer Registration Statement: The Registration Statement
relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.
Exempt Resales: The transactions in which the Initial Purchasers
propose to sell the Series A Notes to (i) certain "qualified institutional
buyers," as such term is defined in Rule 144A under the Act, (ii) to certain
institutional "accredited investors," as such term is defined in Rule 501(a)(1),
(2), (3) and (7) under the Act ("Accredited Institutions") and (iii) outside the
United States to Persons other than U.S. Persons in offshore transactions
meeting the requirements of rule 904 of Regulation S under the Act.
Guarantors: The Additional Guarantors and the Existing Guarantors.
Holders: As defined in Section 2 hereof.
Indenture: The Indenture, dated as of the date hereof, among the
Company, the Existing Guarantors and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the
"Trustee"), pursuant to which the Notes are to be issued, as such Indenture is
amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
Initial Purchasers: As defined in the preamble hereto.
Interest Payment Date: As defined in the Notes.
NASD: National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Notes: The Series A Notes and the Series B Notes.
Offering Memorandum: As defined in the Purchase Agreement.
Person: An individual, partnership, corporation, trust, limited
liability company or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or
political subdivision thereof.
Prospectus: The prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as
amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments
thereto, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by
reference into such Prospectus.
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Record Holder: With respect to any Damages Payment Date relating to
Notes, each Person who is a Holder of Notes on the record date with respect to
the Interest Payment Date on which such Damages Payment Date shall occur.
Registration Default: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
Registrar: As defined in the Indenture.
Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company
relating to (a) an offering of Series B Notes pursuant to an Exchange Offer or
(b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to
the Shelf Registration Statement, which is filed pursuant to the provisions of
this Agreement, in each case including the Prospectus included therein, all
amendments and supplements thereto (including post-effective amendments) and all
exhibits and material incorporated by reference therein.
Series B Notes: The Company's 6-1/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014
to be issued pursuant to the Indenture in the Exchange Offer.
Shelf Filing Deadline: As defined in Section 4 hereof.
Shelf Registration Statement: As defined in Section 4 hereof.
Subsidiary Guarantee: The Guarantee by a Guarantor of the Company's
obligations under the Notes and Indenture.
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Section 77aaa-77bbbb)
as in effect on the date of the Indenture.
Transfer Restricted Securities: Each Note (including the Subsidiary
Guarantees), until the earliest to occur of (a) the date on which such Note is
exchanged by a person other than a Broker-Dealer for a Series B Note in the
Exchange Offer, (b) following the exchange by a Broker-Dealer in the Exchange
Offer of a Note for a Series B Note, the date on which such Series B Note is
sold to a purchaser who receives from such Broker-Dealer on or prior to the date
of such sale a copy of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, (c) the date on which such Note (including the
Subsidiary Guarantees) is effectively registered under the Act and disposed of
in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (d) the date on which
such Note (including the Subsidiary Guarantees) is distributed to the public
pursuant to Rule 144 under the Act.
Underwritten Registration or Underwritten Offering: A registration in
which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the
public.
SECTION 2 SECURITIES SUBJECT TO THIS AGREEMENT
(a) Transfer Restricted Securities. The securities entitled to the
benefits of this Agreement are the Transfer Restricted Securities.
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(b) Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities. A Person is deemed to be
a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (each, a "Holder") whenever such
Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities.
SECTION 3 REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER
(a) Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permissible under applicable
law or Commission policy (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a) below
have been complied with), the Company and the Guarantors shall (i) cause to be
filed with the Commission as promptly as practicable after the Closing Date, but
in no event later than 90 days after the Closing Date, a Registration Statement
under the Act relating to the Series B Notes (including the Subsidiary
Guarantees) and the Exchange Offer, (ii) use all commercially reasonable efforts
to cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission
as promptly as practicable, but in no event later than 180 days after the
Closing Date (which 180-day period shall be extended for a number of days equal
to the number of business days, if any, the Commission is officially closed
during such period), (iii) in connection with the foregoing, file (A) all
pre-effective amendments to such Registration Statement as may be necessary in
order to cause such Registration Statement to become effective, (B) if
applicable, a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement pursuant
to Rule 430A under the Act and (C) cause all necessary filings in connection
with the registration and qualification of the Series B Notes (including the
Subsidiary Guarantees) to be made under the Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions
as are necessary to permit Consummation of the Exchange Offer and (iv) upon the
effectiveness of such Registration Statement, commence the Exchange Offer. The
Exchange Offer shall be on the appropriate form permitting registration of the
Series B Notes (including the Subsidiary Guarantees) to be offered in exchange
for the Transfer Restricted Securities and to permit resales of Notes held by
Broker-Dealers as contemplated by Section 3(c) below.
(b) The Company and the Guarantors shall cause the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement to be effective continuously and shall keep the Exchange
Offer open for a period of not less than the minimum period required under
applicable federal and state securities laws to Consummate the Exchange Offer;
provided, however, that in no event shall such period be less than 20 business
days. The Company and the Guarantors shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply
with all applicable federal and state securities laws. No securities other than
the Notes (including the Subsidiary Guarantees) shall be included in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement. The Company and the Guarantors shall use
all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be
Consummated on the earliest practicable date after the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement has become effective, but in no event later than 30
business days thereafter.
(c) The Company and the Guarantors shall indicate in a "Plan of
Distribution" section contained in the Prospectus contained in the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement that any Broker-Dealer who owns Series A Notes that
are Transfer Restricted Securities and that were acquired for its own account as
a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (other than
Transfer Restricted Securities acquired directly from the Company), may exchange
such Series A Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer; however, such Broker-Dealer
may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Act and must,
therefore, deliver a Prospectus meeting the requirements of the Act in
connection with any resales of the Series B
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Notes received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, which Prospectus
delivery requirement may be satisfied by the delivery by such Broker-Dealer of
the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. Such
"Plan of Distribution" section shall also contain all other information with
respect to such resales by Broker-Dealers that the Commission may require in
order to permit such resales pursuant thereto, but such "Plan of Distribution"
shall not name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Notes held by
any such Broker-Dealer except to the extent required by the Commission.
The Company and the Guarantors shall use all commercially reasonable
efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously
effective, supplemented and amended as required by the provisions of Section
6(c) below to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for resales of
Notes acquired by Broker-Dealers for their own accounts as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities, and to ensure that it
conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies,
rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a
period of 180 days from the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement is declared effective or such shorter period that will terminate when
all Notes covered by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement have been
exchanged in the Exchange Offer.
The Company and the Guarantors shall provide sufficient copies of the
latest version of such Prospectus to Broker-Dealers promptly upon request at any
time during such 180 day period in order to facilitate such resales.
SECTION 4 SHELF REGISTRATION
(a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Company and the Guarantors are not
required to file the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or permitted to
Consummate the Exchange Offer because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by
applicable law or Commission policy (after the procedures set forth in Section
6(a) below have been complied with) or (ii) any Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities that is a "qualified institutional buyer," as such term is defined in
Rule 144A under the Act or an institutional "accredited investor," as such term
is defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) and (7) under the Act shall notify the
Company prior to the 20th day following the Consummation of the Exchange Offer
that such Holder alone or together with holders who hold in the aggregate at
least $1.0 million in principal amount of Series A Notes (A) is prohibited by
applicable law or Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer, or
(B) may not resell the Series B Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to
the public without delivering a prospectus and that the Prospectus contained in
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for
such resales by such Holder, or (C) is a Broker-Dealer and holds Series A Notes
acquired directly from the Company or an affiliate of the Company, the Company
and the Guarantors shall:
(i) cause to be filed with the Commission a shelf Registration
Statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act, which may be an amendment
to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (in either event, the
"Shelf Registration Statement") on or prior to the earliest to occur of
(A) the 30th day after the date on which the Company determines that it
is not required to file the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, or
permitted to Consummate the Exchange Offer and (B) the 30th day after
the date on which the
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Company receives notice from a Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
as contemplated by clause (ii) of paragraph (a) above (such earliest
date being the "Shelf Filing Deadline"), which Shelf Registration
Statement shall provide for resales of all Transfer Restricted
Securities the Holders of which shall have provided the information
required pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof; and
(ii) use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Shelf
Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission on or
before the 90th day after the Shelf Filing Deadline.
The Company and the Guarantors shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to
keep such Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and
amended as required by the provisions of Sections 6(b) and (d) hereof to the
extent necessary to ensure that it is available for resales of Notes by the
Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities entitled to the benefit of this
Section 4(a), and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this
Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as
announced from time to time, for a period of at least two years following the
Closing Date or such shorter period that will terminate when all Notes covered
by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement or become eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144
without volume or other restrictions.
(b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with the
Shelf Registration Statement. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may
include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration
Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to
the Company in writing, within 10 business days after receipt of a request
therefor, such information as the Company may reasonably request for use in
connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary
Prospectus included therein. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall
be entitled to additional interest pursuant to Section 5 hereof unless and until
such Holder shall have used its best efforts to provide all such reasonably
requested information. Each Holder as to which any Shelf Registration Statement
is being effected agrees to furnish promptly to the Company all information
required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished
to the Company by such Holder not materially misleading.
SECTION 5 ADDITIONAL INTEREST
If (i) any of the Registration Statements required by this Agreement is
not filed with the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such filing
in sections 3(a), 4(a), and 4(c), as applicable, (ii) any of such required
Registration Statements has not been declared effective by the Commission on or
prior to the date specified for such effectiveness in sections 3(a), 4(a), and
4(c), as applicable, (the "Effectiveness Target Date"), (iii) the Exchange Offer
has not been Consummated within 30 business days after the Effectiveness Target
Date with respect to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, or (iv) any
Registration Statement required by this Agreement is filed and declared
effective but shall thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be usable for
its intended purpose without being succeeded within five business days by a
post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement that cures such failure
and that is itself immediately declared effective (each such event referred to
in clauses (i) through (iv), a
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"Registration Default"), the Company and the Guarantors jointly and severally
agree to pay additional interest to each Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities with respect to the first 90-day period immediately following the
occurrence of such Registration Default, in an amount equal to $.05 per week per
$1,000 principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holder
for each week or portion thereof that the Registration Default continues. The
amount of the additional interest shall increase by an additional $.05 per week
per $1,000 in principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities with respect to
each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured,
up to a maximum amount of additional interest of $.50 per week per $1,000
principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities. The Company shall in no
event be required to pay additional interest for more than one Registration
Default at any given time. All accrued additional interest shall be paid to
Record Holders by the Company and the Guarantors by wire transfer of immediately
available funds or by federal funds check on each Damages Payment Date, as
provided in the Indenture. Following the cure of all Registration Defaults
relating to any particular Transfer Restricted Securities, the accrual of
additional interest with respect to such Transfer Restricted Securities will
cease.
All payment obligations of the Company and the Guarantors set forth in
the preceding paragraph that are outstanding with respect to any Transfer
Restricted Security at the time such security ceases to be a Transfer Restricted
Security shall survive until such time as all such payment obligations with
respect to such Security shall have been satisfied in full provided, however,
that the additional interest shall cease to accrue on the day immediately prior
to the date such Transfer Restricted Securities cease to be Transfer Restricted
Securities.
SECTION 6 REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. In connection with the
Exchange Offer, the Company and the Guarantors shall comply with all of the
provisions of Section 6(c) below, shall use all commercially reasonable efforts
to effect such exchange to permit the sale of Transfer Restricted Securities
being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution
thereof, and shall comply with all of the following provisions:
(i) If in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company and the
Guarantors there is a question as to whether the Exchange Offer is
permitted by applicable law, the Company and the Guarantors hereby agree
to seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision from the
Commission allowing the Company and the Guarantors to Consummate an
Exchange Offer for such Series A Notes. The Company and the Guarantors
hereby agree to pursue the issuance of such a decision to the Commission
staff level but shall not be required to take commercially unreasonable
action to effect a change of Commission policy. The Company and the
Guarantors hereby agree however, to (A) participate in telephonic
conferences with the Commission, (B) deliver to the Commission staff an
analysis prepared by counsel to the Company and the Guarantors setting
forth the legal bases, if any, upon which such counsel has concluded
that such an Exchange Offer should be permitted and (C) diligently
pursue a resolution (which need not be favorable) by the Commission
staff of such submission.
(ii) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities shall furnish, upon the
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request of the Company, prior to the Consummation thereof, a written
representation to the Company and the Guarantors (which may be contained
in the letter of transmittal contemplated by the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement) to the effect that (A) it is not an affiliate of
the Company, (B) it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in,
and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate
in, a distribution of the Series B Notes to be issued in the Exchange
Offer and (C) it is acquiring the Series B Notes in its ordinary course
of business. In addition, all such Holders of Transfer Restricted
Securities shall otherwise cooperate in the Company's and the
Guarantors' preparations for the Exchange Offer. Each Holder hereby
acknowledges and agrees that any Broker-Dealer and any such Holder using
the Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the securities to
be acquired in the Exchange Offer (A) could not under Commission policy
as in effect on the date of this Agreement rely on the position of the
Commission enunciated in Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx and Co., Inc. (available June 5,
1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988),
as interpreted in the Commission's letter to Shearman & Sterling dated
July 2, 1993, and similar no-action letters (including any no-action
letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above), and (B) must comply with
the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Act in
connection with a 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 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K if the resales are of
Series B Notes obtained by such Holder in exchange for Series A Notes
acquired by such Holder directly from the Company.
(iii) Prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall provide a supplemental
letter to the Commission (A) stating that the Company and the Guarantors
are registering the Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the
Commission enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available
May 13, 1988), Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991)
and, if applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i)
above and (B) including a representation that neither the Company nor
any Guarantor has entered into any arrangement or understanding with any
Person to distribute the Series B Notes to be received in the Exchange
Offer and that, to the best of the Company's and each Guarantor's
information and belief, each Holder participating in the Exchange Offer
is acquiring the Series B Notes in its ordinary course of business and
has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in
the distribution of the Series B Notes received in the Exchange Offer.
(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall comply with all the
provisions of Section 6(c) below and shall use all commercially reasonable
efforts to effect such registration to permit the sale of the Transfer
Restricted Securities being sold in accordance with the intended method or
methods of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company and the
Guarantors will as expeditiously as possible prepare and file with the
Commission a Registration Statement relating to the registration on any
appropriate form under the Act, which form shall be available for the sale of
the Transfer Restricted Securities in accordance with the intended method or
methods of distribution thereof.
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(c) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration Statement
and any Prospectus required by this Agreement to permit the sale or resale of
Transfer Restricted Securities (including, without limitation, any Registration
Statement and the related Prospectus required to permit resales of Notes by
Broker-Dealers), the Company and the Guarantors shall:
(i) use all commercially reasonable efforts to keep such Registration
Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite financial
statements (including, if required by the Act or any regulation
thereunder, financial statements of any Guarantors) for the period
specified in Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement, as applicable; upon the
occurrence of any event that would cause any such Registration Statement
or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain a material
misstatement or omission or (B) not to be effective and usable for
resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during the period required by
this Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors shall file promptly an
appropriate amendment to such Registration Statement, in the case of
clause (A), correcting any such misstatement or omission, and, in the
case of either clause (A) or (B), use all commercially reasonable
efforts to cause such amendment to be declared effective and such
Registration Statement and the related Prospectus to become usable for
their intended purpose(s) as soon as practicable thereafter.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time after Consummation of the
Exchange Offer, the Company and the Guarantors may allow the Shelf
Registration Statement to cease to become effective and usable if (A)
the board of directors of the Company determines in good faith that it
is in the best interests of the Company not to disclose the existence of
or facts surrounding any proposed or pending material corporate
transaction involving the Company and the Guarantors, and the Company
notifies the Holders within two business days after the Board of
Directors makes such determination, or (B) the Prospectus contained in
the Shelf Registration Statement contains an untrue statement of the
material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading; provided that the two-year period
referred to in Section 4(a) hereof during which the Shelf Registration
Statement is required to be effective and usable shall be extended by
the number of days during which such Registration Statement was not
effective or usable pursuant to the foregoing provisions;
(ii) subject to Section 6(c)(i), prepare and file with the Commission
such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration
Statement as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement
effective for the applicable period set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof,
as applicable, or such shorter period as will terminate when all
Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement
have been sold; cause the Prospectus to be supplemented by any required
Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to
Rule 424 under the Act, and to comply fully with the applicable
provisions of Rules 424 and 430A under the Act in a timely manner; and
comply with the provisions of the Act with respect to the disposition of
all securities covered by such Registration Statement during the
applicable period in accordance with the intended method or methods of
distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration
Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;
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(iii) advise the underwriter(s), if any, and selling Holders of
Transfer Restricted Securities and, if requested by such Persons, to
confirm such advice in writing, (A) when the Prospectus or any
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and,
with respect to any Registration Statement or any post-effective
amendment thereto, when the same has become effective, (B) of any
request by the Commission for amendments to the Registration Statement
or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or for additional
information relating thereto, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of
any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement under the Act or of the suspension by any state securities
commission of the qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities
for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation of any
proceeding for any of the preceding purposes and (D) of the existence of
any fact or the happening of any event that makes any statement of a
material fact made in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any
amendment or supplement thereto, or any document incorporated by
reference therein untrue, or that requires the making of any additions
to or changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order
to make the statements therein not misleading. If at any time the
Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement, or any state securities commission or other
regulatory authority shall issue an order suspending the qualification
or exemption from qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities
under state securities or Blue Sky laws, the Company and the Guarantors
shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal
or lifting of such order at the earliest possible time;
(iv) upon written request, furnish to each of the selling Holders of
Transfer Restricted Securities and each of the underwriter(s), if any,
before filing with the Commission, copies of any Registration Statement
or any Prospectus included therein or any amendments or supplements to
any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all documents
incorporated by reference after the initial filing of such Registration
Statement), which documents will be subject to the review of such
Holders and underwriter(s), if any, for a period of at least five
business days, and the Company and the Guarantors will not file any such
Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to
any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all such
documents incorporated by reference) if a selling Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement or the
underwriter(s), if any, shall reasonably object within 5 business days
after receipt thereof;
(v) upon written request, promptly prior to the filing of any document
that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or
Prospectus, provide copies of such document to the selling Holders and
to the underwriter(s), if any, make the Company's and the Guarantors'
representatives available for discussion of such document and other
customary due diligence matters, and include such information in such
document prior to the filing thereof as such selling Holders or
underwriter(s), if any, reasonably may request;
(vi) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, make available at
reasonable times at the Company's principal place of business for
inspection by the selling Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities, any
underwriter participating in any disposition
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pursuant to such Registration Statement, and any attorney or accountant
retained by such selling Holders or any of the underwriter(s) who shall
certify to the Company and the Guarantors that they have a current
intention to sell Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Shelf
Registration Statement, such financial and other information of the
Company and the Guarantors as reasonably requested and cause the
Company's and the Guarantors' officers, directors and employees to
respond to such inquiries as shall be reasonably necessary, in the
reasonable judgment of counsel to such Holders, to conduct a reasonable
investigation; provided, however, that each such party shall be required
to maintain in confidence and not to disclose to any other person any
information or records reasonably designated by the Company in writing
as being confidential, until such time as (A) such information becomes a
matter of public record (whether by virtue of its inclusion in such
Registration Statement or otherwise), or (B) such person shall be
required so to disclose such information pursuant to the subpoena or
order of any court or other governmental agency or body having
jurisdiction over the matter (subject to the requirements of such order,
and only after such person shall have given the Company prompt prior
written notice of such requirement), or (C) such information is required
to be set forth in such Registration Statement or the Prospectus
included therein or in an amendment to such Registration Statement or an
amendment or supplement to such Prospectus in order that such
Registration Statement, Prospectus, amendment or supplement, as the case
may be, does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;
(vii) if requested by any selling Holders of Transfer Restricted
Securities or the underwriter(s), if any, promptly incorporate in any
Registration Statement or Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or
post-effective amendment if necessary, such information as such selling
Holders and underwriter(s), if any, may reasonably request to have
included therein, including, without limitation, information relating to
the "Plan of Distribution" of the Transfer Restricted Securities
information with respect to the principal amount of Transfer Restricted
Securities being sold to such underwriter(s), the purchase price being
paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Transfer
Restricted Securities to be sold in such offering; and make all required
filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as
soon as practicable after the Company is notified of the matters to be
incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;
(viii) upon request, furnish to each selling Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities and each of the underwriter(s), if any, without
charge, at least one copy of the Registration Statement, as first filed
with the Commission, and of each amendment thereto, including all
documents incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits (including
exhibits incorporated therein by reference);
(ix) deliver to each selling Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
and each of the underwriter(s), if any, without charge, as many copies
of the Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any
amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may request;
the Company and the Guarantors hereby consent to the use of the
Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the
selling Holders and each of the underwriter(s), if any, in connection
with the offering and the sale of the
11
Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto;
(x) enter into such agreements (including an underwriting agreement),
and make such representations and warranties, and take all such other
actions in connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the
disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to any
Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, all to such
extent as may be requested by the Initial Purchaser or, in the case of
registration for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to
the Shelf Registration Statement, by any Holder or Holders of Transfer
Restricted Securities who hold at least 25% in aggregate principal
amount of such class of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided, that,
the Company and the Guarantors shall not be required to enter into any
such agreement more than once with respect to all of the Transfer
Restricted Securities and, in the case of a Shelf Registration
Statement, may delay entering into such agreement if the Board of
Directors of the Company determines in good faith that it is in the best
interests of the Company and the Guarantors not to disclose the
existence of or facts surrounding any proposed or pending material
corporate transaction involving the Company and the Guarantors; and
whether or not an underwriting agreement is entered into and whether or
not the registration is an Underwritten Registration, the Company and
the Guarantors shall:
(A) furnish to the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of Transfer
Restricted Securities who hold at least 25% in aggregate principal
amount of such class of Transfer Restricted Securities (in the case of
a Shelf Registration Statement) and each underwriter, if any, in such
substance and scope as they may request and as are customarily made in
connection with an offering of debt securities pursuant to a
Registration Statement (i) upon the effective date of any Registration
Statement (and if such Registration Statement contemplates an
Underwritten Offering of Transfer Restricted Securities upon the date
of the closing under the underwriting agreement related thereto) and
(ii) upon the filing of any amendment or supplement to any
Registration Statement or any other document that is incorporated in
any Registration Statement by reference and includes financial data
with respect to a fiscal quarter or year:
(1) a certificate, dated the date of effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration Statement signed by (y) the respective Chairman of the
Board, the respective President or any Vice President and (z) the
respective Chief Financial Officer of the Company and each of the
Guarantors confirming, as of the date thereof, the matters set forth
in paragraph (i) of Section 7 of the Purchase Agreement and such
other matters as such parties may reasonably request;
(2) an opinion, dated the date of effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration Statement, as the case may be, of counsel for the
Company covering the matters set forth in paragraphs (c), (d) and
(e) of Section 7 of the Purchase Agreement and such other matter as
such parties may reasonably request, and in any event including a
statement to the effect that such counsel has participated in
conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company,
12
representatives of the independent public accountants for the
Company, the Initial Purchasers' representatives and the Initial
Purchasers' counsel in connection with the preparation of such
Registration Statement and the related Prospectus and have
considered the matters required to be stated therein and the
statements contained therein, although such counsel has not
independently verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of
such statements; and that such counsel advises that, on the basis of
the foregoing (relying as to materiality to a large extent upon
facts provided to such counsel by officers and other representatives
of the Company and without independent check or verification), no
facts came to such counsel's attention that caused such counsel to
believe that the applicable Registration Statement, at the time such
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto
became effective, and, in the case of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, as of the date of Consummation, contained an
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus contained
in such Registration Statement as of its date and, in the case of
the opinion dated the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer, as
of the date of Consummation, contained an untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order
to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. Such counsel may state further
that such counsel assumes no responsibility for, and has not
independently verified, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of
the financial statements, notes and schedules and other financial
data included in any Registration Statement contemplated by this
Agreement or the related Prospectus; and
(3) a customary comfort letter, dated as of the date of
Consummation of the Exchange Offer or the date of effectiveness of
the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, from the
Company's independent accountants, in the customary form and
covering matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters
by underwriters in connection with primary underwritten offerings,
and affirming the matters set forth in the comfort letters delivered
pursuant to Section 7 of the Purchase Agreement, without exception;
(B) set forth in full or incorporated by reference in the
underwriting agreement, if any, the indemnification provisions and
procedures of Section 8 hereof with respect to all parties to be
indemnified pursuant to said Section; and
(C) deliver such other documents and certificates as may be
reasonably requested by such parties to evidence compliance with
clause (A) above and with any customary conditions contained in the
underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company
and the Guarantors pursuant to this clause (x), if any.
(xi) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted Securities,
cooperate with the selling Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities,
the underwriter(s), if any, and their respective counsel in connection
with the registration and qualification of the Transfer Restricted
Securities under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions
as the
13
selling Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities or underwriter(s) may
reasonably request and do any and all other acts or things necessary or
advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the
Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration
Statement filed pursuant to Section 4 hereof; provided, however, that
the Company and the Guarantors shall not be required to register or
qualify as a foreign corporation where it is not now so qualified or to
take any action that would subject it to the service of process in suits
or to taxation, other than as to matters and transactions relating to
the Registration Statement, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so
subject;
(xii) shall issue, upon the request of any Holder of Series A Notes
covered by the Shelf Registration Statement, Series B Notes, having an
aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of
Series A Notes surrendered to the Company by such Holder in exchange
therefor or being sold by such Holder; such Series B Notes to be
registered in the name of such Holder or in the name of the purchaser(s)
of such Notes, as the case may be; in return, the Series A Notes held by
such Holder shall be surrendered to the Company for cancellation;
(xiii) cooperate with the selling Holders of Transfer Restricted
Securities and the underwriter(s), if any, to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Transfer
Restricted Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive
legends; and enable such Transfer Restricted Securities to be in such
denominations and registered in such names as the Holders or the
underwriter(s), if any, may request at least two business days prior to
any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities made by such underwriter(s);
(xiv) use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Transfer
Restricted Securities 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 underwriter(s), if any, to consummate the disposition of such
Transfer Restricted Securities, subject to the proviso contained in
clause (xi) above;
(xv) subject to clause (d)(i) above, if any fact or event contemplated
by clause (d)(iii)(D) above shall exist or have occurred, prepare a
supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or
related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or
file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the
purchasers of Transfer Restricted Securities, the Prospectus will not
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading;
(xvi) provide a CUSIP number for all Transfer Restricted Securities
not later than the effective date of the Registration Statement and
provide the Trustee under the Indenture with printed certificates for
the Transfer Restricted Securities which are in a form eligible for
deposit with The Depository Trust Company;
(xvii) cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with
the NASD and in the performance of any due diligence investigation by
any underwriter (including any
14
"qualified independent underwriter") that is required to be retained in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the NASD;
(xviii) otherwise use all commercially reasonable efforts to comply
with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make
generally available to its security holders, as soon as practicable, a
consolidated earnings statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158
(which need not be audited) for the twelve-month period (A) commencing
at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Transfer Restricted Securities
are sold to underwriters in a firm or best efforts Underwritten Offering
or (B) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering, beginning with
the first month of the Company's first fiscal quarter commencing after
the effective date of the Registration Statement;
(xix) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA not later than
the effective date of the first Registration Statement required by this
Agreement, and, in connection therewith, cooperate with the Trustee and
the Holders of Notes to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be
required for such Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the
terms of the TIA; and execute, and use all commercially reasonable
efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents that may be
required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents
required to be filed with the Commission to enable such Indenture to be
so qualified in a timely manner;
(xx) provide promptly to each Holder upon request each document filed
with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 and
Section 15 of the Exchange Act; and
(xxi) so long as any Transfer Restricted Securities remain
outstanding, cause each Additional Guarantor upon the creation or
acquisition by the Company of such Additional Guarantor, to execute a
counterpart to this Agreement in the form attached hereto as Annex A and
to deliver such counterpart, together with an opinion of counsel as to
the enforceability thereof against such entity, to the Initial
Purchasers no later than five business days following the execution
thereof.
Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a Transfer Restricted Security
that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the existence of any fact
of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof, such Holder will forthwith
discontinue disposition and will use its reasonable best efforts to cause any
underwriter to forthwith discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted
Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement until such Holder's
receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by
Section 6(c)(xv) hereof, or until it is advised in writing (the "Advice") by the
Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies
of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated by reference in
the Prospectus. If so directed by the Company, each Holder will deliver to the
Company (at the Company's expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies
then in such Holder's possession, of the Prospectus covering such Transfer
Restricted Securities that was current at the time of receipt of such notice. In
the event the Company shall give any such notice, the time period regarding the
effectiveness of such Registration Statement set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof,
as applicable, shall be extended by the number of days during the period from
and including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to Section
6(c)(iii)(D) hereof to
15
and including the date when each selling Holder covered by such Registration
Statement shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended
Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(d)(xv) hereof or shall have received the
Advice.
The Company and the Guarantors may require each Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities as to which any registration is being effected to furnish
to the Company such information regarding such Holder and such Holder's intended
method of distribution of the applicable Transfer Restricted Securities as the
Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing, but only to the
extent that such information is required in order to comply with the Act. Each
such Holder agrees to notify the Company as promptly as practicable of (i) any
inaccuracy or change in information previously furnished by such Holder to the
Company or (ii) the occurrence of any event, in either case, as a result of
which any Prospectus relating to such registration contains or would contain an
untrue statement of a material fact regarding such Holder or such Holder's
intended method of distribution of the applicable Transfer Restricted Securities
or omits to state any material fact regarding such Holder or such Holder's
intended method of distribution of the applicable Transfer Restricted Securities
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading and promptly to furnish to the Company any additional information
required to correct and update any previously furnish to the Company any
additional information required to correct and update any previously furnished
information or required so that such Prospectus shall not contain, with respect
to such Holder or the distribution of the applicable Transfer Restricted
Securities an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any party to this
Agreement (and any employee, representative, or other agent of any party to this
Agreement) may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind,
the U.S. federal income tax treatment and tax structure of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (the "Transactions") and all materials of any
kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to it relating
to such tax treatment and tax structure; provided, however, that neither party
(nor any employee, representative or other agent thereof) shall disclose any
information (a) that is not relevant to an understanding of the U.S. federal
income tax treatment or tax structure of the Transactions or (b) to the extent
such disclosure could result in a violation of any federal or state securities
laws.
SECTION 7 REGISTRATION EXPENSES
All expenses incident to the Company's and the Guarantors' performance
of or compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company regardless of
whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including without
limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses (including filings
made by any Initial Purchaser or Holder with the NASD (and, if applicable, the
fees and expenses of any "qualified independent underwriter" and its counsel
that may be required by the rules and regulations of the NASD)); (ii) all fees
and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state Blue Sky or
securities laws; (iii) all expenses of printing (including printing certificates
for the Series B Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of
Prospectuses), messenger and delivery services; (iv) all fees and disbursements
of counsel for the Company and the Guarantors and the Holders of Transfer
Restricted Securities; and (v) all fees and disbursements of independent
certified public
16
accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any special audit and
comfort letters required by or incident to such performance).
The Company will, in any event, bear its and the Guarantors' internal
expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its
officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of
any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special
experts, retained by the Company or the Guarantors.
SECTION 8 INDEMNIFICATION
(a) The Company and the Guarantors shall, jointly and severally,
indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, its
officers and employees and each person, if any, who controls any such Holders,
within the meaning of the Securities Act, from and against any loss, claim,
damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof
(including, but not limited to, any loss, claim, damage, liability or action
relating to purchases, sales and registration of Notes), to which that Holder,
officer, employee or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities
Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action
arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained (A) in any Registration Statement or
Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (B) in any blue sky
application or other document prepared or executed by the Company or any
Guarantor (or based upon any written information furnished by the Company or any
Guarantor) specifically for the purpose of qualifying any or all of the Notes
under the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction (any such
application, document or information being hereinafter called a "Blue Sky
Application"), (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in any
Registration Statement or Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto,
or in any Blue Sky Application any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (iii) any act or
failure to act or any alleged act or failure to act by any Holder in connection
with, or relating in any manner to, the Notes or the offering contemplated
hereby, and which is included as part of or referred to in any loss, claim,
damage, liability or action arising out of or based upon matters covered by
clause (i) or (ii) above (provided that the Company and the Guarantors shall not
be liable under this clause (iii) to the extent that it is determined in a final
judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction that such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action resulted directly from any such acts or failures to act
undertaken or omitted to be taken by such Holder through its gross negligence or
willful misconduct), and shall reimburse each Holder and each such officer,
employee or controlling person promptly upon demand for any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by that Holder, officer, employee or controlling
person in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend
against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are
incurred; provided, however, that the Company and the Guarantors shall not be
liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any
Registration Statement or Prospectus, or in any such amendment or supplement, or
in any Blue Sky Application, in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information concerning such Holder furnished to the Company by or on behalf of
any Holder specifically for inclusion therein. The foregoing indemnity agreement
is in addition to any liability which the Company and the Guarantors may
otherwise have to any Holder or to any officer, employee or controlling person
of that Holder.
17
(b) Each Holder, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold
harmless the Company and the Guarantors, their respective officers and
employees, each of their respective directors, and each person, if any, who
controls the Company or the Guarantors within the meaning of the Securities Act,
from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any
action in respect thereof, to which the Company, the Guarantors or any such
director, officer or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities
Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action
arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained (A) in any Registration Statement or
Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or (B) in any Blue Sky
Application or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in any
Registration Statement or Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto,
or in any Blue Sky Application any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in each case
only to the extent that the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information concerning such Holders furnished to the Company by or on
behalf of that Holder specifically for inclusion therein, and shall reimburse
the Company, the Guarantors and any such director, officer or controlling person
for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company, the
Guarantors or any such director, officer or controlling person in connection
with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred. The foregoing
indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability which any Holder may
otherwise have to the Company, the Guarantors or any such director, officer,
employee or controlling person. The Company and the Guarantors shall be entitled
to receive indemnities from underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers and
similar securities industry professionals participating in the distribution of
such Registrable Securities to the same extent as provided above with respect to
information or affidavit furnished in writing by such Persons as provided
specifically for in any Prospectus or Registration Statement.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8
of notice of any claim or the commencement of any action, the indemnified party
shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying
party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the
claim or the commencement of that action; provided, however, that the failure to
notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it
may have under this Section 8 except to the extent it has been materially
prejudiced by such failure and, provided further, that the failure to notify the
indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to
an indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 8. If any such claim or
action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall notify the
indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to
participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other
similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense thereof with
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice from the
indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the
defense of such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to
the indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, any
indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such
action and to participate in the defense thereof but the fees and expenses of
such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnified party unless (i) the
employment thereof
18
has been specifically authorized by the indemnifying party in writing, (ii) such
indemnified party shall have been advised by such counsel that there may be one
or more legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to
those available to the indemnifying party and in the reasonable judgment of such
counsel it is advisable for such indemnified party to employ separate counsel or
(iii) the indemnifying party has failed to assume the defense of such action and
employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, in which case,
if such indemnified party notifies the indemnifying party in writing that it
elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the
indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action
on behalf of such indemnified party, it being understood, however, that the
indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one such action or separate
but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising
out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the
reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in
addition to one local counsel) at any time for all such indemnified parties,
which firm shall be designated in writing by Xxxxxx Brothers Inc., if the
indemnified parties under this Section 8 consist of any Initial Purchaser or any
of their respective officers, employees or controlling persons, or by the
Company, if the indemnified parties under this Section consist of the Company,
the Guarantors or any of their respective directors, officers, employees or
controlling persons. No indemnifying party shall (i) without the prior written
consent of the indemnified parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld), settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with
respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in
respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder
(whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such
claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an
unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out
of such claim, action, suit or proceeding, or (ii) be liable for any settlement
of any such action effected without its written consent (which consent shall not
be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with the consent of the indemnifying
party or if there be a final judgment of the plaintiff in any such action, the
indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party
from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 shall for any
reason be unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party
under Section 8(a) or 8(b) in respect of any loss, claim, damage or liability,
or any action in respect thereof, referred to therein, then each indemnifying
party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the
amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss,
claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, (i) in such proportion
as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company
and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders on the other, from the
offering of the Notes or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is
not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the
relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand and the
Holders on the other with respect to the statements or omissions which resulted
in such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, as well
as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received
by the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand and the Holders on the other
with respect to such offering shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as
the total net proceeds from the offering of the Series A Notes purchased under
the Purchase Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and
the Guarantors, on the one
19
hand, and the total discounts and commissions received by the Holders with
respect to the Series A Notes purchased under this Agreement, on the other hand,
bear to the total gross proceeds from the offering of the Series A Notes under
the Purchase Agreement. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the
Company, the Guarantors or the Holders, the intent of the parties and their
relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission. The Company, the Guarantors and the Holders agree
that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this
Section 8(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 take into account the equitable considerations
referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a
result of the loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof,
referred to above in this Section shall be deemed to include, for purposes of
this Section 8(d), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action
or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8(d), no Holder shall
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net
proceeds received by it in connection with its sale of Notes exceeds the amount
of any damages which such Holder has otherwise paid or become liable to pay by
reason of any 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. The Holders'
obligations to contribute as provided in this Section 8(d) are several and not
joint.
SECTION 9 RULE 144A
The Company and each Guarantor hereby agrees with each Holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities, during any period in which the Company or such
Guarantor is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act within the
two-year period following the Closing Date, to make available to any Holder or
beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted Securities, in connection with any sale
thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted Securities
from such Holder or beneficial owner, the information required by Rule
144A(d)(4) under the Act in order to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted
Securities pursuant to Rule 144A.
SECTION 10 PARTICIPATION IN UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATIONS
No Holder may participate in any Underwritten Registration hereunder
unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder's Transfer Restricted
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 required under the
terms of such underwriting arrangements.
SECTION 11 SELECTION OF UNDERWRITERS
The Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf
Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell such Transfer Restricted
Securities in an Underwritten
20
Offering at such Holders' expense. In any such Underwritten Offering, the
investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that will
administer the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities included in
such offering; provided, that such investment bankers and managers must be
reasonably satisfactory to the Company.
SECTION 12 MISCELLANEOUS
(a) Remedies. The Company and the Guarantors agree that monetary
damages (including the additional interest contemplated hereby) would not be
adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the
provisions of this Agreement and hereby agree to waive the defense in any action
for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor
will, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with
respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the
Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.
Except as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum or in the documents incorporated
therein by reference, neither the Company nor any Guarantor has previously
entered into any agreement granting any registration rights with respect to its
securities to any Person that is inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement.
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 or
any Guarantor's securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.
(c) Adjustments Affecting the Notes. The Company and the Guarantors
will not take any action, or permit any change to occur, with respect to the
Notes that would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Holders to
Consummate any Exchange Offer.
(d) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be
amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures from
the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Company has obtained the
written consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or
consent to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the
rights of Holders whose securities are being tendered pursuant to the Exchange
Offer and that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights of other
Holders whose securities are not being tendered pursuant to such Exchange Offer
may be given by the Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities being tendered or registered.
(e) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail
(registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier, or air
courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(i) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of the
Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to the Registrar under the
Indenture; and
(ii) if to the Company or the Guarantors:
00
X-0 Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000,
Attention: Xxxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx (Fax: 000-000-0000),
With a copy to:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX, 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xx. (Fax: 000-000-0000)
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 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.
(f) 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; 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
to the extent such successor or assign acquired Transfer Restricted Securities
from such Holder.
(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(i) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(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.
(a) Entire Agreement. This Agreement together with the other Operative
Documents (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) is intended by the parties as a
final expression of their agreement and0 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. There are no restrictions, promises,
warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein
with respect to the registration rights granted by the Company and the
Guarantors with
22
respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes all
prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such
subject matter.
[Signature pages follow]
23
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
By:
---------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Senior Vice President, Secretary
and General Counsel
GUARANTORS:
APCOM, INC.
BROADCAST SPORTS INC.
ELECTRODYNAMICS, INC.
XXXXXXXX INC.
HYGIENETICS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.
INTERSTATE ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
KDI PRECISION PRODUCTS, INC.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS AEROMET, INC.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS AEROTECH LLC
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS AIS GP CORPORATION
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS ATLANTIC SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS AVIONICS SYSTEMS, INC.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS AYDIN CORPORATION
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS CSI, INC.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS ESSCO, INC.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL
AVIATION LLC
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS FLIGHT CAPITAL LLC
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS GOVERNMENT SERVICES, INC.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS ILEX SYSTEMS, INC.
X-0 XXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXX CORPORATION
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS INTEGRATED SYSTEMS L.P.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS INVESTMENTS, INC.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS XXXXX ASSOCIATES, INC.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS MAS (US) CORPORATION
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY AND DETECTION
SYSTEMS CORPORATION CALIFORNIA
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY AND DETECTION
SYSTEMS CORPORATION DELAWARE
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS STORM CONTROL SYSTEMS, INC.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS VECTOR INTERNATIONAL
AVIATION LLC
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS TMA CORPORATION
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS WESTWOOD CORPORATION
MCTI ACQUISITION CORPORATION
MICRODYNE COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES
INCORPORATED
MICRODYNE CORPORATION
MICRODYNE OUTSOURCING INCORPORATED
MPRI, INC.
PAC ORD INC.
POWER PARAGON, INC.
SHIP ANALYTICS, INC.
SHIP ANALYTICS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
SHIP ANALYTICS USA, INC.
SPD ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
SPD SWITCHGEAR INC.
SYCOLEMAN CORPORATION
TROLL TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
WESCAM AIR OPS INC.
WESCAM AIR OPS LLC
WESCAM HOLDINGS (US) INC.
WESCAM INCORPORATED
WESCAM LLC
WESCAM SONOMA INC.
WOLF COACH, INC.
as Guarantors
By:
----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Vice President and Secretary
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS INTEGRATED SYSTEMS L.P.
as Guarantor
By: L-3 COMMUNICATIONS AIS GP CORPORATION,
as general partner
By:
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title: Authorized Person
XXXXXX BROTHERS INC.
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED
XX XXXXX SECURITIES CORPORATION
WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
BY XXXXXX BROTHERS INC.
By: -----------------------------
Authorized Representative
ANNEX A
-------
COUNTERPART TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
--------------------------------------------
The undersigned hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably
agrees (as a "Guarantor") to use all commercially reasonable efforts to include
its Subsidiary Guarantee in any Registration Statement required to be filed by
the Company and the Guarantors pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement,
dated as of December 22, 2003, (the "Registration Rights Agreement") by and
among L-3 Communications Corporation, a Delaware corporation, the guarantors
party thereto, Xxxxxx Brothers Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC, Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated, XX Xxxxx Securities Corporation and Wachovia Capital
Markets, LLC; to use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause such
Registration Statement to become effective as specified in the Registration
Rights Agreement; and to otherwise be bound by the terms and provisions of the
Registration Rights Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Counterpart as of
_____________.
[NAME]
By:
-----------------------------
Name:
Title: