--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of February 6, 1998
among
GARDEN STATE NEWSPAPERS, INC.
as Issuer
and
the Purchasers
listed on the signature page
attached hereto
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$50,000,000
8 3/4% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2009
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
----
1. Definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
2. Exchange Offer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
3. Shelf-Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
4. Additional Interest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
5. Registration Procedures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
6. Registration Expenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
7. Indemnification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
8. Rule 144 and 144A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
9. Underwritten Registrations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
10. Miscellaneous. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
(b) Adjustments Affecting Registrable Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . 26
(c) Amendments and Waivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
(d) Notices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
(e) Successors and Assigns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
(f) Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
(g) Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
(h) Governing Law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
(i) Severability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
(j) Securities Held by the Company or Its Affiliates . . . . . . . 28
(k) Entire Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (the "AGREEMENT)", dated as of February
6, 1998, by and among Garden State Newspapers, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"COMPANY"), and the Purchasers listed on the signature page hereof
(collectively, the "PURCHASERS").
This Agreement is entered into in connection with the Note Purchase
Agreement, dated as of February 6, 1998, by and among the Company and the
Purchasers listed on the signature page hereof (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), which
provides for the sale by the Company to the Purchasers of $50,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of the Company's 8 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009 (the
"NOTES"). In order to induce the Purchasers to enter into the Purchase
Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth
in this Agreement for the benefit of the Purchasers and their direct and
indirect transferees and assigns. The execution and delivery of this Agreement
by the Company is a condition to the Purchasers' obligation to purchase the
Notes under the Purchase Agreement.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
ADDITIONAL INTEREST: See Section 4(a) hereof.
ADVICE: See the last paragraph of Section 5 hereof.
AGREEMENT: See the first introductory paragraph hereto.
APPLICABLE PERIOD: See Section 2(b) hereof.
CLOSING DATE: The Closing Date as defined in the Purchase Agreement.
COMPANY: See the first introductory paragraph hereto.
EFFECTIVENESS DATE: The date that is 120 days after the Issue Date.
EFFECTIVENESS PERIOD: See Section 3(a) hereof.
EVENT DATE: See Section 4(b) hereof.
2
EXCHANGE ACT: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the
rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
EXCHANGE NOTES: See Section 2(a) hereof.
EXCHANGE OFFER: See Section 2(a) hereof.
EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT: See Section 2(a) hereof.
FILING DATE: Within 60 days after the Issue Date.
HOLDER: Any holder of a Registrable Note or Registrable Notes.
INDEMNIFIED PERSON: See Section 7(c) hereof.
INDEMNIFYING PERSON: See Section 7(c) hereof.
INDENTURE: The Indenture, dated as of October 1, 1997, between the Company
and The Bank of New York, as trustee, pursuant to which the Notes are being
issued, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the
terms thereof.
INSPECTORS: See Section 5(o) hereof.
ISSUE DATE: The date on which the Notes were sold to the Purchasers
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
NASD: See Section 5(t) hereof.
NOTES: See the second introductory paragraph hereto.
PARTICIPANT: See Section 7(a) hereof.
PARTICIPATING BROKER-DEALER: See Section 2(b)hereof.
PERSON: An individual, trustee, corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, union, business
association, firm or other legal entity.
PROSPECTUS: The prospectus included in any Registration Statement
(including, without limitation, any prospectus subject to completion and a
prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus
filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A
promulgated
3
under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus
supplement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, with
respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Notes
covered by such Registration Statement including post-effective amendments, and
all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference
in such Prospectus.
PURCHASERS: See the first introductory paragraph hereto.
RECORDS: See Section 5(o) hereof.
REGISTRABLE NOTES: Each Note upon original issuance of the Notes and at all
times subsequent thereto, until the earliest to occur of the following: (i) a
Registration Statement covering such Note has been declared effective by the SEC
and such Note has been disposed of in accordance with such effective
Registration Statement, (ii) such Note is sold in compliance with Rule 144,
(iii) such Note has been exchanged for an Exchange Note or Exchange Notes
pursuant to an Exchange Offer and is entitled to be resold without complying
with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, or (iv) such
Note ceases to be outstanding for purposes of the Indenture.
REGISTRATION STATEMENT: Any registration statement of the Company,
including, but not limited to, the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any
registration statement filed in connection with a Shelf Registration, filed with
the SEC pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus,
amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including
post-effective amendments, all exhibits, and all material incorporated by
reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration
statement.
RULE 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, as such Rule may
be amended from time to time, or any similar rule (other than Rule 144A) or
regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC providing for offers and sales of
securities made in compliance therewith resulting in offers and sales by
subsequent holders that are not affiliates of an issuer of such securities,
being free of the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act.
RULE 144A: Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act, as such Rule may
be amended from time to time, or any similar rule (other than Rule 144) or
regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC.
4
RULE 415: Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, as such Rule may
be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter
adopted by the SEC.
SEC: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
SECURITIES ACT: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
SHELF NOTICE: See Section 2(c) hereof.
SHELF REGISTRATION: See Section 3(a) hereof.
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
TRUSTEE: The trustee under the Indenture and, if existent, the trustee
under any indenture governing the Exchange Notes.
PURCHASE AGREEMENT: See the second introductory paragraph hereto.
UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATION OR UNDERWRITTEN OFFERING: A registration in which
securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the
public.
2. EXCHANGE OFFER
(a) The Company shall file with the SEC no later than the Filing
Date a registration statement relating to an offer to exchange (the "EXCHANGE
OFFER") any and all of the Registrable Notes for a like aggregate principal
amount of debt securities of the Company that are identical in all material
respects to the Notes (the "EXCHANGE NOTES") (and that are entitled to the
benefits of the Indenture or a trust indenture that is identical in all material
respects to the Indenture (other than such changes to the Indenture or any such
identical trust indenture as are necessary to comply with any requirements of
the SEC) and that, in either case, has been qualified under the TIA), except
that the Exchange Notes shall have been registered pursuant to an effective
Registration Statement under the Securities Act and shall contain no restrictive
legend thereon. The Exchange Offer shall be registered under the Securities Act
on the appropriate form (the "EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT") and shall
comply with all applicable tender offer rules and regulations under the Exchange
Act. The Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to (x) cause the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be declared effective under the
Securities Act on or before the Effectiveness Date; (y) keep the Exchange Offer
open for at least 30 business
5
days (or longer if required by applicable law) after the date that notice of the
Exchange Offer is mailed to Holders; and (z) consummate the Exchange Offer on or
prior to the 165th day following the Issue Date. If after such Exchange Offer
Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, the Exchange offer or
the issuance of the Exchange Notes thereunder is interfered with by any stop
order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or any other
governmental agency or court, such Exchange Offer Registration Statement shall
be deemed not to have become effective for purposes of this Agreement. Each
Holder who participates in the Exchange Offer will be required to represent (i)
that any Exchange Notes received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course
of its business, (ii) that such Holder has and will have no arrangement or
understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution (within the
meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Notes in violation of the
Securities Act, (iii) that such Holder is not an "affiliate" (as defined in Rule
405 promulgated under the Securities Act) of the Company, (iv) if such Holder is
not a broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage
in, the distribution of Exchange Notes, and (v) that the Holder is not acting on
behalf of any persons or entities who could not truthfully make the foregoing
representations. Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer in accordance with
this Section 2, the provisions of this Agreement shall continue to apply,
MUTATIS MUTANDIS, solely with respect to Registrable Notes that are Exchange
Notes held by Participating Broker-Dealers (as defined below), and the Company
shall have no further obligation to register Registrable Notes pursuant to
Section 3 hereof. No securities other than the Exchange Notes shall be included
in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.
(b) The Company shall include within the Prospectus contained in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement a section entitled "Plan of Distribution,"
reasonably acceptable to the Purchasers, that shall contain a summary statement
of the positions taken or policies made by the Staff of the SEC with respect to
the potential "underwriter" status of any broker-dealer that is the beneficial
owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of Exchange Notes
received by such broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer (a "PARTICIPATING
BROKER-DEALER"), whether such positions or policies have been publicly
disseminated by the Staff of the SEC or such positions or policies, in the
judgment of the Purchasers, represent the prevailing views of the Staff of the
SEC. Such "Plan of Distribution" section shall also expressly permit the use of
the Prospectus by all Persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of
the Securities Act, including all Participating Broker-Dealers, and include a
statement
6
describing the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the
Exchange Notes.
The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the Prospectus
contained therein, in order to permit such Prospectus to be lawfully delivered
by all Persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act for such period of time as is necessary to comply with applicable law in
connection with any resale of the Exchange Notes; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such
period shall not exceed 180 days after the consummation of the Exchange Offer
(or such longer period if extended pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 5
hereof) (the "APPLICABLE PERIOD").
Interest on the Exchange Notes will accrue (A) from the later of (i)
the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the Note
surrendered in exchange therefor or (ii) if the Note is surrendered for exchange
on a date in a period which includes the record date for an interest payment
date to occur on or after the date of such exchange and as to which interest
will be paid, the date of such interest payment date or (B) if no interest has
been paid on such Note, from the Issue Date.
In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(1) 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;
(2) utilize the services of a depository for the Exchange Offer with
an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York;
(3) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Notes tendered for exchange
in the Exchange Offer at any time prior to the close of business, New York
time, on the last business day on which the Exchange Offer shall remain
open; and
(4) otherwise comply in all material respects with all applicable
laws, rules and regulations.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer the
Company shall:
7
(1) accept for exchange all Notes properly tendered and not validly
withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer;
(2) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Notes so accepted for
exchange; and
(3) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to each
Holder of Notes Exchange Notes equal in outstanding principal amount to the
Notes of such Holder so accepted for exchange.
The Exchange Notes may be issued under (i) the Indenture or (ii) an
indenture identical in all material respects to the Indenture, which in either
event shall provide that the Exchange Notes shall not be subject to the transfer
restrictions set forth in the Indenture. The Indenture or such indenture shall
provide that the Exchange Notes and the Notes shall vote and consent together on
all matters as one class and that neither the Exchange Notes nor the Notes will
have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter.
(c) If, (i) because of any change in law or in currently prevailing
interpretations of the Staff of the SEC, the Company is not permitted to effect
an Exchange Offer, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not consummated within 165 days of
the Issue Date, (iii) in the case of any Holder that participates in the
Exchange Offer, such Holder does not receive Exchange Notes on the date of the
exchange that may be sold without restriction under state and federal securities
laws (other than due solely to the status of such Holder as an affiliate of the
Company within the meaning of the Securities Act), then in each case the Company
shall promptly deliver written notice thereof (the "SHELF NOTICE") to the
Trustee and all Holders, and shall file a Shelf Registration pursuant to Section
3 hereof.
3. SHELF REGISTRATION
If a Shelf Notice is delivered as contemplated by Section 2(c) hereof,
then:
(a) SHELF REGISTRATION. The Company shall as promptly as practicable
file with the SEC a Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a
continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of the Registrable Notes (the
"SHELF REGISTRATION"). If the Company shall not have yet filed an Exchange
Offer Registration Statement, the Company shall use its best efforts to file
with the SEC the Shelf Registration on or prior to the Filing Date. The Shelf
Registration shall be on Form S-1 or another
8
appropriate form permitting registration of such Registrable Notes for resale by
Holders in the manner or manners designated by them (including, without
limitation,, one or more underwritten offerings). The Company shall not permit
any securities other than the Registrable Notes to be included in the Shelf
Registration.
The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Shelf
Registration to be declared effective under the Securities Act on or prior to
the Effectiveness Date and to keep the Shelf Registration continuously effective
under the Securities Act until the date that is two years from the Issue Date,
subject to extension pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 5 hereof (the
"EFFECTIVENESS PERIOD"), or such shorter period ending when all Registrable
Notes covered by the Shelf Registration have been sold in the manner set forth
and as contemplated in the Shelf Registration.
(b) WITHDRAWAL OF STOP ORDERS. If the Shelf Registration ceases to
be effective for any reason at any time during the Effectiveness Period (other
than because of the sale of all of the securities registered thereunder), the
Company shall use its best efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order
suspending the effectiveness thereof.
(c) SUPPLEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS. The Company shall promptly
supplement and amend the Shelf Registration if required by the SEC, the rules,
regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used for such
Shelf Registration or the Securities Act, or if reasonably requested by the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes
covered by such Registration Statement or by any underwriter of such Registrable
Notes.
4. ADDITIONAL INTEREST
(a) The Company and the Purchasers agree that the Holders of
Registrable Notes will suffer damages if the Company fails to fulfill its
obligation under Section 2 or Section 3 hereof and that it would not be feasible
to ascertain the extent of such damages with precision. Accordingly, the
Company agrees to pay, as liquidated damages, additional interest on the Notes
("ADDITIONAL INTEREST") under the circumstances and to the extent set forth
below (without duplication):
(i) if (A) neither the Exchange Offer Registration Statement nor the
Shelf Registration Statement is filed with the SEC on or prior to the
applicable filing date or (B)
9
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 this Agreement, then commencing on the day after
either such required filing date, Additional Interest shall accrue on the
principal amount of the Notes at a rate of 0.50% per annum for the first 90
days immediately following each such filing date, such Additional Interest
rate increasing by an additional 0.50% per annum at the beginning of each
subsequent 90-day period; or
(ii) if (A) neither the Exchange Offer Registration Statement nor a
Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC on or prior
to 120 days after the applicable filing date or (B) 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 declared effective by the SEC on or prior to
the 150th day following the date such Shelf Registration Statement was
filed, then, commencing on the day after the 150th day following the
applicable filing date, Additional Interest shall accrue on the principal
amount of the Notes at a rate of O.50% per annum for the first 90 days
immediately following such date, such Additional Interest rate increasing
by an additional 0.50% per annum at the beginning of each subsequent 90-day
period; or
(iii) if (A) the Company has not exchanged Exchange Notes for all
Notes validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer
on or prior to the 45th day after the date on which the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement was first declared effective or (B) if applicable,
the Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective and such Shelf
Registration Statement ceases to be effective at any time prior to the
second anniversary of the Issue Date (other than after such time as all
Notes have been disposed of thereunder), then Additional Interest shall
accrue on the principal amount of the Notes at a rate of 0.50% per annum
for the first 90 days commencing on (x) the 46th day after such effective
date, in the case of (A) above, or (y) the day such Shelf Registration
Statement ceases to be effective, in the case of (B) above, such Additional
Interest rate increasing by an additional 0.50% per annum at the beginning
of each such subsequent 90-day period;
10
provided, however, that the Additional Interest rate on the Notes may not exceed
in the aggregate 1.0% per annum; and provided, further, that (1) upon the filing
of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or a Shelf Registration Statement
(in the case of clause (i) above), (2) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement or the 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 (4) upon the effectiveness
of the Shelf Registration Statement which had ceased to remain effective (in the
case of clause (iii) (B) above), Additional Interest on the Notes as a result of
such clause (or the related subclause thereof), as the case may be, shall cease
to accrue.
(b) The Company shall notify the Trustee within one business day
after each and every date on which an event occurs in respect of which
Additional Interest is required to be paid (an "EVENT DATE"). Any amounts of
Additional Interest due pursuant to (a) (i), (a) (ii) or (a) (iii) of this
Section 4 will be payable in cash semi-annually on each April 1 and October 1
(to the holders of record at the close of business on March 15 or September 15
immediately preceding such dates), commencing with the first such date occurring
after any such Additional Interest commences to accrue. The amount of
Additional Interest will be determined by multiplying the applicable Additional
Interest rate by the principal amount of the Registrable Notes, multiplied by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days such Additional Interest
rate was applicable during such period (determined on the basis of a 360-day
year comprised of twelve 30-day months and, in the case of a partial month, the
actual number of days elapsed) and the denominator of which is 360.
5. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
In connection with the filing of any Registration Statement pursuant
to Sections 2 or 3 hereof, the Company shall effect such registrations to permit
the sale of the securities covered thereby in accordance with the intended
method or methods of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto and in connection
with any Registration Statement filed by the Company hereunder, the Company
shall:
(a) Prepare and file with the SEC prior to the applicable filing date
a Registration Statement or Registration Statements as prescribed by Sections 2
or 3 hereof, and use its best efforts to cause each such Registration Statement
to become effective and remain effective as provided herein; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that, if such filing is pursuant to Section 3 hereof
11
before filing any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or
supplements thereto, the Company shall furnish to and afford the Holders of the
Registrable Notes 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 (in each case
at least five business days prior to such filing). The Company shall not file
any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements
thereto if the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement, or their counsel, or
the managing underwriters, if any, shall reasonably object.
(b) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective
amendments to each Shelf Registration or Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
as the case may be, as maybe necessary to keep such Registration Statement
continuously effective for the Effectiveness Period or the Applicable Period, as
the case may be; cause the related Prospectus to be supplemented by any
prospectus supplement required by applicable law, and as so supplemented to be
filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force) under the
Securities Act; and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act applicable to it with respect to the disposition of all securities
covered by such Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so
supplemented; the Company shall be deemed not to have used its best efforts to
keep a Registration Statement effective during the Applicable Period if it
voluntarily takes any action that would cause selling Holders of the Registrable
Notes covered thereby to sell Exchange Notes not to be able to sell such
Registrable Notes or such Exchange Notes during that period unless such action
is required by applicable law or unless the Company complies with this
Agreement, including without limitation, the provisions of paragraphs 5(k) and
5(u) hereof.
(c) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof,
notify the selling Holders of Registrable Notes, their counsel and the managing
underwriters, if any, promptly (but in any event within two business days) and
confirm such notice in writing, (i) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to a
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become
effective under the Securities Act (including in such notice a written statement
that any Holder may, upon request, obtain, at the sole expense of the Company,
one conformed copy of
12
such Registration Statement or post-effective amendment including financial
statements and schedules, documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference and exhibits), (ii) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any order
preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the initiation
of any proceedings for that purpose, (iii) if at any time when a prospectus is
required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the
Registrable Notes the representations and warranties of the Company contained in
any agreement (including any underwriting agreement), contemplated by Section
5(n) hereof cease to be true and correct, (iv) of the receipt by the Company of
any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or
exemption from qualification of a Registration Statement or any of the
Registrable Notes or the Exchange Notes for offer or sale in any jurisdiction,
or the initiation or written threat of any proceeding for such purpose, (v) of
the happening of any event, the existence of any condition or any information
becoming known that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or
related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated
therein by reference untrue in any material respects or that requires the making
of any changes in or amendments or supplements to such Registration Statement,
Prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it
will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, and that in the case of the Prospectus, it will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and
(vi) of the Company's determination that a post-effective amendment to a
Registration Statement would be appropriate.
(d) Use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any order
preventing or suspending the use of a Prospectus or suspending the qualification
(or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Notes or the
Exchange Notes for sale in any jurisdiction and, if any such order is issued,
use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any such order at the earliest
possible moment.
(e) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 and if
requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters (if any) or the Holders of
a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes being sold in
connection
13
with an underwritten offering, (i) promptly incorporate in a prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the managing
underwriter or underwriters (if any), such Holders, or counsel for any of them
determine is reasonably necessary to be included therein, (ii) make all required
filings of such prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon
as practicable after the Company has received notification of the matters to be
incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment and (iii)
supplement or make amendments to such Registration Statement.
(f) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof,
furnish to each selling Holder of Registrable Notes and to counsel and each
managing underwriter, if any, at the sole expense of the Company, one conformed
copy of the Registration Statement or Registration Statements and each
post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules
and, if requested, all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated
therein by reference and all exhibits.
(g) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof,
deliver to each selling Holder of Registrable Notes, their counsel and the
underwriters, if any, at the sole expense of the Company, as many copies of the
Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of preliminary prospectus) and
each amendment or supplement thereto and any documents incorporated by reference
therein as such Persons may reasonably request; and, subject to the last
paragraph of this Section 5, the Company hereby consents to the use of such
Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto (provided the manner of such
use complies with all applicable federal securities laws, the rules and
regulations of the SEC and applicable state securities "Blue Sky" laws) by each
of the selling Holders of Registrable Notes and the underwriters or agents, if
any, and dealers (if any), in connection with the offering and sale of the
Registrable Notes covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement
thereto.
(h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Notes, use its best
efforts to register or qualify such Registrable Notes (and to cooperate with the
selling Holders of Registrable Notes, the managing underwriter or underwriters,
if any, and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or
qualification (or exemption from such registration or qualification) of such
Registrable Notes) for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of
such jurisdictions within the United States as any selling Holder or the
managing underwriter or underwriters reasonably request in writing; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER,
14
that where Registrable Notes are offered other than through an underwritten
offering, the Company agrees to cause the Company's counsel to perform Blue Sky
investigations and file registrations and qualifications required to be filed
pursuant to this Section 5(h); keep each such registration or qualification (or
exemption therefrom) effective during the period such Registration Statement is
required to be kept effective and do any and all other acts or things reasonably
necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the
Registrable Notes covered by the applicable Registration-Statement; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the Company shall not be required to (A) qualify generally to do
business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified, (B) take any
action that would subject it to general service of process in any such
jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or (C) subject itself to taxation
in excess of a nominal dollar amount in any such jurisdiction where it is not
then so subject.
(i) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof,
cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Notes and the managing
underwriter or underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and
delivery of certificates representing Registrable Notes to be sold, which
certificates shall not bear any restrictive legends and shall be in a form
eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company; and enable such
Registrable Notes to be in such denominations and registered in such names as is
in accordance with the Indenture and as the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, or Holders may reasonably request.
(j) Use its best efforts to cause the Registrable Notes covered by
the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other
governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the Holders
thereof or the underwriter or underwriters, if any, to consummate the
disposition of such Registrable Notes, except as may be required solely as a
consequence of the nature of such selling Holder's business, in which case the
Company will cooperate in all reasonable respects with the filing of such
Registration Statement and the granting of such approvals.
(k) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof,
upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by paragraph 5 (c) (v) or 5 (c)
(vi) hereof, as promptly as practicable prepare and (subject to Section 5(a)
hereof) file with the SEC, at the Company's sole expense, a supplement or
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the
related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated
therein by reference, or file with the SEC any
15
other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of
the Registrable Notes being sold thereunder or to the purchasers of the Exchange
Notes to whom such Prospectus will be delivered by a Participating
Broker-Dealer, any such Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.
(1) Use its best efforts to cause the Registrable Notes covered by a
Registration Statement or the Exchange Notes, as the case may be, to be rated
with the appropriate rating agencies, if so requested by the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of Registrable Notes covered by such
Registration Statement or the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any.
(m) Prior to the effective date of the first Registration Statement
relating to the Registrable Notes, (i) provide the Trustee with certificates for
the Registrable Notes, as the case may be, in a form eligible for deposit with
The Depository Trust Company and (ii) provide a CUSIP number for the Registrable
Notes.
(n) In connection with any underwritten offering of
Registrable Notes, pursuant to a Shelf Registration, enter into
an underwriting agreement as is customary in underwritten offering of
debt-securities similar to the Notes and take all such other actions as are
reasonably requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters in order to
expedite or facilitate the registration or the disposition of such Registrable
Notes and, in such connection, (i) make such representations and warranties to,
and covenants with, the underwriters with respect to the business of the Company
and its subsidiaries (including any acquired business, properties or entity, if
applicable) and the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents, if any,
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, in each case, as
are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings of
debt securities similar to the Notes, and confirm the same in writing if and
when requested; (ii) obtain the written opinion of counsel to the Company and
written updates thereof in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to
the managing underwriter or underwriters, addressed to the underwriters
covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten
offerings of debt similar to the Notes and such other matters as may be
reasonably requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters; (iii) obtain
"cold comfort" letters and updates thereof in form, scope and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriter or underwriters from the
independent
16
certified public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other
independent certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of
any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and
financial data are, or are required to be, included or incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement), addressed to each of the underwriters, such
letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily
covered in "cold comfort" letters in connection with underwritten offerings of
debt securities similar to the Notes and such other matters as reasonably
requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters; and (iv) if an
underwriting agreement is entered into, the same shall contain indemnification
provisions and procedures no less favorable than those set forth in Section 7
hereof (or such other provisions and procedures acceptable to Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of Registrable Notes covered by such
Registration Statement and the managing underwriter or underwriters or agents)
with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to said Section and no
more onerous to the indemnifying parties than those set forth in Section 7. The
above shall be done at each closing under such underwriting agreement, or as and
to the extent required thereunder.
(o) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof,
make available for inspection by any selling Holder of such Registrable Notes
being sold, any underwriter participating in any such disposition of Registrable
Notes, if any, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such
selling Holder or underwriter (collectively, the "INSPECTORS"), at the offices
where normally kept, during reasonable business hours, all financial and other
records, pertinent corporate documents and instruments of the Company and its
subsidiaries (collectively, the "RECORDS") as shall be reasonably necessary to
enable them to exercise any applicable due diligence responsibilities, and cause
the officers, directors and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries to
supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector in connection
with such Registration Statement. Records that the Company determines, in good
faith, to be confidential and any Records that it notifies the Inspectors are
confidential shall not be disclosed by the Inspectors unless (i) the disclosure
of such Records (or the portion thereof, if only a portion is appropriate to
disclose (to the extent partial disclosure gives an accurate picture) is
necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in such Registration
Statement, (ii) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or
other order from a court of competent jurisdiction, (iii) disclosure of such
information is, in the opinion of counsel for any Inspector,
17
necessary or advisable in connection with any action, claim, suit or proceeding,
directly or indirectly, involving or potentially involving such Inspector and
arising out of, based upon, relating to or involving this Agreement, or any
transactions contemplated hereby or arising hereunder or (iv) the information in
such Records has been made generally available to the public. Each selling
Holder of such Registrable Securities and each such Participating Broker-Dealer
will be required to agree that information obtained by it as a result of such
inspections shall be deemed confidential and shall not be used by it as the
basis for any market transactions in the securities of the Company unless and
until such information is generally available to the public. Each selling
Holder of such Registrable Notes and each such Participating Broker-Dealer will
be required to further agree that it will, upon learning that disclosure of such
Records is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction, give notice to the
Company and allow the Company to undertake appropriate action to prevent
disclosure of the Records deemed confidential at the Company's sole expense.
(p) Provide an indenture trustee for the Registrable Notes or the
Exchange Notes, as the case may be, and cause the trust indenture provided for
in Section 2(a) hereof that is not the Indenture (which Indenture already has
been qualified pursuant to the TIA), to be qualified under the TIA not later
than the effective date of the Exchange Offer or the first Registration
Statement relating to the Registrable Notes; and in connection therewith,
cooperate with the trustee under any such indenture and the Holders of the
Registrable Notes, to effect such changes to such indenture as may be required
for such indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA;
and execute, and use its best efforts to cause such trustee to execute, all
documents as may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and
documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable such indenture to be so
qualified in a timely manner.
(q) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and
make generally available to its security holders earnings statements satisfying
the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder
(or any similar rule promulgated under the Securities Act) no later than 45 days
after the end of any 12-month period (or 90 days after the end of any 12-month
period if such period is a fiscal year) (i) commencing at the end of any fiscal
quarter in which Registrable Notes are sold to underwriters in a firm commitment
or best efforts underwritten offering and (ii) if not sold to underwriters in
such an offering, commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the
18
Company after the effective date of a Registration Statement, which statements
shall cover said 12-month periods.
(r) Upon consummation of an Exchange Offer obtain an opinion of
counsel to the Company, in a form customary for underwritten transactions,
addressed to the Trustee for the benefit of all Holders of Registrable Notes
participating in the Exchange Offer that the Exchange Notes and the related
indenture constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms,
subject to customary exceptions and qualifications.
(s) If an Exchange Offer is to be consummated, upon delivery of the
Registrable Notes by Holders to the Company (or to such other Person as directed
by the Company) in exchange for the Exchange Notes, the Company shall ▇▇▇▇, or
cause to be marked, on such Registrable Notes that such Registrable Notes are
being canceled in exchange for the Exchange Notes; in no event shall such
Registrable Notes be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.
(t) Cooperate with each seller of Registrable Notes covered by any
Registration Statement and each underwriter, if any, participating in the
disposition of such Registrable Notes and their respective counsel in connection
with any filings required to be made with the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD").
(u) Use its best efforts to take all other steps necessary or
advisable to effect the registration of the Registrable Notes covered by a
Registration Statement contemplated hereby.
The Company may require each seller of Registrable Notes as to which
any registration is being effected to furnish to the Company such information
regarding such seller and the distribution of such Registrable Notes as the
Company may, from time to time, reasonably request. The Company may exclude
from such registration the Registrable Notes of any seller who unreasonably
fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such
request and in such event shall have no further obligation under this Agreement
with respect to such seller or any subsequent holder of such Registrable Notes.
Each seller as to which any Shelf Registration 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 seller
not materially misleading.
19
Each Holder of Registrable Notes agrees by acquisition of such
Registrable Notes that, upon actual receipt of any notice from the Company of
the happening of any event of the kind described in Sections 5 (c) (ii), 5 (c)
(iv), 5 (c) (v) or 5(c)(vi) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue
disposition of such Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement or
Prospectus until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or
amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(k) hereof, or until it is-advised
in writing (the "ADVICE") by the Company that the use of the applicable
Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any amendments or
supplements thereto. In the event that the Company shall give any such notice,
each of the Effectiveness Period and the Applicable Period shall be extended by
the number of days during such periods from and including the date of the giving
of such notice to and including the date when each seller of Registrable Notes
covered by such Registration Statement or Exchange Notes to be sold by such
Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, shall have received (x) the
copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(k)
hereof or (y) the Advice.
6. REGISTRATION EXPENSES
(a) All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or
compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne by the Company
whether or not the Exchange Offer or a Shelf Registration is filed or becomes
effective, including, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees
(including, without limitation, (A) fees with respect to filings required to be
made with the NASD in connection with an underwritten offering and (B) fees and
expenses of compliance with state securities or Blue Sky laws (including,
without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in connection
with Blue Sky qualifications of the Registrable Notes and determination of the
eligibility of the Registrable Notes for investment under the laws of such
jurisdictions where the holders of Registrable Notes are located, (ii) printing
expenses, including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for
Registrable Notes in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust
Company and of printing prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is
requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, by the Holders of
a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes included in
any Registration Statement, (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses,
(iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and fees and
disbursements of special counsel for the sellers of Registrable Notes (subject
to the provisions of Section 6(b) hereof), (v) fees and disbursements of all
independent certified public accountants
20
referred to in Section 5(n)(iii) hereof (including, without limitation, the
expenses of any special audit and "cold comfort" letters required by or incident
to such performance), (vi) rating agency fees, if any, and any fees associated
with making the Registrable Notes eligible for trading through The Depository
Trust Company, (vii) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company desires
such insurance, (viii) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the
Company, (ix) internal expenses of the Company (including, without limitation,
all salaries and expenses of officers and employees of the Company performing
legal or accounting duties), (x) the expense of any annual audit, (xi) the fees
and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the securities to be
registered on any securities exchange, if applicable, and (xii) the expenses
relating to printing, word processing and distributing all Registration
Statements, underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements, indentures and
any other documents necessary to comply with this Agreement.
(b) The Company shall (i) reimburse the Holders of the Registrable
Notes being registered in a Shelf Registration for the reasonable fees and
disbursements of not more than one counsel (in addition to appropriate local
counsel) chosen by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Registrable Notes to be included in such Registration Statement and (ii)
reimburse out-of-pocket expenses (other than legal expenses and other than sales
commissions or similar costs) of Holders of Registrable Notes incurred in
connection with the registration and sale of the Registrable Notes pursuant to a
Shelf Registration or in connection with the exchange of Registrable Notes
pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
7. INDEMNIFICATION
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of
Registrable Notes offered pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement, the
directors, officers, agents, and employees of each such Person or its
affiliates, and each other Person, if any, who controls any such Person or its
affiliates-within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each, a "PARTICIPANT"), from and against any and
all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, the
reasonable legal fees and other expenses actually incurred in connection with
any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted) caused by, arising out of
or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in any Registration Statement pursuant to which the offering of
such Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes, as the case may be, is registered (or
any amendment thereto) or related Prospectus (or any
21
amendments or supplements thereto) or any related preliminary prospectus, or
caused by, arising out of or based upon any omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary-to make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company will not be required
to indemnify a Participant if (i) such losses, claims, damages or liabilities
are caused by any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or
omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to
any Participant furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf of such
Participant expressly for use therein or (ii) such Participant sold to the
person asserting the claim the Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes that are the
subject of such claim and such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue
statement or omission was contained or made in any preliminary prospectus and
corrected in the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto and the
Prospectus does not contain any other untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission of a material fact that was the subject matter of
the related proceeding and it is established by the Company in the related
proceeding that such Participant failed to deliver or provide a copy of the
Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) to such Person with or prior to the
confirmation of the sale of such Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes sold to
such Person if required by applicable law, unless such failure to deliver or
provide a copy of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) was a result of
noncompliance by the Company with Section 5 of this Agreement.
(b) Each Participant agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify
and hold harmless the Company, its directors and officers and each Person who
controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity
from the Company to each Participant, but only (i) with reference to information
relating to such Participant furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf
of such Participant expressly for use in any Registration Statement or
Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto or any preliminary prospectus or
(ii) with respect to any untrue statement or representation made by such
Participant in writing to the Company. The liability of any Participant under
this paragraph shall in no event exceed the proceeds received by such
Participant from sales of Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes giving rise to
such obligations.
(c) If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or
regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall
22
be brought or asserted against any Person in respect of which indemnity may
be sought pursuant to either of the two preceding paragraphs, such Person
(the "INDEMNIFIED PERSON") shall promptly notify the Person against whom such
indemnity may be sought (the "INDEMNIFYING PERSON") in writing, and the
Indemnifying Person, upon request of the Indemnified Person, shall retain
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the
Indemnified Person and any others the Indemnifying Person may reasonably
designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses
actually incurred by such counsel related to such proceeding; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the failure to so notify the Indemnifying Person shall not
relieve the Indemnifying Person of any obligation or liability that it may
have hereunder or otherwise (unless and only to the extent that such failure
directly results in the loss or compromise of any material rights or defenses
by the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnifying Person was not otherwise
aware of such action or claim). In any such proceeding, any Indemnified
Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and
expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person
unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have
mutually agreed in writing to the contrary, (ii) the Indemnifying Person
shall have failed within a reasonable period of time to retain counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person or (iii) the named parties
in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the
Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both
parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
differing interests between them. It is understood that, unless there exists
a conflict among Indemnified Persons, the Indemnifying Person shall not, in
connection with any one such proceeding or separate but substantially similar
related proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general
allegations, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate
firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that
all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed promptly as they are incurred.
Any such separate firm for the Participants and such control Persons of
Participants shall be designated in writing by Participants who purchased a
majority of the Registrable Notes and any such separate firm for the Company,
its directors, its officers and such control Persons of the Company shall be
designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not be
liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its prior
written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if
settled with such consent or if there be a final non-appealable judgment for
the plaintiff for which the Indemnified Person is entitled to indemnification
pursuant to this Agreement, the Indemnifying
23
Person agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Person from and
against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. No
Indemnifying Person shall, without the prior written consent of the
Indemnified Person, effect any settlement or compromise of any pending or
threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could
have been a party, and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such
Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (A) includes an unconditional
written release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that
are the subject matter of such proceeding and (B) does not include any
statement as to an admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on
behalf of any Indemnified Person.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in the first and second
paragraphs of this Section 7 is for any reason unavailable to, or
insufficient to hold harmless, an Indemnified Person in respect of any
losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each
Indemnifying Person under such paragraphs, in lieu of indemnifying such
Indemnified Person thereunder and in order to provide for just and equitable
contribution, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect (i) the relative benefits
received by the Indemnifying Person or Persons on the one hand and the
Indemnified Person or Persons on the other from the offering of the Exchange
Notes or (ii) if the allocation provided by the foregoing clause (i) is not
permitted by applicable law, not only such relative benefits but also the
relative fault of the Indemnifying Person or Persons on the one hand and the
Indemnified Person or Persons on the other in connection with the statements
or omissions or alleged statements or omissions that resulted in such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof). The relative
fault of the parties shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Company on the one hand or such Participant or such other
Indemnified Person, as the case may be, on the other, the parties' relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission, and any other equitable considerations
appropriate in the circumstances.
(e) The parties agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by PRO RATA allocation
(even if the Participants were
24
treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation
that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the
immediately preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified
Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in
the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the
limitations set forth above, any reasonable legal or other expenses actually
incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with investigating or
defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Section 7, in no event shall a Participant be required to contribute any amount
in excess of the amount by which proceeds received by such Participant from
sales of Exchange Notes exceeds the amount of any damages that such Participant
has otherwise been required to pay or has paid by reason of such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No Person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the
Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
(f) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this
Section 7 will be in addition to any liability which the Indemnifying Persons
may otherwise have to the Indemnified Persons referred to above.
8. RULES 144 AND 144A
The Company covenants that it will file the reports required to be
filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder in a timely manner in accordance with
the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and, if at any time
the Company is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of
any Holder of Registrable Notes, make publicly available annual reports and such
information, documents and other reports of the type specified in Sections 13
and 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Company further covenants for so long as any
Registrable Notes remain outstanding, to make available to any Holder or
beneficial owner of Registrable Notes in connection with any sale thereof and
any prospective purchaser of such Registrable Notes from such Holder or
beneficial owner the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the
Securities Act in order to permit resales of such Registrable Notes pursuant to
Rule 144A.
9. UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATIONS
If any of the Registrable Notes covered by any Shelf Registration are
to be sold in an underwritten offering, the
25
investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that will manage
the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of such Registrable Notes included in such offering and
reasonably acceptable to the Company.
No Holder of Registrable Notes may participate in any underwritten
registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder's
Registrable Notes on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements
approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b)
completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities,
underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such
underwriting arrangements.
10. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) NO INCONSISTENT AGREEMENTS. The Company has not, as of the date
hereof, and shall not, after the date of this Agreement, enter into any
agreement with respect to any of the Company's securities that is inconsistent
with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Notes in this Agreement or
otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The Company has not entered and
will not enter into any agreement with respect to any of its securities that
will grant to any Person piggyback registration rights with respect to a
Registration Statement.
(b) ADJUSTMENTS AFFECTING REGISTRABLE NOTES. The Company shall not,
directly or indirectly, take any action with respect to the Registrable Notes as
a class that would adversely affect the ability of the Holders of Registrable
Notes to include such Registrable Notes in a registration undertaken pursuant to
this Agreement.
(c) AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. The provisions of this Agreement may not
be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from
the provisions hereof may not be given, otherwise than with the prior written
consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the then outstanding Registrable Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a
waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter
that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders of Registrable Notes whose
securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not
directly or indirectly affect, impair, limit or compromise the rights of other
Holders of Registrable Notes may be given by Holders of at least a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes being sold by such Holders
pursuant to such
26
Registration Statement; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the provisions of this sentence
may not be amended, modified or supplemented except in accordance with the
provisions of the immediately preceding sentence.
(d) NOTICES. All notices and other communications (including without
limitation any notices or other communications to the Trustee) provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered
first-class mail, next-day air courier or facsimile:
1. if to a Holder of the Registrable Notes, at the most current
address of such Holder set forth on the records of the registrar under the
Indenture,
[with a copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.]
2. if to the Company, at the address as follows:
Garden State Newspapers, Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇,
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
with copies to:
Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Hand, Chartered
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: when delivered by hand, if personally
27
delivered; five business days after being deposited in the mail, postage
prepaid, if mailed; one business day after being timely delivered to a next-day
air courier; and when receipt is acknowledged by the addressee, if sent by
facsimile.
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the
address and in the manner specified in such Indenture.
(e) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties
hereto; 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 holds Registrable Notes.
(f) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(g) HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(h) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AS APPLIED TO
CONTRACTS MADE AND PERFORMED WHOLLY WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD
TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES TO SUBMIT
TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR
PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.
(i) SEVERABILITY. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties
hereto shall use their best efforts to find and employ an alternative means to
achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such
term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared
to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of
28
such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(j) SECURITIES HELD BY THE COMPANY OR ITS AFFILIATES. Whenever the
consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Notes is
required hereunder, Registrable Notes held by the Company or 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.
(k) ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement, together with the Note
Purchase Agreement and the Indenture, is intended by the parties as a final and
exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in
respect of the subject matter contained herein and therein and any and all prior
oral or written agreements, representations, or warranties, contracts,
understandings, correspondence, conversations and memoranda between the
Purchasers on the one hand and the Company on the other, or between or among any
agents, representatives, parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, predecessors in
interest or successors in interest with respect to the subject matter hereof and
thereof are merged herein and replaced hereby.
[Intentionally left blank]
[Signatures on following page]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
GARDEN STATE NEWSPAPERS, INC.
By:
-------------------------
Name:
Title:
Agreed to and accepted as
of the date first above written:
print or type name of Purchaser
By:
------------------------
Title
Address
Schedule I
List Of Purchasers
