This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of August 24, 1998, by and among Xxx. Xxxxxx' Holding Company,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Xxxxxxxxx & Company, Inc. and
BT Alex. Xxxxx Incorporated (each, an "Initial Purchaser" and, collectively, the
"Initial Purchasers"), who have agreed to purchase an aggregate of 55,000 units
of the Company (the "Units") consisting of $55,000,000 in aggregate principal
amount at maturity of 14% Senior Secured Discount Notes due 2005 of the Company
(the "Senior Notes") and 55,000 warrants (the "Warrants") to purchase 172,926
shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the "Common
Stock") pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated, as of
August 13, 1998 (the "Purchase Agreement"), by and among the Company and the
Initial Purchasers. In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to purchase the
Units, the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights for the Senior
Notes set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement
is a condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchasers set forth in Section
3 of the Purchase Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise
defined shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Indenture, dated August
24, 1998, between the Company and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, relating to
the Senior Notes and the New Notes (the "Indenture").
The parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have
the following meanings:
Advice: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
Broker-Dealer: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.
Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities: New Notes that are
acquired by a Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer in exchange for Senior Notes
that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of market-
making activities or other trading activities (other than Senior Notes acquired
directly from the Company or any of its affiliates).
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.
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 Securities Act of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement relating to the New 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
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not less than the minimum period required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof and
(c) the delivery by the Company to the Registrar under the Indenture of New
Notes in the same aggregate principal amount as the aggregate principal amount
of Senior Notes tendered by Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
controlling person: As defined in Section 8(a) hereof.
Damages Payment Date: With respect to the Senior Notes, each Interest
Payment Date.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Exchange Offer: The registration by the Company under the Securities
Act of the New Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
pursuant to which the Company shall offer the Holders of all outstanding
Transfer Restricted Securities the opportunity to exchange all such outstanding
Transfer Restricted Securities for New Notes in an aggregate principal amount
equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities
tendered in such exchange offer by such Holders
Exchange Offer Registration Statement: The Registration Statement
relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.
Exempt Resales: The transactions in which the Initial Purchasers
propose to sell the Senior Notes to certain "qualified institutional buyers," as
such term is defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and to persons
permitted to purchase the Senior Notes in offshore transactions in reliance upon
Regulation S under the Securities Act.
Global Note Holder: As defined in the Indenture.
Holders: As defined in Section 2 hereof.
Indemnified Holder: As defined in Section 8(a) hereof.
Indenture: The Indenture, dated as of August 24, 1998, among the
Company and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the "Trustee"), pursuant to which
the Notes are to be issued, as such Indenture is amended or supplemented from
time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
Interest Payment Date: As defined in the Indenture and the Notes.
Liquidated Damages: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
NASD: The National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
New Notes: The Company's 14% Senior Secured Discount Notes due 2005,
identical in all material respects to the Senior Notes, which are to be issued
pursuant to the Indenture (i) in the Exchange Offer or (ii) upon the request of
any Holder of Senior Notes covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, in
exchange for such Senior Notes.
Notes: The Senior Notes and the New Notes.
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Person: An individual, partnership, corporation, trust, unincorporated
organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
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.
Record Holder: With respect to any Damages Payment Date, each Person
who is a Holder of Notes on the record date with respect to the Interest Payment
Date on which such Damages Payment Date shall occur.
Registration Default: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company (on
the appropriate form under the Securities Act selected by the Company) relating
to (a) an offering of New 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.
Restricted Broker-Dealer: Any Broker-Dealer which holds Broker-Dealer
Transfer Restricted Securities.
Securities Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Shelf Registration Statement: As defined in Section 4(a) 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 Note, until the earliest to occur
of (a) the date on which such Note is exchanged in the Exchange Offer and
entitled to be resold to the public by the Holder thereof without complying with
the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, (b) the date on
which such Note has been disposed of in accordance with a Shelf Registration
Statement, (c) the date on which such Note is disposed of by a Broker-Dealer
pursuant to the "Plan of Distribution" contemplated by the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement (including delivery of the Prospectus contained therein)
or (d) the date on which such Note is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule
144 under the Securities Act.
underwriters: As defined in Section 11 hereof.
Underwritten Registration or Underwritten Offering: A registration in
which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the
public.
SECTION 2. HOLDERS
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A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
(each, a "Holder") whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities.
SECTION 3. REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER
(a) Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permitted by applicable
federal law (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) hereof have been
complied with), the Company shall (i) cause to be filed with the Commission as
soon as practicable after the Closing Date, but in no event later than 90 days
after the Closing Date, the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (ii) use its
best efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become
effective at the earliest possible time, but in no event later than 150 days
after the Closing Date, (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 such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become
effective, (B) file, if applicable, a post-effective amendment to such Exchange
Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act and
(C) cause all necessary filings, if any, in connection with the registration and
qualification of the New 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,
commence and Consummate the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall be on the
appropriate form permitting registration of the New Notes to be offered in
exchange for the Senior Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities and to
permit sales of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities by Restricted
Broker-Dealers as contemplated by Section 3(c) hereof.
(b) The Company shall use its 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 that in no event shall such period be less than 20 Business
Days. The Company shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply with all applicable
federal and state securities laws. No securities other than the Notes shall be
included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. The Company shall use its
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 30 Business Days thereafter.
(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 Restricted Broker-Dealer who holds Senior Notes that are
Transfer Restricted Securities and that were acquired for the account of such
Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, may exchange such Senior Notes (other than Transfer Restricted
Securities acquired directly from the Company or any Affiliate of the Company)
pursuant to the Exchange Offer; however, such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be
an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and must, therefore,
deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in
connection with its initial sale of each New Note received by such Broker-Dealer
in the Exchange Offer, which prospectus delivery requirement may be satisfied by
the delivery by such Broker-Dealer of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement. Such "Plan of Distribution" section shall also
contain all other information with respect to such sales of Broker-Dealer
Transfer Restricted Securities by Restricted 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
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Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Notes held by any such Broker-Dealer,
except to the extent required by the Commission as a result of a change in
policy after the date of this Agreement.
The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as
required by the provisions of Section 6(c) hereof to the extent necessary to
ensure that it is available for sales of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted
Securities by Restricted Broker-Dealers, and to ensure that such Registration
Statement conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Securities Act
and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time
to time, for a period of 120 days from the date on which the Exchange Offer is
Consummated.
The Company shall promptly provide sufficient copies of the latest
version of such Prospectus to such Restricted Broker-Dealers promptly upon
request, and in no event later than one day after such request, at any time
during such 120-day period in order to facilitate such sales.
SECTION 4. SHELF REGISTRATION
(a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Company is not required to file an
------------------
Exchange Offer Registration Statement with respect to the New Notes because the
Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law (after the procedures set
forth in Section 6(a)(i) hereof have been complied with) or (ii) if any Holder
of Transfer Restricted Securities 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 New 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 or (C) such Holder is a Broker-Dealer and holds
Senior Notes acquired directly from the Company or one of its affiliates, then
the Company shall (x) cause to be filed on or prior to 30 days after the date on
which the Company determines that it is not required to file the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement pursuant to clause (i) above or 60 days after the date on
which the Company receives the notice specified in clause (ii) above a shelf
registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, which may
be an amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (in either event,
the "Shelf Registration Statement"), relating to all Transfer Restricted
Securities the Holders of which shall have provided the information required
pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof, and shall (y) use their respective best efforts
to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to become effective on or prior to
120 days after the date on which the Company becomes obligated to file such
Shelf Registration Statement. If, after the Company has filed an Exchange Offer
Registration Statement which 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 shall not be permitted under
applicable federal law, then the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of clause (x) above. Such
an event shall have no effect on the requirements of clause (y) above. The
Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement
discussed in this Section 4(a) continuously effective, supplemented and amended
as required by and subject to the provisions of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof to
the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for sales of Transfer
Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof entitled to the benefit of this
Section 4(a), and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this
Agreement, the Securities 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) hereof) following the date on which
such Shelf
5
Registration Statement first becomes effective under the Securities Act or for
such shorter period which will terminate when (i) all of the Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant
to the Shelf Registration Statement, (ii) the date on which, in the opinion of
counsel to the Company, all of the Transfer Restricted Securities then held by
the Holders may be sold by the Holders in the public United States securities
markets in the absence of a registration statement covering such sales or (iii)
the date on which there ceases to be outstanding any Transfer Restricted
Securities.
(b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with
--------------------------------------------------------------
the Shelf Registration Statement. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
--------------------------------
may include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration
Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to
the Company in writing, within 20 days after receipt of a request therefor, such
information specified in item 507 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act for
use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or
preliminary Prospectus included therein. No Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities shall be entitled to Liquidated Damages pursuant to Section 5 hereof
unless and until such Holder shall have used its best efforts to provide all
such information. Each Holder as to which any Shelf Registration Statement is
being effected agrees to furnish promptly to the Company all information
required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished
to the Company by such Holder not materially misleading.
SECTION 5. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
If (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not
filed with the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such filing in
this Agreement, (ii) any such Registration Statement has not been declared
effective by the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such
effectiveness in this Agreement, (iii) the Exchange Offer has not been
Consummated within 30 Business Days after the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement is first declared effective by the Commission or (iv) any Registration
Statement required by this Agreement is filed and declared effective but shall
thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be usable for its intended purpose
without being succeeded immediately by a post-effective amendment to such
Registration Statement that cures such failure and that is itself declared
effective immediately (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv),
a "Registration Default"), then the Company agrees to pay liquidated damages
("Liquidated Damages") to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities with
respect to the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of such
Registration Default, in an amount equal to $.05 per week per $1,000 principal
amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holder for each week or
portion thereof that the Registration Default continues. The amount of the
Liquidated Damages shall increase by an additional $.05 per week per $1,000 in
principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities with respect to each
subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to
a maximum amount of Liquidated Damages of $.50 per week per $1,000 principal
amount of Transfer Restricted Securities. 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
accrual of Liquidated Damages payable with respect to the Transfer Restricted
Securities as a result of such clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), as applicable,
shall
6
cease.
All accrued Liquidated Damages shall be paid to the Global Note Holder
by wire transfer of immediately available funds or by federal funds check and to
Holders of Certificated Securities by mailing checks to their registered
addresses on each Damages Payment Date. All obligations of the Company set forth
in the preceding paragraph that are outstanding with respect to any Transfer
Restricted Security at the time such security ceases to be a Transfer Restricted
Security shall survive until such time as all such obligations with respect to
such security shall have been satisfied in full.
SECTION 6. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. In connection with the
-------------------------------------
Exchange Offer, the Company shall comply with all applicable provisions of
Section 6(c) hereof, shall use its best efforts to effect such exchange and to
permit the sale of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in
accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and
shall comply with all reasonable requests from, or conditions specified by the
Commission in connection therewith, including, without limitation, as a
condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement, each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall furnish,
upon the request of the Company, prior to the Consummation of the Exchange
Offer, a written representation to the Company (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 New Notes
to be issued in the Exchange Offer and (C) it is acquiring the New Notes in its
ordinary course of business. Each Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that any
Broker-Dealer and any such Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate in a
distribution of the securities to be acquired in the Exchange Offer (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 by the Company), and (2) must comply with the
registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities 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 Item 507 or 508, as
applicable, of Regulation S-K if the resales are of New Notes obtained by such
Holder in exchange for Senior Notes acquired by such Holder directly from the
Company or an affiliate thereof.
(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf
----------------------------
Registration Statement, the Company shall comply with all the provisions of
Section 6(c) hereof and shall use its 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 will prepare and file with the
Commission a Registration Statement relating to the registration on any
appropriate form under the Securities 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.
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(c) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration Statement
------------------
and any related Prospectus required by this Agreement to permit the sale or
resale of Transfer Restricted Securities (including, without limitation, any
Exchange Offer Registration Statement and the related Prospectus, to the extent
that the same are required to be available to permit sales of Broker-Dealer
Transfer Restricted Securities by Restricted Broker-Dealers), the Company shall:
(i) use its best efforts to keep such Registration Statement
continuously effective and provide all requisite financial statements
for the period specified in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable. Upon
the occurrence of any event that would cause any such Registration
Statement or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain a material
misstatement or omission or (B) not to be effective and usable for
resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during the period required
hereby, the Company shall file promptly an appropriate amendment to
such Registration Statement, (1) in the case of clause (A), correcting
any such misstatement or omission, and (2) in the case of clauses (A)
and (B), use its best efforts to cause such amendment to be declared
effective and such Registration Statement and the related Prospectus to
become usable for their intended purpose(s) as soon as practicable
thereafter.
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and
post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement as may be
necessary to keep the Registration Statement effective for the
applicable period set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, or such shorter
period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities
covered by such Registration Statement have been sold; cause the
Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement,
and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the
Securities Act, and to comply fully with Rules 424, 430A and 462, as
applicable, under the Securities Act in a timely manner; and comply
with the provisions of the Securities 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 the underwriter(s), if any, and selling Holders
of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the applicable Shelf
Registration Statement, promptly and, if requested by such Persons,
confirm such advice in writing, (A) when the Prospectus or any
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and,
with respect to any Registration Statement or any post-effective
amendment thereto, when the same has become effective, (B) of any
request by the Commission for amendments to the Registration Statement
or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or for additional
information relating thereto, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of
any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement under the Securities 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
8
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 shall use its best
efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the
earliest possible time;
(iv) furnish to the Initial Purchasers, each selling Holder
named in any Registration Statement or Prospectus and each of the
underwriter(s) in connection with such 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 and underwriter(s) 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 the
selling Holders of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such
Registration Statement or the underwriter(s) in connection with such
sale, if any, shall reasonably object within five Business Days after
the receipt thereof.
(v) promptly prior to the filing of any document that is to
be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or
Prospectus, provide copies of such document to the selling Holders and
to the underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, make the
Company's representatives available for discussion of such document and
other customary due diligence matters, and include such information in
such document prior to the filing thereof as such selling Holders or
underwriter(s), if any, reasonably may request;
(vi) make available at reasonable times for inspection by the
selling Holders, any managing underwriter participating in any
disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement and any attorney or
accountant retained by such selling Holders or any of such
underwriter(s), all financial and other records, pertinent corporate
documents and properties of the Company and cause the Company's
officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably
requested by any such Holder, underwriter, 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 as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to
exercise any applicable due diligence responsibilities, provided that
each such person shall first agree in writing with the Company that (A)
any information that is designated in writing by the Company in good
faith as confidential at the time of delivery of such information (the
"Information") to such person shall be kept confidential by such
person, unless such disclosure is made in connection with a court
proceeding or required by law, or such Information becomes available to
the public generally or through a third party without an accompanying
obligation of confidentiality, (B) such Information shall be deemed
confidential and shall not be used by such person as the basis for any
market transactions in the securities of the Company unless and until
such Information is made generally available to the public, and (C)
such person will, upon learning that disclosure of such Information is
sought in a court of competent jurisdiction, give notice to the Company
and allow the Company (at the Company's expense, as applicable) to
undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of such Information;
9
(vii) if requested by any selling Holders or the
underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, promptly include
in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement
or post-effective amendment if necessary, such information as such
selling Holders and underwriter(s), if any, may reasonably request to
have included therein, including, without limitation, information
relating to the "Plan of Distribution" of the Transfer Restricted
Securities, information with respect to the principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities being sold to such underwriter(s), the
purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering
of the Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold in such offering; and
make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company is
notified of the matters to be included in such Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment; provided, that the Company shall not be
required to take any action pursuant to this Section 6(c)(vii) that
would, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, violate applicable
law.
(viii) furnish to each selling Holder and each of the
underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, without charge, at
least one copy of the Registration Statement, as first filed with the
Commission, and of each amendment thereto, including all documents
incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits (including exhibits
incorporated therein by reference);
(ix) deliver to each selling Holder and each of the
underwriter(s), if any, without charge, as many copies of the
Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or
supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may request; the Company
hereby consents to the use (in accordance with law) of the Prospectus
and any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders
(but, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, only those holders
selling Transfer Restricted Securities included in such Shelf
Registration Statement) and each of the underwriter(s), if any, in
connection with the offering and the sale of the Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto;
(x) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, enter
into such agreements (including an underwriting agreement) and make
such customary representations and warranties and take all such other
actions in connection therewith reasonably necessary in order to
expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Transfer Restricted
Securities pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by
this Agreement as may be reasonably requested by any Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities or underwriter in connection with any sale or
resale pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by
this Agreement, and in such connection, whether or not an underwriting
agreement is entered into and whether or not the registration is an
Underwritten Registration, the Company shall:
(A) furnish to each selling Holder and each
underwriter, if any, upon the effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration Statement (1) 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, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the underwriters, if any, and the
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Transfer
Restricted Securities being sold, covering customary matters,
and (2) a customary comfort letter, dated as of the date of
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement or the date
of Consummation of the Exchange Offer, as the
10
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 primary underwritten offerings; and
(B) deliver such other documents and certificates as
may be reasonably requested by the selling Holders, the
underwriter(s), if any, and Restricted Broker Dealers, if any,
to evidence compliance with clause (A) above and with any
customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement
or other agreement entered into by the Company pursuant to
this clause (x).
The above shall be done at each closing under such underwriting or
similar agreement, as and to the extent required thereunder, and if at
any time the representations and warranties of the Company contained in
such underwriting or similar agreement cease to be true and correct,
the Company shall so advise the underwriter(s), if any, the selling
Holders and each Restricted Broker-Dealer promptly and if requested by
such Persons, shall confirm such advice in writing;
(xi) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted
Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders, the underwriter(s), if
any, and their respective counsel in connection with the registration
and qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under the
securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the selling
Holders or underwriter(s), if any, 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 that the Company shall not
be required to register or qualify as a foreign corporation where it is
not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to the
service of process in suits or to taxation, other than as to matters
and transactions relating to the Registration Statement, in any
jurisdiction where it is not now so subject;
(xii) issue, upon the request of any Holder of Senior Notes
covered by any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this
Agreement and upon surrender of the Senior Notes held by such Holder to
the Company for cancellation, New Notes having an aggregate principal
amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes
surrendered to the Company by such Holder in exchange therefor or being
sold by such Holder; such New Notes to be registered in the name of
such Holder or in the name of the purchaser(s) of such Notes, as the
case may be; in return, the Senior Notes held by such Holder shall be
surrendered to the Company for cancellation;
(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 selling Holders and the
underwriter(s), if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and
delivery of certificates representing Transfer Restricted Securities to
be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and to register such
Transfer Restricted Securities in such denominations and such names as
the Holders or the underwriter(s), if any, may request at least two
Business Days prior to such sale of Transfer Restricted Securities;
(xiv) subject to Section 6(c)(i) hereof, if any fact or event
contemplated by Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof 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
11
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;
(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) cooperate and assist in any filings required to be
made with the NASD and in the performance of any due diligence
investigation by any underwriter (including any "qualified independent
underwriter") that is required to be retained in accordance with the
rules and regulations of the NASD, and use their respective best
efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and
approved by and upon surrender of the Senior Notes held by such Holder
to the Company for cancellation, such governmental agencies or
authorities as may be necessary to enable the Holders selling Transfer
Restricted Securities to consummate the disposition of such Transfer
Restricted Securities;
(xvii) 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 earnings 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 Securities Act);
(xviii) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA not
later than the effective date of the first Registration Statement
required by this Agreement and, in connection therewith, cooperate with
the Trustee and the Holders of Notes to effect such changes to the
Indenture as may be required for such Indenture to be so qualified in
accordance with the terms of the TIA; and execute and use its 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
(d) Restrictions on Holders.
(i) Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a Transfer
Restricted Security that, upon receipt of the notice referred to in Section
6(c)(i) hereof or any notice from the Company of the existence of any fact of
the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof, such Holder will forthwith
discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the
applicable Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of
the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xiv) hereof,
or until it 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 (the "Advice"). If
so directed by the Company, each Holder will deliver to the Company (at the
Company's expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such
Holder's possession, of the Prospectus covering such Transfer Restricted
Securities that was current at the time of
12
receipt of either such notice. In the event the Company shall give any such
notice, the time period regarding the effectiveness of such Registration
Statement set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, shall be extended
by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the
giving of such notice pursuant to Section 6(c)(i) or Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof
to and including the date when each selling Holder covered by such Registration
Statement shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended
Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xiv) hereof or shall have received the
Advice.
(ii) The Holders will furnish the information required to be
furnished pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof within the time period set forth
herein.
(iii) Sales of such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to
a Registration Statement shall only be made in the manner set forth in such
currently effective Registration Statement.
SECTION 7. REGISTRATION EXPENSES
(a) All expenses incident to the Company's performance of or
compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company, regardless of
whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including, without
limitation,: (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses (including
filings made by any Initial Purchaser or Holder with the NASD (and, if
applicable, the fees and expenses of any "qualified independent underwriter")
and its counsel that may be required by the rules and regulations of the NASD);
(ii) all fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state Blue
Sky or securities laws; (iii) all expenses of printing (including printing
certificates for the New 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, and, subject to Section 7(b)
hereof, the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; (v) all application and
filing fees in connection with listing the 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 (including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters
required by or incident to such performance).
The Company will, in any event, bear its 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.
(b) In connection with any Registration Statement required by this
Agreement (including, without limitation, the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement and the Shelf Registration Statement), the Company will reimburse the
Initial Purchasers and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities being
tendered in the Exchange Offer and/or resold pursuant to the "Plan of
Distribution" contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or
registered pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable, for the
reasonable fees and disbursements of not more than one counsel (which counsel
shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company), who shall be chosen by the
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities
for whose benefit such Registration Statement is being prepared; provided that
such fees and disbursements of such counsel shall not exceed $50,000.
SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION
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(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless (i) each Holder
and (ii) each person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of
the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) any Holder (any of the
persons referred to in this clause (ii) being hereinafter referred to as a
"controlling person") and (iii) the respective officers, directors, partners,
employees, representatives and agents of any Holder or any controlling person
(any person referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) may hereinafter be referred
to as an "Indemnified Holder"), to the fullest extent lawful, from and against
any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, actions and
expenses (including, without limitation, and as incurred, reimbursement of all
reasonable costs of investigating, preparing, pursuing or defending any claim or
action, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body,
commenced or threatened, including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel
to any Indemnified Holder) directly or indirectly caused by, related to, based
upon, arising out of or in connection with 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),
or 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 (i) insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are
caused by an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or
omission that is made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
relating to any of the Holders furnished in writing to the Company by any of the
Holders expressly for use therein or (ii) to the extent that any such loses,
claims, damages, liabilities, or expenses result solely from an untrue statement
of a material fact contained in, or the omission of a material fact from the
Registration Statement or Prospectus, which untrue statement or omission was
corrected in an amended or supplemented Registration Statement or Prospectus, if
the person alleging such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense was not sent
or given, at or prior to the written confirmation of such sale, a copy of the
amended or supplemented Registration Statement or Prospectus if the Company had
previously furnished copies thereof to such indemnified party and if delivery of
a prospectus was required by the Securities Act and was not so made.
In case any action or proceeding (including any governmental or
regulatory investigation or proceeding) shall be brought or asserted against any
of the Indemnified Holders with respect to which indemnity may be sought against
the Company, such Indemnified Holder (or the Indemnified Holder controlled by
such controlling person) shall promptly notify the Company in writing, and the
Company shall assume the defense of such action, including the employment of
counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Holder 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 Section
8(a) and 8(b) hereof, such Indemnified Holder shall not be required to assume
the defense of such action pursuant hereto, but may employ separate counsel and
participate in the defense thereof; however, the fees and expense of such
counsel, except as provided below, shall be at the expense of such Indemnified
Holder). Such Indemnified Holder shall have the right to employ it own counsel;
any such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and
expenses of such counsel shall be at the expenses of such Indemnified Holder
unless (i) the employment of such counsel shall have been specifically
authorized in writing by the Company, (ii) the Company shall have failed to
assume the defense of such action or employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to
such Indemnified Holder within a reasonable period of time after notice of the
institution of such action or (iii) the named parties to any such action
(including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Holder and the
Company, and such Indemnified Holder 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 Company (in which case the Company
shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action on behalf of such
Indemnified Holder). In any such case, the Company
14
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 expense of more
than on separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) for all
indemnified parties and all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they
are incurred (upon written request and presentation of reasonably satisfactory
invoices). Such firm shall be designated in writing by all Indemnified Holders,
in the case of the parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(a) hereof, and by
the Company, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(b) hereof.
The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless such Indemnified Holder from and
against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments by reason
of any settlement of any action (i) effected with its written consent or (ii)
effected without its written consent if the settlement is entered into more than
twenty business days after the Company shall have received a request form such
Indemnified Holder for reimbursement for the fees and expenses of counsel (in
any case where such fees and expenses are at the expense of the Company, and
prior to the date of such settlement, the Company shall have received written
notice of such settlement and shall have failed to comply with such
reimbursement request. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent
of such Indemnified Holder, effect any settlement or compromise of, or consent
to the entry of judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action in
respect of which such Indemnified Holder is or could have been a party and
indemnity or contribution may be or could have been sought hereunder by such
Indemnified Holders, unless such settlement, compromise or judgement includes an
unconditional release of such Indemnified Holder from all liability on claims
that are or could have been the subject matter of such action.
(b) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agrees, severally
and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors,
officers, and any person controlling (within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) the Company, and the
respective officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives and agents
of each such person, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the
Company to each of the Indemnified Holders, but only with respect to claims and
actions based on information relating to such Holder furnished in writing by
such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement. In case any action
or proceeding shall be brought against the Company, or its directors or officers
or any such controlling person in respect of which indemnity may be sought
against a Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, such Holder shall have the
rights and duties given the Company and such directors or officers or such
controlling person shall have the rights and duties given to each Holder by the
preceding paragraph. In no event shall any Holder be liable or responsible for
any amount in excess of the amount by which the total received by such Holder
with respect to its 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.
(c) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is
unavailable to an indemnified party under Section 8(a) or 8(b) hereof (other
than by reason of exceptions provided in those Sections) in respect of any
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then each
applicable 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 expenses in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the
Company, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, from their sale of
Transfer Restricted Securities or if such allocation is not permitted by
applicable law, the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and of the
Indemnified Holder, on the
15
other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company, on the one
hand, and of the Indemnified 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 by the Indemnified Holder. The
amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject
to the limitations set forth in the second paragraph of Section 8(a) hereof, any
legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection
with investigating or defending any action or claim.
(d) The Company and each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agree
that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section
8(c) 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 expenses 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 such
action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Holder or
its related Indemnified Holders 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 its Transfer Restricted Securities
pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds the sum of (A) the amount paid by
such Holder for such Transfer Restricted Securities plus (B) 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 Securities 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 Senior Notes held by each of the Holders
hereunder and not joint.
SECTION 9. RULE 144A
The Company hereby agrees with each Holder, for so long as any Transfer
Restricted Securities remain outstanding and during any period in which the
Company is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to make
available, upon request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, to any
Holder or beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with
any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted
Securities designated by such Holder or beneficial owner, the information
required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act in order to permit resales
of such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A.
SECTION 10. UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATIONS
No Holder may participate in any Underwritten Registration hereunder
unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder's Transfer Restricted
Securities on the basis provided in customary underwriting arrangements entered
into in connection therewith and (b) completes and executes all reasonable
questionnaires, powers of attorney, and other documents required under the terms
of such underwriting arrangements.
16
SECTION 11. SELECTION OF UNDERWRITERS
For any Underwritten Offering, the investment banker or investment
bankers and manager or managers for any Underwritten Offering that will
administer such offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities included in
such offering provided, that such underwriters must be reasonably satisfactory
to the Company. Such investment bankers and managers are referred to herein as
the "underwriters."
SECTION 12. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) Remedies. Each Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise
--------
all rights provided herein, in the Indenture, the Purchase Agreement or granted
by law, including recovery of liquidated or other damages, will be entitled to
specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company agrees that
monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by
reason of a breach by them of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby agree
to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law
would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company will not, on or after the
--------------------------
date hereof, 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. The Company has not previously
entered into any agreement granting any registration rights with respect to its
securities to any Person. 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 securities under any agreement in effect on the date
hereof.
(c) Adjustments Affecting the Notes. The Company will not take any
-------------------------------
action, or voluntarily permit any change to occur, with respect to the Notes
that would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Holders to
Consummate any Exchange Offer.
(d) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not
----------------------
be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures
from the provisions hereof may not be given unless (i) in the case of Section 5
hereof and this Section 12(d)(i), the Company has obtained the written consent
of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities affected by such
amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent, 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to departure from
the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose
securities are being tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer and that does not
affect directly or indirectly the rights of other Holders whose securities are
not being tendered pursuant to such Exchange Offer may be given by the Holders
of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted
Securities being sold rather than being registered in such Exchange Offer.
(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:
17
(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:
Xxx. Xxxxxx' Holding Company, Inc.
0000 X. Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxx 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
With a copy to:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx, Esq.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: (i) at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; (ii) five
Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed;
(iii) when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and (iv) on the next business
day, if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the
address specified in the Indenture.
(f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
----------------------
of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties,
including, without limitation, and without the need for an express assignment,
subsequent Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided that this
Agreement shall not inure to the benefit of or be binding upon a successor or
assign of a Holder unless and to the extent such successor or assign acquired
Transfer Restricted Securities directly from such Holder.
(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
------------
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
--------
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(i) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
-------------
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, 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
18
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.
19
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
XXX. XXXXXX' HOLDING COMPANY, INC.
By: _______________________________
Name: Xxx Xxxxxx
Title: Chief Financial Officer
XXXXXXXXX & COMPANY, INC.
By: _______________________________
Name:
Title:
BT ALEX. XXXXX INCORPORATED
By: _______________________________
Name:
Title:
