EXHIBIT 4.4
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated June 30, 1997
among
XXXXXX HEALTH PRODUCTS INC.,
XXXXXX HEALTH PRODUCTS GROUP INC.
and
XXXXXXX LYNCH, PIERCE, XXXXXX & XXXXX
INCORPORATED
SALOMON BROTHERS INC
and
SCOTIA CAPITAL MARKETS (USA) INC.,
as Purchasers
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "AGREEMENT") is made and
entered into June 30, 1997 among Xxxxxx Health Products Group Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "XXXXXX GROUP"), Xxxxxx Health Products Inc., a Delaware
corporation and a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Xxxxxx Group ("LHP"), and
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Co., Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated, Salomon
Brothers Inc and Scotia Capital Markets (USA) Inc. (collectively the
"PURCHASERS").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement dated June
19, 1997 (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), among Xxxxxx Group, LHP and the Purchasers,
which provides for, among other things, the sale by Xxxxxx Group to the
Purchasers of an aggregate of $85,000,000 principal amount of Xxxxxx Group's
95/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007 (the "SECURITIES"). Immediately
following the consummation of such sale, pursuant to a supplemental indenture
(the "FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE") to be entered into between LHP and the
Trustee, the obligations of Xxxxxx Group under the Securities will be assumed by
LHP and LHP will become the obligor under the Securities (the "ASSUMPTION").
Upon consummation of the Assumption, Xxxxxx Group will be unconditionally
released from its obligations under this Agreement. As used herein, the term
"Company" shall initially refer to Xxxxxx Group, and from and after the
consummation of the Assumption shall refer to LHP. In order to induce the
Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, Xxxxxx Group and LHP have
agreed to provide to the Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees
the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery
of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Purchase Agreement.
By accepting any Security (including any Registrable Security) each Holder
agrees (and shall be deemed to agree) to be bound by the terms and conditions of
this Agreement.
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
1. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Agreement, the following
capitalized defined terms shall have the following meanings:
"ADDITIONAL INTEREST" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(e)
hereof.
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"ADVICE" shall have the meaning set forth in the last paragraph of
Section 3 hereof.
"APPLICABLE PERIOD" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(t)
hereof.
"ASSUMPTION" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this
Agreement.
"BUSINESS DAY" shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in New York, New
York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
"CLOSING TIME" shall mean the Closing Time as defined in the Purchase
Agreement.
"COMPANY" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this
Agreement and also includes the Company's successors and permitted assigns.
"DEPOSITARY" shall mean The Depository Trust Company, or any other
depositary appointed by the Company; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such depositary
must have an address in the Borough of Manhattan, in The City of New York.
"EFFECTIVENESS PERIOD" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(b) hereof.
"EVENT DATE" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(e) hereof.
"EXCHANGE ACT" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended from time to time.
"EXCHANGE OFFER" shall mean the offer by the Company to the Holders to
exchange all of the Registrable Securities (other than Private Exchange
Securities) for a like principal amount of Exchange Securities pursuant to
Section 2(a) hereof.
"EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION" shall mean a registration under the
Securities Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
"EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT" shall mean an exchange offer
registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate
form), and
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all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, in each case
including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all
material incorporated by reference therein.
"EXCHANGE PERIOD" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)
hereof.
"EXCHANGE SECURITIES" shall mean the 95/8%Senior Subordinated Notes
due 2007, issued by the Company under the Indenture containing terms identical
to the Securities (except that (i) interest thereon shall accrue from the last
date on which interest was paid on the Securities or, if no such interest has
been paid, from June 30, 1997 and (ii) the transfer restrictions thereon shall
be eliminated) to be offered to Holders of Securities in exchange for Securities
pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
"HOLDER" shall mean any Purchasers, for so long as it owns any
Registrable Securities, and each of their respective successors, assigns and
direct and indirect transferees who become registered owners of Registrable
Securities under the Indenture.
"INDENTURE" shall mean the Indenture relating to the Securities dated
as of June 30, 1997 between Xxxxxx Group, as issuer and United States Trust
Company of New York, as trustee, as the same may be amended and supplemented
from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, including but not
limited to pursuant to the First Supplemental Indenture.
"INSPECTORS" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(n) hereof.
"MAJORITY HOLDERS" shall mean the Holders of a majority of the
aggregate principal amount of outstanding (as determined under the Indenture)
Registrable Securities.
"PARTICIPATING BROKER-DEALER" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(t) hereof.
"PERSON" shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation, limited
liability company, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or
agency or political subdivision thereof.
"PRIVATE EXCHANGE" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)
hereof.
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"PRIVATE EXCHANGE SECURITIES" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2(a) hereof.
"PROSPECTUS" shall mean the prospectus included in a Registration
Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as
amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a prospectus
supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the
Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all
other amendments and supplements to a prospectus, including post-effective
amendments, and in each case including all material incorporated by reference
therein.
"PURCHASE AGREEMENT" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble
to this Agreement.
"PURCHASERS" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this
Agreement.
"RECORDS" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(n) hereof.
"REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" shall mean the Securities and, if issued, the
Private Exchange Securities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Securities or Private
Exchange Securities, as the case may be, shall cease to be Registrable
Securities when (i) a Registration Statement with respect to such Securities or
Private Exchange Securities for the exchange or resale thereof, as the case may
be, shall have been declared effective under the Securities Act and such
Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, shall have been
disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) such Securities or
Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, shall have been sold to the
public pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any similar provision then in force, but not
Rule 144A) under the Securities Act, (iii) such Securities or Private Exchange
Securities, as the case may be, shall have ceased to be outstanding or (iv) with
respect to the Securities, such Securities have been exchanged for Exchange
Securities upon consummation of the Exchange Offer and are thereafter freely
tradeable by the holder thereof unless such holder is an affiliate of the
Company.
"REGISTRATION EXPENSES" shall mean any and all expenses incident to
performance of or compliance by the Company with this Agreement, including
without limitation: (i) all SEC or National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. (the "NASD") registration and filing fees, including, if applicable, the
fees and expenses of any "qualified independent underwriter" (and its counsel)
that is required to be retained by any Holder of Registrable Securities in
accordance with the rules and regulations of
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the NASD, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with
state securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements
of counsel for any underwriters or Holders in connection with blue sky
qualification of any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities) and
compliance with the rules of the NASD, (iii) all expenses of any Persons in
preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing, printing and distributing
any Registration Statement, any Prospectus and any amendments or supplements
thereto, and in preparing or assisting in preparing, printing and distributing
any underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements and other documents
relating to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all
rating agency fees, (v) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company
and of the independent certified public accountants of the Company, including
the expenses of any "cold comfort" letters required by or incident to such
performance and compliance, (vi) the fees and expenses of the Trustee, and any
exchange agent or custodian, (vii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection
with the listing, if any, of any of the Registrable Securities on any securities
exchange or exchanges, and (viii) any fees and disbursements of any underwriter
customarily required to be paid by issuers or sellers of securities and the
reasonable fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the Company in
connection with any Registration Statement, but excluding fees of counsel to the
underwriters and underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if
any, relating to the sale or disposition of Registrable Securities by a Holder.
"REGISTRATION STATEMENT" shall mean any registration statement of the
Company which covers any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, and all amendments and supplements
to any such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, in each
case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all
material incorporated by reference therein.
"SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"SECURITIES" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this
Agreement.
"SECURITIES ACT" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
from time to time.
"SHELF REGISTRATION" shall mean a registration effected pursuant to
Section 2(b) hereof.
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"SHELF REGISTRATION EVENT" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(b) hereof.
"SHELF REGISTRATION EVENT DATE" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2(b) hereof.
"SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT" shall mean a "shelf" registration
statement of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 2(b) hereof which
covers all of the Registrable Securities or all of the Private Exchange
Securities, as the case may be, on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the
Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all
amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including
post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained
therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference
therein.
"SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE" shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble to this Agreement.
"TIA" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(l) hereof.
"TRUSTEE" shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities under
the Indenture.
2. REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.
(a) EXCHANGE OFFER. To the extent not prohibited by any applicable
law or applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC, the Company shall, for
the benefit of the Holders, at the Company's cost, use its best efforts to (i)
cause to be filed with the SEC within 60 days after the Closing Time an Exchange
Offer Registration Statement on an appropriate form under the Securities Act
covering the Exchange Offer, (ii) cause such Exchange Offer Registration
Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act by the SEC not later
than the date which is 120 days after the Closing Time, (iii) keep such Exchange
Offer Registration Statement effective until the consummation of the Exchange
Offer and (iv) cause the Exchange Offer to be consummated not later than 150
days after the Closing Time. The Exchange Securities will be issued under the
Indenture. Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
the Company shall promptly commence the Exchange Offer, it being the objective
of such Exchange Offer to enable each Holder eligible and electing to exchange
Registrable Securities for a like principal amount of Exchange Securities
(assuming that such Holder is not an affiliate of the Company within the meaning
of
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Rule 405 under the Securities Act and is not a broker-dealer tendering
Registrable Securities acquired directly from the Company for its own account,
acquires the Exchange Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder's
business and has no arrangements or understandings with any Person to
participate in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of distributing the Exchange
Securities) to transfer such Exchange Securities from and after their receipt
without any limitations or restrictions under the Securities Act and under state
securities or blue sky laws.
In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(i) mail to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part of the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter
of transmittal and related documents;
(ii) keep the Exchange Offer open for acceptance for a period of not
less than 30 days after the date notice thereof is mailed to the Holders
(or longer if required by applicable law) (such period referred to herein
as the "EXCHANGE PERIOD");
(iii) utilize the services of the Depositary for the Exchange Offer;
(iv) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities at any time prior
to the close of business, New York time, on the last Business Day of the
Exchange Period, by sending to the institution specified in the notice, a
telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of
such Holder, the principal amount of Securities delivered for exchange, and
a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such
Securities exchanged;
(v) notify each Holder that any Security not tendered by such Holder
in the Exchange Offer will remain outstanding and continue to accrue
interest, but will not retain any rights under this Agreement (except in
the case of the Purchasers and Participating Broker-Dealers as provided
herein); and
(vi) otherwise comply in all respects with all applicable laws
relating to the Exchange Offer.
If any Purchaser reasonably determines upon advice of its outside
counsel that it is not eligible to participate in the Exchange Offer with
respect to the exchange of Securities constituting any portion of an unsold
allotment in the initial distribution, as soon as practicable upon receipt by
the Company of a written request
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from such Purchaser and an opinion of outside counsel for such Purchaser,
reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to outside counsel of the Company,
to the effect that such exchange does not require compliance with the
registration requirements under the Securities Act, the Company shall issue and
deliver to such Purchaser in exchange (the "PRIVATE EXCHANGE") for the
Securities held by such Purchaser, a like principal amount of debt securities of
the Company that are identical (except that such securities shall bear
appropriate transfer restrictions) to the Exchange Securities (the "PRIVATE
EXCHANGE SECURITIES") and which are issued pursuant to the Indenture (which will
provide that the Exchange Securities will not be subject to the transfer
restrictions set forth in the Indenture and that the Exchange Securities, the
Private Exchange Securities and the Securities will vote and consent together on
all matters as one class and that neither the Exchange Securities, the Private
Exchange Securities nor the Securities will have the right to vote or consent as
a separate class on any matter). The Private Exchange Securities shall be of
the same series as the Exchange Securities and the Company will seek to cause
the CUSIP Service Bureau to issue the same CUSIP Number for the Private Exchange
Securities as for the Exchange Securities issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer or the
Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:
(i) accept for exchange all Securities or portions thereof tendered
and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer or the Private
Exchange;
(ii) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for
cancellation all Securities or portions thereof so accepted for exchange by
the Company; and
(iii) issue, and cause the Trustee under the Indenture to promptly
authenticate and deliver to each Holder, a new Exchange Security or Private
Exchange Security, as the case may be, equal in principal amount to the
principal amount of the Securities surrendered by such Holder.
Interest on each Exchange Security and Private Exchange Security
issued pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and in the Private Exchange
will accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on
the Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid
on the Securities, from the date of original issue of the Securities. To the
extent not prohibited by any law or applicable interpretation of the staff of
the SEC, the Company shall use its best efforts to complete the Exchange Offer
as provided above, and shall comply with the applicable requirements of the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act and other applicable
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laws in connection with the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall not be
subject to any conditions, other than that the Exchange Offer does not violate
applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC. Each
Holder of Registrable Securities who wishes to exchange such Registrable
Securities for Exchange Securities in the Exchange Offer and each Purchaser who
holds and wishes to exchange Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities in
the Private Exchange will be required to make certain customary representations
in connection therewith, including, in the case of any Holder, representations
that such Holder is not an affiliate of the Company within the meaning of Rule
405 under the Securities Act or, if it is an affiliate, that such Holder will
comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act to the extent applicable, that any Exchange Securities to be
received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of business and that at
the time of the commencement of the Exchange Offer it has no arrangement with
any Person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the
Securities Act) of the Exchange Securities. The Company shall inform the
Purchasers, after consultation with the Trustee and the Purchasers, of the names
and addresses of the Holders to whom the Exchange Offer is made, and the
Purchasers shall have the right to contact such Holders and otherwise facilitate
the tender of Registrable Securities in the Exchange Offer.
Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer in accordance with this
Section 2(a) (whether or not the actions or events specified in the first
sentence of this Section 2(a) occur within the time periods specified therefor),
the provisions of this Agreement shall continue to apply, MUTATIS MUTANDIS,
solely with respect to Registrable Securities that are Private Exchange
Securities and Exchange Securities held by Participating Broker-Dealers, and the
Company shall have no further obligation to register Registrable Securities
(other than Private Exchange Securities) pursuant to Section 2(b) of this
Agreement.
(b) SHELF REGISTRATION. In the event that (i) the Company or the
Majority Holders reasonably determine, after conferring with outside counsel,
that the Exchange Offer Registration provided in Section 2(a) above is not
available or may not be consummated as soon as practicable after the last day of
the Exchange Period because it would violate applicable securities laws or
because the applicable interpretations of the staff of the SEC would not permit
the Company to effect the Exchange Offer, or (ii) the Exchange Offer is not for
any other reason consummated within 150 days of the Closing Time, or (iii) the
Company or the Majority Holders reasonably determine, after conferring with
outside counsel, that the Exchange Securities would not, upon receipt, be freely
tradeable by such Holders which are not affiliates of the Company without
restriction under the Securities Act, or a Holder is not permitted by
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applicable law to participate in the Exchange Offer or (iv) upon the request of
any Purchaser with respect to any Registrable Securities which it acquired
directly from the Company and, with respect to other Registrable Securities held
by it, if such Purchaser is not permitted, as confirmed by a written opinion of
outside counsel to such Purchaser, pursuant to applicable law or applicable
interpretations of the Staff of the SEC, to participate in the Exchange Offer
and thereby receive securities that are freely tradeable without restriction
under the Securities Act and applicable blue sky or state securities laws (any
of the events specified in (i)-(iv) being a "SHELF REGISTRATION EVENT" and the
date of occurrence thereof, the "SHELF REGISTRATION EVENT DATE"), the Company
shall, at its cost, use its best efforts to cause to be filed as promptly as
practicable after such Shelf Registration Event Date, as the case may be, and,
in any event, within 30 days after such Shelf Registration Event Date (which
shall be no earlier than 90 days after the Closing Time), a Shelf Registration
Statement providing for the sale by the applicable Holder or Holders of all of
its or their Registrable Securities, and shall use its best efforts to have such
Shelf Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC as soon as
practicable. No Holder of Registrable Securities shall be entitled to include
any of its Registrable Securities in any Shelf Registration pursuant to this
Agreement unless and until such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by all of
the provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder and furnishes to the
Company in writing, within 15 days after receipt of a request therefor, such
information as the Company may, after conferring with counsel with regard to
information relating to Holders that would be required by the SEC to be included
in such Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus included therein, reasonably
request for inclusion in any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus included
therein. Each Holder as to which any Shelf Registration is being effected
agrees to furnish to the Company all information with respect to such Holder
necessary to make the information previously furnished to the Company by such
Holder not materially misleading.
The Company agrees to use its best efforts to keep the Shelf
Registration Statement continuously effective for a period of two years from the
date of issuance of the Securities (subject to extension pursuant to the last
paragraph of Section 3 hereof) or for such shorter period which will terminate
when all of the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration
Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement or cease
to be outstanding (the "EFFECTIVENESS PERIOD"). The Company shall not permit
any securities other than Registrable Securities to be included in the Shelf
Registration. The Company will, in the event a Shelf Registration Statement is
declared effective, provide to each Holder a reasonable number of copies of the
Prospectus which is a part of the Shelf Registration Statement, and notify each
such Holder when the Shelf Registration has become effective. The Company
further agrees, if necessary, to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration
Statement, if
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required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the
registration form used by the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement or
by the Securities Act or by any other rules and regulations thereunder for shelf
registrations, and the Company agrees to furnish to the Holders of Registrable
Securities copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly after its being
used or filed with the SEC.
(c) EXPENSES. The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in
connection with the registration pursuant to Section 2(a) or 2(b) hereof and
shall pay the reasonable fees and disbursements of any one counsel designated in
writing by the Majority Holders to act as counsel for the Holders of the
Registrable Securities in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement, which
counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company. Except as provided
herein, each Holder shall pay all expenses of its counsel, underwriting
discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or
disposition of such Holder's Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement.
(d) EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT. An Exchange Offer Registration
Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof or a Shelf Registration Statement
pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective
unless it has been declared effective by the SEC; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if,
after it has been declared effective, the offering of Registrable Securities
pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement is interfered with by any stop order,
injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or any other governmental
agency or court, such Registration Statement will be deemed not to have been
effective during the period of such interference, until the offering of
Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement may legally
resume. The Company will be deemed not to have used its best efforts to cause
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement,
as the case may be, to become, or to remain, effective during the requisite
period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result in any such
Registration Statement not being declared effective or in the Holders of
Registrable Securities covered thereby not being able to exchange or offer and
sell such Registrable Securities during that period unless such action is
required by applicable law.
(e) ADDITIONAL INTEREST. In the event that (i) the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement is not filed with the SEC on or prior to the 60th
calendar day following the Closing Time, (ii) the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement is not declared effective on or prior to the 120th calendar day
following the Closing Time, (iii) the Exchange Offer is not consummated on or
prior to the 150th calendar day following the Closing Time or (iv) if a Shelf
Registration Event shall have occurred and if by 180 days after the Closing Time
a Shelf Registration Statement is not declared
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effective, in each case (i)-(iv) the interest rate borne by the Securities shall
be increased (the "ADDITIONAL INTEREST") by one-half of one percent (0.5%) per
annum from and including the 61st day following the Closing Time until, but
excluding, the date the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is filed in the
case of (i) above, from and including the 121st day following the Closing Time
until, but excluding, the date the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is
declared effective in the case of clause (ii) above, from and including the
151st day following the Closing Time until, but excluding, the consummation of
the Exchange Offer in the case of (iii) above or, solely with respect to
Securities which could not be exchanged as set forth above, Exchange Securities
that are not freely tradeable and Private Exchange Securities, from and
including the 181st day after the Closing Time until, but excluding, the date
the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective in the case of clause
(iv) above. In addition, such interest rate shall be increased by an additional
one-half of one percent (0.5%) per annum for each 90-day period that any such
Additional Interest continues to accrue pursuant to this Section 2(e); PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the aggregate maximum increase in such interest rate pursuant to
this Section 2(e) will in no event exceed one percent (1.0%) per annum. Upon
(w) the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in the case of
clause (i) above, (x) the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement in the case of clause (ii) above, (y) the date of the consummation of
the Exchange Offer in the case of clause (iii) above or (z) the effectiveness of
a Shelf Registration Statement in the case of clause (iv) above, provided that
none of the conditions set forth in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above
continues to exist, the interest rate borne by the Securities from the date of
such filing, effectiveness or consummation, as the case may be, will be reduced
to the original interest rate.
In the event that the Shelf Registration Statement has been declared
effective and subsequently ceases to be effective (other than in connection with
the consummation of the Exchange Offer, as contemplated by the last paragraph of
Section 2(a)) prior to the end of the Effectiveness Period (subject to extension
pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 3 hereof), for a period in excess of
45 days, whether or not consecutive, in any given year, then, the interest rate
borne by the Securities, or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be,
shall be increased by an additional one-half of one percent (0.5%) per annum on
the 46th day in the applicable year such Shelf Registration Statement ceases to
be effective. Such interest rate shall be increased by an additional one-half
of one percent (0.5%) per annum for each additional 90 days that such Shelf
Registration Statement is not effective, subject to the same aggregate maximum
increase in the interest rate per annum of one percent (1.0%) per annum referred
to above. Upon the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement, the
interest rate borne by the Securities, or the Private Exchange Securities, as
the case
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may be, shall be reduced to their original interest rate unless and until
increased as described in this paragraph.
The Company shall notify the Trustee within three Business Days after
each and every date on which an event occurs in respect of which Additional
Interest is required to be paid (an "EVENT DATE"). Additional Interest shall be
paid by depositing with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of
Securities or of Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, on or before
the applicable semiannual interest payment date, immediately available funds in
sums sufficient to pay the Additional Interest then due. The Additional
Interest due shall be payable on each interest payment date to the record Holder
of Securities entitled to receive the interest payment to be paid on such date
as set forth in the Indenture. Each obligation to pay Additional Interest shall
be deemed to accrue from and including the day following the applicable Event
Date.
(f) SPECIFIC ENFORCEMENT. Without limiting the remedies available to
the Purchasers and the Holders, the Company acknowledges that any failure by the
Company to comply with its obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b)
hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Purchasers or the
Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it would not be
possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event
of any such failure, the Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may
be required to specifically enforce the Company's obligations under Section 2(a)
and Section 2(b) hereof.
3. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. In connection with the obligations of
the Company with respect to the Registration Statements pursuant to Sections
2(a) and 2(b) hereof, the Company shall use its best efforts to:
(a) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement or
Registration Statements as prescribed by Sections 2(a) and 2(b) hereof within
the relevant time period specified in Section 2 hereof on the appropriate form
under the Securities Act, which form (i) shall be selected by the Company, (ii)
shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be available for the sale of the
Registrable Securities by the selling Holders thereof and (iii) shall comply as
to form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable form
and include all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith;
and use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become
effective and remain effective in accordance with Section 2 hereof; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that if (1) such filing is pursuant to Section 2(b), or (2) a
Prospectus contained in an Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed pursuant
to Section 2(a) is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any
Participating Broker-Dealer
14
who seeks to sell Exchange Securities, before filing any Registration Statement
or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Company shall
furnish to and afford the Holders of the Registrable Securities and each such
Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, covered by such Registration
Statement, their counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, a reasonable
opportunity to review copies of all such documents (including copies of any
documents to be incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits thereto)
proposed to be filed (at least 10 Business Days prior to such filing). The
Company shall not file any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any
amendments or supplements thereto in respect of which the Holders must be
afforded an opportunity to review prior to the filing of such document if the
Majority Holders or such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, their
counsel or the managing underwriters, if any, shall reasonably object;
(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective
amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such
Registration Statement effective for the Effectiveness Period or the Applicable
Period, as the case may be; and cause each Prospectus to be supplemented, if so
determined by the Company or requested by the SEC, by any required prospectus
supplement and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any
similar provision then in force) under the Securities Act, and comply with the
provisions of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder applicable to it with respect to the disposition of all
securities covered by each Registration Statement during the Effectiveness
Period or the Applicable Period, as the case may be, in accordance with the
intended method or methods of distribution by the selling Holders thereof
described in this Agreement (including sales by any Participating
Broker-Dealer);
(c) in the case of a Shelf Registration, (i) notify each Holder of
Registrable Securities included in the Shelf Registration Statement, at least
three Business Days prior to filing, that a Shelf Registration Statement with
respect to the Registrable Securities is being filed and advising such Holder
that the distribution of Registrable Securities will be made in accordance with
the method selected by the Majority Holders; and (ii) furnish to each Holder of
Registrable Securities included in the Shelf Registration Statement and to each
underwriter of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, if any,
without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, including each preliminary
Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto and such other documents as
such Holder or underwriter may reasonably request, in order to facilitate the
public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities; and (iii)
consent to the use of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by
each of the selling Holders of Registrable Securities included in the Shelf
Registration
15
Statement in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities
covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;
(d) in the case of a Shelf Registration, register or qualify the
Registrable Securities under all applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws
of such jurisdictions by the time the applicable Registration Statement is
declared effective by the SEC as any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by
a Registration Statement and each underwriter of an underwritten offering of
Registrable Securities shall reasonably request in writing in advance of such
date of effectiveness, and do any and all other acts and things which may be
reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such Holder and underwriter to
consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction of such Registrable
Securities owned by such Holder; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall not
be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities
in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for
this Section 3(d), (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any
jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be subject to such service of process
or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not then
so subject;
(e) in the case of (1) a Shelf Registration or (2) Participating
Broker-Dealers from whom the Company has received prior written notice that they
will be utilizing the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement as provided in Section 3(t) hereof, are seeking to sell Exchange
Securities and are required to deliver Prospectuses, notify each Holder of
Registrable Securities, or such Participating Broker-Dealers, as the case may
be, their counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, promptly and promptly
confirm such notice in writing (i) when a Registration Statement has become
effective and when any post-effective amendments and supplements thereto become
effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for
amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement or Prospectus or for
additional information after the Registration Statement has become effective,
(iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the
qualification of the Registrable Securities or the Exchange Securities to be
offered or sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer in any jurisdiction described
in paragraph 3(d) hereof or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose,
(iv) in the case of a Shelf Registration, if, between the effective date of a
Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities
covered thereby, the representations and warranties of the Company contained in
any underwriting agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar
agreement relating to such Registrable Securities so sold, if any cease to be
true and correct in all material respects, and (v) of the happening of any event
or the failure of any event to occur or the discovery of any facts or otherwise,
during the
16
Effectiveness Period which makes any statement made in such Registration
Statement or the related Prospectus untrue in any material respect or which
causes such Registration Statement or Prospectus to omit to state a material
fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading, and (vi) the Company's reasonable
determination that a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement
would be appropriate;
(f) make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of any
order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement at the earliest
possible moment;
(g) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of
Registrable Securities included within the coverage of such Shelf Registration
Statement, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration
Statement relating to such Shelf Registration and any post-effective amendment
thereto (without documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits
thereto, unless reasonably requested);
(h) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the selling
Holders of Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and
delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not
bearing any restrictive legends and in such denominations (consistent with the
provisions of the Indenture) and registered in such names as the selling Holders
or the underwriters may reasonably request at least two Business Days prior to
the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf
Registration Statement;
(i) in the case of a Shelf Registration or an Exchange Offer
Registration, upon the occurrence of any circumstance or event contemplated by
Section 3(e)(ii), 3(e)(iii), 3(e)(v) or 3(e)(vi) hereof, prepare a supplement or
post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or the related Prospectus
or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required
document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable
Securities, such Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
and to notify each Holder to suspend use of the Prospectus as promptly as
practicable after the occurrence of such a circumstance or event, and each
Holder hereby agrees to suspend use of the Prospectus until the Company has
amended or supplemented the Prospectus to correct such misstatement or omission;
17
(j) in the case of a Shelf Registration, a reasonable time prior to
the filing of any document which is to be incorporated by reference into a
Registration Statement or a Prospectus after the initial filing of a
Registration Statement, provide a reasonable number of copies of such document
to the Holders; and make such of the representatives of the Company as shall be
reasonably requested by the Holders of Registrable Securities or the Purchasers
on behalf of such Holders available for discussion of such document;
(k) obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities or Registrable
Securities, as the case may be, not later than the effective date of a
Registration Statement, and provide the Trustee with printed certificates for
the Exchange Securities or the Registrable Securities, as the case may be, in a
form eligible for deposit with the Depositary;
(l) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act
of 1939 (the "TIA") in connection with the registration of the Exchange
Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, and effect such
changes to the Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to be so qualified
in accordance with the terms of the TIA and execute, and use its best efforts to
cause the Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such
changes, and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to
enable the Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner;
(m) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such agreements
(including underwriting agreements) as are customary in underwritten offerings
and take all such other appropriate actions as are reasonably requested in order
to expedite or facilitate the registration or the disposition of such
Registrable Securities, and in such connection, whether or not an underwriting
agreement is entered into and whether or not the registration is an underwritten
registration, if requested by (x) any Purchaser, in the case where a Purchaser
holds Securities acquired by it as part of its initial distribution or (y)
Holders of Securities covered thereby, in the case where no Purchaser holds any
such Securities: (i) make such reasonable representations and warranties to
Holders of such Registrable Securities and the underwriters (if any), with
respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as then conducted
and the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents, if any, incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, in each case, as are
customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings, and
confirm the same if and when reasonably requested; (ii) obtain opinions of
counsel to the Company and updates thereof (which may be in the form of a
reliance letter) in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the managing
underwriters (if any) and the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Registrable Securities being sold, addressed to each selling Holder and the
18
underwriters (if any) covering the matters customarily covered in opinions
requested in underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably
requested by such Holders and underwriters (it being agreed that the matters to
be covered by such opinion may be subject to customary or other reasonable
qualifications and exceptions); (iii) obtain "cold comfort" letters and updates
thereof in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the managing
underwriters from the independent certified public accountants of the Company
(and, if necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any
subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the Company for which
financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be, included in
the Registration Statement), addressed to each of the underwriters with copies
thereof to the selling Holders of Registrable Securities, such letters to be in
customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in "cold
comfort" letters in connection with underwritten offerings and such other
matters as reasonably requested by such underwriters in accordance with
Statement on Accounting Standards No. 72; and (iv) if an underwriting agreement
is entered into, the same shall contain indemnification provisions and
procedures no less favorable than those set forth in Section 4 hereof (or such
other provisions and procedures acceptable to Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration
Statement and the managing underwriters or agents) with respect to all parties
to be indemnified pursuant to said Section (including, without limitation, such
underwriters and selling Holders). The above shall be done at each closing
under such underwriting agreement, or as and to the extent required thereunder;
(n) if (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 2(b) or
(2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2(a) is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by
any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Securities during the
Applicable Period, make reasonably available for inspection by any selling
Holder of such Registrable Securities being sold, or each such Participating
Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, any underwriter participating in any such
disposition of Registrable Securities, if any, and any attorney, accountant or
other agent retained by any such selling Holder or each such Participating
Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, or underwriter (collectively, the
"INSPECTORS"), at the offices where normally kept, during reasonable business
hours, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and
properties of the Company and its subsidiaries (collectively, the "RECORDS") as
shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise any applicable due
diligence responsibilities, and cause the officers, directors and employees of
the Company and its subsidiaries to supply all relevant information in each case
reasonably requested by any such Inspector in connection with such Registration
Statement PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the foregoing inspection and information
gathering shall be coordinated on behalf of the Purchasers
19
by Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Co. and on behalf of the other parties, by one counsel
designated by Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Co. and on behalf of such other parties as
described in Section 2(c) hereof. Records which the Company determines, in good
faith, to be confidential and any records which it notifies the Inspectors are
confidential shall not be disclosed by the Inspectors unless (i) the disclosure
of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a material misstatement or
omission in such Registration Statement, (ii) the release of such Records is
ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent
jurisdiction or is necessary in connection with any action, suit or proceeding
or (iii) the information in such Records has been made generally available to
the public (other than by or through any Inspector, any such selling Holder of
Registrable Securities or any such Participating Broker-Dealer). Each
Inspector, each selling Holder of such Registrable Securities and each such
Participating Broker-Dealer will be required to agree in writing, pursuant to a
confidentiality agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Company, that (1) information obtained by it as a result of such inspections
shall be deemed confidential and shall not be used by it as the basis for any
market transactions in the securities of the Company unless and until such is
made generally available to the public (other than by or through any Inspector,
any such selling Holder of Registrable Securities or any such Participating
Broker-Dealer) and (2) it will, upon learning that disclosure of such Records
is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction, give notice to the Company and
allow the Company at its expense to undertake appropriate action to prevent
disclosure of the Records deemed confidential;
(o) comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC so
long as any provision of this Agreement shall be applicable and make generally
available to its security holders earnings statements satisfying the provisions
of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar
rule promulgated under the Securities Act) no later than 45 days after the end
of any 12-month period (or 90 days after the end of any 12-month period if such
period is a fiscal year) (i) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in
which Registrable Securities are sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or
best efforts underwritten offering and (ii) if not sold to underwriters in such
an offering, commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the
Company after the effective date of a Registration Statement, which statements
shall cover said 12-month periods;
(p) upon consummation of an Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange, if
requested by the Trustee, obtain an opinion of counsel to the Company addressed
to the Trustee for the benefit of all Holders of Registrable Securities
participating in the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, as the case may be,
and which includes an opinion that (i) the Company has duly authorized, executed
and delivered the Exchange
20
Securities and Private Exchange Securities, and (ii) each of the Exchange
Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, constitute a
legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the
Company in accordance with its respective terms (in each case, with customary
exceptions and qualifications);
(q) if an Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be consummated,
upon delivery of the Registrable Securities by Holders to the Company (or to
such other Person as directed by the Company) in exchange for the Exchange
Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, the Company
shall xxxx, or cause to be marked, on such Registrable Securities delivered by
such Holders that such Registrable Securities are being cancelled in exchange
for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may
be; in no event shall such Registrable Securities be marked as paid or otherwise
satisfied;
(r) cooperate in all reasonable respects with each seller of
Registrable Securities covered by any Registration Statement and each
underwriter, if any, participating in the disposition of such Registrable
Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required
to be made with the NASD;
(s) take all other steps reasonably necessary to effect the
registration of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement
contemplated hereby;
(t) (A) in the case of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (i)
include in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a section entitled "Plan of
Distribution," which section shall be reasonably acceptable to the Purchasers or
another representative of the Participating Broker-Dealers, and which shall
contain a summary statement of the positions taken or policies made by the staff
of the SEC with respect to the potential "underwriter" status of any
broker-dealer (a "PARTICIPATING BROKER-DEALER") that holds Registrable
Securities acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities
or other trading activities and that will be the beneficial owner (as defined in
Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of Exchange Securities to be received by such
broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer, whether such positions or policies have
been publicly disseminated by the staff of the SEC or such positions or
policies, in the reasonable judgment of the Purchasers or such other
representative, represent the prevailing views of the staff of the SEC,
including a statement that any such broker-dealer who receives Exchange
Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be
deemed a statutory underwriter and must deliver a prospectus meeting the
requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of such
Exchange Securities, (ii) furnish to each Participating Broker-Dealer who has
delivered to the Company the notice referred to in Section 3(e),
21
without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus included in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any amendment
or supplement thereto, as such Participating Broker-Dealer may reasonably
request, (iii) hereby consent to the use (to the extent permitted under the
positions and policies of the staff of the SEC) of the Prospectus forming part
of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement
thereto, by any Person subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the
SEC, including all Participating Broker-Dealers, in connection with the sale or
transfer of the Exchange Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment
or supplement thereto, (iv) keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
effective and to amend and supplement the Prospectus contained therein in order
to permit such Prospectus to be lawfully delivered by all such Persons subject
to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act (to the extent
permitted under the positions and policies of the staff of the SEC) for such
period of time as such Persons must comply with such requirements under the
Securities Act and applicable rules and regulations in order to resell the
Exchange Securities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such period shall not be required
to exceed 180 days (or such longer period if extended pursuant to the last
sentence of Section 3 hereof) (the "APPLICABLE PERIOD"), and (v) except as may
be otherwise required by the SEC, include in the transmittal letter or similar
documentation to be executed by an exchange offeree in order to participate in
the Exchange Offer (x) a provision substantially to the following effect:
"If the exchange offeree is a broker-dealer holding
Registrable Securities acquired for its own account as a
result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, it will deliver a prospectus meeting the
requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any
resale of Exchange Securities received in respect of such
Registrable Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer";
and (y) a statement to the effect that by a broker-dealer making the
acknowledgment described in clause (x) and by delivering a Prospectus in
connection with the exchange of Registrable Securities, the broker-dealer will
not be deemed to admit that it is an underwriter within the meaning of the
Securities Act; and
(B) in the case of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the
Company agrees to deliver to the Purchasers or to another representative of the
Participating Broker-Dealers, if requested by any such Purchasers or such other
representative of the Participating Broker-Dealers, on behalf of the
Participating Broker-Dealers upon consummation of the Exchange Offer (i) an
opinion of counsel in
22
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Purchasers or such other
representative of the Participating Broker-Dealers, covering the matters
customarily covered in opinions requested in connection with Exchange Offer
Registration Statements and such other matters as may be reasonably requested
(it being agreed that the matters to be covered by such opinion should be
subject to customary or other reasonable qualifications and exceptions), (ii) an
officers' certificate containing certifications substantially similar to those
set forth in Section 5(f) of the Purchase Agreement and such additional
certifications as are customarily delivered in a public offering of debt
securities and (iii) as well as upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, a comfort letter, in each case, in customary form if
permitted by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 72 of the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants or any successor or supplemental standard.
The Company may require each seller of Registrable Securities as to
which any registration is being effected to furnish to the Company such
information regarding such seller and the proposed distribution of such
Registrable Securities, as the Company may from time to time reasonably request
in writing. The Company may exclude from such registration the Registrable
Securities of any seller who unreasonably fails to furnish such information
within a reasonable time after receiving such request.
In the case of (1) a Shelf Registration Statement or (2) Participating
Broker-Dealers who have notified the Company that they will be utilizing the
Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement as provided in
Section 3(t) hereof, are seeking to sell Exchange Securities and are required to
deliver Prospectuses, each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from
the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section
3(e)(ii), 3(e)(iii), 3(e)(v) or 3(e)(vi) hereof, such Holder will forthwith
discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration
Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or
amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(i) hereof or until it is advised in
writing (the "ADVICE") by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus
may be resumed, and, if so directed by the Company, such Holder will deliver to
the Company (at the Company's expense) all copies in such Holder's possession,
other than permanent file copies then in such Holder's possession, of the
Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities, as the
case may be, current at the time of receipt of such notice. If the Company
shall give any such notice to suspend the disposition of Registrable Securities
or Exchange Securities, as the case may be, pursuant to a Registration
Statement, the Company shall use its best efforts to file and have declared
effective (if an amendment) as soon as practicable an amendment or supplement to
the Registration Statement and shall extend
23
the period during which such Registration Statement shall be maintained
effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days in the period from
and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date
when the Company shall have made available to the Holders (x) copies of the
supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions or (y)
the Advice.
4. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.
(a) In connection with any Registration Statement, the Company shall
indemnify and hold harmless, each Holder, each Participating Broker-Dealer, each
Person, if any, who controls any of such parties within the meaning of Section
15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each of their
respective directors, officers, employees and agents, as follows:
(i) from and against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and
expense whatsoever, joint or several, as incurred, arising out of any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained
in any Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), covering
Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities, including all documents
incorporated therein by reference, or the omission or alleged omission
therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or the omission or
alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading;
(ii) from and against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and
expense whatsoever, joint or several, as incurred, to the extent of the
aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any
investigation or proceeding by any court or governmental agency or body,
commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such
untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or
omission, if such settlement is effected with the prior written consent of
the Company; and
(iii) from and against any and all expenses whatsoever, as incurred
(including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by such
Holder or such Participating Broker-Dealer (except to the extent otherwise
expressly provided in Section 4(c) hereof)), reasonably incurred in
investigating,
24
preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or
proceeding by any court or governmental agency or body, commenced or
threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or
omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent
that any such expense is not paid under subparagraph (i) or (ii) of this
Section 4(a);
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (i) this indemnity does not apply to any loss,
liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of an untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished in writing to the
Company by such Holder or such Participating Broker-Dealer with respect to such
Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, expressly for use in
the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto) and (ii) the Company shall not be liable to any
such Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or controlling person, with respect to
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
in any preliminary Prospectus to the extent that any such loss, liability,
claim, damage or expense of any Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or
controlling person results from the fact that such Holder or Participating
Broker-Dealer sold Securities to a person to whom there was not sent or given,
at or prior to the written confirmation of such sale, a copy of the final
Prospectus as then amended or supplemented if the Company had previously
furnished copies thereof to such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer and the
loss, liability, claim, damage or expense of such Holder, Participating
Broker-Dealer or controlling person results from an untrue statement or omission
of a material fact contained in the preliminary Prospectus which was corrected
in the final Prospectus. Any amounts advanced by the Company to an indemnified
party pursuant to this Section 4 as a result of such losses shall be returned to
the Company if it shall be finally determined by such a court in a judgment not
subject to appeal or final review that such indemnified party was not entitled
to indemnification by the Company.
(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company and the other selling Holders and each of their
respective directors, officers (including each officer of the Company who signed
the Registration Statement), employees and agents and each Person, if any, who
controls the Company or any other selling Holder within the meaning of Section
15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any
and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever described in the
indemnity contained in Section 4(a) hereof, as incurred, but only with respect
to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions,
made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any Prospectus
(or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon
25
and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such
selling Holder with respect to such Holder expressly for use in the Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto), or any such Prospectus (or any amendment
or supplement thereto).
(c) Each indemnified party shall give prompt notice to each
indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which
indemnity may be sought hereunder, enclosing a copy of all papers properly
served on such indemnified party, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party
shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability which it may have
under this Section 4, except to the extent that it is materially prejudiced by
such failure. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the
defense of such action. If an indemnifying party so elects within a reasonable
time after receipt of such notice, an indemnifying party, severally or jointly
with any other indemnifying parties receiving such notice, may assume the
defense of such action with counsel chosen by it and reasonably acceptable to
the indemnified parties defendant in such action, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if (i)
representation of such indemnified party by the same counsel would present a
conflict of interest or (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets
of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying
party and any such indemnified party reasonably determines that there may be
legal defenses available to such indemnified party which are different from or
in addition to those available to such indemnifying party, then in the case of
clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 4(c) such indemnifying party and counsel
for each indemnifying party or parties shall not be entitled to assume such
defense. If an indemnifying party is not entitled to assume the defense of such
action as a result of the proviso to the preceding sentence, counsel for such
indemnifying party and counsel for each indemnified party or parties shall be
entitled to conduct the defense of such indemnified party or parties. If an
indemnifying party assumes the defense of such action, in accordance with and as
permitted by the provisions of this paragraph, such indemnifying parties shall
not be liable for any fees and expenses of counsel for the indemnified parties
incurred thereafter in connection with such action. In no event shall the
indemnifying parties be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one
counsel (in addition to local counsel), separate from its own counsel, for all
indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or
related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general
allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior
written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to
the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation
or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or
any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could
be sought under this Section 4 (whether or not the indemnified parties are
actual or potential parties thereto), unless
26
such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional written
release in form and substance satisfactory to the indemnified parties of each
indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation,
investigation, proceeding or claim 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 any
indemnified party.
(d) If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an
indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for reasonable fees and
expenses of counsel pursuant to and to the extent required by Section 4(a)(iii)
above, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement
of the nature contemplated by Section 4(a)(ii) effected without its written
consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt
by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying
party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30
days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying
party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such
request prior to the date of such settlement. Notwithstanding the immediately
preceding sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an
indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of
counsel, an indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of the
nature contemplated by Section 4(a)(ii) effected without its consent if such
indemnifying party (i) reimburses such indemnified party in accordance with such
request to the extent it considers such request to be reasonable and (ii)
provides written notice to the indemnified party substantiating the unpaid
balance as unreasonable, in each case prior to the date of such settlement.
(e) In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in
circumstances under which any of the indemnity provisions set forth in this
Section 4 is for any reason held to be unavailable to the indemnified parties
although applicable in accordance with its terms, the Company and the Holders
shall contribute to the aggregate losses, liabilities, claims, damages and
expenses of the nature contemplated by such indemnity agreement incurred by the
Company and the Holders, as incurred; PROVIDED that 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 that was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. As between the Company and the
Holders, such parties shall contribute to such aggregate losses, liabilities,
claims, damages and expenses of the nature contemplated by such indemnity
agreement in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative
fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, with
respect to the statements or omissions which resulted in such loss, liability,
claim, damage or expense, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. The relative
27
fault of the Company, on the one hand, and of the Holders, 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, on the
one hand, or by or on behalf of the Holders, on the other, and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Holders of the
Registrable Securities agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 4 were to be determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account
the relevant equitable considerations. For purposes of this Section 4, each
affiliate of a Holder, and each director, officer, employee, agent and Person,
if any, who controls a Holder or such affiliate within the meaning of Section 15
of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same
rights to contribution as such Holder, and each affiliate of the Company, each
director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, each officer of the Company
who signed the Registration Statement, and each Person, if any, who controls
each of the Company or such affiliate within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to
contribution as the Company.
5. PARTICIPATION IN UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATIONS. No Holder may
participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless such Holder
(a) agrees to sell such Holder's Registrable Securities on the basis provided in
any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to
approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all reasonable
questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements,
lock-up letters and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such
underwriting arrangements.
6. SELECTION OF UNDERWRITERS. The Holders of Registrable Securities
covered by the Shelf Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell the
securities covered by such Shelf Registration in an underwritten offering. In
any such underwritten offering, the underwriter or underwriters and manager or
managers that will administer the offering will be selected by the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities included in
such offering; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such underwriters and managers must be
reasonably satisfactory to the Company.
7. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) RULE 144 AND RULE 144A. For so long as the Company is subject to
the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15 of the Exchange Act and any
Registrable
28
Securities remain outstanding, the Company will use its best efforts to file the
reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and Section 13(a) or
15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations adopted by the SEC
thereunder, that if it ceases to be so required to file such reports, it will,
upon the request of any Holder of Registrable Securities (a) make publicly
available such information as is necessary to permit sales of their securities
pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, (b) deliver such information to a
prospective purchaser as is necessary to permit sales of their securities
pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act and it will take such further
action as any Holder of Registrable Securities may reasonably request, and (c)
take such further action that is reasonable in the circumstances, in each case,
to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell its
Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the
limitation of the exemptions provided by (i) Rule 144 under the Securities Act,
as such rule may be amended from time to time, (ii) Rule 144A under the
Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or (iii) any
similar rules or regulations hereafter adopted by the SEC. Upon the request of
any Holder of Registrable Securities, the Company will deliver to such Holder a
written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.
(b) NO INCONSISTENT AGREEMENTS. The Company has not entered into nor
will the Company on or after the date of this Agreement enter into any agreement
which is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable
Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.
The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and
are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company's
other issued and outstanding securities under any such agreements.
(c) AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. The provisions of this Agreement,
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof
may not be given unless the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders
of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement,
waiver or departure; PROVIDED no amendment, modification or supplement or waiver
or consent to the departure with respect to the provisions of Section 4 hereof
shall be effective as against any Holder of Registrable Securities unless
consented to in writing by such Holder of Registrable Securities.
(d) NOTICES. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered
first-class
29
mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight delivery (i) if
to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company by
means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7(d),
which address initially is, with respect to the Purchasers, the address set
forth in the Purchase Agreement; and (ii) if to the Company, initially at the
Company's address set forth in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such
other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of
this Section 7(d).
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business
Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when
answered back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on
the next Business Day, if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing
overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands, or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee, at the
address specified in the Indenture.
(e) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of the
Purchasers, including, without limitation and without the need for an express
assignment, subsequent Holders; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that nothing herein shall be
deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable
Securities in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture.
If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any
manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities
shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and
holding such Registrable Securities, such Person shall be conclusively deemed to
have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of
this Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.
(f) THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARY. Each of the Purchasers shall be a third
party beneficiary of the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the
one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, and shall have the right to
enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such enforcement
necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of Holders hereunder.
(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
30
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 DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN MADE
IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE VALIDITY AND INTERPRETATION OF THIS AGREEMENT,
AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH HEREIN, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT GIVING
EFFECT TO ANY PROVISIONS RELATING TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS. EACH OF THE PARTIES
HERETO AGREES TO SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.
(j) SEVERABILITY. In the event that any one or more of the
provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is
held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and
enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining
provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
(k) SECURITIES HELD BY THE COMPANY OR ITS AFFILIATES. Whenever the
consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable
Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company or
its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act)
shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given
by the Holders of such required percentage.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
XXXXXX HEALTH PRODUCTS GROUP INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
----------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer
XXXXXX HEALTH PRODUCTS INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
----------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer
Confirmed and accepted as of
the date first above
written:
XXXXXXX LYNCH, PIERCE, XXXXXX & XXXXX
INCORPORATED
SALOMON BROTHERS INC
SCOTIA CAPITAL MARKETS (USA) INC.
Acting on behalf of themselves and the several Purchasers.
By XXXXXXX LYNCH, PIERCE, XXXXXX & XXXXX
INCORPORATED
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxx
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx Xxxx
Title: Authorized Signatory
32
