Exhibit 10.3
EXECUTION COPY
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A/B EXCHANGE
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF MAY 7, 2002
BY AND AMONG
SANITEC INTERNATIONAL S.A.
AND
XXXXXXX XXXXX INTERNATIONAL,
XXXXXXX SACHS INTERNATIONAL, AND
BAYERISCHE HYPO- UND VEREINSBANK AG.
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This Registration Rights Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is made and
entered into as of May 7, 2002, by and among Sanitec International S.A., a
public limited liability company organized under the laws of Luxembourg with its
registered office at 00-00, xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, X-0000 Xxxxxxxxxx (xxx
"COMPANY"), and Xxxxxxx Xxxxx International ("XXXXXXX XXXXX"), Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
International ("XXXXXXX SACHS") and Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG
("HYPOVEREINSBANK," and together with Xxxxxxx Xxxxx and Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, the
"INITIAL PURCHASERS"), each of whom has agreed to purchase the Company's 9%
Senior Notes due 2012 (the "SERIES A NOTES") pursuant to the Purchase Agreement
(as defined below).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated April
30, 2002 (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), by and among the Company 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 5 of the Purchase
Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have
the meaning assigned to them the Indenture, dated as of the date hereof, between
the Company and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, relating to the Series A Notes
and the Series B Notes (the "INDENTURE").
The parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have
the following meanings:
ACT: The U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
AFFILIATE: As defined in Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.
BROKER-DEALER: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.
CERTIFICATED SECURITIES: Definitive Notes, as defined in the
Indenture.
CLOSING DATE: The date hereof.
COMMISSION: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONSUMMATE: An Exchange Offer shall be deemed "Consummated" for
purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (a) the filing and
effectiveness under the Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
relating to the Series B Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (b) the
maintenance of such 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.
CONSUMMATION DEADLINE: As defined in Section 3(b) hereof.
EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE: As defined in Section 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.
EXCHANGE ACT: The U.S. 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 exchange and issuance 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 resell the Series A Notes to certain "qualified institutional
buyers," as such term is defined in Rule 144A, pursuant to Rule 144A and
Regulation S.
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 by the Commission, as
amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments
thereto, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by
reference into such Prospectus.
RECOMMENCEMENT DATE: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
REGISTRATION DEFAULT: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
REGISTRATION STATEMENT: Any registration statement of the Company
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.
REGULATION S: Regulation S of the rules and regulations promulgated
under the Act.
RULE 144: Rule 144 of the rules and regulations promulgated under the
Act.
SERIES B NOTES: The Company's 9% Senior Notes due 2012 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 U.S. Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in effect on the date of
the Indenture.
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TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES: Each (A) Series A Note, until the
earliest to occur of (i) the date on which such Series A Note is exchanged in
the Exchange Offer for a Series B Note which is entitled to be resold to the
public by the Holder thereof without complying with the prospectus delivery
requirements of the Act, (ii) the date on which such Series A Note has been
disposed of in accordance with a Shelf Registration Statement (and the
purchasers thereof have been issued Series B Notes), or (iii) the date on which
such Series A Note is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144, and each
(B) Series B Note held by a Broker Dealer until the date on which such Series B
Note is disposed of by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the "Plan of Distribution"
contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (including the
delivery of the Prospectus contained therein).
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 U.S.
federal law (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below have been
complied with), the Company shall (i) cause the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement to be filed with the Commission (or, if permitted by the Commission,
submitted for confidential review) as soon as practicable after the Closing
Date, but in no event later than 180 days after the Closing Date (such 180th 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 270 days after the Closing Date (such 270th 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 (i) registration of the Series B Notes to be offered in exchange
for the Series A Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) resales
of Series B Notes by Broker-Dealers that tendered into the Exchange Offer Series
A Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of
market making activities or other trading activities (other than Series A Notes
acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates) as contemplated by
Section 3(c) below.
(b) The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement to be effective continuously, and shall keep the Exchange
Offer open for a period of not less than the minimum period required under
applicable national, 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 shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply with
all applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws. No securities other than
the Series B Notes shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement. The Company shall use its best
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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 (such 30th day
being the "CONSUMMATION DEADLINE").
(c) The Company shall include a "Plan of Distribution" section in the
Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and indicate
therein that any Broker-Dealer who holds Transfer Restricted Securities that
were acquired for the account of such Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities (other than Series A Notes acquired
directly from the Company or any Affiliate of the Company), may exchange such
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer. Such "Plan of
Distribution" section shall also contain all other information with respect to
such sales by such Broker-Dealers that the Commission may require in order to
permit such sales pursuant thereto, but such "Plan of Distribution" shall not
name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Transfer Restricted
Securities held by any such Broker-Dealer, except to the extent required by the
Commission as a result of a change in policy, rules or regulations after the
date of this Agreement.
Because such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within
the meaning of the Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the
requirements of the Act in connection with its initial sale of any Series B
Notes received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, the Company shall
permit the use of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement by such Broker-Dealer to satisfy such prospectus delivery requirement.
To the extent necessary to ensure that the Prospectus contained in the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement is available for sales of Series B Notes by
Broker-Dealers, the Company agrees to use its best efforts to keep the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented, amended and
current as required by and subject to the provisions of Section 6(a) and (c)
hereof and in conformity with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and
the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to
time, for a period of 180 days from the Consummation Deadline or such shorter
period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such
Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto. The Company shall
provide sufficient copies of the latest version of such Prospectus to such
Broker-Dealers, promptly upon request, and in no event later than one day after
such request, at any time during such period.
SECTION 4. SHELF REGISTRATION
(a) SHELF REGISTRATION. If (i) the Exchange Offer is not permitted by
applicable law (after the Company has 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 20 business days following the Consummation
Deadline that (A) such Holder was prohibited by law or Commission policy from
participating in the Exchange Offer, (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 shall:
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(i) 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
(ii) shall use its best efforts to cause such Shelf
Registration Statement to become effective on or prior to 90 days after
the Filing Deadline for the Shelf Registration Statement (such 90th 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 Registration Statement solely
because the Exchange Offer is not permitted under applicable law (i.e., clause
(a)(i) above), then the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of clause (i) of the preceding
paragraph; PROVIDED that, in such event, the Company shall remain obligated to
meet the Effectiveness Deadline set forth in clause (ii) of the preceding
paragraph.
To the extent necessary to ensure that the Shelf Registration Statement
is available for sales of Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof
entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a) and the other securities required
to be registered therein pursuant to Section 6(b)(ii) hereof, the Company shall
use its best efforts to keep any Shelf Registration Statement required by this
Section 4(a) continuously effective, supplemented, amended and current as
required by and subject to the provisions of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof and in
conformity with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies,
rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a
period of at least two years (as extended pursuant to Section 6(c)(i)) following
the Closing Date, 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 20 days after receipt of a request therefore, the
information (i) specified in Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable,
of the Act, (ii) specified in Items 9(B) and 9(D) of Part I of Form 20-F, or
(iii) is otherwise required by the Company so as to enable the Company to comply
with those requirements of Item 4 of Form F-1 described in paragraphs 1(c)(ii)
and 1(c)(iii) of the Instructions as to Summary Prospectuses contained in Form
F-1, in each case 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 Special Interest pursuant to Section
5 hereof unless and until such Holder shall have provided all such information.
Each selling Holder agrees to promptly furnish additional information required
to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the
Company by such Holder not materially misleading.
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SECTION 5. SPECIAL INTEREST
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 on or prior to the Consummation Deadline
or (iv) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is filed and
declared effective but shall thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be
usable for its intended purpose without being succeeded immediately by a
post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement that cures such failure
and that is itself declared effective immediately (each such event referred to
in clauses (i) through (iv), a "REGISTRATION DEFAULT"), then the interest rate
borne on the Transfer Restricted Securities during the first 90-day period
immediately following the occurrence of the first Registration Default shall be
increased by one-half of one percent (0.5%) per annum, which interest rate (as
increased aforesaid) will increase by an additional one-half of one percent
(0.5%) per annum during each subsequent 90 day period until all Registration
Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum increase of one and one-half percent
(1.5%) per annum (all such interest increases referred to as "SPECIAL
INTEREST"). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, (1) upon
filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the
Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of (i) above, (2) upon the
effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if
applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of (ii) above, (3)
upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer, in the case of (iii) above, or (4) upon
the filing of a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or an
additional Registration Statement that causes the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement) to again be
declared effective or made usable in the case of (iv) above, the Special
Interest payable with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities as a result
of such clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), as applicable, shall cease.
All accrued Special Interest shall be paid to the Holders entitled
thereto, in the manner provided for the payment of interest in the Indenture, on
each Interest Payment Date, as more fully set forth in the Indenture and the
Notes. Notwithstanding the fact that any securities for which Special Interest
is due cease to be Transfer Restricted Securities, all obligations of the
Company to pay special interest with respect to securities shall survive until
such time as such obligations with respect to such securities shall have been
satisfied in full.
SECTION 6. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
(a) EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT. In connection with the
Exchange Offer, the Company shall (x) comply with all applicable provisions of
Section 6(c) below, (y) use its 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 (z) comply with all of the following provisions:
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(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 nationally recognized
counsel to the Company raises a substantial question as to whether the
Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable U.S. federal law, the Company
hereby agrees to seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision
from the Commission allowing the Company to Consummate an Exchange
Offer for such Transfer Restricted Securities. The Company hereby
agrees to pursue the issuance of such a decision to the Commission
staff level. In connection with the foregoing, the Company hereby
agrees to take all such other reasonable actions as may be requested by
the Commission or otherwise required in connection with the issuance of
such decision, including, without limitation, (A) participating in
telephonic conferences with the Commission, (B) delivering to the
Commission staff an analysis prepared by counsel to the Company setting
forth the legal bases, if any, upon which such counsel has concluded
that such an Exchange Offer should be permitted, and (C) diligently
pursuing a resolution (which need not be favorable) by the Commission
staff.
(ii) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange
Offer, each Holder 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 (which may be
contained in the letter of transmittal contemplated by the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement) to the effect that (A) it is not an
Affiliate of the Company, (B) it is not engaged in, and does not intend
to engage in, and has no arrangement or understanding with any person
to participate in, a distribution of the Series B Notes to be issued in
the Exchange Offer, and (C) it is acquiring the Series B Notes in its
ordinary course of business. As a condition to its participation in the
Exchange Offer each Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate in a
distribution of the Series B Notes shall acknowledge and agree that, if
the resales are of Series B Notes obtained by such Holder in exchange
for Series A Notes acquired directly from the Company or an Affiliate
thereof, it (1) could not, under Commission policy as in effect on the
date of this Agreement, rely on the position of the Commission
enunciated in Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) and
Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as
interpreted in the Commission's letter to Shearman & Sterling dated
July 2, 1993, and similar no-action letters (including, if applicable,
any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above), and (2)
must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements
of the Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction and that
such a secondary resale transaction must be covered by an effective
registration statement containing the selling security holder
information required by Item 507 or 508, of Regulation S-K or Item 9.B.
or 9.D. of Form 20-F, as applicable.
(iii) Prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the Company shall provide a supplemental letter
to the Commission (A) stating that the Company are registering the
Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the Commission enunciated
in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) as interpreted in the
Commission's letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and, if
applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above,
(B) including a representation that
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the Company has not 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 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 shall:
(i) comply with all the provisions of Section 6(c) below and
use its best efforts to effect such registration to permit the sale of
the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in accordance with the
intended method or methods of distribution thereof (as indicated in the
information furnished to the Company pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof),
and pursuant thereto the Company will prepare and file with the
Commission a Registration Statement relating to the registration on any
appropriate form under the Act, which form shall be available for the
sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities in accordance with the
intended method or methods of distribution thereof within the time
periods and otherwise in accordance with the provisions hereof, and
(ii) issue, upon the request of any Holder or purchaser of
Series A Notes covered by any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated
by this Agreement, Series B Notes having an aggregate principal amount
equal to the aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes sold pursuant
to the Shelf Registration Statement and surrendered to the Company for
cancellation; the Company shall register Series B Notes on the Shelf
Registration Statement for this purpose and issue the Series B Notes to
the purchaser(s) of securities subject to the Shelf Registration
Statement in the names as such purchaser(s) shall designate.
(iii) furnish to each Holder in connection with such exchange
or sale, if any, before filing with the Commission, copies of any
Registration Statement or any Prospectus included therein or any
amendments or supplements to any such Registration Statement or
Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference after the
initial filing of such Registration Statement), which documents will be
subject to the review and comment of such Holders in connection with
such sale, if any, for a period of at least five business days, and the
Company will not file any such Registration Statement or Prospectus or
any amendment or supplement to any such Registration Statement or
Prospectus (including all such documents incorporated by reference) to
which such Holders shall reasonably object within five business days
after the receipt thereof. A Holder 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 an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading
or fails to comply with the applicable requirements of the Act;
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(iv) promptly prior to the filing of any document that is to
be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or
Prospectus, provide copies of such document to each Holder in
connection with such exchange or sale, if any, make the Company's
representatives available for discussion of such document and other
customary due diligence matters, and include such information in such
document prior to the filing thereof as such Holders may reasonably
request;
(v) make available, at reasonable times, for inspection by
each Holder and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders,
all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents of the
Company and cause the Company's officers, directors and employees to
supply all information reasonably requested by any such Holder,
attorney or accountant in connection with such Registration Statement
or any post-effective amendment thereto subsequent to the filing
thereof and prior to its effectiveness;
(vi) deliver to each Holder without charge, as many copies of
the Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any
amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may request;
the Company hereby consents to the use (in accordance with law) of the
Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each selling
Holder in connection with the offering and the sale of the Transfer
Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto;
(c) GENERAL PROVISIONS. In connection with any Registration Statement
and any related Prospectus required by this Agreement, the Company shall:
(i) use its best efforts to keep such Registration Statement
continuously effective and provide all requisite financial statements
for the period specified in Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement, as
applicable. Upon the occurrence of any event that would cause any such
Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to
contain an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
or (B) not to be effective and usable for resale of Transfer Restricted
Securities during the period required by this Agreement, the Company
shall file promptly an appropriate amendment to such Registration
Statement curing such defect, and, if Commission review is required,
use its 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 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 fully with Rules 424, 430A and 462, as
applicable, under the Act in a timely manner; and comply with the
provisions of the Act with respect to the disposition of all securities
covered by such Registration Statement during the applicable period in
accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by the
sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement
to the Prospectus;
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(iii) advise each Holder promptly and, if requested by such
Holder, confirm such advice in writing, (A) when the Prospectus or any
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and,
with respect to any applicable Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective,
(B) of any request by the Commission for amendments to the Registration
Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or for
additional information relating thereto, (C) of the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement under the Act or of the suspension by any state
securities commission of the qualification of the Transfer Restricted
Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation
of any proceeding for any of the preceding purposes, (D) of the
existence of any fact or the happening of any event that makes any
statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto or any document
incorporated by reference therein untrue, or that requires the making
of any additions to or changes in the Registration Statement in order
to make the statements therein not misleading, or that requires the
making of any additions to or changes in the Prospectus in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. If at any time the Commission
shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, or any state securities commission or other
regulatory authority shall issue an order suspending the qualification
or exemption from qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities
under U.S. state securities or "blue sky" laws, the Company shall use
its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at
the earliest possible time;
(iv) 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) if requested by any Holders in connection with such
exchange or sale, promptly include in any Registration Statement or
Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if
necessary, such information as such Holders may reasonably request to
have included therein, including, without limitation, information
relating to the "Plan of Distribution" of the Transfer Restricted
Securities; and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement
or post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company is
notified of the matters to be included in such Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment;
(vi) furnish or make reasonably available to each Holder in
connection with such exchange or sale, without charge, at least one
copy of the Registration Statement, as first publicly 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);
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(vii) deliver to each Holder without charge, at least one copy
of the Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any
amendment or supplement thereto; the Company hereby consents to the use
(in accordance with law) of the Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement thereto by each selling Holder in connection with the
offering and the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by
the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;
(viii) upon the request of any Holder, enter into such
agreements (including underwriting agreements) and make such
representations and warranties and take all such other reasonable
actions in connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the
disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to any
applicable Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement as may
be reasonably requested by any Holder in connection with any sale or
resale pursuant to any applicable Registration Statement. In such
connection, the Company shall:
(A) In connection with a Shelf Registration Statement
and upon request of any Holder, furnish (or in the case of
paragraphs (2) and (3), use its best efforts to cause to be
furnished) to each Holder, upon the effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration Statement:
(1) a certificate, dated such date, signed on
behalf of the Company by (x) two members of the
Company's board of directors, and (y) a principal
financial or accounting officer of the Company,
confirming, as of the date thereof, the matters set
forth in Sections 1(a)(vi) and 5(h) of the Purchase
Agreement and such other similar matters as such Holders
may reasonably request;
(2) an opinion, dated the date of Consummation of
the Exchange Offer or the date of effectiveness of the
Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, of
counsel for the Company covering matters similar to
those set forth in paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) of
Section 5 (including the corresponding Exhibits) of the
Purchase Agreement and such other matter as such Holder
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, representatives of the
independent public accountants for the Company 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 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
11
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, or that the
Prospectus contained in such Shelf Registration
Statement as of its date 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 included in
any Registration Statement contemplated by this
Agreement or the related Prospectus; and
(3) a customary comfort letter, dated as of the
date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration
Statement, 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 5(i) of the Purchase Agreement, and
(B) deliver such other documents and certificates as may
be reasonably requested by the selling Holders to evidence
compliance with the matters covered in clause (A) above and
with any customary conditions contained in the any agreement
entered into by the Company pursuant to this clause (xi);
(ix) 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 reasonably necessary or
advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Transfer
Restricted Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that neither the Company 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,
other than as to matters and transactions relating to the Registration
Statement, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject;
(x) in connection with any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities that
will result in such securities no longer being Transfer Restricted Securities,
cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
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;
(xi) use its 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 of the U.S.
federal or state government
12
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;
(xii) provide an ISIN and/or Common Code number for all Notes that are
not -Transfer Restricted Securities not later than the effective date of a
Registration Statement covering such Transfer Restricted Securities and provide
the Trustee under the Indenture with printed certificates for the Transfer
Restricted Securities which are in a form eligible for deposit with Euroclear
Bank S.A/N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, and Clearstream Banking,
societe anonyme;
(xiii) otherwise use its 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);
(xiv) 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 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
(xv) to the extent not otherwise reasonably available and accessible to
the Holders, provide promptly to each Holder, upon request, each document filed
with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d)
of the Exchange Act.
(d) RESTRICTIONS ON HOLDERS. Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a
Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of the notice referred to in
Section 6(c)(iii)(C) or any notice from the Company of the existence of any fact
of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof (in each case, a
"SUSPENSION NOTICE"), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement
until (i) such Holder has received copies of the supplemented or amended
Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(iv) hereof, or (ii) such Holder is
advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed,
and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus (in each case, the "RECOMMENCEMENT
DATE"). Each Holder receiving a Suspension Notice hereby agrees that it will
either (i) destroy any Prospectuses, other 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
13
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 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 national, federal and state securities and Blue Sky 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 and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; (v) all
application and filing fees in connection with listing the Series B Notes on the
Luxembourg Stock Exchange and any other national securities exchange or
automated quotation system pursuant to the requirements hereof; and (vi) all
fees and disbursements of independent certified public accountants of the
Company (including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters
required by or incident to such performance).
The Company will, in any event, bear its internal expenses (including,
without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees
performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the
fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts, retained by the
Company.
(b) In connection with any Registration Statement required by this
Agreement (including, without limitation, the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement and the Shelf Registration Statement), the Company will reimburse the
Initial Purchasers and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities who are
tendering Series A Notes into in the Exchange Offer and/or selling or reselling
Series A Notes or Series B Notes pursuant to the "Plan of Distribution"
contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration
Statement, as applicable, for the reasonable fees and disbursements of not more
than one counsel, who shall be Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx, 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 agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, its
directors, officers and each Person, if any, who controls such Holder (within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act), from
and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments,
(including without limitation, any legal or other expenses incurred in
connection with investigating or defending any matter, including any action that
could give rise to any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments)
caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus or Prospectus
(or any amendment or supplement thereto) provided by the Company to any Holder
or any prospective purchaser of Series B Notes or
14
registered Series A Notes, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, except that the Company shall not be
liable to a Holder under the foregoing provision insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or judgments are caused by an untrue statement or omission
or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity
with written information furnished to the Company by such Holder expressly for
use in the Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus or Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto).
(b) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agrees, severally and
not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its 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, to the same extent
as the foregoing indemnity from the Company set forth in section (a) above, but
only with reference to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue
statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement in reliance upon and
in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Holder
expressly for use in any Registration Statement. In no event shall any Holder,
its directors, officers or any Person who controls such 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, its directors, officers or any Person who controls
such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
(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 PARTY") in writing
and the indemnifying party shall assume the defense of such action, including
the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party (who
shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the
indemnifying party) and the payment of all fees and expenses of such counsel, as
incurred (except that in the case of any action in respect of which indemnity
may be sought pursuant to both Sections 8(a) and 8(b), a Holder shall not be
required to assume the defense of such action pursuant to this Section 8(c), but
may employ separate counsel and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees
and expenses of such counsel, except as provided below, shall be at the expense
of the Holder). Any indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate
counsel in any such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees
and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnified party
unless (i) the employment of such counsel shall have been specifically
authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnifying party
shall have failed to assume the defense of such action or employ counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, or (iii) the named parties to
any such action (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified
party and the indemnifying party, and the indemnified party shall have been
advised by such counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available
to it which are different from or additional to those available to the
indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party shall not have the
right to assume the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party).
In any such case, the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one
action or separate but substantially similar or related
15
actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or
circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate
firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) for all indemnified parties
and all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such
firm shall be designated in writing by a majority of the Holders, in the case of
the parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(a), and by the Company, 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 its written consent, or (ii) effected
without its written consent 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 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, 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 8(d)(i) is not
permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not
only the relative benefits referred to in clause 8(d)(i) above but also the
relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and of the Holder, on the other
hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand,
and of the Holder, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Company, on the one hand, or by the Holder, on the
other hand, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The 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, subject
to the limitations set forth in the second paragraph of Section 8(a), any legal
or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with
investigating or defending any action or claim.
The Company 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
16
does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the
immediately preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified
party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments
referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include,
subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating
or defending any matter, including any action that could have given rise to such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Section 8, no Holder, its directors, its officers or any
Person, if any, who controls such Holder shall be required to contribute, in the
aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the total received by
such Holder with respect to the sale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant
to a Registration Statement exceeds (i) the amount paid by such Holder for such
Transfer Restricted Securities, and (ii) the amount of any damages which such
Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The Holders' obligations to contribute pursuant to this
Section 8(c) are several in proportion to the respective principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities held by each Holder hereunder and not joint.
SECTION 9. RULE 144A AND RULE 144
The Company agrees with each Holder, for so long as any Transfer
Restricted Securities remain outstanding and during any period in which the
Company (i) is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to make
available, upon request of any Holder, to such Holder or beneficial owner of
Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with any sale thereof and any
prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted Securities designated by such
Holder or beneficial owner, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) of the
rules and regulations promulgated 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.
SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) REMEDIES. The Company acknowledge and agree that any failure by the
Company to comply with its 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 obligations under Sections 3 and
4 hereof. The Company further agrees to waive the defense in any action for
specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) NO INCONSISTENT AGREEMENTS. The Company will not, on or after the
date 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. The Company has not previously
entered into any agreement granting any registration rights
17
with respect to its securities to any Person. The rights granted to the Holders
hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the
rights granted to the holders of the Company's securities under any agreement in
effect on the date hereof.
(c) AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. The provisions of this Agreement may not be
amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures from
the provisions hereof may not be given unless (i) in the case of Section 5
hereof and this Section 10(c)(i), the Company has obtained the written consent
of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities, and (ii) in the
case of all other provisions hereof, the Company has obtained the written
consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer
Restricted Securities (excluding Transfer Restricted Securities held by the
Company or its Affiliates). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent
to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights
of Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities are being tendered pursuant to
the Exchange Offer, and that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights
of other Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities are not being tendered
pursuant to such Exchange Offer, may be given by the Holders of a majority of
the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities subject to
such Exchange Offer.
(d) THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARY. The Holders shall be third party
beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, 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 their rights 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,
facsimile, or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(i) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of
the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to the Registrar under
the Indenture; and
(ii) if to the Company:
Sanitec International S.A.
00-00, xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
X-0000 Xxxxxxxxxx
RC Luxembourg B 82 050 5
Attention: Xx. Xxxxxx Xxxxx
with a copy to:
Sanitec Corporation
Xxxxxxxxx 00X
00000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx
Telecopier No.: x000 0 000 0000
Attention: Senior Vice President and CFO
18
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.
(f) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties,
including without limitation and without the need for an express assignment,
subsequent Holders; PROVIDED, that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any
assignment, transfer or other disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities in
violation of the terms hereof or of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture. If
any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Transfer Restricted Securities in any
manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Transfer Restricted
Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by
taking and holding such Transfer Restricted Securities such Person shall be
conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the
terms and provisions of this Agreement, including the restrictions on resale set
forth in this Agreement and, if applicable, the Purchase Agreement, and such
Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.
(g) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(h) HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(i) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE
CONFLICT OF LAW RULES THEREOF.
(j) JURISDICTION. The Company irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive
jurisdiction of any federal or state court in the City and State of New York,
United States of America, in any legal suit, action or proceeding based on or
arising under this Agreement and agrees that all claims in respect of such suit
or proceeding may be determined in any such court. The Company irrevocably
waives any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal proceeding
and waives the defense of an inconvenient forum or objections to personal
jurisdiction with respect to the maintenance of such legal suit, action or
proceeding. To the extent permitted by law, the Company hereby waives any
objections to the enforcement by any competent court in either Finland or
Luxembourg of any judgment validly obtained in any such court in New York on the
basis of any such legal suit, action or proceeding. The Company has appointed CT
Corporation System (the "PROCESS AGENT") as its authorized agent upon whom
process may be served in any such legal suit, action or proceeding. Such
appointment shall be irrevocable. CT Corporation System has agreed to act as
said agent for service of process and the Company agrees to take any and all
action including the filing of any and all documents and instruments,
19
that may be necessary to continue such appointment in full force and effect as
aforesaid. The Company further agrees that service of process upon the Process
Agent and written notice of said service to the Company shall be deemed in every
respect effective service of process upon the Company in any such legal suit,
action or proceeding. Nothing herein shall affect the right of any Initial
Purchaser or any person controlling any Initial Purchaser to serve process in
any other manner permitted by law.
(k) JUDGMENT CURRENCY. The obligation of the parties to make payments
under this Agreement is in Euro (the "OBLIGATION CURRENCY") and such obligation
shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender or recovery pursuant to any
judgment expressed in any currency other than the Obligation Currency or any
other realization in such other currency, whether as proceeds of set-off,
security, guarantee, distributions, or otherwise, except to the extent to which
such tender, recovery or realization shall result in the receipt by the party
which is to receive such payment of the full amount of the Obligation Currency
expressed to be payable hereunder. The party liable to make such payment agrees
to indemnify the party which is to receive such payment for the amount (if any)
by which such receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Obligation
Currency expressed to be payable hereunder and the party which is to receive
such payment agrees to pay to the party liable to make such payment the amount
(if any) by which such receipt, shall exceed the full amount of the Obligation
Currency, and, in each case, such obligation shall not be affected by judgment
being obtained for any other sums due under this Agreement. The parties agree
that the rate of exchange which shall be used to determine if such tender,
recovery or realization shall result in the receipt by the party which is to
receive such payment of the full amount of the Obligation Currency expressed to
be payable hereunder shall be the noon buying rate in New York City for cable
transfers in foreign currencies as certified for customs purposes by the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York for the business day preceding that on which the
judgment becomes a final judgment.
(l) 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.
(m) 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 PAGE FOLLOWS.)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
SANITEC INTERNATIONAL S.A.
_______________________________________
Name:
Title:
_______________________________________
Name:
Title:
XXXXXXX XXXXX INTERNATIONAL
_______________________________
Name:
Title:
XXXXXXX SACHS INTERNATIONAL
_______________________________
Name:
Title:
BAYERISCHE HYPO- UND VEREINSBANK AG
_______________________________
Name:
Title:
S-1
