EXECUTION VERSION
Exhibit 10.4
ALLIED WASTE NORTH AMERICA, INC.
-----------------------------
$350,000,000
6-1/2% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2010
-----------------------------
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF NOVEMBER 10, 2003
-----------------------------
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES INC.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON LLC
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
UBS SECURITIES LLC
BANC ONE CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP.
CREDIT LYONNAIS SECURITIES (USA) INC.
FLEET SECURITIES, INC.
SCOTIA CAPITAL (USA) INC.
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is made and
entered into as of November 10, 2003, by and among Allied Waste North America,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), Allied Waste Industries Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "PARENT GUARANTOR"), each of the entities listed on
Schedule A hereto (each, including the Parent Guarantor, a "GUARANTOR" and,
collectively, the "GUARANTORS"), and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., X.X. Xxxxxx
Securities Inc., Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.,
UBS Securities LLC, Banc One Capital Markets, Inc., BNP Paribas Securities
Corp., Credit Lyonnais Securities (USA) Inc., Fleet Securities, Inc. and Scotia
Capital (USA) Inc. (each, an "INITIAL PURCHASER" and, collectively, the "INITIAL
PURCHASERS"), each of whom has agreed to purchase the Company's 6-1/2% Senior
Notes due 2010 (the "SERIES A NOTES") pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as
defined below).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated
November 5, 2003 (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), by and among the Company, the
Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers. In order to induce the Initial Purchasers
to purchase the Series A Notes, the Company has agreed to provide the
registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement is a condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchasers under
the Purchase Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined
shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Indenture Supplement (the
"INDENTURE SUPPLEMENT"), dated November 10, 2003, to the Indenture dated
December 23, 1998, among the Company, the Guarantors and U.S. Bank National
Association as Trustee (the "TRUSTEE"), relating to the Notes (the "BASE
INDENTURE" and, together with the Indenture Supplement, the "INDENTURE").
The parties hereby agree as follows:
1 DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have
the following meanings:
ACT: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
BUSINESS DAY: Any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day in the
City of New York, or in the city of the corporate trust office of the Trustee,
on which banks are authorized to close.
BROKER-DEALER: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.
CERTIFICATED SECURITIES: As defined in the Indenture.
CLOSING DATE: The date hereof.
COMMISSION: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONSUMMATE: An Exchange Offer shall be deemed "Consummated" for
purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (a) the filing and
effectiveness under the Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
relating to the Series B Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (b) the
maintenance of such Registration Statement continuously effective and the
keeping of the Exchange Offer open for a period not less than the period
required pursuant to Section 3(b)
1
hereof and (c) the delivery by the Company to the Registrar under the Indenture
of Series B Notes in the same aggregate principal amount as the aggregate
principal amount of Series A Notes tendered by Holders thereof pursuant to the
Exchange Offer.
CONSUMMATION DEADLINE: As defined in Section 3(b) hereof.
EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE: As defined in Sections 3(a) hereof.
ELECTING HOLDER: Any holder of Series A Notes that has supplied the
information requested by the Company in accordance with Section 4(b).
EXCHANGE ACT: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
EXCHANGE OFFER: The exchange and issuance by the Company of a principal
amount of Series B Notes (which shall be registered pursuant to the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement) equal to the outstanding principal amount of
Series A Notes that are tendered by such Holders in connection with such
exchange and issuance.
EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT: The Registration Statement
relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.
EXEMPT RESALES: The transactions in which the Initial Purchasers
propose to sell the Series A Notes (i) to certain "qualified institutional
buyers," as such term is defined in Rule 144A under the Act, or (ii) outside the
United States in reliance upon Regulation S under the Act to non-U.S. persons.
FILING DEADLINE: As defined in Section 3(a) hereof.
HOLDER: As defined in Section 2 hereof.
NOTES: The Series A Notes and the Series B Notes.
PROSPECTUS: The prospectus included in a Registration Statement at the
time such Registration Statement is declared effective, as amended or
supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments thereto,
including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference
into such Prospectus.
RECOMMENCEMENT DATE: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
REGISTRATION DEFAULT: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
REGISTRATION STATEMENT: Any registration statement of the Company and
the Guarantors relating to (a) an offering of Series B Notes pursuant to an
Exchange Offer or (b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted
Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, (i) which
is filed pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) including the
Prospectus included therein, all amendments and supplements thereto (including
post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by
reference therein.
REGULATION S: Regulation S promulgated under the Act.
2
RULE 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.
SERIES B NOTES: The Company's 6-1/2% Series B Senior Notes due 2010 to
be issued pursuant to the Indenture (i) in the Exchange Offer or (ii) as
contemplated by Section 4 hereof.
SHELF EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE: As defined in Section 4(a) hereof.
SHELF FILING DEADLINE: As defined in Section 4(a) hereof.
SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT: As defined in Section 4(a) hereof.
SUSPENSION NOTICE: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Section 77aaa-77bbbb)
as in effect on the date of the Indenture.
TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES: Each (A) Series A Note, until the
earliest to occur of (i) the date on which such Series A Note is exchanged in
the Exchange Offer for a Series B Note which is entitled to be resold to the
public by the Holder thereof without complying with the prospectus delivery
requirements of the Act, (ii) the date on which such Series A Note has been
disposed of in accordance with a Shelf Registration Statement (and the
purchasers thereof have been issued Series B Notes), or (iii) the date on which
such Series A Note is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the
Act and (B) Series B Note held by a Broker-Dealer until the date on which such
Series B Note is disposed of by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the "Plan of
Distribution" contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
(including the delivery of the Prospectus contained therein).
2 HOLDERS
A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
(each, a "HOLDER") whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities.
3 REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER
(a) Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permitted by applicable
federal law (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below have been
complied with), the Company and the Guarantors shall (i) cause the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement to be filed with the Commission as soon as
practicable after the Closing Date, but in no event later than 120 days after
the Closing Date (such 120th day being the "FILING DEADLINE"), (ii) use their
respective reasonable best efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration
Statement to become effective at the earliest possible time, but in no event
later than 210 days after the Closing Date (such 210th day being the
"EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE"), (iii) in connection with the foregoing, (A) file all
pre-effective amendments to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement as may be
necessary in order to cause it to become effective, (B) file, if applicable, a
post-effective amendment to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant
to Rule 430A under the Act and (C) cause all necessary filings, if any, in
connection with the registration and qualification of the Series B Notes to be
made under the Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as are necessary to permit
Consummation of the Exchange Offer, and (iv) upon the effectiveness of such
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, use their respective reasonable best
efforts to commence and Consummate the Exchange Offer. The
3
Exchange Offer shall be on the appropriate form permitting (i) registration of
the Series B Notes to be offered in exchange for the Series A Notes that are
Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) resales of Series B Notes by
Broker-Dealers that tendered into the Exchange Offer Series A Notes that such
Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of market making
activities or other trading activities (other than Series A Notes acquired
directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates) as contemplated by Section
3(c) below.
(b) The Company and the Guarantors shall use their respective
reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be
effective continuously, and shall keep the Exchange Offer open for a period of
not less than the minimum period required under applicable federal and state
securities laws to Consummate the Exchange Offer; provided, however, that in no
event shall such period be less than 30 days. The Company and the Guarantors
shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply with all applicable federal and state
securities laws. No securities other than the Series B Notes and the Guarantees
shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. The Company and
the Guarantors shall use their respective reasonable best efforts to cause the
Exchange Offer to be Consummated on the earliest practicable date after the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become effective, but in no event
later than 45 days thereafter (such 45th day being the "CONSUMMATION DEADLINE").
(c) The Company shall include a "Plan of Distribution" section in the
Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and indicate
therein that any Broker-Dealer who holds Transfer Restricted Securities that
were acquired for the account of such Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities (other than Series A Notes acquired
directly from the Company or any Affiliate of the Company), may exchange such
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer. Such "Plan of
Distribution" section shall also contain all other information with respect to
such sales by such Broker-Dealers that the Commission may require in order to
permit such sales pursuant thereto, but such "Plan of Distribution" shall not
name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Transfer Restricted
Securities held by any such Broker-Dealer, except to the extent required by the
Commission as a result of a change in policy, rules or regulations after the
date of this Agreement. See the Shearman & Sterling no-action letter (available
July 2, 1993).
Because such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within
the meaning of the Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the
requirements of the Act in connection with its initial sale of any Series B
Notes received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, the Company and the
Guarantors shall permit the use of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement by such Broker-Dealer to satisfy such prospectus
delivery requirement. To the extent necessary to ensure that the prospectus
contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is available for sales of
Series B Notes by Broker-Dealers, the Company and the Guarantors agree to use
their respective best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
continuously effective, supplemented, amended and current as required by and
subject to the provisions of Sections 6(a) and (c) hereof and in conformity with
the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and
regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of 90
days from the Consummation Deadline. The Company and the Guarantors shall
provide sufficient copies of the latest version of such Prospectus to such
Broker-Dealers, promptly upon request, and in no event later than one day after
such request, at any time during such period.
4
4 SHELF REGISTRATION
(a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Exchange Offer is not permitted by
applicable law (after the Company and the Guarantors have complied with the
procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below) or (ii) if any Holder shall
notify the Company within 20 Business Days following the Consummation of the
Exchange Offer that (A) such Holder was prohibited by law or Commission policy
from participating in the Exchange Offer or (B) such Holder may not resell the
Series B Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without
delivering a prospectus and the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales by such
Holder, then the Company and the Guarantors shall:
(x) cause to be filed, on or prior to 30 days after the
earlier of (i) the date on which the Company determines that the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement cannot be filed as a result of
clause (a)(i) above and (ii) the date on which the Company receives the
notice specified in clause (a)(ii) above (such earlier date, the "SHELF
FILING DEADLINE"), a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415
under the Act (which may be an amendment to the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement (the "SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT")), relating
to all Transfer Restricted Securities, and
(y) use their respective reasonable best efforts to cause such
Shelf Registration Statement to become effective on or prior to 120
days after the Filing Deadline for the Shelf Registration Statement
(such 120th day, the "SHELF EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE").
If, after the Company has filed an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement that satisfies the requirements of Section 3(a) above, the Company is
required to file and make effective a Shelf Registration Statement solely
because the Exchange Offer is not permitted under applicable federal law (i.e.,
clause (a)(i) above), then the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of clause (x) above;
provided that, in such event, the Company shall remain obligated to meet the
Effectiveness Deadline set forth in clause (y).
To the extent necessary to ensure that the Shelf Registration Statement
is available for sales of Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof
entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a) and the other securities required
to be registered therein pursuant to Section 6(b)(ii) hereof, the Company and
the Guarantors shall use their respective best efforts to keep any Shelf
Registration Statement required by this Section 4(a) continuously effective,
supplemented, amended and current as required by and subject to the provisions
of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof and in conformity with the requirements of this
Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as
announced from time to time, for a period of at least two years (as extended
pursuant to Section 6(c)(i)) following the date on which such Shelf Registration
Statement first becomes effective under the Act or such shorter period that will
terminate when all the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf
Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement or are eligible for resale under Rule 144(k) of the Act.
(b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with the
Shelf Registration Statement. No Holder may include any of its Transfer
Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this
Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to the Company in writing,
within 20 days after receipt of a request therefor, the information specified in
Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, of the Act for use in
connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary
Prospectus included therein.
5
No Holder shall be entitled to Special Interest pursuant to Section 5 hereof
unless and until such Holder shall have provided all such information. Each
selling Holder agrees to promptly furnish additional information required to be
disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the Company
by such Holder not materially misleading.
5 SPECIAL INTEREST
If (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not
filed with the Commission on or prior to the Filing Deadline or Shelf Filing
Deadline, as applicable, (ii) any such Registration Statement has not been
declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the Effectiveness Deadline
or Shelf Effectiveness Deadline, as applicable, (iii) the Exchange Offer has not
been Consummated on or prior to the Consummation Deadline or (iv) any
Registration Statement required by this Agreement is filed and declared
effective but shall thereafter cease to be effective (except as specifically
permitted herein) or fail to be usable for its intended purpose without being
succeeded immediately by a post-effective amendment to such Registration
Statement that cures such failure and that is itself immediately declared
effective (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a
"REGISTRATION DEFAULT" and each period during which a Registration Default has
occurred and is continuing, a "REGISTRATION DEFAULT PERIOD"), then the Company
and the Guarantors hereby jointly and severally agree to pay to each Holder
affected thereby liquidated damages as special interest ("SPECIAL INTEREST") in
an amount which shall accrue at a per annum rate of 0.25% for the first 90 days
of the Registration Default Period, at a per annum rate of 0.50% for the second
90 days of the Registration Default Period, at a per annum rate of 0.75% for the
third 90 days of the Registration Default Period and at a per annum rate of 1.0%
thereafter for the remaining portion of the Registration Default Period.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, (1) upon filing of
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf
Registration Statement), in the case of (i) above, (2) upon the effectiveness of
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf
Registration Statement), in the case of (ii) above, (3) upon Consummation of the
Exchange Offer, in the case of (iii) above, or (4) upon the filing of a
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or an additional
Registration Statement that causes the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
(and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement) to again be declared
effective or made usable in the case of (iv) above, the Special Interest payable
with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities as a result of such clause
(i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), or (5) once the Transfer Restricted Securities are
eligible for resale under Rule 144(k) of the Act, as applicable, shall cease (at
which time the interest rate shall be restored to its initial rate).
All accrued Special Interest shall be paid to the Holders entitled
thereto, in the manner provided for the payment of interest in the Indenture, on
each Interest Payment Date, as more fully set forth in the Indenture and the
Notes. Notwithstanding the fact that any securities for which Special Interest
is due cease to be Transfer Restricted Securities, all obligations of the
Company and the Guarantors to pay Special Interest with respect to securities
shall survive until such time as such obligations with respect to such
securities shall have been satisfied in full.
6 REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. In connection with the
Exchange Offer, the Company and the Guarantors shall (x) use their respective
best efforts to effect such exchange and to permit the resale of Series B Notes
by Broker-Dealers that tendered in the Exchange Offer
6
Series A Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result
of its market making activities or other trading activities (other than Series A
Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates) being sold in
accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and (y)
comply with all of the following provisions:
(i) If, following the date hereof there has been announced a
change in Commission policy with respect to exchange offers such as the
Exchange Offer, that in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the
Company raises a substantial question as to whether the Exchange Offer
is permitted by applicable federal law, the Company and the Guarantors
hereby agree to seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision
from the Commission allowing the Company and the Guarantors to
Consummate an Exchange Offer for such Transfer Restricted Securities.
The Company and the Guarantors hereby agree to pursue the issuance of
such a decision to the Commission staff level but shall not be required
to take commercially unreasonable action to effect a change of
Commission policy. In connection with the foregoing, the Company and
the Guarantors hereby agree to take all such other reasonable actions
as may be requested by the Commission or otherwise required in
connection with the issuance of such decision, including without
limitation (A) participating in telephonic conferences with the
Commission, (B) delivering to the Commission staff an analysis prepared
by counsel to the Company setting forth the legal bases, if any, upon
which such counsel has concluded that such an Exchange Offer should be
permitted and (C) diligently pursuing a resolution (which need not be
favorable) by the Commission staff.
(ii) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange
Offer, each Holder (including, without limitation, any Holder who is a
Broker Dealer) shall furnish, upon the request of the Company, prior to
the Consummation of the Exchange Offer, a written representation to the
Company and the Guarantors (which may be contained in the letter of
transmittal contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement)
to the effect that (A) it is not an Affiliate of the Company, (B) it is
not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, and has no
arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in, a
distribution of the Series B Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer
and (C) it is acquiring the Series B Notes in its ordinary course of
business. As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer,
each Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution
of the Series B Notes shall acknowledge and agree that, if the resales
are of Series B Notes obtained by such Holder in exchange for Series A
Notes acquired directly from the Company or an Affiliate thereof, it
(1) could not, under Commission policy as in effect on the date of this
Agreement, rely on the position of the Commission enunciated in Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital
Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the
Commission's letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and
similar no-action letters (including, if applicable, any no-action
letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above), and (2) must comply with
the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Act in
connection with a secondary resale transaction and that such a
secondary resale transaction must be covered by an effective
registration statement containing the selling security holder
information required by Items 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation
S-K.
7
(iii) Prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall, if
requested by the staff of the Commission, provide a supplemental letter
to the Commission (A) stating that the Company and the Guarantors are
registering the Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the
Commission enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available
May 13, 1988), Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) as
interpreted in the Commission's letter to Shearman & Sterling dated
July 2, 1993, and, if applicable, any no-action letter obtained
pursuant to clause (i) above, (B) including a representation that
neither the Company nor any Guarantor has entered into any arrangement
or understanding with any Person to distribute the Series B Notes to be
received in the Exchange Offer and that, to the best of the Company's
and each Guarantor's information and belief, each Holder participating
in the Exchange Offer is acquiring the Series B Notes in its ordinary
course of business and has no arrangement or understanding with any
Person to participate in the distribution of the Series B Notes
received in the Exchange Offer and (C) any other undertaking or
representation required by the Commission as set forth in any no-action
letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above, if applicable.
(iv) to cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA not
later than the effective date of the Registration Statement and in
connection therewith, cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders to
effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for such
Indenture to be qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA; and
execute and use their respective best efforts to cause the Trustee to
execute, all documents that may be required to effect such changes and
all other forms and documents required to be filed with the Commission
to enable such Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner.
(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall:
(i) comply with all the provisions of Section 6(c) below and
use their respective best efforts to effect such registration to permit
the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in accordance
with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof (as
indicated in the information furnished to the Company pursuant to
Section 4(b) hereof), and pursuant thereto the Company and the
Guarantors will prepare and file with the Commission a Registration
Statement relating to the registration on any appropriate form under
the Act, which form shall be available for the sale of the Transfer
Restricted Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods
of distribution thereof within the time periods and otherwise in
accordance with the provisions hereof, and
(ii) issue, upon the request of any Holder or purchaser of
Series A Notes covered by any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated
by this Agreement, Series B Notes having an aggregate principal amount
equal to the aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes sold pursuant
to the Shelf Registration Statement and surrendered to the Company for
cancellation; the Company shall register Series B Notes on the Shelf
Registration Statement for this purpose and
8
issue the Series B Notes to the purchaser(s) of securities subject to
the Shelf Registration Statement in the names as such purchaser(s)
shall designate.
(c) General Shelf Provisions. In connection with any Shelf Registration
Statement and any related Prospectus required by this Agreement, the Company and
the Guarantors shall:
(i) use their respective best efforts to keep such
Registration Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite
financial statements for the period specified in Sections 3 or 4 of
this Agreement, as applicable. Upon the occurrence of any event that
would cause any such Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained
therein (A) to contain an untrue statement of material fact or omit to
state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading or (B) not to be effective and usable for resale of Transfer
Restricted Securities during the period required by this Agreement, the
Company and the Guarantors shall file promptly an appropriate amendment
to such Registration Statement curing such defect, and, if Commission
review is required, use their respective best efforts to cause such
amendment to be declared effective as soon as practicable.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may suspend the offering and
sales under the Exchange Offer Registration Statement subsequent to the
Consummation of the Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration Statement
for up to 60 days in each year during which such Exchange Offer
Registration Statement is required to be effective and usable hereunder
subsequent to the Consummation of the Exchange Offer or such Shelf
Registration Statement is required to be effective and usable hereunder
(measured from the date of effectiveness of such Shelf Registration
Statement to successive anniversaries thereof) if (A) either (y)(I) the
Company shall be engaged in a material acquisition or disposition and
(II)(aa) such acquisition or disposition is required to be disclosed in
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration
Statement, the related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto, or the failure by the Company to disclose such transaction in
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration
Statement or related Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement
thereto, as then amended or supplemented, would cause such Exchange
Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement, or
amendment thereto, to contain an untrue statement of material fact or
omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statement
therein not misleading, or would cause such Prospectus, or supplement
thereto, to contain an untrue statement of material fact or omit to
state a material fact necessary in order to make the statement therein
not misleading, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, (bb) information regarding the existence of such acquisition or
disposition has not then been publicly disclosed by or on behalf of the
Company and (cc) a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company
determines in the exercise of its good faith judgment that disclosure
of such acquisition or disposition would not be in the best interest of
the Company or would have a material adverse effect on the consummation
of such acquisition or disposition or (z) a majority of the Board of
Directors of the Company determines in the exercise of its good faith
judgment that compliance with the disclosure obligations set forth in
this Section 6(c)(i) would otherwise have a material adverse effect on
the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and (B) the Company
notifies the Holders within two business days after such Board of
Directors makes
9
the relevant determination set forth in clause (A); provided, however,
that in each such case the applicable period specified in Section 3
(subsequent to the Consummation of the Exchange Offer) and Section 4
hereof during which the applicable Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or Shelf Registration Statement is required to be kept
effective and usable shall be extended by the number of days during
which such effectiveness was suspended pursuant to the foregoing and
Special Interest shall not apply during any period the Company is
permitted to suspend offerings and sales under this sentence;
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and
post-effective amendments to the applicable Registration Statement as
may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the
applicable period set forth in Sections 3 or 4 hereof, as the case may
be; cause the Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus
supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424
under the Act, and to comply fully with Rules 424, 430A and 462, as
applicable, under the Act in a timely manner; and comply with the
provisions of the Act with respect to the disposition of all securities
covered by such Registration Statement during the applicable period in
accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by the
sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement
to the Prospectus;
(iii) advise each Holder promptly and, if requested by such
Holder, confirm such advice in writing, (A) when the Prospectus or any
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and,
with respect to any applicable Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective,
(B) of any request by the Commission for amendments to the Registration
Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or for
additional information relating thereto, (C) of the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement under the Act or of the suspension by any state
securities commission of the qualification of the Transfer Restricted
Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation
of any proceeding for any of the preceding purposes, (D) of the
existence of any fact or the happening of any event that makes any
statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto or any document
incorporated by reference therein untrue, or that requires the making
of any additions to or changes in the Registration Statement in order
to make the statements therein not misleading, or that requires the
making of any additions to or changes in the Prospectus in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. If at any time the Commission
shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, or any state securities commission or other
regulatory authority shall issue an order suspending the qualification
or exemption from qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities
under state securities or Blue Sky laws, the Company and the Guarantors
shall use their respective best efforts to obtain the withdrawal or
lifting of such order at the earliest possible time;
10
(iv) subject to Section 6(c)(i), if any fact or event
contemplated by Section 6(c)(iii)(D) above shall exist or have
occurred, prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document
incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document
so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of Transfer
Restricted Securities, the Prospectus will not contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(v) furnish to each Holder, who shall certify to the Company
that they have a present intention to sell Transfer Restricted
Securities in connection with such exchange or sale, if any, before
filing with the Commission, copies of any Registration Statement or any
Prospectus included therein or any amendments or supplements to any
such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all documents
incorporated by reference after the initial filing of such Registration
Statement), which documents will be subject to the review and comment
of such Holders in connection with such sale, if any, for a period of
at least five Business Days, and the Company will not file any such
Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to
any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all such
documents incorporated by reference) to which such Holders shall
reasonably object within five Business Days after the receipt thereof;
(vi) promptly prior to the filing of any document that is to
be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or
Prospectus, provide copies of such document to each Holder in
connection with such exchange or sale, if any, make the Company's and
the Guarantors' representatives available for discussion of such
document and other customary due diligence matters, and include such
information in such document prior to the filing thereof as such
Holders may reasonably request;
(vii) make available, at reasonable times, for inspection by
each Holder and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders who
shall certify to the Company that they have a current intention to sell
the Transfer Restricted Securities, all financial and other records,
pertinent corporate documents of the Company and the Guarantors and
cause the Company's and the Guarantors' officers, directors and
employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such
Holder, attorney or accountant in connection with such Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto subsequent to the
filing thereof and prior to its effectiveness, in the reasonable
judgment of counsel for the Company, to conduct a reasonable
investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act;
provided, however, that each such party shall be required to maintain
in confidence and not to disclose to any other person any information
or records designated by the Company in writing as being confidential,
until such time as (A) such information becomes a matter of public
record (whether by virtue of its inclusion in such registration
statement or otherwise), or (B) such person shall be required, or shall
deem it advisable, so to disclose such information pursuant to the
subpoena or order of any court or other governmental agency or body
having jurisdiction over the matter (subject to the requirement of such
order, and only after
11
such person shall have given the Company prompt prior written notice
thereof), or (C) such information is required to be set forth in such
Registration Statement, or amendment thereto, in order that such
Registration Statement or amendment thereto does not contain an untrue
statement of material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
in order to make the statement therein not misleading, or such
information is required to be set forth in the Prospectus, or
supplement thereto, in order that such Prospectus, or supplement
thereto, does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the
circumstances under which they were made;
(viii) if requested by any Holders in connection with such
exchange or sale, promptly include in any Registration Statement or
Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if
necessary, such information as such Holders may reasonably request to
have included therein, including, without limitation, information
relating to the "Plan of Distribution" of the Transfer Restricted
Securities; and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement
or post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company is
notified of the matters to be included in such Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment;
(ix) furnish to each Holder in connection with such exchange
or sale, without charge, at least one copy of the Registration
Statement, as first filed with the Commission, and of each amendment
thereto, including, at the request of such Holder, all documents
incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits (including, at the
request of such Holder, exhibits incorporated therein by reference);
(x) deliver to each Holder without charge, as many copies of
the Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any
amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may request;
the Company and the Guarantors hereby consent to the use (in accordance
with law) of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by
each selling Holder in connection with the offering and the sale of the
Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto;
(xi) upon the request of any Holder, enter into such
agreements (including underwriting agreements) and make such
representations and warranties and take all such other actions in
connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition
of the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to any applicable
Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement as may be
reasonably requested by any Holder in connection with any sale or
resale pursuant to any applicable Registration Statement. In such
connection, the Company and the Guarantors shall:
(A) upon request of any Holder, furnish (or in the
case of paragraphs (2) and (3), use their respective best
efforts to cause to be furnished) to each Holder upon the
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement:
12
(1) a certificate, dated such date, signed
on behalf of the Company and each Guarantor by (x)
the President or any Vice President and (y) a
principal financial or accounting officer of the
Company and such Guarantor, confirming, as of the
date thereof, the matters set forth in Sections 9(a)
and 9(b) of the Purchase Agreement and such other
similar matters as such Holder may reasonably
request;
(2) an opinion, dated the date of
Consummation of the Exchange Offer or the date of
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as
the case may be, of counsel for the Company and the
Guarantors covering matters similar to those set
forth in Exhibit A of the Purchase Agreement and such
other matters as such Holder may reasonably request,
including the last paragraph of Exhibit A relating to
the Registration Statement or the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, as the case may be; and
(3) a customary comfort letter, dated the
date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer, or as of
the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration
Statement, as the case may be, from the Company's
independent accountants, in the customary form and
covering matters of the type customarily covered in
comfort letters to underwriters in connection with
underwritten offerings, and affirming the matters set
forth in the comfort letters delivered pursuant to
Section 9(g) of the Purchase Agreement; and
(B) deliver such other documents and certificates as
may be reasonably requested by the selling Holders to evidence
compliance with the matters covered in clause (A) above and
with any customary conditions contained in any agreement
entered into by the Company and the Guarantors pursuant to
this clause (xi);
(xii) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted
Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders and their counsel in
connection with the registration and qualification of the Transfer
Restricted Securities under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions as the selling Holders may request and do any and all
other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition
in such jurisdictions of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by
the applicable Registration Statement; provided, however, that neither
the Company nor any Guarantor shall be required to register or qualify
as a foreign corporation where it is not now so qualified but for the
requirements of this clause (xii) or to take any action that would
subject it to the service of process in suits or to taxation, other
than as to matters and transactions relating to the Registration
Statement, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject, or make
any changes to their respective certificates of incorporation or
by-laws or any agreement between the Company and its stockholders or
the Guarantors and their stockholders;
(xiii) in connection with any sale of Transfer Restricted
Securities that will result in such securities no longer being Transfer
Restricted Securities, cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the
timely preparation and delivery of
13
certificates representing Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold and
not bearing any restrictive legends; and to register such Transfer
Restricted Securities in such denominations and such names as the
selling Holders may request at least two Business Days prior to such
sale of Transfer Restricted Securities;
(xiv) use their respective best efforts to cause the
disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the
Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other
governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the
seller or sellers thereof to consummate the disposition of such
Transfer Restricted Securities, subject to the proviso contained in
clause (xii) above;
(xv) provide a CUSIP number for all Transfer Restricted
Securities not later than the effective date of a Registration
Statement covering such Transfer Restricted Securities and provide the
Trustee under the Indenture with printed certificates for the Transfer
Restricted Securities which are in a form eligible for deposit with the
Depository Trust Company;
(xvi) otherwise use their respective best efforts to comply
with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make
generally available to its security holders with regard to any
applicable Registration Statement, as soon as practicable, a
consolidated earning statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158
(which need not be audited) covering a twelve-month period beginning
after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as such term is
defined in paragraph (c) of Rule 158 under the Act);
(xvii) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA not
later than the effective date of the first Registration Statement
required by this Agreement and, in connection therewith, cooperate with
the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as
may be required for such Indenture to be so qualified in accordance
with the terms of the TIA; and execute and use their respective best
efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents that may be
required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents
required to be filed with the Commission to enable such Indenture to be
so qualified in a timely manner; and
(xviii) provide promptly to each Holder, upon request, each
document filed with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(d) Restrictions on Holders. Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a
Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of the notice referred to in
Section 6(c)(iii)(C) or any notice from the Company of the existence of any fact
of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof (in each case, a
"SUSPENSION NOTICE"), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement
until (i) such Holder has received copies of the supplemented or amended
Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(iv) hereof, or (ii) such Holder is
advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed,
and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus (in each case, the "RECOMMENCEMENT
DATE"). Each Holder receiving a Suspension Notice hereby agrees that it will
either (i) destroy any Prospectuses, other
14
than permanent file copies, then in such Holder's possession which have been
replaced by the Company with more recently dated Prospectuses or (ii) deliver to
the Company (at the Company's expense) all copies, other than permanent file
copies, then in such Holder's possession of the Prospectus covering such
Transfer Restricted Securities that was current at the time of receipt of the
Suspension Notice. The time period regarding the effectiveness of such
Registration Statement set forth in Sections 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, shall
be extended by a number of days equal to the number of days in the period from
and including the date of delivery of the Suspension Notice to the date of
delivery of the Recommencement Date.
7 REGISTRATION EXPENSES
(a) All expenses incident to the Company's and the Guarantors'
performance of or compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company,
regardless of whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including
without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses; (ii) all
fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state Blue Sky or
securities laws; (iii) all expenses of printing (including printing certificates
for the Series B Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of
Prospectuses), messenger and delivery services and telephone; (iv) all fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company, the Guarantors and the Holders; (v)
all application and filing fees in connection with listing the Series B Notes on
a national securities exchange or automated quotation system pursuant to the
requirements hereof; and (vi) all fees and disbursements of independent
certified public accountants of the Company and the Guarantors (including the
expenses of any special audit and comfort letters required by or incident to
such performance). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Holders being registered
shall pay all agency fees and commissions and underwriting discounts and
commissions attributable to the sale of such Transfer Restricted Securities and
the fees and disbursements of any counsel or other advisors or experts retained
by such holders (severally or jointly), other than the counsel and experts
specifically referred to above.
The Company will, in any event, bear its and the Guarantors' internal
expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its
officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of
any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special
experts, retained by the Company or the Guarantors.
8 INDEMNIFICATION
(a) The Company and the Guarantors agree, jointly and severally, to
indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, its directors, officers and each
Person, if any, who controls such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of
the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act), from and against any and all losses,
claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, (including without limitation, any
reasonable legal or other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or
defending any matter, including any action that could give rise to any such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments) caused by any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus or Prospectus (or any amendment
or supplement thereto) provided by the Company to any Holder or any prospective
purchaser of Series B Notes or registered Series A Notes, 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,
except insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments are
caused by an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or
omission that is based upon
15
information relating to any of the Holders furnished in writing to the Company
by any of the Holders.
(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company and the Guarantors, and their respective directors and
officers, and each person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of Section
15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) the Company, or the Guarantors
to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company and the
Guarantors set forth in section (a) above, but only with reference to
information relating to such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such
Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement. In case any action or
proceeding shall be brought against the Company, the Guarantors or any of their
directors or officers or any such controlling person in respect of which
indemnity may be sought against a Holder, such Holder shall have the rights and
duties given the Company and the Guarantors pursuant to this Section 8; and the
Company and the Guarantors, such directors or officers or such controlling
person shall have the right and duties given to each Holder pursuant to this
Section 8.
(c) In case any action shall be commenced involving any person in
respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a) or 8(b) (the
"INDEMNIFIED PARTY"), the indemnified party shall promptly notify the person
against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "INDEMNIFYING PERSON") in writing
and the indemnifying party shall assume the defense of such action, including
the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party and
the payment of all fees and expenses of such counsel, as incurred (except that
in the case of any action in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant
to both Sections 8(a) and 8(b), a Holder shall not be required to assume the
defense of such action pursuant to this Section 8(c), but may employ separate
counsel and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of
such counsel, except as provided below, shall be at the expense of the Holder).
Any indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any
such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of
such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnified party unless (i) the
employment of such counsel shall have been specifically authorized in writing by
the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume
the defense of such action or employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
indemnified party or (iii) the named parties to any such action (including any
impleaded parties) include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying
party, and the indemnified party shall have been advised by such counsel that
there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from
or additional to those available to the indemnifying party (in which case the
indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action
on behalf of the indemnified party). In any such case, the indemnifying party
shall not, in connection with any one action or separate but substantially
similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same
general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of
more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) for
all indemnified parties and all such reasonable fees and expenses shall be
reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by a
majority of the Holders, in the case of the parties indemnified pursuant to
Section 8(a), and by the Company and Guarantors, in the case of parties
indemnified pursuant to Section 8(b). The indemnifying party shall not be
obligated to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against
any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments by reason of any
settlement of any action effected without the indemnifying party's written
consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the
indemnified party, effect any settlement or compromise of, or consent to the
entry of judgment with respect to, any pending or
16
threatened action in respect of which the indemnified party is or could have
been a party and indemnity or contribution may be or could have been sought
hereunder by the indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or
judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all
liability on claims that are or could have been the subject matter of such
action and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault,
culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of the indemnified party.
(d) To the extent that the indemnification provided for in this Section
8 is unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or judgments referred to therein, then each indemnifying
party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the
amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the
Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holder, on the other hand, from their sale
of Transfer Restricted Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause
8(d)(i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate
to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 8(d)(i) above
but also the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand,
and of the Holder, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or
omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
judgments, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative
fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and of the Holder, on
the other hand, 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 such Guarantor, on the one hand, or by the Holder, on the other hand,
and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company, the Guarantors and each Holder agree that it would not be
just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) were determined
by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The
amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to in the immediately
preceding paragraph 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 matter, including any
action that could have given rise to such losses, claims, damages, liabilities
or judgments. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Holder, its
directors, its officers or any Person, if any, who controls such Holder shall be
required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by
which the total received by such Holder with respect to the sale of Transfer
Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds (i) the
amount paid by such Holder for such Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) the
amount of any damages which 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 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders'
obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8(c) are several in
proportion to the respective principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities
held by each Holder hereunder and not joint.
17
9 UNDERWRITTEN OFFERING
(a) Selection of Underwriters. If any of the Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement are to be sold pursuant
to an underwritten offering, the managing underwriter or underwriters thereof
shall be designated by the Company.
(b) Participation by Holders. Each Holder hereby agrees with each other
such Holder that no such Holder may participate in any underwritten offering
hereunder unless such Holder (i) agrees to sell such Holder's Transfer
Restricted Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements
approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii)
completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities,
underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms
of such underwriting arrangements.
10 RULE 144A AND RULE 144
The Company and each Guarantor agrees with each Holder, for so long as
any Transfer Restricted Securities remain outstanding and during any period in
which the Company or such Guarantor (i) is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Exchange Act, to make available, upon request of any Holder, to such Holder
or beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with any
sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted
Securities designated by such Holder or beneficial owner, the information
required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act in order to permit resales of such
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A, and (ii) is subject to
Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Exchange Act, to make all filings required thereby
in a timely manner in order to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted
Securities pursuant to Rule 144.
11 MISCELLANEOUS
(a) Remedies. The Company and the Guarantors acknowledge and agree that
any failure by the Company and the Guarantors to comply with their respective
obligations under Sections 3 and 4 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 and the Guarantors' obligations under Sections 3 and 4 hereof. The
Company and the Guarantors further agree to waive the defense in any action for
specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor
will, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with
respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the
Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.
Neither the Company nor any Guarantor has previously entered into any agreement
granting any registration rights with respect to its securities to any Person
other than as set forth or incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum.
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 and
the Guarantors' securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.
18
(c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be
amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures from
the provisions hereof may not be given unless (i) in the case of Section 5
hereof and this Section 10(c)(i), the Company has obtained the written consent
of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) in the
case of all other provisions hereof, the Company has obtained the written
consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer
Restricted Securities (excluding Transfer Restricted Securities held by the
Company or its Affiliates). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent
to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights
of Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities are being tendered pursuant to
the Exchange Offer, and that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights
of other Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities are not being tendered
pursuant to such Exchange Offer, may be given by the Holders of a majority of
the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities subject to
such Exchange Offer.
(d) Third Party Beneficiary. The Holders shall be third party
beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company and the
Guarantors, 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 they may
deem such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights
of Holders hereunder.
(e) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail
(registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier, or air
courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(i) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the
records of the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to
the Registrar under the Indenture; and
(ii) if to the Company or the Guarantors:
00000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx - Xxxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxx, Esq.
With a copy to:
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
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 receipt
acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next business day, if timely delivered
to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
19
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the
address specified in the Indenture.
(f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties,
including without limitation and without the need for an express assignment,
subsequent Holders; provided, that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any
assignment, transfer or other disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities in
violation of the terms hereof or of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture. If
any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Transfer Restricted Securities in any
manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Transfer Restricted
Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by
taking and holding such Transfer Restricted 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, including the restrictions on resale set
forth in this Agreement and, if applicable, the Purchase Agreement, and such
Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.
(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(i) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE
CONFLICT OF LAW RULES THEREOF.
(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 is intended by the parties as a
final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive
statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of
the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises,
warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein
with respect to the registration rights granted with respect to the Transfer
Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
20
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
ALLIED WASTE NORTH AMERICA, INC.
By:
----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Treasurer
ALLIED WASTE INDUSTRIES, INC.
By:
----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Treasurer
EACH ENTITY LISTED ON SCHEDULE A,
as Guarantors
By:
----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Treasurer
The foregoing Registration Rights Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as
of the date first above written by Citigroup Global Markets Inc. on behalf of
the Initial Purchasers.
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
By:
------------------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
SCHEDULE A
GUARANTORS
