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Exhibit 4(f)
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of June 24, 1998
by and among
Consumers Energy Company
and
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
First Chicago Capital Markets, Inc.
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This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of June 24, 1998, by and among Consumers Energy Company, a
Michigan corporation (the "Company"), and Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co. ("Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx"), Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx ("Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx"), and First Chicago
Capital Markets, Inc. ("First Chicago") (each an "Initial Purchaser" and,
collectively, the "Initial Purchasers").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated June
18, 1998 (the "Purchase Agreement"), by and among the Company and the Initial
Purchasers, which provides for the sale by the Company to the Initial Purchasers
of an aggregate of $200,000,000 principal amount of the Company's Senior
Remarketed Secured Notes, Series A, Due 2018 (the "Series A Notes"). In order to
induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, 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 10 of the Purchase Agreement.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have
the following meanings:
Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder.
Business Day: Any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day in the
City of New York, or in the city of the primary corporate trust office of the
Trustee, on which banks are authorized to close.
Broker-Dealer: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.
Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities: Series B Notes that are
acquired by a Broker- Dealer in the Exchange Offer in exchange for Series A
Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of market
making activities or other trading activities (other than Series A Notes
acquired directly from the Company or any of its affiliates).
Certificated Notes: Notes under the Indenture that are not in Global
Note form.
Closing Date: June 24, 1998, or such other date as may be agreed upon
for the sale and purchase of the Series A Notes pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement.
Commission: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
Consummate: An Exchange Offer shall be deemed "Consummated" for
purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (a) the filing and
effectiveness under the Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
relating to the Series B Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (b) the
maintenance of such Registration Statement continuously effective and the
keeping of the Exchange Offer open for a period not less than the minimum period
required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof and (c) the delivery by the Company to
the Trustee 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
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to the Exchange Offer.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the
rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
Exchange Offer: The registration by the Company under the Act of the
Series B Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to
which the Company shall offer the Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted
Securities the opportunity to exchange all such outstanding Transfer Restricted
Securities for Series B Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the
aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities tendered in
such exchange offer by such Holders.
Exchange Offer Registration Statement: The Registration Statement
relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.
Exempt Resales: The transactions in which the Initial Purchasers
propose to sell the Series A Notes to certain "qualified institutional buyers,"
as such term is defined in Rule 144A under the Act, and to persons permitted to
purchase the Series A Notes in offshore transactions in reliance upon Regulation
S under the Act.
First Mortgage: The Indenture, dated as of September 1, 1945, between
the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as successor trustee to City Bank
Farmers Trust Company, as supplemented and amended.
Global Noteholder: As defined in the Indenture.
Holders: As defined in Section 2 hereof.
Indemnified Holder: As defined in Section 8(a) hereof.
Indenture: The Indenture, dated as of February 1, 1998, as previously
supplemented and as further supplemented by the Second Supplemental Indenture
thereto dated as of June 15, 1998, between the Company and The Chase Manhattan
Bank, as Trustee (the "Trustee"), pursuant to which the Notes are to be issued.
Interest Payment Date: As defined in the Indenture and the Notes.
NASD: National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Notes: The Series A Notes and the Series B Notes.
Person: An individual, partnership, corporation, trust, unincorporated
organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
Prospectus: The prospectus included in any Registration Statement at
the time such Registration Statement is declared effective, as amended or
supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments and
supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all
material incorporated by reference into such Prospectus.
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Record Holder: With respect to any Interest Payment Date, each Person
who is a Holder of Notes on the record date for such Interest Payment Date.
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) which is filed pursuant to
the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) including the Prospectus included
therein, all amendments and supplements thereto (including post-effective
amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by reference or deemed to
be incorporated by reference therein.
Restricted Broker-Dealer: Any Broker-Dealer which holds Broker-Dealer
Transfer Restricted Securities.
Series B Notes: The Company's Senior Remarketed Secured Notes, Series
B, Due 2018 containing terms identical (including identical call options,
mandatory puts and provision for security by the Company's First Mortgage Bonds,
Senior Remarketed Secured Notes, Series A, Due 2018 ("First Mortgage Bonds")) to
the Series A Notes (except that such Series B Notes shall not bear a legend
restricting the transfer thereof and such Series B Notes need not bear
"additional interest" upon a Registration Default as contemplated in Section 5)
to be issued pursuant to the Indenture (i) in the Exchange Offer or (ii) upon
the request of any Holders of Series A Notes covered by a Shelf Registration
Statement, in exchange for such Series A Notes.
Shelf Registration Statement: As defined in Section 4 hereof.
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Section 77aaa-77bbbb)
as in effect on the date of the Indenture.
Transfer Restricted Securities: Each Note, until the earliest to occur
of (a) the date on which such Note is exchanged in the Exchange Offer and
entitled to be resold to the public by the Holder thereof without complying with
the prospectus delivery requirements of the Act, (b) the date on which such Note
has been disposed of in accordance with a Shelf Registration Statement, (c) the
date on which such Note is disposed of by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the "Plan
of Distribution" contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
(including delivery of the Prospectus contained therein) or (d) the date on
which such Note is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Act.
Underwritten Registration or Underwritten Offering: A registration in
which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the
public.
SECTION 2. HOLDERS
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A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
(each, a "Holder") whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities.
SECTION 3. REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER
(a) Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permitted by applicable
federal law (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below have been
complied with), the Company shall (i) cause to be filed with the Commission as
soon as practicable after the Closing Date, but in no event later than 150 days
after the Closing Date, the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (ii) use its
best efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become
effective at the earliest possible time, but in no event later than 180 days
after the Closing Date, (iii) in connection with the foregoing, (A) file all
pre-effective amendments to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement as may be
necessary in order to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become
effective, (B) file, if applicable, a post-effective amendment to such Exchange
Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act and (C) cause
all necessary filings, if any, in connection with the registration and
qualification of the Series B Notes to be made under the Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions as are necessary to permit Consummation of the Exchange Offer, and
(iv) upon the effectiveness of such Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
commence and Consummate the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall be on the
appropriate form permitting registration of the Series B Notes to be offered in
exchange for the Series A Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities and to
permit sales of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities by Restricted
Broker-Dealers 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 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 federal and state securities laws. No securities other than the Notes
shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. The Company
shall use its best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be Consummated on the
earliest practicable date after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has
become effective, but in no event later than 30 Business Days thereafter. The
Company shall inform the Initial Purchasers of the names and addresses of Series
A Notes to whom the Exchange Offer is made, and the Initial Purchasers shall
have the right to contact such Holders and otherwise facilitate the tender of
Transfer Restricted Securities in the Exchange Offer.
(c) The Company shall include a "Plan of Distribution" section in
the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and
indicate therein that any Restricted Broker-Dealer who holds Series A Notes that
are Transfer Restricted Securities and that were acquired for the account of
such Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, may exchange such Series A Notes (other than Transfer Restricted
Securities acquired directly from the Company or any Affiliate of the Company)
pursuant to the Exchange Offer; however, such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be
an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Act and must, therefore, deliver a
prospectus meeting the requirements of the Act in connection with its initial
sale of each Series B Note received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer,
which prospectus delivery requirement may be satisfied by the delivery by such
Broker-Dealer of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement. Such "Plan of Distribution" section shall also contain all other
information with respect to such sales of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted
Securities by Restricted Broker-Dealers that the Commission may require in order
to
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permit such sales pursuant thereto, but such "Plan of Distribution" shall not
name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Notes held by any such
Broker-Dealer, except to the extent required by the Commission as a result of a
change in policy after the date of this Agreement.
The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as
required by the provisions of Section 6(c) below to the extent necessary to
ensure that it is available for sales of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted
Securities by Restricted Broker-Dealers, and to ensure that such Registration
Statement conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the
policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to
time, for a period of one year from the date on which the Exchange Offer is
Consummated.
The Company shall promptly provide sufficient copies of the latest
version of such Prospectus to such Restricted Broker-Dealers promptly upon
request, and in no event later than one day after such request, at any time
during such one-year period in order to facilitate such sales.
The exchange of Series A Notes for Series B Notes pursuant to this
Agreement shall not be deemed to be payment, satisfaction or discharge of the
Series A Notes for purposes of Article V of the Indenture.
SECTION 4. SHELF REGISTRATION
(a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Company is not required to file
an Exchange Offer Registration Statement with respect to the Series B Notes
because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or Commission
policy (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below have been
complied with) or (ii) if any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall
notify the Company following the Consummation of the Exchange Offer that (A)
such Holder was prohibited by law or Commission policy from participating in the
Exchange Offer or (B) such Holder may not resell the Series B Notes acquired by
it in the Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and the
Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not
appropriate or available for such resales by such Holder or (C) such Holder is a
Broker-Dealer and holds Series A Notes acquired directly from the Company or one
of its affiliates, then the Company shall (x) cause to be filed on or prior to
150 days after the date on which the Company determines that it is not required
to file the Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to clause (i) above
or 150 days after the date on which the Company receives the notice specified in
clause (ii) above a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the
Act (which may be an amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (in
either event, the "Shelf Registration Statement")), relating to all Transfer
Restricted Securities the Holders of which shall have provided the information
required pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof, and shall (y) use its best efforts to
cause such Shelf Registration Statement to become effective on or prior to 180
days after the date on which the Company becomes obligated to file such Shelf
Registration Statement. If, after the Company has filed an Exchange Offer
Registration Statement which satisfies the requirements of Section 3(a) above,
the Company is required to file and make effective a Shelf Registration
Statement solely because the Exchange Offer shall not be permitted under
applicable federal law, then the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of clause (x) above. Such
an event shall have no effect on the requirements of clause (y) above. The
Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement
discussed in this Section 4(a) continuously effective, supplemented and amended
as required by and subject to the provisions of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof to
the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for sales of Transfer
Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof entitled to the benefit of this
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Section 4(a), and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this
Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as
announced from time to time, for a period of at least two years (as extended
pursuant to Section 6(c)(i)) following the date on which such Shelf Registration
Statement first becomes effective under the Act.
(b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with
the Shelf Registration Statement. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
may include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration
Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to
the Company in writing, within 20 days after receipt of a request therefor, such
information specified in item 507 of Regulation S-K under the Act for use in
connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary
Prospectus included therein. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall
be entitled to liquidated damages pursuant to Section 5 hereof unless and until
such Holder shall have used its best efforts to provide all such information.
Each Holder as to which any Shelf Registration Statement is being effected
agrees to furnish promptly to the Company all information required to be
disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the Company
by such Holder not materially misleading.
SECTION 5. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
If (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not
filed with the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such filing in
this Agreement, (ii) any such Registration Statement has not been declared
effective by the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such
effectiveness in this Agreement, (iii) the Exchange Offer has not been
Consummated within 30 Business Days after the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement is first declared effective by the Commission or (iv) any Registration
Statement required by this Agreement is filed and declared effective but shall
thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be usable for its intended purpose
without being succeeded within fifteen business days by a post-effective
amendment to such Registration Statement that cures such failure and that is
itself declared effective within five business days (each such event referred to
in clauses (i) through (iv), a "Registration Default"), then the Company agrees
to pay liquidated damages in the form of additional interest on the transfer
Restricted Securities to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, during
the continuation of any Registration Default, at a rate of .25% per annum until
all Registration Defaults are cured. 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
liquidated damages payable with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities as
a result of such clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), as applicable, shall cease.
All additional interest shall be paid on each Interest Payment Date
to the Global Note Holder by wire transfer of immediately available funds or by
federal funds check and to Record Holders of Certificated Notes by mailing
checks on each Interest Payment Date to such Record Holders at their addresses
registered on the books of the Company or the Trustee for such payment. All
obligations of the Company set forth in the preceding paragraph that are
outstanding with respect to any Transfer Restricted Security at the time such
security ceases to be a Transfer Restricted Security shall survive until such
time
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as all such obligations with respect to such security shall have been satisfied
in full.
SECTION 6. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. In connection with the
Exchange Offer, the Company shall comply with all applicable provisions of
Section 6(c) below, shall use its best efforts to effect such exchange and to
permit the sale of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in
accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and
shall comply with all of the following provisions:
(i) If, following the date hereof, there has been
published a change in Commission policy with respect to exchange offers
such as the Exchange Offer, such that in the reasonable opinion of counsel
to the Company there is a substantial question as to whether the Exchange
Offer is permitted by applicable 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 Series A
Notes. 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 actions as are reasonably
requested by the Commission or otherwise required in connection with the
issuance of such decision, including without limitation (A) participating
in telephonic conferences with the Commission, (B) delivering to the
Commission staff an analysis prepared by counsel to the Company setting
forth the legal bases, if any, upon which such counsel has concluded that
such an Exchange Offer should be permitted and (C) diligently pursuing a
resolution (which need not be favorable) by the Commission staff of such
submission.
(ii) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange
Offer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities shall furnish, upon the request of the Company, prior
to the Consummation of the Exchange Offer, a written representation to the
Company (which may be contained in the letter of transmittal contemplated
by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to the effect that (A) it is
not an affiliate of the Company, (B) it is not engaged in, and does not
intend to engage in, and has no arrangement or understanding with any
person to participate in, a distribution of the Series B Notes to be issued
in the Exchange Offer and (C) it is acquiring the Series B Notes in its
ordinary course of business. Each Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees
that any Broker-Dealer and any such Holder using the Exchange Offer to
participate in a distribution of the securities to be acquired in the
Exchange Offer (1) could not under Commission policy as in effect on the
date of this Agreement rely on the position of the Commission enunciated in
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991), Xxxx Xxx Cosmetics,
Inc. (available June 5, 0000), Xxxxxxx, Inc. (available June 5, 1991), Epic
Properties, Inc. (available October 21, 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, as applicable, of
Regulation S-K if the resales are of Series B Notes obtained by such Holder
in exchange for Series A Notes acquired by such Holder directly from the
Company or an affiliate thereof.
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(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 is 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), Xxxx Xxx Cosmetics, Inc. (available
June 5, 0000), Xxxxxxx, Inc. (available June 5, 1991), and Epic Properties,
Inc. (available October 21, 1991) and, if applicable, any no-action letter
obtained pursuant to clause (i) above, (B) including a representation that
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.
(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, the Company shall comply with all the provisions of
Section 6(c) below and shall use its best efforts to effect such registration to
permit the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in accordance
with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof (as indicated in the
information furnished to the Company pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof), and
pursuant thereto the Company will prepare and file with the Commission a
Registration Statement relating to the registration on any appropriate form
under the Act, which form shall be available for the sale of the Transfer
Restricted Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of
distribution thereof within the time periods and otherwise in accordance with
the provisions hereof.
(c) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration
Statement and any related Prospectus required by this Agreement to permit the
sale or resale of Transfer Restricted Securities (including, without limitation,
any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and the related Prospectus, to the
extent that the same are required to be available to permit sales of
Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities by Restricted Broker-Dealers), the
Company shall:
(i) use its best efforts to keep such Registration
Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite financial
statements for the period specified in Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement, as
applicable. Upon the occurrence of any event that would cause any such
Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain a
material misstatement or omission or (B) not to be effective and usable for
resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during the period required by this
Agreement, the Company shall file promptly an appropriate amendment to such
Registration Statement, (1) in the case of clause (A), correcting any such
misstatement or omission, and (2) in the case of clauses (A) and (B), use
its best efforts to cause such amendment to be declared effective and such
Registration Statement and the related Prospectus to become usable for
their intended purpose(s) as soon as practicable thereafter.
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments
and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement as may be
necessary to keep the Registration Statement continuously effective for the
applicable period set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, or such shorter
period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by
such Registration
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Statement have been sold; cause the related Prospectus to be supplemented
by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed
pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force) 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;
(iii) advise the underwriter(s), if any, and selling
Holders promptly and, if requested by such Persons, confirm such advice in
writing, (A) when the Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to any
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the
same has become effective, (B) of the receipt of any comments from the
Commission, (C) 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, (D) 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, (E) if at any time the
representations and warranties of the Company contained in any agreement
contemplated by paragraph (x) below in connection with the disposition of
Transfer Restricted Securities by Holders thereof cease to be true and
correct, (F) 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 therein 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 a Registration Statement or
related Prospectus so that such documents will not contain any 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, and (G) of
the Company's determination that a post-effective amendment to a
Registration Statement would be appropriate. If at any time the Commission
shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement, or any state securities commission or other regulatory authority
shall issue an order suspending the qualification or exemption from
qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under state securities
or Blue Sky laws, the Company shall use its best efforts to obtain the
withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible time;
(iv) furnish to the Initial Purchaser(s), each selling
Holder named in any Registration Statement or Prospectus and each of the
underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, before filing with the
Commission, copies of any Registration Statement or any Prospectus included
therein or any amendments or supplements to any such Registration Statement
or Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference after the
initial filing of such Registration Statement), which documents will be
subject to the review and comment of such Holders and underwriter(s) in
connection with such sale, if any, for a period of at least five Business
Days, and the Company will not file any such Registration Statement or
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any such Registration
Statement or Prospectus (including all such documents which, upon filing,
would be incorporated by reference therein and amendments to such
documents) to which the selling Holders of the Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by such
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Registration Statement or the underwriter(s) in connection with such sale,
if any, shall reasonably object within five Business Days after the receipt
thereof;
(v) promptly prior to the filing of any document that is
to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or
Prospectus, provide copies of such document to the selling Holders and to
the underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, make the Company's
representatives available for discussion of such document and other
customary due diligence matters, and include such information in such
document prior to the filing thereof as such selling Holders or
underwriter(s), if any, reasonably may request;
(vi) make available at reasonable times for inspection by
the selling Holders, any managing underwriter participating in any
disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement and any attorney or
accountant retained by such selling Holders or any of such underwriter(s),
all financial and other records, material corporate documents and
properties of the Company and cause the Company's officers, directors and
employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such
Holder, underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with such
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto subsequent
to the filing thereof and prior to its effectiveness;
(vii) if requested by any selling Holders or the
underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, promptly include in
any Registration Statement or Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or
post-effective amendment if necessary, such information as such selling
Holders and underwriter(s), if any, may reasonably request to have included
therein, including, without limitation, information relating to the "Plan
of Distribution" of the Transfer Restricted Securities, information with
respect to the principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities being
sold to such underwriter(s), the purchase price being paid therefor and any
other terms of the offering of the Transfer Restricted Securities to be
sold in such offering; and make all required filings of such Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as the Company has received
notification of the matters to be included in such Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment;
(viii) furnish to each selling Holder and each of the
underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, without charge, at
least one copy of the Registration Statement or Statements, as first filed
with the Commission, and of each amendment thereto, including all documents
incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits (including exhibits
incorporated therein by reference), at the earliest practicable time under
the circumstances after the filing of such documents with the Commission;
(ix) deliver to each selling Holder and each of the
underwriter(s), if any, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus or
Prospectuses (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or
supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may request; the Company
hereby consents to the use (in accordance with law) of the Prospectus and
any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders and each
of the underwriter(s), if any, in connection with the offering and the sale
of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto;
(x) enter into such agreements (including an underwriting
agreement) and make
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such representations and warranties and take all such other actions in
connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of
the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement
contemplated by this Agreement as may be reasonably requested by any Holder
of Transfer Restricted Securities or underwriter in connection with any
sale or resale pursuant to any Registration Statement contemplated by this
Agreement, and in such connection, whether or not an underwriting agreement
is entered into and whether or not the registration is an Underwritten
Registration, the Company shall:
(A) furnish (or in the case of paragraphs (2) and
(3), use its best efforts to furnish) to each selling Holder and each
underwriter, if any, upon the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration
Statement and to each Restricted Broker-Dealer upon Consummation of the
Exchange Offer:
(1) a certificate, dated the date of
Consummation of the Exchange Offer or the date of effectiveness of the
Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, signed on behalf of
the Company by (x) the President or any Vice President and (y) a
principal financial or accounting officer of the Company, confirming,
as of the date thereof, the matters set forth in Sections 8 and 9 of
the Purchase Agreement and such other similar matters as the Holders,
underwriter(s) and/or Restricted Broker Dealers 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 Exhibit A of the
Purchase Agreement and such other matters as the Holders, underwriters
and/or Restricted Broker Dealers 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, no facts came to such counsel's attention that caused
such counsel to believe that the applicable Registration Statement, at
the time such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment
thereto became effective and, in the case of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, as of the date of Consummation of the Exchange
Offer, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus
contained in such Registration Statement as of its date and, in the
case of the opinion dated the date of Consummation of the Exchange
Offer, as of the date of Consummation, contained an untrue statement of
a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. Without limiting the foregoing,
such counsel may state further that such counsel assumes no
responsibility for, and has not independently verified, the accuracy,
completeness or fairness of the financial statements, notes and
schedules and other financial data included in any Registration
Statement contemplated by this Agreement or the related Prospectus; and
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(3) a customary comfort letter, dated as of
the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement or the
date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer, as the case may be, from
the Company's independent accountants, in the customary form and
covering matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters to
underwriters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, and
affirming the matters set forth in the comfort letters delivered
pursuant to Section 10 of the Purchase Agreement, without exception.
(B) set forth in full or incorporate by reference
in the underwriting agreement, if any, in connection with any sale or
resale pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement, the
indemnification provisions and procedures of Section 8 hereof with
respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to said Section; and
(C) deliver such other documents and certificates
as may be reasonably requested by the selling Holders, the
underwriter(s), if any, and Restricted Broker Dealers, if any, to
evidence compliance with clause (A) above and with any customary
conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement
entered into by the Company pursuant to this clause (x).
The above shall be done at each closing under such underwriting or
similar agreement, as and to the extent required thereunder, and if at any
time the representations and warranties of the Company contemplated in
(A)(1) above cease to be true and correct, the Company shall so advise the
underwriter(s), if any, the selling Holders and each Restricted
Broker-Dealer promptly and, if requested by such Persons, shall confirm
such advice in writing;
(xi) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted
Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders, the underwriter(s), if any,
and their respective counsel in connection with the registration and
qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under the securities or
Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as any selling Holders or
underwriter(s), if any, may request and do any and all other acts or things
necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of
the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the applicable Registration
Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to
register or qualify as a foreign corporation where it is not now so
qualified or to take any action that would subject it to the service of
process in suits or to taxation, other than as to matters and transactions
relating to the Registration Statement, in any jurisdiction where it is not
now so subject;
(xii) issue, upon the request of any Holder of Series A
Notes covered by any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this
Agreement, Series B Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the
aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes surrendered to the Company by
such Holder in exchange therefor or being sold by such Holder; such Series
B Notes to be registered in the name of such Holder or in the name of the
purchaser(s) of such Notes, as the case may be; in return, the Series A
Notes held by such Holder shall be surrendered to the Company for
cancellation;
(xiii) in connection with any sale of Transfer Restricted
Securities that will result in such securities no longer being Transfer
Restricted Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders and the
underwriter(s), if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery
of certificates
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representing Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold and not bearing any
restrictive legends; and to register such Transfer Restricted Securities in
such denominations and such names as the Holders or the underwriter(s), if
any, may request at least two Business Days prior to such sale of Transfer
Restricted Securities;
(xiv) 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 as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof or
the underwriter(s), if any, to consummate the disposition of such Transfer
Restricted Securities, subject to the proviso contained in clause (xi)
above;
(xv) if any fact or event contemplated by Section
6(c)(iii)(C), (D), (E), (F) or (G) above shall exist or have occurred, as
promptly as practical thereafter, prepare and file with the Commission 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 required to be stated therein necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading;
(xvi) provide a CUSIP number for all Transfer Restricted
Securities not later than the effective date of a Registration Statement
covering such Transfer Restricted Securities and provide the Trustee under
the Indenture with printed certificates for the Transfer Restricted
Securities which are in a form eligible for deposit with the Depository
Trust Company;
(xvii) cooperate and assist in any filings required to be
made with the NASD and in the performance of any due diligence
investigation by any underwriter (including any "qualified independent
underwriter") that is required to be retained in accordance with the rules
and regulations of the NASD, and use its best efforts to cause such
Registration Statement to become effective and approved by such
governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the
Holders selling Transfer Restricted Securities to consummate the
disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities;
(xviii) 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);
(xix) cause each of the Indenture and the First Mortgage
to be qualified under the TIA not later than the effective date of the
first Registration Statement required by this Agreement and, in connection
therewith, cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders of Notes to effect
such changes to the Indenture and the First Mortgage, if any, as may be
required for such Indenture or First Mortgage 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
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Indenture and First Mortgage to be so qualified in a timely manner; and
(xx) 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 any notice from the Company
of the existence of any fact of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(C), (D),
(E), (F) or (G) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement
until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended
Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xv) hereof, or until it is advised in
writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed, and has
received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated
by reference in the Prospectus (the "Advice"). If so directed by the Company,
each Holder will deliver to the Company (at the Company's expense) all copies,
other than permanent file copies then in such Holder's possession, of the
Prospectus covering such Transfer Restricted Securities that was current at the
time of receipt of either such notice. In the event the Company shall give any
such notice, the time period regarding the effectiveness of such Registration
Statement set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, shall be extended
by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the
giving of such notice pursuant to Section 6(c)(iii)(C), (D), (E), (F) or (G)
hereof to and including the date when each selling Holder covered by such
Registration Statement shall have received the copies of the supplemented or
amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xv) hereof or shall have
received the Advice.
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; (ii) all fees and expenses of
compliance with federal securities and state Blue Sky or securities laws; (iii)
all expenses of printing (including printing certificates for the Series B Notes
to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of Prospectuses), messenger and
delivery services and telephone; (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for
the Company and (other than in connection with the Exchange Offer) the Holders
of Transfer Restricted Securities; (v) all application and filing fees in
connection with listing the Notes on a national securities exchange or automated
quotation system pursuant to the requirements hereof; and (vi) all fees and
disbursements of independent certified public accountants of the Company
(including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters required by or
incident to such performance).
The Company will, in any event, bear its internal expenses
(including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and
employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual
audit and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts,
retained by the Company.
(b) In connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, the
Company will reimburse the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities registered
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, for the reasonable fees and
disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall be chosen by the Holders
of a majority in principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities for
whose benefit the Shelf Registration Statement is being prepared in consultation
with the Company.
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SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION
(a) Indemnification. (i) The Company agrees, to the extent
permitted by law, to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder and each person, if
any, who controls any Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any and all losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject
under the Act or otherwise, and to reimburse the Holders and such controlling
person or persons, if any, for any legal or other expenses incurred by them in
connection with defending any action, suit or proceeding (including governmental
investigations) as provided in Section 8(c) hereof, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or actions, suits or proceedings (including
governmental investigations) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration
Statement, or, if any Registration Statement shall be amended or supplemented,
in the Registration Statement as so amended or supplemented, or arise out of or
are based upon any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
actions arise out of or are based upon any such untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission which was made in the
Registration Statement or in the Registration Statement as so amended or
supplemented, in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in
writing to the Company by, any Holder expressly for use therein.
(ii) The Company's indemnity agreement contained in this
Section 8(a), and the covenants, representations and warranties of the
Company contained in this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any person, and the
indemnity agreement contained in this Section 8 shall survive any
termination of this Agreement. The liabilities of the Company in this
Section 8(a) are in addition to any other liabilities of the Company under
this Agreement or otherwise.
(b) (i) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to the
extent permitted by law, to indemnify, hold harmless and reimburse the Company
and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section
15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, to the same extent and upon the
same terms as the indemnity agreement of the Company set forth in Section 8(a)
hereof, but only with respect to alleged untrue statements or omissions made in
the Registration Statement or in the Registration Statement, as amended or
supplemented, (if applicable) in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use
therein.
(ii) The indemnity agreement on the part of each Holder
contained in this Section 8(b) shall remain in full force and effect
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company or any
other person, and the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 8(b)
shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
(c) If a claim is made or an action, suit or proceeding (including
governmental investigations) is commenced or threatened against any person as to
which indemnity may be sought under Section 8(a) or 8(b), such person (the
"Indemnified Person") shall notify the person against whom such indemnity may be
sought (the "Indemnifying Person") promptly after any assertion of such claim
threatening to institute an action, suit or proceeding or if such an action,
suit or proceeding is commenced against such Indemnified Person, promptly after
such Indemnified Person shall have been served with a summons or other first
legal process, giving information as to the nature and basis of the claim.
Failure to so notify the Indemnifying
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Person shall not, however, relieve the Indemnifying Person from any liability
which it may have on account of the indemnity under Section 8(a) or 8(b) if the
Indemnifying Person has not been prejudiced in any material respect by such
failure. Subject to the immediately succeeding sentence, the Indemnifying Person
shall assume the defense of any such litigation or proceeding, including the
employment of counsel and the payment of all expenses, with such counsel being
designated, subject to the immediately succeeding sentence, in writing by a
majority in principal amount of the Holders in the case of parties indemnified
pursuant to Section 8(b) and by the Company in the case of parties indemnified
pursuant to Section 8(a). Any Indemnified Person shall have the right to
participate in such litigation or proceeding and to retain its own counsel, but
the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such
Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person
shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named
parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include (x) the
Indemnifying Person and (y) the Indemnified Person and, in the written opinion
of counsel to such Indemnified Person, representation of both parties by the
same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or likely conflicts of
interest between them, in either of which cases the reasonable fees and expenses
of counsel (including disbursements) for such Indemnified Person shall be
reimbursed by the Indemnifying Person to the Indemnified Person. If there is a
conflict as described in clause (ii) above, and the Indemnified Persons have
participated in the litigation or proceeding utilizing separate counsel whose
fees and expenses have been reimbursed by the Indemnifying Person and the
Indemnified Persons, or any of them, are found to be solely liable, such
Indemnified Persons so found liable shall repay to the Indemnifying Person such
fees and expenses of such separate counsel as the Indemnifying Person shall have
reimbursed. It is understood that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in
connection with any litigation or proceeding or related litigation or
proceedings in the same jurisdiction as to which the Indemnified Persons are
entitled to such separate representation, be liable under this Agreement for the
reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of more than one separate firm
(together with not more than one appropriate local counsel) for all such
Indemnified Persons. Subject to the next paragraph, all such fees and expenses
shall be reimbursed by payment to the Indemnified Persons of such reasonable
fees and expenses of counsel promptly after payment thereof by the Indemnified
Persons.
In furtherance of the requirement above that fees and expenses of any
separate counsel for the Indemnified Persons shall be reasonable, the Holders
and the Company agree that the Indemnifying Person's obligations to pay such
fees and expenses shall be conditioned upon the following:
(1) in case separate counsel is proposed to be retained
by the Indemnified Persons pursuant to clause (ii) of the preceding
paragraph, the Indemnified Persons shall in good faith fully consult
with the Indemnifying Person in advance as to the selection of such
counsel;
(2) reimbursable fees and expenses of such separate
counsel shall be detailed and supported in a manner reasonably
acceptable to the Indemnifying Person (but nothing herein shall be
deemed to require the furnishing to the Indemnifying Person of any
information, including without limitation, computer print-outs of
lawyers' daily time entries, to the extent that, in the judgment of
such counsel, furnishing such information might reasonably be expected
to result in a waiver of any attorney-client privilege); and
(3) the Company and the Holders shall cooperate in
monitoring and controlling the fees and expenses of separate counsel
for Indemnified Persons for which the Indemnifying Person is liable
hereunder, and the Indemnified Person shall use
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every reasonable effort to cause such separate counsel to minimize the
duplication of activities as between themselves and counsel to the
Indemnifying Person.
The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any
litigation or proceeding effected without the written consent of the
Indemnifying Person, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final
judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees, subject to the
provisions of this Section 8, to indemnify the Indemnified Person from and
against any loss, damage, liability or expenses by reason of such settlement or
judgment. The Indemnifying Person shall not, without the prior written consent
of the Indemnified Persons, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened
litigation, proceeding or claim in respect of which indemnity has been properly
sought by the Indemnified Persons hereunder, unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release by the claimant of all Indemnified Persons from all
liability with respect to claims which are the subject matter of such
litigation, proceeding or claim.
(d) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8
above is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnified Person
under this Section 8 above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions, suits or proceedings (including governmental
investigations) in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each Indemnifying
Person under this Section 8 above shall contribute to the amount paid or payable
by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate
to reflect the relative benefits received by the Indemnifying Person on the one
hand and the Indemnified Person on the other from the sale of the Transfer
Restricted Securities. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately
preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law, then each Indemnifying
Person shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such Indemnified
Person in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative
benefits but also the relative fault of each Indemnifying Person, if any, on the
one hand and the Indemnified Person on the other in connection with the
statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions, suits or proceedings (including governmental
investigations) in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault 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 the Holders on the other
and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and
the Holders agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the
Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of
allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred
to above in this Section 8. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person
as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions, suits or
proceedings (including governmental proceedings) in respect thereof) referred to
above in this Section 8 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with investigating
or defending any such action, suits or proceedings (including governmental
proceedings) or claim, provided that the provisions of Section 8 have been
complied with (in all material respects) in respect of any separate counsel for
such Indemnified Person. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no
Holder shall be required to contribute any amount greater than the excess of the
amount by which the total received by such Holder with respect to the sale of
its Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds
the sum of (A) the amount paid by such Holder for such Transfer Restricted
Securities plus (B) the amount of any damages which such Holder has otherwise
been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not
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guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders' obligations in this
Section 8 to contribute are several in proportion to their respective
underwriting obligations and not joint.
The agreement with respect to contribution contained in this Section 8
hereof shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation
made by or on behalf of the Company or any Holder, and shall survive any
termination of this Agreement.
SECTION 9. RULE 144A
The Company hereby agrees with each Holder, for so long as any Transfer
Restricted Securities remain outstanding and during any period in which the
Company is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act, to
make available, upon request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, to
any Holder or beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted Securities in connection
with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted
Securities designated by such Holder or beneficial owner, the information
required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act in order to permit resales of such
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A.
SECTION 10. UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATIONS
No Holder may participate in any Underwritten Registration hereunder
unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder's Transfer Restricted
Securities on the basis provided in customary underwriting arrangements entered
into in connection therewith and (b) completes and executes all reasonable
questionnaires, powers of attorney, and other documents required under the terms
of such underwriting arrangements.
SECTION 11. SELECTION OF UNDERWRITERS
For any Underwritten Offering, the investment banker or investment
bankers and manager or managers for any Underwritten Offering that will
administer such offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities included in
such offering; provided, that such investment bankers and managers must be
reasonably satisfactory to the Company. The Holders of Transfer Restricted
Securities included in any such Underwritten Offering shall be responsible for
paying all underwriting or placement fees charged, or costs or expenses
incurred, by such investment bankers and managers in connection with such
Underwritten Offering. Such investment bankers and managers are referred to
herein as the "underwriters."
SECTION 12. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) Remedies. Each Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise
all rights provided herein, in the Indenture, the First Mortgage, the Notes, the
First Mortgage Bonds, and the Purchase Agreement or granted by law, including
recovery of liquidated or other damages, will be entitled to specific
performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company agrees that monetary
damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a
breach by them of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby agree to waive the
defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be
adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company will not, on or after
the date of this
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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 with respect to its
securities to any Person. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in
any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the
holders of the Company's securities under any agreement in effect on the date
hereof.
(c) Adjustments Affecting the Notes. The Company will not take any
action, or voluntarily permit any change to occur, with respect to the Notes
that would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Holders to
Consummate any Exchange Offer.
(d) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not
be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures
from the provisions hereof may not be given unless (i) in the case of Section 5
hereof and this Section 12(d)(i), the Company has obtained the written consent
of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) in the
case of all other provisions hereof, the Company has obtained the written
consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer
Restricted Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to
departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights of
Holders whose securities are being tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer and
that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights of other Holders whose
securities are not being tendered pursuant to such Exchange Offer may be given
by the Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer
Restricted Securities subject to such Exchange Offer.
(e) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail
(registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier, or air
courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(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:
000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
With a copy to:
Xxxxxxx X. XxxXxxxxx, Esq.
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
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
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delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the
address specified in the Indenture.
(f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the
parties, including without limitation and without the need for an express
assignment, subsequent Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided,
however, that this Agreement shall not inure to the benefit of or be binding
upon a successor or assign of a Holder unless and to the extent such successor
or assign acquired Transfer Restricted Securities directly from such Holder.
(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience
of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(i) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD
TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW RULES THEREOF.
(j) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the
provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is
held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and
enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining
provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
(k) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as
a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and
exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in
respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions,
promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to
herein with respect to the registration rights granted with respect to the
Transfer Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements
and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY
By: /s/ XXXX X. XXXXXX
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Senior Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer
Accepted as of the date hereof:
XXXXXXX, XXXXX & CO.
XXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXX
FIRST CHICAGO CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXXX, SACHS & CO.
----------------------------------
(Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.)
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