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EXHIBIT 4.2
ITRON, INC.
6 3/4% CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2004
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
March 12, 1997
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLC
c/o Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
Eleven Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Transactions Advisory Group
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Itron, Inc., a Washington corporation (the "Company"),
proposes to issue and sell to Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation and
Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLC (together, the "Initial Purchasers"), upon the terms set
forth in a purchase agreement of even date herewith (the "Purchase Agreement"),
$60,000,000 aggregate principal amount (plus an additional $9,000,000 principal
amount to cover over-allotments, if any) of 6 3/4% Convertible Subordinated
Notes Due 2004 (the "Notes") of the Company. The Notes will be convertible into
shares of Common Stock, no par value, of the Company (the "Common Stock") at the
conversion price set forth in the Confidential Offering Circular dated March 12,
1997. The Notes will be issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of March 12,
1997 (the "Indenture"), between the Company and Chemical Trust Company of
California (the "Trustee"). As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter
into the Purchase Agreement and in satisfaction of a condition to the Initial
Purchasers' obligations thereunder, the Company agrees with the Initial
Purchasers, (i) for the benefit of the Initial Purchasers and (ii) for the
benefit of the holders of the Notes and the Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of the Notes (collectively, the "Securities") from time to time until
such time as such Securities have been sold pursuant to a Shelf Registration
Statement (as defined below) (each of the foregoing a "Holder" and together the
"Holders"), as follows:
1. Shelf Registration. The Company shall take the following
actions:
(a) The Company shall, at its cost, prepare and, as promptly
as practicable (but in no event more than 90 days after the date of the initial
closing under the Purchase Agreement)
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file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") and
thereafter shall use its best efforts to cause to be declared effective as soon
as practicable a registration statement on Form S-3 (the "Shelf Registration
Statement") covering the offer and sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities
(as defined in Section 5 hereof) by the Holders thereof from time to time in
accordance with the methods of distribution set forth in the Shelf Registration
Statement and Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act") (hereinafter, the "Shelf Registration"); provided, however,
that no Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser) shall be entitled to have the
Securities held by it covered by such Shelf Registration Statement unless such
Holder agrees in writing to be bound by all the provisions of this Agreement
applicable to such Holder.
(b) The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Shelf
Registration Statement continuously effective, in order to permit the prospectus
included therein to be lawfully delivered by the Holders of the relevant
Securities, for a period of two years from the date of its effectiveness or such
shorter period that will terminate when all the Securities covered by the Shelf
Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto or may be sold pursuant
to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act (or any successor rule thereof) (in any
such case, such period being called the "Shelf Registration Period"). The
Company shall be deemed not to have used its best efforts to keep the Shelf
Registration Statement effective during the requisite period if it voluntarily
takes any action that would result in Holders of Securities covered thereby not
being able to offer and sell such Securities during that period, unless such
action is required by applicable law.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to
the contrary, the Company shall cause (other than information required to be
supplied by the selling Holders pursuant to this Agreement) (i) the Shelf
Registration Statement and the related prospectus and any amendment or
supplement thereto to comply in all material respects with the applicable
requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder, (ii) the Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment
thereto not to contain, when it becomes effective, an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (iii) any prospectus
forming a part of the Shelf Registration Statement, and any amendment or
supplement to such prospectus, not to contain, as of the date of such prospectus
or amendment or supplement, any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
2. Registration Procedures. In connection with the Shelf
Registration contemplated by Section 1 hereof the following provisions shall
apply:
(a) The Company shall (i) furnish to each Initial Purchaser,
prior to the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of the Shelf
Registration Statement and each amendment thereof and each amendment or
supplement, if any, to the prospectus included therein and, in the event that an
Initial Purchaser (with respect to any portion of an unsold allotment from the
original offering) is participating in the Shelf Registration Statement, shall
use its best efforts to reflect in each such document, when so filed with the
Commission, such comments as such
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Initial Purchaser reasonably may propose and (ii) include the names of the
Holders, who propose to sell Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement, as selling security holders.
(b) The Company shall give written notice to the Initial
Purchasers and the Holders (which notice pursuant to clauses (ii)-(v) hereof
shall be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the prospectus
until the requisite changes have been made):
(i) when the Shelf Registration Statement or any amendment
thereto has been filed with the Commission and when the Shelf
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has
become effective;
(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or
supplements to the Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus
included therein or for additional information;
(iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement or the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;
(iv) of the receipt by the Company or its legal counsel of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the
Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or
threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and
(v) of the happening of any event that requires the Company to
make changes in the Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus in
order that the Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus do not
contain an untrue statement of a material fact nor omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein (in the case of the prospectus, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.
(c) The Company shall make every reasonable effort to obtain
the withdrawal at the earliest possible time, of any order suspending the
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement.
(d) The Company shall furnish to each Holder of Securities
included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge, one copy
of the Shelf Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto,
including financial statements and schedules, and, if the Holder so requests in
writing, all exhibits thereto (including those, if any, incorporated by
reference).
(e) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period,
deliver to each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf
Registration Statement, without charge, as many copies of the prospectus
(including each preliminary prospectus) included in the Shelf Registration
Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such person may reasonably
request. The Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to
the use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the
selling Holders in
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connection with the offering and sale of the Securities covered by the
prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in the Shelf
Registration Statement.
(f) Prior to any public offering of the Securities, pursuant
to the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall register or qualify or
cooperate with the Holders of the Securities included therein and their
respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of such
Securities for offer and sale under the securities or "blue sky" laws of such
states of the United States as any such Holder reasonably requests in writing
and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the
offer and sale in such jurisdictions of the Securities covered by the Shelf
Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
required to (i) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is
not then so qualified or (ii) take any action which would subject it to general
service of process or to taxation in any jurisdiction where it is not then so
subject.
(g) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of the
Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates
representing the Securities to be sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement free of any restrictive legends and in such denominations and
registered in such names as the Holders may request a reasonable period of time
prior to sales of the Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.
(h) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by
paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 2(b) above during the period for which
the Company is required to maintain an effective Shelf Registration Statement,
the Company shall promptly prepare and file a post-effective amendment to the
Shelf Registration Statement or an amendment or supplement to the related
prospectus and any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to
Holders or purchasers of Securities, the prospectus will not contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Company
notifies the Initial Purchasers or the Holders in accordance with paragraphs
(ii) through (v) of Section 2(b) above to suspend the use of the prospectus
until the requisite changes to the prospectus have been made, then the Initial
Purchasers and the Holders shall suspend use of such prospectus.
(i) Not later than the effective date of the Shelf
Registration Statement, the Company will provide CUSIP numbers for the Notes and
the Common Stock registered under the Shelf Registration Statement, and provide
the Trustee with printed certificates for such Notes, in form eligible for
deposit with The Depository Trust Company.
(j) The Company will comply with all rules and regulations of
the Commission to the extent and so long as they are applicable to the Shelf
Registration and will make generally available to its security holders (or
otherwise provide in accordance with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act) an
earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities
Act, no later than 45 days after the end of a 12-month period (or 90 days, if
such period is a fiscal year) beginning with the first month of the Company's
first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of the Shelf
Registration Statement, which statement shall cover such 12-month period.
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(k) The Company shall cause the Indenture to be qualified
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"),
in a timely manner and containing such changes, if any, as shall be necessary
for such qualification. In the event that such qualification would require the
appointment of a new trustee under the Indenture, the Company shall appoint a
new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Indenture.
(l) The Company shall enter into such customary agreements
(including if requested an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take
all such other action, if any, as any Holder of the securities shall reasonably
request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Securities pursuant to the
Shelf Registration Statement.
(m) The Company may require each Holder of Securities to be
sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the Company such
information regarding the Holder and the distribution of the Securities as the
Company may from time to time reasonably require for inclusion in the Shelf
Registration Statement, and the Company may exclude from such registration the
Securities of any Holder that fails to furnish such information within a
reasonable time after receiving such request.
(n) The Company shall (i) make reasonably available for
inspection by the Holders of the Securities, any underwriter participating in
any disposition pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, and any attorney,
accountant or other agent retained by the Holders of the Securities or any
underwriter all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate
documents and properties of the Company and (ii) cause the Company's officers,
directors, employees, accountants and auditors to supply all relevant
information reasonably requested by the Holders of the Securities or any such
underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, in each case, as shall be reasonably necessary to enable
such persons to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of Section
11 of the Securities Act; provided, however, that the foregoing inspection and
information gathering shall be coordinated by one counsel (the "Designated
Counsel"). Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP shall be the Designated Counsel for all
purposes hereof until another Designated Counsel shall have been chosen by the
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities covered by the Shelf
Registration Statement (provided that Holders of Common Stock issued upon the
conversion of the Notes shall be deemed to be Holders of the aggregate principal
amount of Notes from which such Common Stock was converted).
(o) The Company, if requested by any Holder of Securities
covered by the Shelf Registration Statement, shall cause (i) its counsel to
deliver an opinion and updates thereof relating to the Securities in customary
form addressed to such Holders and the managing underwriters, if any, thereof,
and dated, in the case of the initial opinion, the effective date of such Shelf
Registration Statement (it being agreed that the matters to be covered by such
opinion shall include, without limitation, the due incorporation and good
standing of the Company and its subsidiaries; the qualification of the Company
and its subsidiaries to transact business as foreign corporations; the due
authorization, execution and delivery of the relevant agreement of the type
referred to in Section (l) above; the due authorization, execution,
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authentication and issuance, and the validity and enforceability, of the
applicable Securities; the absence of material legal or governmental proceedings
involving the Company and its subsidiaries; the absence of governmental
approvals required to be obtained in connection with the Shelf Registration
Statement, the offering and sale of the applicable Securities, or any agreement
of the type referred to in Section 2(l) hereof; the compliance as to form of
such Shelf Registration Statement and any documents incorporated by reference
therein and of the Indenture with the requirements of the Securities Act and the
Trust Indenture Act, respectively; and, as of the date of the opinion and as of
the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement or most recent
post-effective amendment thereto, as the case may be, the absence from such
Shelf Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein, as then
amended or supplemented, and from any documents incorporated by reference
therein of an untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading (in the case of any such documents, in the
light of the circumstances existing at the time that such documents were filed
with the Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act")), (ii) its officers to execute and deliver all customary
documents and certificates and updates thereof requested by the Designated
Counsel or any underwriters of the applicable Securities, and (iii) its
independent public accountants and the independent public accountants with
respect to any other entity for which financial information is provided in the
Shelf Registration Statement to provide to the selling Holders of the applicable
Securities a comfort letter in customary form and covering matters of the type
customarily covered in comfort letters in connection with primary underwritten
offerings, subject to receipt of appropriate documentation as contemplated, and
only if permitted, by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72.
(p) The Company will use its reasonable efforts to, if the
Notes have been rated prior to the initial sale of such Notes, confirm such
ratings will apply to the Notes covered by a Registration Statement.
(q) In the event that any broker-dealer registered under the
Exchange Act shall underwrite any Securities or participate as a member of an
underwriting syndicate or selling group or "assist in the distribution" (within
the meaning of the Conduct Rules of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. ("NASD")) thereof, whether as a Holder of such Securities or as an
underwriter, a placement or sales agent or a broker or dealer in respect
thereof, or otherwise, assist such broker-dealer in complying with the
requirements of such Rules, including, without limitation, by (i) if such Rules,
including Rule 2720, shall so require, engaging a "qualified independent
underwriter" (as defined in such Rule) to participate in the preparation of the
Registration Statement relating to such Securities, to exercise usual standards
of due diligence in respect thereto and, if any portion of the offering
contemplated by such Registration Statement is an underwritten offering or is
made through a placement or sales agent, to recommend the yield of such
Securities, (ii) indemnifying any such qualified independent underwriter to the
extent of the indemnification of underwriters provided in Section 5 hereof and
(iii) providing such information to such broker-dealer as may be required in
order for such broker-dealer to comply with the requirements of the NASD Conduct
Rules.
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(r) The Company shall use its best efforts to take all other
steps necessary to effect the registration of the Securities covered by the
Shelf Registration Statement contemplated hereby.
3. Registration Expenses. The Company shall bear all fees and
expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under
Sections 1 through 2 hereof, whether or not the Shelf Registration Statement is
filed or becomes effective, and shall bear or reimburse the Holders of the
Securities covered by the Shelf Registration for the reasonable fees and
disbursements of the Designated Counsel (provided that Holders of Common Stock
issued upon the conversion of the Notes shall be deemed to be Holders of the
aggregate principal amount of Notes from which such Common Stock was converted)
to act as counsel for the Holders in connection therewith.
4. Indemnification. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless each Holder and each person, if any, who controls such Holder
within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each Holder and
such controlling persons are referred to collectively as the "Indemnified
Parties") from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or
several, or any actions in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions relating to purchases and sales
of the Securities) to which each Indemnified Party becomes subject under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Shelf
Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus relating to the Shelf Registration, or arise
out of, or are based upon, the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, and shall reimburse, as incurred, the Indemnified
Parties for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in
connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action in respect thereof; provided, however, that (i) the Company
shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that such loss, claim, damage
or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Shelf Registration
Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any
preliminary prospectus relating to the Shelf Registration in reliance upon and
in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished
to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein
and (ii) with respect to any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue
statement or omission made in any preliminary prospectus relating to the Shelf
Registration Statement, the indemnity agreement contained in this subsection (a)
shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder from whom the person asserting any
such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased the Securities concerned,
to the extent that a prospectus relating to such Securities was required to be
delivered by such Holder under the Securities Act in connection with such
purchase and any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such Holder results
from the fact that there was not sent or given to such person, at or prior to
the written confirmation of the sale of such Securities to such person, a copy
of the final prospectus if the Company had previously furnished copies thereof
to such Holder; provided further, however, that this indemnity agreement will be
in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to such
Indemnified Party.
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(b) Each Holder, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and
hold harmless the Company and each person, if any, who controls the Company
within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act from and against
any losses, claims, damages or liabilities or any actions in respect thereof, to
which the Company or any such controlling person becomes subject under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Shelf
Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out
of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in
each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Company by or
on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein; and, subject to the
limitation set forth immediately preceding this clause, and to subsection (c)
below, shall reimburse, as incurred, the Company for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by the Company or any such controlling person in connection
with investigating or defending any loss, claim, damage, liability or action in
respect thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability
which such Holder may otherwise have to the Company or any of its controlling
persons.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 4 of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including a
governmental investigation), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 4,
notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the omission so
to notify the indemnifying party will not, in any event, relieve the
indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the
indemnification obligation provided in subsections (a) or (b) above. In case any
such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the
indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be
entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly
with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense
thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who
shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the
indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such
indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof the
indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this
Section 4 for any legal or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of
investigation, subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection
with the defense thereof. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or
threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have
been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified
party unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such
indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter
of such action.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 4 is
unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
subsections (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a
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result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof) referred to in subsections (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as
is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the indemnifying
party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other from the
registration of the Securities, pursuant to the Shelf Registration, or (ii) if
the allocation provided by the foregoing clause (i) is not permitted by
applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the
relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of
the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on
the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) as well
as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the
parties 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 such Holder or such other indemnified party, as the case may
be, on the other, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims,
damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d)
shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any action
or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Section 4(d), the Holders shall not be required to contribute
any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds received by such
Holders from the sale of the Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement exceeds the amount of damages which such Holders have otherwise been
required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission
or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within
the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. For purposes of this paragraph (d), each person, if any, who
controls such indemnified party within the meaning of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such indemnified
party and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of
the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to
contribution as the Company.
(e) The agreements contained in this Section 4 shall survive
the sale of the Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and
shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination or
cancellation of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of any
indemnified party.
5. Additional Interest Under Certain Circumstances. (a)
Additional interest (the "Additional Interest") with respect to the Notes shall
be assessed as follows if any of the following events occur (each such event in
clauses (i) through (iii) below being herein called a "Registration Default"):
(i) if on or prior to the 90th day after the first date of
original issuance of the Notes, the Shelf Registration Statement has
not been filed with the Commission;
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(ii) if on or prior to the 120th day after the first date of
original issuance of the Notes, the Shelf Registration Statement has
not been declared effective by the Commission; or
(iii) if after the Shelf Registration Statement is declared
effective (A) the Shelf Registration Statement thereafter ceases to be
effective; or (B) the Shelf Registration Statement or the related
prospectus ceases to be usable (in each case except as permitted in
paragraph (b) below) in connection with resales of Transfer Restricted
Securities in accordance with and during the periods specified herein
because either (1) any event occurs as a result of which the related
prospectus forming part of such Shelf Registration Statement would
include any 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, or (2) it
shall be necessary to amend such Shelf Registration Statement or
supplement the related prospectus, to comply with the Securities Act or
the Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder.
Additional Interest shall accrue on the Notes over and above
the interest set forth in the title of the Notes from and including the date on
which any such Registration Default shall occur, to but excluding the date on
which all such Registration Defaults have been cured, at a rate of 0.50% per
annum.
(b) A Registration Default referred to in Section 5(a)(iii)(B)
shall be deemed not to have occurred and be continuing in relation to the Shelf
Registration Statement or the related prospectus if (i) such Registration
Default has occurred solely as a result of (x) the filing of a post-effective
amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement to incorporate annual audited
financial information with respect to the Company where such post-effective
amendment is not yet effective and needs to be declared effective to permit
Holders to use the related prospectus or (y) other material events with respect
to the Company that would need to be described in the Shelf Registration
Statement or the related prospectus and (ii) in the case of clause (y), the
Company proceeds promptly and in good faith to amend or supplement the Shelf
Registration Statement and related prospectus to describe such events; provided,
however, that in any case if such Registration Default occurs for a continuous
period in excess of 30 days, Additional Interest shall be payable in accordance
with the above paragraph from the day such Registration Default occurs until
such Registration Default is cured.
(c) Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to clauses
(a)(i), (ii) or (iii) of this Section 5 will be payable in cash on the regular
interest payment dates with respect to the Notes. The amount of Additional
Interest will be determined by multiplying the applicable Additional Interest
rate by the principal amount of the Notes, multiplied by a fraction, the
numerator of which is the number of days such Additional Interest rate was
applicable during such period (determined on the basis of a 360-day year
comprised of twelve 30-day months), and the denominator of which is 360. The
indebtedness represented by the Additional Interest shall be subordinated in
right of payment to all existing and future Senior Indebtedness (as defined in
the Indenture) as and to the same extent as the Notes.
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(d) "Transfer Restricted Securities" means each Security until
(i) the date on which such Security has been effectively registered under the
Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration
Statement or (ii) the date on which such Security is distributed to the public
pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or is salable pursuant to Rule
144(k) under the Securities Act.
6. Rules 144 and 144A. The Company shall use its best efforts
to file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act in a timely manner and, if at any time the Company is not required
to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities, make publicly available other information so long as
necessary to permit sales of their securities pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A.
The Company covenants that it will take such further action as any Holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent
required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Transfer Restricted
Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation
of the exemptions provided by Rules 144 and 144A (including the requirements of
Rule 144A(d)(4)). The Company will provide a copy of this Agreement to
prospective purchasers of Securities identified to the Company by the Initial
Purchasers upon request. Upon the request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written statement as to
whether it has complied with such requirements. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
nothing in this Section 6 shall be deemed to require the Company to register any
of its securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.
7. Underwritten Registrations. If any of the Transfer
Restricted Securities covered by any Shelf Registration are to be sold in an
underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager
or managers that will administer the offering ("Managing Underwriters") will be
selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such
Transfer Restricted Securities to be included in such offering.
No person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder
unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person's Transfer Restricted
Securities on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements
approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii)
completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities,
underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms
of such underwriting arrangements.
8. Miscellaneous. (a) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions
of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or
consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, except by
the Company and the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the Securities (provided that Holders of Common Stock issued upon
conversion of Notes shall be deemed to be Holders of the aggregate principal
amount of Notes from which such Common Stock was converted) affected by such
amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consents.
(b) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for
or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, first-class
mail, facsimile transmission, or air courier that guarantees overnight delivery:
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(1) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such
Holder to the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Section
8(b), which address initially is, with respect to each Holder, the
address of such Holder to which confirmation of the sale of the Notes
to such Holder was first sent by the Initial Purchasers, with a copy in
like manner to you as follows:
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
Eleven Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Transactions Advisory Group
with a copy to the Designated Counsel:
Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP
0000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
(or such other firm as shall have been chosen by a majority of in
principal amount of the Securities covered by the Shelf Registration
Statement in accordance with Section 2(n));
(2) if to the Initial Purchasers, at the addresses specified
in Section 8(b)(1);
(3) if to the Company, at its address as follows:
Itron, Inc.
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
with a copy to:
Xxxxxxx Coie
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have
been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three
business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed;
when receipt is acknowledged by recipient's facsimile
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machine operator, if sent by facsimile transmission; and on the day delivered,
if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.
(c) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not, as of the
date hereof, entered into, nor shall it, on or after the date hereof, enter
into, any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the
rights granted to the Holders herein or otherwise conflicts with the provisions
hereof.
(d) 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 the need for an express assignment or any consent by
the Company thereto, subsequent Holders of Securities. The Company hereby agrees
to extend the benefits of this Agreement to any Holder of Securities and any
such Holder may specifically enforce the provisions of this Agreement as if an
original party hereto.
(e) 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.
(f) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the
meaning hereof.
(g) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD
TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.
By the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company
submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any federal or state court in the
State of New York.
(h) Severability. If any one or more of the provisions
contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions
contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
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(i) Securities Held by the Company. Whenever the consent or
approval of Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities
is required hereunder, Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (other
than subsequent Holders of Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to
be affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities) shall not
be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the
Holders of such required percentage.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of
our agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof,
whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding
agreement among the several Initial Purchasers and the Company in accordance
with its terms.
Very truly yours,
ITRON, INC.
By /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Title: Vice President and CFO
The foregoing Registration Rights Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as
of the date first above written.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
XXXXXXXXX & XXXXX LLC
by: Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
By /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-----------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Director
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