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EXHIBIT 4.11
EXECUTION COPY
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EXCHANGE AND
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of November 5, 1997
by and among
PCI Chemicals Canada Inc.
The Guarantors listed on Schedule I hereto
and
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation and
Salomon Brothers Inc
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This Registration Rights Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is made and
entered into as of November 5, 1997 by and among PCI Chemicals Canada Inc., a
New Brunswick corporation (the "COMPANY"), the companies listed on Schedule I
hereto (each a "GUARANTOR" and, collectively, the "GUARANTORS"), and Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation and Salomon Brothers Inc (each an
"INITIAL PURCHASER" and, collectively, the "INITIAL PURCHASERS"), each of whom
has agreed to purchase the Company's 9 1/4% Senior Secured Notes due 2007 (the
"SERIES A NOTES") pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated
October 22, 1997 (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 set forth in Section 2 of the Purchase Agreement. Capitalized terms
used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meaning assigned to them
in the Indenture (the "INDENTURE"), dated as of October 30, 1997, among the
Company, the Guarantors, and United States Trust Company of New York, as
Trustee, relating to the Series A Notes and the Series B Notes (as defined).
The parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have
the following meanings:
ACT: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
AFFILIATE: As defined in Rule 144 of the Act.
BROKER-DEALER: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange
Act.
BUSINESS DAY: Each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
which is not a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York or The
New York Stock Exchange are authorized or obligated by law or executive order
to close.
CERTIFICATED SECURITIES: Physical 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
maintaining of such Exchange Offer 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) 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.
EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE: As defined in Section 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.
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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 to certain "qualified institutional buyers,"
as such term is defined in Rule 144A under the Act.
FILING DEADLINE: As defined in Sections 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.
HOLDERS: As defined in Section 2 hereof.
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 including 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) that
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 that holds Series B
Notes that were acquired in the Exchange Offer in exchange for 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).
RULE 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.
SERIES B NOTES: The Company's 9 1/4% Senior Secured Notes due 2007
to be issued pursuant to the Indenture: (i) in the Exchange Offer or (ii) as
contemplated by Section 4 hereof.
SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT: As defined in Section 4 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.
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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 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 Act.
SECTION 2. HOLDERS
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) 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 (the "EXCHANGE OFFER FILING DATE"), but in
no event later than 30 days after the Closing Date (such 30th day being the
"FILING DEADLINE"), (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 (such 150th 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, commence and
Consummate the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall be on the appropriate
form permitting registration of the Series B Notes to be offered in exchange
for the Series A Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities and to permit
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 best
efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be declared
effective, and shall keep the Exchange Offer open for a period of not less than
the minimum period required under applicable federal and state securities laws
to Consummate the Exchange Offer; provided, however, that in no event shall
such period be less than 20 Business Days. The Company and the Guarantors
shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply with all applicable federal and state
securities laws. No securities other than the Series B Notes shall be included
in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. The Company and the Guarantors
shall use their respective 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 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 Transfer
Restricted Securities acquired directly
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from the Company or any Affiliate of the Company), may exchange such Transfer
Restricted Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer; however, such
Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the
Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the
Act in connection with its initial sale of any Series B Notes received by such
Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer and that the Prospectus contained in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement may be used to satisfy such prospectus
delivery requirement. 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.
To the extent necessary to ensure that 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 and amended as required by the provisions of Section
6(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 180 days (or such longer period if extended
pursuant to Section 6(d) below) from the date on which the Exchange Offer is
Consummated, or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer
Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold
pursuant thereto. The Company and the Guarantors shall promptly provide
sufficient copies of the latest version of such Prospectus to such
Broker-Dealers promptly upon request, and in no event later than one Business
Day after such request, at any time during such period.
SECTION 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 of
Transfer Restricted Securities shall notify the Company within 10 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 or (C) such Holder is a Broker-Dealer
and holds Series A Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its
Affiliates, 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 "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) shall use their respective best efforts to cause such Shelf
Registration Statement to become effective on or prior to 150 days after the
Filing Deadline (such 150th day the "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
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Registration Statement solely because the Exchange Offer is not 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;
provided that, in such event, the Company shall remain obligated to meet the
Effectiveness Deadline set forth in clause (y).
The Company and the Guarantors shall use their respective best
efforts to keep any Shelf Registration Statement required by this Section 4(a)
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 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(d)) following
the date on which such Shelf Registration Statement first became effective
under the Act, or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer
Restricted Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been
sold pursuant thereto.
(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 15 Business Days after receipt of a request
therefor, the information specified in Item 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. No Holder
of Transfer Restricted Securities shall be entitled to liquidated damages
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.
SECTION 5. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
If (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not
filed with the Commission on or prior to the applicable Filing Deadline, (ii)
any such Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the
Commission on or prior to the applicable Effectiveness Deadline, (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 for a period of 15 consecutive days
without being succeeded immediately by a post-effective amendment to such
Registration Statement that cures such failure and that is itself declared
effective (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a
"REGISTRATION DEFAULT"), then the Company and the Guarantors hereby jointly and
severally agree to pay to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
affected thereby liquidated damages in an amount equal to $.05 per week per
$1,000 in principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by such
Holder for each week or portion thereof that the Registration Default continues
for the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of such
Registration Default. 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 in principal amount of Transfer Restricted
Securities; provided that the Company and the Guarantors shall in no event be
required to pay liquidated damages for more than one Registration Default at
any given time. 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
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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 liquidated damages payable with respect to the Transfer Restricted
Securities as a result of such clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), as applicable,
shall cease.
All accrued liquidated damages 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. All obligations of the Company and the Guarantors set forth in the
preceding paragraph that are outstanding with respect to any Transfer
Restricted Security at the time such security ceases to be a Transfer
Restricted Security shall survive until such time as all such 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 and the Guarantors shall comply with all applicable
provisions of Section 6(c) below, shall 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 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 shall 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. In connection with the foregoing, the Company
and the Guarantors hereby agree to take all such other actions as may be
reasonably 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 of Transfer Restricted Securities (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. Each Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate in a
distribution of the Series B Notes hereby acknowledges and agrees that, if
the resales are of Series B Notes obtained
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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 (available
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
Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K.
(iii) Prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall provide a supplemental
letter to the Commission (A) stating that the Company and the Guarantors
are registering the Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the
Commission enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May
13, 1988), Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) as
interpreted in the Commission's letter to Shearman & Sterling (available
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.
(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall comply with all
the provisions of Section 6(c) below and shall use 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 Shelf
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.
(c) General Provisions. In connection with any 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 effective and provide all requisite financial statements for the
period specified in Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement, as applicable; upon
the occurrence of any event that would cause any such Registration
Statement or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain a material
misstatement or omission or (B) not to be effective and usable for resale
of Transfer Restricted Securities during the period required by this
Agreement, 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;
(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
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effective for the applicable period set forth in Section 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 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 the selling Holders (to the extent known by the
Company) and Initial Purchasers 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 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, use their respective best efforts to
obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible
time;
(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 the Initial Purchasers and each selling Holder
named in any Registration Statement or Prospectus 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 Persons 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 Persons shall
reasonably object within five Business Days after the receipt thereof;
such Persons shall be deemed to have reasonably objected to such filing if
such Registration Statement, amendment, Prospectus or supplement, as
applicable, as proposed to be filed, contains a material misstatement or
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omission or fails to comply with the applicable requirements of the Act
(except with respect to information provided by the Holders or the Initial
Purchasers for use therein);
(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 the selling Holders and Initial
Purchasers 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, in each case as
such Persons may reasonably request (except to the extent any such
information requested to be included would in the reasonable judgment of
the Company make the statements therein misleading);
(vii) make available at reasonable times for inspection by the
selling Holders participating in any disposition pursuant to such
Registration Statement and Initial Purchasers and any attorney or
accountant retained by such Persons, 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 Persons, 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;
(viii) if requested by any selling Holders in connection with
such exchange or sale or any Initial Purchasers, in connection with market
making activities, 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 Initial Purchasers
may reasonably request to have included therein, including, without
limitation, information relating to the "Plan of Distribution" of the
Transfer Restricted Securities and the use of the Registration Statement
or Prospectus for market making activities; 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 selling Holder so requesting, 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 all documents incorporated by reference
therein and all exhibits (including exhibits incorporated therein by
reference);
(x) deliver to each selling Holder so requesting, without
charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary
prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto as such selling Holder
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 of the selling Holders 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 selling 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 Shelf Registration
Statement contemplated by this Agreement as may be reasonably requested by
any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with any sale
or resale pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement. In such
connection, the Company and the Guarantors shall:
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(A) upon request of any selling Holder, furnish (or in the case
of paragraphs (2) and (3), use its best efforts to cause to be
furnished) to each selling Holder, upon the effectiveness of the
Shelf Registration Statement;
(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 each Guarantor, confirming, as of the date
thereof, the matters set forth in paragraphs (a) through (c) of
Section 9 of the Purchase Agreement and such other similar
matters as the selling Holders may reasonably request;
(2) an opinion, dated the date of effectiveness of the
Shelf Registration Statement, of counsel for the Company and the
Guarantors covering matters similar to those set forth in
paragraph (e) of Section 9 of the Purchase Agreement and such
other matter as the selling Holders may reasonably request, and
in any event including a statement to the effect that such
counsel has participated in conferences with officers and other
representatives of the Company and the Guarantors,
representatives of the independent public accountants for the
Company and the Guarantors and have considered the matters
required to be stated therein and the statements contained
therein, although such counsel has not independently verified
the accuracy, completeness or fairness of such statements; and
that such counsel advises that, on the basis of the foregoing
(relying as to materiality to the extent such counsel deems
appropriate upon the statements of officers and other
representatives of the Company and the Guarantors and without
independent check or verification), no facts came to such
counsel's attention that caused such counsel to believe that the
Shelf Registration Statement, at the time such Shelf
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto
became effective, contained an untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, or that the Prospectus contained in such
Registration Statement as of its date, as of the date of
Consummation, contained an untrue statement of a material fact
or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. Without limiting the
foregoing, such counsel may state further that such counsel
assumes no responsibility for, and has not independently
verified, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the
financial statements, notes and schedules and other financial
data included in any Registration Statement contemplated by this
Agreement or the related Prospectus; and
(3) a customary comfort letter, dated 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(s) 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 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
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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 or to take any action
that would subject it to the service of process in suits or to taxation,
in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject;
(xiii) issue, upon the request of any Holder 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 surrendered to the
Company by such Holder in exchange therefor or being sold by such Holder;
such Series B Notes to be registered in the name of such Holder or in the
name of the purchaser(s) of such Series B Notes, as the case may be; in
return, the Series A Notes held by such Holder shall be surrendered to the
Company for cancellation;
(xiv) 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 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 selling Holders may request at least two Business
Days prior to such sale of Transfer Restricted Securities;
(xv) 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;
(xvi) 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, if so requested, for the Transfer
Restricted Securities which are in a form eligible for deposit with The
Depository Trust Company;
(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 Act);
(xviii) make appropriate officers of the Company reasonably
available to the selling Holders for meetings with prospective purchasers
of the Transfer Restricted Securities and prepare and present to potential
investors customary "road show" material in a manner consistent with other
new issuances of other securities similar to the Transfer Restricted
Securities; and
(xix) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA not
later than the effective date of the first Registration Statement required
by this Agreement and, in connection therewith, cooperate with the Trustee
and the Holders 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
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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
(xx) provide promptly to each Holder and Initial Purchaser 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 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 Section 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.
SECTION 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, with
respect to a Shelf Registration Statement only, the Holders of Transfer
Restricted Securities; and (v) 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 or anything in this Agreement
to the contrary, each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities being registered
shall pay all commissions, placement agent fees and underwriting discounts and
commissions with respect to any Transfer Restricted Securities sold by it and
the fees and disbursements of any counsel, other than as set forth in clause
(iv) above and paragraph (b) below.
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.
(b) In connection with any Shelf Registration Statement required by
this Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors will reimburse the Initial
Purchasers and the Holders of Transfer Restricted
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Securities resold pursuant to the "Plan of Distribution" contained in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, for the reasonable fees and
disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall be Milbank, Tweed, Xxxxxx
& XxXxxx, unless another firm 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.
SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION
(a) The Company and the Guarantors agree, jointly and severally, to
indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, its directors, its 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) (each, an "INDEMNIFIED HOLDER"),
from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments
(including without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably 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
or any Guarantor to any holder or any prospective purchaser of Series B 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 information relating to any of the
Holders furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder; provided, however,
that the indemnity obligations arising under this Section 8(a) with respect to
a specific untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission
of a material fact in any preliminary Prospectus shall not inure to the benefit
of any Indemnified Holder if the person asserting any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or judgments with respect to such untrue statement or omission
purchased the Series A Notes and Subsidiary Guarantees from such Indemnified
Holder and if it is established in the related proceeding that a copy
(provided, that the Company and the Guarantors have complied with their
obligations under Section 6(c)(x) hereof) of a final Prospectus was not sent or
given by or on behalf of such Indemnified Holder to such person at or prior to
the written confirmation of the sale of the Series A Notes or Series B Notes
and Subsidiary Guarantees to such person if required by applicable law, and if
the final Prospectus would have cured the untrue statement or omission giving
rise to such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments; provided,
further, that the Company and the Guarantors shall not be relieved thereby by
their indemnity obligation with respect to any other untrue statement or
omission or alleged untrue statement or omission of a material fact.
(b) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities 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 to each of the Indemnified
Holders, 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 no event shall any Holder be liable or responsible
for any amount in excess of the amount by which the total amount 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 that such
Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
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(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), an Indemnified 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 Indemnified 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 reasonable fees and expenses of more than one
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. Such firm shall be designated in writing by a majority of the
Indemnified Holders, in the case of the parties indemnified pursuant to Section
8(a), and by the Company, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to
Section 8(b). The indemnifying party shall indemnify and hold harmless the
indemnified party from and against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and judgments by reason of any settlement of any action (i)
effected with the written consent of the indemnifying party or (ii) effected
without the written consent of the indemnifying party if the settlement is
entered into more than twenty Business Days after the indemnifying party shall
have received a request from the indemnified party for reimbursement for the
fees and expenses of counsel (in any case where such fees and expenses are at
the expense of the indemnifying party) and, prior to the date of such
settlement, the indemnifying party shall have failed to comply with such
reimbursement request. 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 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 or insufficient 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 Holders, on the other
hand, from their sale of Transfer Restricted Securities or (ii) if the
allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred
to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company and the
Guarantors, on the one hand, and of
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the Indemnified 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
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 such Guarantor, on the one
hand, or by the Indemnified 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 amount paid or payable by a party as a
result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments referred to
above shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably
incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action
or claim.
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 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 or its related Indemnified Holders shall be required to
contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the
total amount 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 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(d) are several in
proportion to the respective principal amount of Transfer Restricted
Securities held by each of the Holders hereunder and not joint.
(e) The remedies provided for in this Section 8 are not exclusive
and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to
any indemnified party at law or in equity.
SECTION 9. RULE 144 AND RULE 144A
The Company and each Guarantor agree 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 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 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.
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SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) Remedies. The Company and the Guarantors acknowledge and agree
that any failure by the Company and/or 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 Guarantor's 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
outstanding securities (other than the Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement dated as of June 17, 1997, entered into with respect to the Company's
9 1/4% Senior Secured Notes due 2007) 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 and the Guarantors'
securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.
(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 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 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 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;
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(ii) if to the Company or the Guarantors, at:
PCI Chemicals Canada Inc.
4300 NationsBank Center
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: General Counsel
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.
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.
Upon the date of filing of the Exchange Offer or a Shelf Registration
Statement, as the case may be, notice shall be delivered to Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx &
Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation, on behalf of the Initial Purchasers (in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit A) and shall be addressed to: Attention:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx (Compliance Department), 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx
00000.
(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 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.
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(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.
(signature pages follow)
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of
the date first written above.
PCI CHEMICALS CANADA INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXX
-----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
PIONEER AMERICAS ACQUISITION CORP.
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXX
-----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
PIONEER AMERICAS, INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXX
-----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
PIONEER CHLOR ALKALI COMPANY, INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXX
-----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
IMPERIAL WEST CHEMICAL CO.
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXX
-----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
21
ALL-PURE CHEMICAL CO.
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXX
-----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
BLACK MOUNTAIN POWER COMPANY
By:
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXX
-----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
ALL PURE CHEMICAL NORTHWEST, INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXX
-----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
PIONEER CHLOR ALKALI INTERNATIONAL,
INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXX
-----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
G.O.W. CORPORATION
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXX
-----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
PIONEER (EAST), INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXX
-----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President
22
T.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXX
-----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
T.C. PRODUCTS, INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXX
-----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
PCI CAROLINA, INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXX
-----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
PIONEER LICENSING, INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXX
-----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President
Accepted as of the date hereof:
XXXXXXXXX, XXXXXX & XXXXXXXX
SECURITIES CORPORATION
SALOMON BROTHERS INC
By: XXXXXXXXX, XXXXXX & XXXXXXXX
SECURITIES CORPORATION
By: [ILLEGIBLE]
-----------------------------
Name:
Title:
23
SCHEDULE 1
Guarantors
Pioneer Americas Acquisition Corp.
Pioneer Americas, Inc.
Pioneer Chlor Alkali Company, Inc.
Imperial West Chemical Co.
All-Pure Chemical Co.
Black Mountain Power Company
All Pure Chemical Northwest, Inc.
Pioneer Chlor Alkali International, Inc.
G.O.W. Corporation
Pioneer (East), Inc.
T.C. Holdings, Inc.
T.C. Products, Inc.
PCI Carolina, Inc.
Pioneer Licensing, Inc.
22
