REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT Dated September 27, 2013 between GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY and CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
Exhibit 4.4 |
EXECUTION VERSION |
Dated September 27, 2013
between
GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY
and
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of September 27, 2013, between General Motors Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., acting as representative (together in such capacity, the “Manager”) of the several Initial Purchasers (the “Initial Purchasers”) named in Schedule I to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).
This Agreement is entered in connection with the Purchase Agreement dated September 27, 2013, between the Company and the Manager (the “Purchase Agreement”), which provides for the sale by the Company to the Initial Purchasers of $1,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 3.500% Senior Notes due 2018 (the “2018 Notes”), $1,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 4.875% Senior Notes due 2023 (the “2023 Notes”) and $1,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 6.250% Senior Notes due 2043 (the “2043 Notes”, and together with the 2018 Notes and the 2023 Notes, the “Securities”). In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide to the Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the Initial Purchasers’ obligations to purchase the Securities under the Purchase Agreement.
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities:
1.Definitions.
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms shall have the following meanings:
“1933 Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933 as amended, or any successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect from time to time.
“1934 Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect from time to time.
“Additional Interest” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(e) hereof.
“Affiliate” shall mean with respect to any specified Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by,” and “under common control with”) as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or otherwise.
“Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Business Days” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law to close in New York City or the place of payment.
“Closing Date” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Purchase Agreement.
“Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include the Company’s successors.
“Effectiveness Date” shall mean the date of effectiveness of any Registration Statement.
“Effectiveness Target Date” means (i) with respect to an Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to Section 2(b)(i), the 365th day after the Closing Date and (ii) with respect to the Shelf Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to Sections 2(b)(ii), (iii) or (iv), as promptly as possible after the 365th day after the Closing Date (or, in the case of 2(b)(iii) or (iv), the 60th day after the delivery of notice, if later than such 365th day after the Closing Date).
“Exchange Dates” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(ii) hereof.
“Exchange Offer” shall mean the exchange offer by the Company of Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
“Exchange Offer Registration” shall mean a registration under the 1933 Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
“Exchange Offer Registration Statement” shall mean an exchange offer registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate form) and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.
“Exchange Securities” shall mean securities issued by the Company under the Indenture containing terms identical to the Securities (except that (i) interest thereon shall accrue from the last date on which interest was paid on the Securities or, if no such interest has been paid, from the Closing Date and (ii) the Exchange Securities will not contain restrictions on transfer) and to be offered to Holders of Securities in exchange for Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
“FINRA” shall mean the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
“Holder” shall mean the Initial Purchasers, for so long as they own any Registrable Securities, and each of their successors, assigns and direct and indirect transferees who become registered owners of Registrable Securities under the Indenture or who become beneficial owners of Registrable Securities, so long as in the case of beneficial owners, such owners have so notified the Company in writing; provided that for purposes of Sections 4 and 5 of this Agreement, the term “Holder” shall include Participating Broker-Dealers.
“Indenture” shall mean the Indenture relating to the Securities dated as of the Closing Date between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, pursuant to which the Securities are being issued, and as the same may be supplemented or amended from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof (including by the first supplemental indenture dated as of the Closing Date).
“Initial Purchasers” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Majority Holders” shall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Registrable Securities; provided that whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a
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specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company or any of its Affiliates (other than the Initial Purchasers or subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities if such subsequent holders are deemed to be such Affiliates solely by reason of their holding of such Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage or amount; provided, further that whenever the consent or approval of Majority Holders is required hereunder in connection with an offering pursuant to a Shelf Registration, such consent shall only be required of Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Registrable Securities included in the applicable Shelf Registration Statement.
“Participating Broker-Dealer” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.
“Person” shall mean an individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in a Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to such prospectus, and in each case including all material incorporated by reference therein.
“Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Registrable Securities” shall mean the Securities; provided, however, that the Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities (i) when, in the case of a Holder of such Securities who was entitled to participate in the Exchange Offer, an Exchange Offer Registration Statement with respect to such Securities shall have been declared effective under the 1933 Act and either (a) such Securities shall have been exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer for Exchange Securities or (b) such Securities were not tendered by the Holder thereof in the Exchange Offer, (ii) when a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Securities shall have been declared effective under the 1933 Act and such Securities shall have been disposed of pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, (iii) when such Securities have been sold to the public pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force, but not Rule 144A) under the 1933 Act or (iv) when such Securities shall have ceased to be outstanding.
“Registration Default” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(e) hereof.
“Registration Expenses” shall mean any and all expenses incident to performance of or compliance by the Company with this Agreement, including without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange or FINRA registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for any underwriters or Holders in connection with blue sky qualification of any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities) (x) within the United States, (y) where the Holders are located, in the case of the Exchange Securities, or (z) as provided in Section 3(d) hereof, in the case of Registrable Securities to be sold by a Holder pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement, (iii) all expenses of any Persons in preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing, printing and distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any amendments or supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements and other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all rating agency fees, (v) all fees and disbursements relating to the qualification of the Indenture under applicable securities laws, (vi) the fees and disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel, (vii) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and, in the case of a Shelf Registration
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Statement, the fees and disbursements of one counsel for the Holders (which counsel shall be selected by the Majority Holders and shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company and which counsel may also be counsel for the Initial Purchasers) and (viii) the fees and disbursements of the independent public accountants of the Company, including the expenses of any special audits or “cold comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance, but excluding fees and expenses of counsel to the underwriters (other than fees and expenses set forth in clause (ii) above) or the Holders and underwriting discounts and commissions, out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Holders and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of Registrable Securities by a Holder.
“Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement of the Company that covers any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and all amendments and supplements to any such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.
“SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Shelf Effectiveness Registration Default” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(h) hereof.
“Shelf Registration” shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof.
“Shelf Registration Statement” shall mean a “shelf” registration statement of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 2(b) of this Agreement which covers all of the Registrable Securities on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the 1933 Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.
“TIA” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(l) hereof.
“Trustee” shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities under the Indenture.
“Underwriter” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3 hereof.
“Underwritten Registration” or “Underwritten Offering” shall mean a registration in which Registrable Securities are sold to an Underwriter for reoffering to the public.
2.Registration Under the 1933 Act.
(a)To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or applicable interpretation of the Staff of the SEC, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to: prepare and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement covering the offer by the Company to the Holders to exchange all of the Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities; use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be declared effective on or prior to the Effectiveness Target Date; have such Exchange Offer Registration Statement remain effective until the closing of the Exchange Offer; commence the Exchange Offer as soon as practicable after the Effectiveness Date; and keep the Exchange Offer open for not less than 20 Business Days (or longer if required
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by applicable law) after the date notice of the Exchange Offer is sent to Holders pursuant to the next paragraph. The Company shall commence the Exchange Offer by sending the related exchange offer Prospectus and accompanying documents to each Holder stating, in addition to such other disclosures as are required by applicable law:
(i)that the Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to this Registration Rights Agreement and that all Registrable Securities validly tendered will be accepted for exchange;
(ii)the dates of acceptance for exchange (which shall be a period of at least 20 Business Days from the date such notice is sent) (the “Exchange Dates”);
(iii)that any Registrable Security not validly tendered by a Holder who was eligible to participate in the Exchange Offer will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest, but will not retain any rights under this Registration Rights Agreement;
(iv)that Holders electing to have a Registrable Security exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to surrender such Registrable Security, together with the enclosed letter(s) of transmittal, to the institution and at the address (located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the last Exchange Date; and
(v)that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election, not later than the close of business, New York City time, on the last Exchange Date, by sending to the institution and at the address (located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) specified in the notice, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the principal amount of Registrable Securities delivered for exchange and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing such Holder’s election to have such Securities exchanged.
As soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date, the Company shall:
(i) accept for exchange Registrable Securities or portions thereof validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer; and
(ii) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable Securities or portions thereof so accepted for exchange by the Company and issue, and cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver to the depositary of one or more Exchange Securities in global form in an equivalent principal amount thereto for the account of such Holders in accordance with the Indenture.
Interest on the Exchange Securities issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer will accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid on the such Securities, from the Closing Date.
Each Holder (including, without limitation, each Participating Broker-Dealer (as defined below)) who participates in the Exchange Offer will be required to represent to the Company, in writing (which may be contained in the applicable letter of transmittal) that: (i) any Exchange Securities acquired in exchange for Registrable Securities tendered are being acquired in the ordinary course of business of the Person receiving such Exchange Securities, whether or not
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such recipient is a Holder of Registrable Securities, (ii) at the time of the commencement of the Exchange Offer, neither such Holder nor, to the actual knowledge of such Holder, any other Person receiving Exchange Securities from such Holder has an arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) of the Exchange Securities in violation of the provisions of the 1933 Act, (iii) the Holder is not an Affiliate of the Company or if it is an Affiliate, such Holder will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the 1933 Act to the extent applicable, (iv) if such Holder is not a Participating Broker-Dealer, that it has not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, the distribution of Exchange Securities, and (v) if such Holder is a Participating Broker-Dealer, such Holder acquired the Registrable Securities as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, that the Registrable Securities do not represent an unsold allotment from the original sale of the Registrable Securities and that it will comply with the applicable provisions of the 1933 Act with respect to resale of any Exchange Securities.
The Company shall comply with the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and other applicable laws and regulations in connection with the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any conditions, other than (i) that the Exchange Offer does not violate applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC, (ii) no action or proceeding shall have been instituted or threatened in any court or by any governmental agency with respect to the Exchange Offer (other than any such actions or proceedings that the Company believes in good faith will not materially adversely affect the Company’s ability to consummate the Exchange Offer) and no material adverse development shall have occurred with respect to the Company, and (iii) all governmental approvals shall have been obtained, which approvals the Company deem necessary for the consummation of the Exchange Offer. Upon the Initial Purchaser’s request, the Company shall inform the Initial Purchasers of the names and addresses of the Holders to whom the Exchange Offer is made, and the Initial Purchasers shall have the right, subject to applicable law, to contact such Holders and otherwise facilitate the tender of Registrable Securities in the Exchange Offer.
(b)In the event that (i) the Company determines that the Exchange Offer Registration provided for in Section 2(a) above is not available or may not be consummated as soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date because it would violate applicable law or the applicable interpretations of the Staff of the SEC, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not for any other reason consummated by the 395th day after the Closing Date, (iii) an Initial Purchaser notifies the Company on or before the 30th day after the consummation of the Exchange Offer that the Registrable Securities held by it were not eligible to be exchanged for Exchange Securities under the Exchange Offer, or (iv) if any Holder is not entitled to participate in the Exchange Offer (as a result of being prohibited by law, SEC policy or otherwise) or is not able to resell the Exchange Securities acquired by such Holder in the Exchange Offer without delivering a prospectus in connection with such resale and so requests in writing on or prior to the 30th day after the consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Company shall, in each case, cause to be filed as soon as practicable after such event and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have a Shelf Registration Statement providing for the sale by the Holders of all of the Registrable Securities declared effective by the SEC by the Effectiveness Target Date; provided that any Holder known to the Company who is not entitled to participate in the Exchange Offer because such Holder is an Affiliate of the Company shall automatically be deemed to have requested on the date hereof that the Company causes to be filed a Shelf Registration Statement.
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In the event the Company is required to file a Shelf Registration Statement solely as a result of the matters referred to in clauses (iii) or (iv) of the preceding sentence, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file and use its commercially reasonable efforts to have declared effective (unless it becomes effective automatically upon filing) by the SEC both an Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) with respect to all Registrable Securities and a Shelf Registration Statement (which may be a combined Registration Statement with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) with respect to offers and sales of Registrable Securities held by such other Holders as promptly as possible after completion of the Exchange Offer.
The Company agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective until the earliest of (i) the date that the Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement are permitted to be sold pursuant to Rule 144 (or any successor rule that permits the Registrable Securities to be eligible for resale without registration and without being subject to volume restrictions or public information requirements, but not Rule 144A) without any limitations under clauses (c), (e), (f) and (h) thereof, and (ii) the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.
The Company further agrees to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the 1933 Act or by any other rules and regulations thereunder for shelf registration or if reasonably requested by a Holder with respect to information relating to such Holder, and to use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause any such amendment to become effective and such Shelf Registration Statement to become usable as soon as thereafter practicable. The Company agrees to furnish to the Holders of Registrable Securities copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the SEC.
(c)The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with the registration pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b). Each Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the registration and sale or disposition of such Holder’s Registrable Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement.
(d)An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof or a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC; provided, however, that, if, after it has been declared effective, the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or any other governmental agency or court, such Registration Statement will be deemed not to have become effective during the period of such interference until the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement may legally resume.
(e)In the case of the events set forth in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) below (each a “Registration Default”), the annual interest rate on the Securities will be increased (the “Additional Interest”):
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(i)if an Exchange Offer Registration Statement or a Shelf Registration Statement to the extent necessary is not declared effective by the SEC on or prior to the Effectiveness Target Date;
(ii)if the Company has failed to consummate the Exchange Offer within 30 Business Days of the Effectiveness Target Date with respect to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement; or
(iii)if an Exchange Offer Registration Statement or a Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective and such Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective or useable at any time thereafter (unless (x) all Securities have been validly exchanged or disposed of thereunder, or (y) such cessation of effectiveness and use is otherwise permitted pursuant to the terms of this Agreement).
Additional Interest shall accrue on the principal amount of the Registrable Securities at a rate of 0.25% per annum for the first 90 days from and including the date on which any Registration Default occurs, and such Additional Interest rate shall increase by an additional 0.25% per annum at the beginning of each subsequent 90-day period (it being understood and agreed that, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, so long as any Securities not registered under an Exchange Offer Registration Statement are then covered by an effective Shelf Registration, no Additional Interest shall accrue on such Securities); provided, however, that the Additional Interest rate on the Securities may not exceed in the aggregate 0.5% per annum; provided, further, however, that in no event shall the Company be obligated to pay Additional Interest under more than one of the Registration Defaults at any one time; provided, further, however, that in the case of Registration Defaults with respect to a Shelf Registration Statement under clauses (i) or (iii) above, it is expressly understood that Additional Interest should be payable only with respect to the Registrable Securities so requested to be registered if pursuant to Sections 2(b)(iii) or (iv) hereof.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, any Additional Interest payable under this Agreement shall cease to accrue on and after the date on which all Registration Defaults have been cured (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not, however, affect the Company’s obligations hereunder to pay Additional Interest that has accrued to such date and that remains unpaid).
(f)Without limiting the remedies available to the Initial Purchasers and the Holders, the Company acknowledges that any failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the Company’s obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof.
(g)No Holder of Registrable Securities may include any of its Registrable Securities in any Shelf Registration unless and until such Holder furnishes to the Company, in writing within 30 days after receipt of a request therefor, the information with respect to such Holder (i) specified in Items 507 and 508 (as applicable) of Regulation S-K under the 1933 Act and (ii) specified in any other applicable rules, regulations or policies of the SEC for use in connection with any Shelf Registration or Prospectus included therein, on a form to be provided by
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the Company or (iii) reasonably requested by the Company. No Holder of Registrable Securities shall be entitled to Additional Interest pursuant to Section 2(e) hereof unless and until such Holder shall have provided all such information. Each selling Holder agrees to furnish promptly to the Company additional information to be disclosed so that the information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder does not contain any 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.
(h)Additional Interest shall not accrue with respect to an event listed in Sections 2(e)(i) or (iii) hereof but only with respect to a Shelf Registration Statement (each, a “Shelf Effectiveness Registration Default”) if (i) such Shelf Effectiveness Registration Default under Section 2(e)(iii) hereof occurs because of the filing of a post-effective amendment to a Shelf Registration Statement to incorporate annual audited financial information with respect to the Company where such post-effective amendment is not yet effective and needs to be declared effective to permit Holders to use the related Prospectus, (ii) such Shelf Effectiveness Registration Default occurs in respect of a Shelf Registration because of the occurrence of other material events or developments with respect to the Company that would need to be described in such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus, and the effectiveness of such Registration Statement is reasonably required to be suspended while such Registration Statement and related Prospectus are amended or supplemented to reflect such events or developments, or (iii) such Shelf Effectiveness Registration Default occurs in respect of a Shelf Registration because the Company exercises its rights under Section 3(i)(y) hereof not to amend or supplement such Shelf Registration Statement, any related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, for the limited periods stated therein.
(i)Additional Interest due on the Securities pursuant to Section 2(e) hereof will be payable in cash semiannually in arrears on the same interest payment dates as the Securities, commencing with the first interest payment date occurring after any such Additional Interest commences to accrue.
(j)The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing within one Business Day after (i) an event occurs in respect of which Additional Interest is required to be paid and (ii) an event occurs in respect of which Additional Interest ceases to be required to be paid.
3.Registration Procedures.
In connection with the obligations of the Company with respect to the Registration Statements pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof, the Company shall:
(a)use its commercially reasonable best efforts to prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on the appropriate form under the 1933 Act, which form (x) shall be selected by the Company, (y) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the selling Holders thereof and (z) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and include all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith, and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective in accordance with Section 2 hereof;
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(b)use its commercially reasonable best efforts to prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period and, except as provided in Section 3(i) hereof, cause each Prospectus to be supplemented by any prospectus supplement required by applicable law and, as so supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act; to keep each Prospectus current during the period described under Section 4(3) and Rule 174 under the 1933 Act that is applicable to transactions by brokers or dealers with respect to the Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities;
(c) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities, and to each Underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, including each preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto and such other documents as such Holder or Underwriter may reasonably request, in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities; and the Company consents to the use of such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law by each of the selling Holders of Registrable Securities and any such Underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by and in the manner described in such Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law;
(d)use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities under all applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement shall reasonably request in writing by the time the applicable Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, to cooperate with such Holders in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such Holder to consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction of such Registrable Securities owned by such Holder; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d), (ii) file any general consent to service of process or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not so subject;
(e)in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Holder of Registrable Securities who has provided contact information to the Company promptly and, if requested by any such Holder or counsel, confirm in writing (i) when a Registration Statement has become effective and when any post-effective amendment thereto has been filed and becomes effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement and Prospectus or for additional information after the Registration Statement has become effective, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of a notification of objection to the use of the form on which the Shelf Registration Statement has been filed, and of the happening of any event that causes the Company to become an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in SEC Rule 405, (iv) if, between the effective date of a Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities covered thereby, the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any underwriting agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar agreement, if any, relating to the offering cease to be true and correct in all material respects or if the Company receives any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such
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purpose, (v) of the happening of any event during the period a Shelf Registration Statement is effective which makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus untrue in any material respect or which requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement or Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading and (vi) of any determination by the Company that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate; provided however that, in the case of clauses (iv), (v) and (vi), with respect to any event, development or transaction permitted to be kept confidential without the accrual of Additional Interest under Section 2(h) hereof, the Company shall not be required to describe such event, development or transaction in the written notice provided;
(f)make commercially reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement at the earliest possible moment and provide prompt notice to each Holder of the withdrawal of any such order;
(g)in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities, without charge, at least one copy of each Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto (without documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested). In the case of a Shelf Registration, the Company shall not, without the prior consent of the Initial Purchasers, make any offer relating to the Securities or the Exchange Securities that would constitute a “free-writing prospectus,” as defined in SEC Rule 405;
(h)in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Securities, DTC and the Underwriters, as applicable, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities (and beneficial interests therein) to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends and enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations (consistent with the provisions of the Indenture) and registered in such names as the selling Holders and DTC may reasonably request at least one Business Day prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities;
(i)in the case of a Shelf Registration,
(x) upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(e)(v) hereof, use its commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file with the SEC a supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities, such Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Company agrees to notify the Holders, and confirm such notice in writing, to suspend use of the Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event, and the Holders hereby agree to suspend use of the Prospectus until the Company has amended or supplemented the Prospectus to correct such misstatement or omission and expressly agree to maintain the information contained in such notice confidential (except that such information may be disclosed to its counsel) until it has been publicly disclosed by the Company;
(y) notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to amend or supplement a Registration Statement, any related Prospectus or any
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document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference if (i) an event occurs and is continuing as a result of which the Shelf Registration, any related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, would, in the Company’s good faith judgment, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading (with respect to such a Prospectus only, in light of the circumstances under which they were made), and (ii) (a) the Company determines in its good faith judgment that the disclosure of such event at such time would have a material adverse effect on the business, operations or prospects of the Company, or (b) the disclosure otherwise relates to a pending material business transaction that has not yet been publicly disclosed; provided, however, that the Company may only suspend the offering and sale of Securities under a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this clause (i) for a period or periods not in excess of 90 consecutive days or more than three (3) times during any calendar year during which such Shelf Registration Statement is required to be effective and usable hereunder (measured from the effective time of such Shelf Registration Statement to successive anniversaries thereof);
(j)a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any amendment to a Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to a Prospectus or any document which is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or a Prospectus after initial filing of a Registration Statement, provide copies of such document to the Initial Purchasers and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders and their counsel) and make representatives of the Company available for discussion of such document, and shall not at any time file or make any amendment to the Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any amendment of or supplement to a Registration Statement or a Prospectus (except for 1934 Act filings) , of which the Initial Purchasers and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders and their counsel) shall not have previously been advised and furnished a copy or to which the Initial Purchasers or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders or their counsel) shall reasonably object on a timely basis, except for any Registration Statement or amendment thereto or related Prospectus or supplement thereto or document (a copy of which has been previously furnished to the Initial Purchasers and its counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders and their counsel)) as provided in the preceding sentence which counsel to the Company has advised the Company in writing is required to be filed in order to comply with applicable law;
(k)obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, not later than the effective date of a Registration Statement;
(l)cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “TIA”), in connection with the registration of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, reasonably cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA and execute, and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable the Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner;
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(m)in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available for inspection upon request by any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, and attorneys and accountants designated by such Underwriters, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all financial and other records, pertinent documents and properties of the Company as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise any applicable due diligence responsibilities, and cause the respective officers, directors and employees of the Company to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with their due diligence responsibilities under a Shelf Registration Statement provided, that each such Underwriter, attorney or accountant shall agree in writing that it will keep such information confidential and that it will not disclose any of the information that the Company determines, in good faith, to be confidential and notifies them in writing are confidential unless (i) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid or correct a material misstatement or material omission in such Registration Statement or Prospectus, (ii) the release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction, or (iii) the information in has been made generally available to the public other than by any of such persons or its Affiliates; provided, however, that prior notice shall be provided as soon as practicable to the Company of the potential disclosure of any information by such person pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) of this sentence in order to permit the Company to obtain a protective order (or waive the provisions of this paragraph (m));
(n)if reasonably requested by any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement, (i) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information with respect to such Holder as such Holder reasonably requests to be included therein and (ii) make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as the Company has received notification of the matters to be incorporated in such filing;
(o)If reasonably requested by the Majority Holders of the Registrable Securities being sold in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such customary agreements and use commercially reasonable efforts to ) facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities including, but not limited to, an Underwritten Offering and in such connection, (i) to the extent possible, make such representations and warranties to the Holders and any Underwriters of such Registrable Securities with respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by reference, if any, in each case, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings and confirm the same in writing if and when requested, (ii) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company (which counsel and opinions, in form, scope and substance, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Holders and such Underwriters and their respective counsel) addressed to each selling Holder and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings, (iii) obtain “cold comfort” letters from the independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other certified public accountant of any subsidiary of the Company, or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are or are required to be included in the Registration Statement) addressed to each selling Holder and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “cold comfort” letters in connection with underwritten offerings, (iv) if an underwriting agreement is entered into, include in such underwriting agreement indemnification provisions and procedures no less favorable to the selling Holders and Underwriters, if any, than those set forth in Section 5 hereof (or such other provisions
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and procedures acceptable to the Majority Holders and the Underwriters (if any)), and (v) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Majority Holders of the Registrable Securities being sold or the Underwriters, and which are customarily delivered in underwritten offerings, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties of the Company made pursuant to clause (i) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in an underwriting agreement; and
(p)in the case of a Shelf Registration pursuant to Sections 2(b)(iii) or (iv), cause to be delivered a “cold comfort” letter with respect to the Prospectus in the form existing on the Effective Date of the Shelf Registration Statement and with respect to each subsequent amendment or supplement, if any, effected during the period ending on the 180th day following the Effective Date of the Shelf Registration Statement (as such period may be extended pursuant to the penultimate paragraph of Section 3 of this Agreement).
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may require each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Company such information regarding the Holder and the proposed distribution by such Holder of such Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing. The Company may exclude from such registration the Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities of any Holder so long as such Holder fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such request. Each Holder 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 Holder not materially misleading.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(e)(v) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(i) hereof, and, if so directed by the Company, such Holder will deliver to the Company (at its expense) all copies in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice. If the Company shall give any such notice to suspend the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, the Company shall extend the period during which the Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when the Holders shall have received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions.
The Holders of Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell such Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers (the “Underwriters”) that will administer the offering will be selected by the Majority Holders of the Registrable Securities included in such offering.
4.Participation of Broker-Dealers in Exchange Offer.
(a)The Staff of the SEC has taken the position that any broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in the Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities that were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities (a “Participating Broker-Dealer”), may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the
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meaning of the 1933 Act and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
The Company understands that it is the Staff’s position that if the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement includes a plan of distribution containing a statement to the above effect and the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Securities, without naming the Participating Broker-Dealers or specifying the amount of Exchange Securities owned by them, such Prospectus may be delivered by Participating Broker-Dealers to satisfy their prospectus delivery obligation under the 1933 Act in connection with resales of Exchange Securities for their own accounts, so long as the Prospectus otherwise meets the requirements of the 1933 Act.
(b)In light of the above, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement, the Company agrees that the provisions of this Agreement as they relate to a Shelf Registration shall also apply to an Exchange Offer Registration to the extent, and with such reasonable modifications thereto as may be, reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers or by one or more Participating Broker-Dealers (or other Holders, if any, with similar prospectus delivery obligations under the 1933 Act), in each case as provided in clause (ii) below, in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of any Exchange Securities by such Participating Broker-Dealers (or other Holder with similar prospectus delivery obligations) consistent with the positions of the Staff recited in Section 4(a) above; provided that:
(i)the Company shall not be required to amend or supplement the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as would otherwise be contemplated by Section 3(i), for a period exceeding 180 days after the last Exchange Date (as such period may be extended pursuant to the penultimate paragraph of Section 3 of this Agreement) and Participating Broker-Dealers shall not be authorized by the Company to deliver and shall not deliver such Prospectus after such period in connection with the resales contemplated by this Section 4; and
(ii)the application of the Shelf Registration procedures set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement to an Exchange Offer Registration, to the extent not required by the positions of the Staff of the SEC or the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, will be in conformity with the reasonable request to the Company by the Initial Purchasers or with the reasonable request in writing to the Company by one or more broker-dealers who certify to the Initial Purchasers and the Company in writing that they anticipate that they will be Participating Broker-Dealers (or other Holder with similar prospectus delivery obligations); and provided further that, in connection with such application of the Shelf Registration procedures set forth in Section 3 to an Exchange Offer Registration, the Company shall be obligated (x) to deal only with one entity representing the Participating Broker-Dealers (and such other Holders with similar prospectus delivery obligations), which shall be Citigroup Global Markets Inc. unless it elects not to act as such representative, (y) to pay the fees and expenses of only one counsel representing the Participating Broker-Dealers (and such other Holders with similar prospectus delivery obligations), which shall be counsel to the Initial Purchasers unless such counsel elects not to so act and (z) to cause to be delivered only one, if any, “cold comfort” letter with respect to the Prospectus in the form existing on the last Effective Date of such Registration Statement and with respect to each subsequent amendment or supplement, if any, effected during the period specified in clause (i) above.
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(c)The Initial Purchasers shall have no liability to the Company or any Holder with respect to any request that it may make pursuant to Section 4(b) above.
5.Indemnification and Contribution.
(a)The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Initial Purchasers, each Holder and each Person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser or any Holder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, or is under common control with, or is controlled by, any Initial Purchaser or any Holder, from and against all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Initial Purchasers, any Holder or any such controlling or affiliated Person in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) pursuant to which Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities were registered under the 1933 Act, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein in light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information relating to the Initial Purchasers or any Holder furnished to the Company in writing through the Manager or any selling Holder expressly for use therein. In connection with any Underwritten Offering permitted by Section 3, the Company will also indemnify the Underwriters, if any, selling brokers, dealers and similar securities industry professionals participating in the distribution, their officers and directors and each Person who controls such Persons (within the meaning of the 1933 Act and the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders, if requested in connection with any Registration Statement.
(b)Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Initial Purchasers and the other selling Holders, and each of their respective directors, officers who sign the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company, any Initial Purchaser and any other selling Holder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the Initial Purchasers and the Holders, but only with reference to information relating to such Holder furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
(c)In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) above, such Person (the “indemnified party”) shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “indemnifying party”) in writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any
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indemnified party 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 party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party 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 the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for (A) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the Initial Purchasers and all Persons, if any, who control any Initial Purchaser within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, (▇) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either such Section and (c) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Holders and all Persons, if any, who control any Holders within the meaning of either such Section, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. In such case involving the Initial Purchasers and Persons who control the Initial Purchasers, such firm shall be designated in writing by the Manager. In such case involving the Holders and such Persons who control Holders, such firm shall be designated in writing by the Majority Holders. In all other cases, such firm shall be designated by the Company. The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent but, if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party for such fees and expenses of counsel in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which such indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
(d)If the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of this Section 5 is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and of the indemnified party or parties on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company and the Holders 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 or by the Holders and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to
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information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Holders’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 5(d) are several in proportion to the respective principal amount of Registrable Securities of such Holder that were registered pursuant to a Registration Statement.
(e)The Company and each Holder agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, 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 5, no Holder shall be required to indemnify or contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which Registrable Securities were sold by such Holder exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 5 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 5 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers, any Holder or any Person controlling any Initial Purchaser or any Holder, or by or on behalf of the Company, its officers or directors or any Person controlling the Company, (iii) acceptance of any of the Exchange Securities and (iv) any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement.
6.Miscellaneous.
(a)No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not entered into, and on or after the date of this Agreement will not enter into, any agreement which is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company’s other issued and outstanding securities under any such agreements.
(b)Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent; provided, however, that no amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent to any departure from the provisions of Section 5 hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of Registrable Securities unless consented to in writing by such Holder. 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 Securities whose securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect,
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impair, limit or compromise the rights of other Holders of Registrable Securities may be given by Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold pursuant to such Registration Statement.
(c)Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c), which address initially is, with respect to the Initial Purchasers, the address set forth in the Purchase Agreement; and (ii) if to the Company, initially at the Company’s address set forth in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c).
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next business day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands, or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee, at the address specified in the Indenture.
(d)Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of each of the parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable Securities in violation of the terms of the Indenture. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof. Neither the Trustee (in its capacity as Trustee under the Indenture or acting on behalf of the Holders pursuant to this Agreement) or the Initial Purchasers (in their capacity as Initial Purchasers) shall have any liability or obligation to either (i) the Company with respect to any failure by a Holder to comply with, or any breach by any Holder of, any of the obligations of such Holder under this Agreement or (ii) any Holder with respect to any failure by the Company to comply with, or any breach by the Company of, any of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement.
(e)Purchases and Sales of Securities. The Company shall not, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause its affiliates (as defined in Rule 405 under the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) not to, purchase and then resell or otherwise transfer any Securities.
(f)Third Party Beneficiary. The Holders shall be third party beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of Holders hereunder.
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(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 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.
(k)Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and replaces all other prior agreements, written or oral, among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY | ||
By: | /s ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |
Name: | ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |
Title: | Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer | |
Confirmed and accepted as of
the date first above written:
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC. | ||
By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Bedwarski | |
Name: | ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Bedwarski | |
Title: | Managing Director | |
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