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EXHIBIT 4.2
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of November 6, 1996
By and Between
INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC.
and
XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED
and
XXXXX XXXXXX INC.,
as Initial Purchasers
11-3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
1. Definitions................................................. 1
2. Exchange Offer.............................................. 5
3. Shelf Registration.......................................... 10
4. Additional Interest......................................... 12
5. Registration Procedures..................................... 14
6. Registration Expenses....................................... 25
7. Indemnification............................................. 26
8. Rules 144 and 144A.......................................... 30
9. Underwritten Registrations.................................. 31
10. Miscellaneous............................................... 31
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements............................ 31
(b) Adjustments Affecting Registrable
Notes............................................... 31
(c) Amendments and Waivers................................ 32
(d) Notices............................................... 32
(e) Successors and Assigns................................ 33
(f) Counterparts.......................................... 33
(g) Headings.............................................. 33
(h) Governing Law; Jurisdiction........................... 33
(i) Severability.......................................... 34
(j) Securities Held by the Company or
Its Affiliates...................................... 34
(k) Third Party Beneficiaries............................. 34
(l) Attorneys' Fees....................................... 34
(m) Entire Agreement...................................... 34
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (the "Agreement") is dated as of
November 6, 1996, by and between INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), on the one hand, and XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX & CO.
INCORPORATED and XXXXX XXXXXX INC. (the "Initial Purchasers"), on the other
hand.
This Agreement is entered into in connection with the Purchase
Agreement, dated as of October 31, 1996, between the Company and the Initial
Purchasers (the "Purchase Agreement"), which provides for the sale by the
Company to the Initial Purchasers of $90,000,000 aggregate principal amount of
the Company's 11-3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006 (the "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 for the benefit of the Initial Purchasers and any subsequent holder or
holders of the Notes. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a
condition to the Initial Purchasers' obligation to purchase the Notes under the
Purchase Agreement.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Definitions
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
"Additional Interest" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
4 hereof.
"Advice" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5 hereof.
"Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory
paragraphs hereto.
"Applicable Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2
hereof.
"Business Day" shall mean a day that is not a Legal Holiday.
"Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this
Agreement and shall also include the Company's permitted successors and assigns.
"Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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"Effectiveness Date" shall mean, (i) with respect to the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement, the 150th day after the Issue Date and (ii) with
respect to any other Registration Statement, the 120th day after the Filing Date
with respect thereto.
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3 hereof.
"Event Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4 hereof.
"Exchange Act" shall mean Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
"Exchange Notes" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2
hereof.
"Exchange Offer" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2
hereof.
"Exchange Offer Registration Statement" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 2 hereof.
"Filing Date" shall mean, (A) if no Registration Statement has been
filed by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, the 30th day after the Issue
Date; provided, however, that if a Shelf Filing Event shall have occurred within
10 days of the Filing Date, then the Filing Date with respect to the Initial
Shelf Registration shall be the 15th calendar day after the occurrence of the
Shelf Filing Event; and (B) in each other case (which may be applicable
notwithstanding the consummation of the Exchange Offer), the 30th day after the
occurrence of the Shelf Filing Event.
"Holder" shall mean any holder of a Registrable Note or Registrable
Notes.
"Indemnified Person" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
7(c) hereof.
"Indemnifying Person" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
7(c) hereof.
"Indenture" shall mean the Indenture, dated as of November 6, 1996,
by and between the Company and United States Trust Company of New York, as
trustee, pursuant to which the Notes are being issued, as amended or
supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
"Initial Purchasers" shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble hereof.
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"Initial Shelf Registration" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(a) hereof.
"Inspectors" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(o)
hereof.
"Issue Date" shall mean November 6, 1996, the date of original
issuance of the Notes.
"Legal Holiday" shall mean a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which
banking institutions in New York, New York are required by law, regulation or
executive order to remain closed.
"NASD" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(t) hereof.
"Participant" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a)
hereof.
"Participating Broker-Dealer" shall mean any broker-dealer that is
the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of
Exchange Notes received by such broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer or any other
person with similar prospectus delivery requirements for use in connection with
any resale of Exchange Notes.
"Person" shall mean an individual, trustee, corporation,
partnership, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, union,
business association, firm, government or agency or political subdivision
thereofor other legal entity.
"Private Exchange" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2
hereof.
"Private Exchange Notes" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2 hereof.
"Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, any prospectus subject to completion
and a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a
prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon
Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by
any prospectus supplement, and all other amendments and supplements to the
Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated
by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
"Purchase Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the
introductory paragraphs hereof.
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"Records" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(o) hereof.
"Registrable Notes" shall mean each Note upon its original issuance
and at all times subsequent thereto, each Exchange Note as to which Section
2(c)(iv) hereof is applicable upon original issuance and at all times subsequent
thereto and each Private Exchange Note upon original issuance thereof and at all
times subsequent thereto, until (i) a Registration Statement (other than, with
respect to any Exchange Note as to which Section 2(c)(iv) hereof is applicable,
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) covering such Note, Exchange Note or
Private Exchange Note has been declared effective by the Commission and such
Note, Exchange Note or such Private Exchange Note, as the case may be, has been
disposed of in accordance with such effective Registration Statement, (ii) such
Note has been exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer for an Exchange Note or
Exchange Notes that may be resold without restriction under state and federal
securities laws, or (iii) such Note, Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note, as
the case may be, ceases to be outstanding for purposes of the Indenture.
"Registration Statement" shall mean any appropriate registration
statement of the Company covering any of the Registrable Notes pursuant to the
provisions of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, filed with the Commission under the Securities Act, and
all amendments and supplements to any such Registration Statement, including
post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained
therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference
therein.
"Rule 144" shall mean Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act,
as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule (other than
Rule 144A) or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission providing for
offers and sales of securities made in compliance therewith resulting in offers
and sales by subsequent holders that are not affiliates of an issuer of such
securities being free of the registration and prospectus delivery requirements
of the Securities Act.
"Rule 144A" shall mean Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities
Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule (other
than Rule 144) or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission.
"Rule 415" shall mean Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act,
as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation
hereafter adopted by the Commission.
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"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
"Shelf Filing Event" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2
hereof.
"Shelf Registration" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3(b) hereof.
"Subsequent Shelf Registration" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(b) hereof.
"TIA" shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
"Trustee" shall mean the trustee under the Indenture and the trustee
(if any) under any indenture governing the Exchange Notes and Private Exchange
Notes.
"Underwritten registration or underwritten offering" shall mean a
registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for
reoffering to the public.
Section 2. Exchange Offer
(a) The Company shall file with the Commission, no later than the
Filing Date, a Registration Statement (the "Exchange Offer Registration
Statement") on an appropriate registration form with respect to a registered
offer (the "Exchange Offer") to exchange any and all of the Registrable Notes
for a like aggregate principal amount of notes (the "Exchange Notes") of the
Company that are identical in all material respects to the Notes except that the
Exchange Notes shall contain no restrictive legend thereon. The Exchange Offer
shall comply with all applicable tender offer rules and regulations under the
Exchange Act and other applicable law. The Company shall use its best efforts to
(x) cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be declared effective
under the Securities Act on or before the Effectiveness Date; (y) keep the
Exchange Offer open for at least 20 Business Days (or longer if required by
applicable law) after the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement is declared effective; and (z) on or prior to the 45th day following
the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared
effective by the Commission, issue Exchange Notes for Notes tendered in the
Exchange Offer. For purposes of this Section 2(a) only, if after the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement is initially declared effective by the Commission,
the Exchange Offer or the issuance of the Exchange Notes thereunder is
interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of
the Commission or any other governmental agency or court, the Exchange Offer
Registration
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Statement shall be deemed not to have become effective for purposes of this
Agreement.
Each Holder that participates in the Exchange Offer will be required
to represent to the Company in writing that (i) any Exchange Notes to be
received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of its business, (ii)
such Holder will have no arrangement or understanding with any Person to
participate in the distribution of the Exchange Notes in violation of the
provisions of the Securities Act, (iii) that such Holder is not an affiliate of
the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or, if such Holder is such
an affiliate, that it will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act applicable to it, (iv) if such Holder is not
a broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a
distribution of Exchange Notes and (v) if such Holder is a broker-dealer that
will receive Exchange Notes for its own account in exchange for Notes that were
accquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities, that it will
deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes.
Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer in accordance with this
Section 2, the provisions of this Agreement shall continue to apply, mutatis
mutandis, solely with respect to Registrable Notes that are Private Exchange
Notes, Exchange Notes as to which Section 2(c)(iv) is applicable and Exchange
Notes held by Participating Broker-Dealers (as defined), and the Company shall
have no further obligation to register Registrable Notes (other than Private
Exchange Notes and other than in respect of any Exchange Notes as to which
clause 2(c)(iv) hereof applies) pursuant to Section 3 hereof.
No securities other than the Exchange Notes shall be included in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement.
(b) The Company and the Initial Purchasers acknowledge that the
staff of the Commission has taken the position that any broker-dealer that
elects to exchange Notes that were acquired by such broker-dealer for its own
account as a result of market-making or other trading activities for Exchange
Notes in the Exchange Offer (a "Participating Broker-Dealer") may be deemed to
be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and must deliver a
prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any
resale of such Exchange Notes (other than a resale of an unsold allotment
resulting from the original offering of the Notes).
The Company and the Initial Purchasers also acknowledge that it is
the SEC staff's position that if the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement includes a plan of distribution containing a statement to
the above effect and the means by which
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Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Notes, without naming the
Participating Broker-Dealers or specifying the amount of Exchange Notes owned by
them, such Prospectus may be delivered by Participating Broker-Dealers to
satisfy their prospectus delivery obligations under the Securities Act in
connection with resales of Exchange Notes for their own accounts, so long as the
Prospectus otherwise meets the requirements of the Securities Act.
In light of the foregoing, if requested by a Participating
Broker-Dealer (a "Requesting Participating Broker-Dealer"), the Company agrees
to use its best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
continuously effective for a period of up to 180 days after the date on which
the Exchange Registration Statement is declared effective, or such longer period
if extended pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 5 hereof (such period, the
"Applicable Period"), or such earlier date as each Requesting Participating
Broker-Dealer shall have notified the Company in writing that such Requesting
Participating Broker-Dealer has resold all Exchange Notes acquired in the
Exchange Offer. The Company shall include a plan of distribution in such
Exchange Offer Registration Statement that meets the requirements set forth in
the preceding paragraph.
If, prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer, any Holder holds
any Notes acquired by it that have, or that are reasonably likely to be
determined to have, the status of an unsold allotment in an initial
distribution, or if any Holder is not entitled to participate in the Exchange
Offer, the Company upon the request of any such Holder shall simultaneously with
the delivery of the Exchange Notes in the Exchange Offer, issue and deliver to
any such Holder, in exchange (the "Private Exchange") for such Notes held by any
such Holder, a like principal amount of notes (the "Private Exchange Notes") of
the Company that are identical in all material respects to the Exchange Notes.
The Private Exchange Notes shall be issued pursuant to the same indenture as the
Exchange Notes and bear the same CUSIP number as the Exchange Notes.
In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(1) mail to each Holder entitled to participate in the Exchange
Offer a copy of the Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of transmittal
and related documents;
(2) utilize the services of a depositary for the Exchange Offer with
an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York;
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(3) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Notes at any time prior to
the close of business, New York time, on the last Business Day on which
the Exchange Offer shall remain open; and
(4) otherwise comply in all material respects with all applicable
laws, rules and regulations.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer and the
Private Exchange, if any, the Company shall:
(1) accept for exchange all Notes validly tendered and not validly
withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer and the Private Exchange;
(2) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Notes so accepted
for exchange; and
(3) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to each
Holder of Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes, as the case may
be, equal in principal amount to the Notes of such Holder so accepted for
exchange.
The Exchange Offer and the Private Exchange shall not be subject to
any conditions, other than that (i) the Exchange Offer or Private Exchange, as
the case may be, does not violate applicable law or any applicable
interpretation of the staff of the Commission, (ii) no action or proceeding
shall have been instituted or threatened in any court or by any governmental
agency which might materially impair the ability of the Company to proceed with
the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, and no material adverse development
shall have occurred in any existing action or proceeding with respect to the
Company and (iii) all governmental approvals shall have been obtained, which
approvals the Company deems necessary for the consummation of the Exchange Offer
or Private Exchange.
The Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes shall be issued
under (i) the Indenture or (ii) an indenture identical in all material respects
to the Indenture (in either case, with such changes as are necessary to comply
with any requirements of the Commission to effect or maintain the qualification
thereof under the TIA) and which, in either case, has been qualified under the
TIA and shall provide that the Exchange Notes shall not be subject to the
transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture. The Indenture or such
indenture shall provide that the Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange Notes and
the Notes shall vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that
none of the Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange Notes or the Notes will have
the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter.
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(c) If, (i) because of any applicable interpretations of the staff
of the Commission, the Company is not permitted to effect the Exchange Offer,
(ii) the Exchange Offer is not consummated within 180 days of the Issue Date,
(iii) any of the Initial Purchasers so requests with respect to Notes not
eligible to be exchanged for Exchange Notes in the Exchange Offer, or (iv) any
Holder is not eligible to participate in the Exchange Offer or does not receive
Exchange Notes on the date of the exchange that may be sold without restriction
under state and federal securities laws (other than due solely to the status of
such Holder as an affiliate of any of the Company within the meaning of the
Securities Act) (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) of this
sentence, a "Shelf Filing Event"), then the Company (x) shall promptly deliver
to the Holders and the Trustee written notice thereof in the case of clause (i)
or (ii) and (y) shall file a Shelf Registration pursuant to Section 3 hereof.
Section 3. Shelf Registration
If at any time a Shelf Filing Event shall occur, then:
(a) Shelf Registration. The Company shall file with the Commission a
Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant
to Rule 415 covering all of the Registrable Notes not exchanged in the Exchange
Offer, Private Exchange Notes and Exchange Notes as to which Section 2(c)(iv) is
applicable (the "Initial Shelf Registration"). The Company shall use its best
efforts to file with the Commission the Initial Shelf Registration as promptly
as practicable. The Initial Shelf Registration shall be on Form S-1 or another
appropriate form permitting registration of such Registrable Notes for resale by
Holders in the manner or manners designated by them (including, without
limitation, one or more underwritten offerings). The Company shall not permit
any securities other than the Registrable Notes to be included in the Initial
Shelf Registration or any Subsequent Shelf Registration (as defined below).
The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Initial Shelf
Registration to be declared effective under the Securities Act on or prior to
the Effectiveness Date and to keep the Initial Shelf Registration continuously
effective under the Securities Act for the period ending on the date which is
three years from the Issue Date, subject to extension pursuant to the last
paragraph of Section 5 hereof (the "Effectiveness Period"), or such shorter
period ending when (i) all Registrable Notes covered by the Initial Shelf
Registration have been sold in the manner set forth and as contemplated in the
Initial Shelf Registration or (ii) a Subsequent Shelf Registration covering all
of the Registrable Notes covered by and not sold under the Initial Shelf
Registration or an earlier Subsequent Shelf Registration has
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been declared effective under the Securities Act; provided, however, that the
Effectiveness Period in respect of the Initial Shelf Registration shall be
extended to the extent required to permit dealers to comply with the applicable
prospectus delivery requirements of Rule 174 under the Securities Act and as
otherwise provided herein; provided, further, that the Company may suspend the
effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement by written notice to the Holders
for a period not to exceed 45 days in any calendar year if, (i) an event occurs
and is continuing as a result of which the Shelf Registration Statement would,
in the Company's good faith judgment, contain an untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein not misleading and (ii) (a) the Company determines in good faith that
the disclosure of such event at such time would have a material adverse effect
on the business, operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, or (b) the disclosure otherwise relates to a previously
undisclosed pending material business transaction, the disclosure of which would
impede the Company's ability to consummate such transaction.
(b) Subsequent Shelf Registrations. If the Initial Shelf
Registration or any Subsequent Shelf Registration ceases to be effective for any
reason at any time during the Effectiveness Period (other than because of the
sale of all of the securities registered thereunder), the Company shall use its
best efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the
effectiveness thereof, and in any event shall as soon as practicable after such
cessation amend the Initial Shelf Registration in a manner to obtain the
withdrawal of the order suspending the effectiveness thereof, or file an
additional "shelf" Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of
the Registrable Notes covered by and not sold under the Initial Shelf
Registration or an earlier Subsequent Shelf Registration (each, a "Subsequent
Shelf Registration"). If a Subsequent Shelf Registration is filed, the Company
shall use its best efforts to cause the Subsequent Shelf Registration to be
declared effective under the Securities Act as soon as practicable after such
filing and to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective for a
period equal to the number of days in the Effectiveness Period less the
aggregate number of days during which the Initial Shelf Registration or any
Subsequent Shelf Registration was previously continuously effective. As used
herein the term "Shelf Registration" means the Initial Shelf Registration and
any Subsequent Shelf Registration.
(c) Supplements and Amendments. The Company shall promptly
supplement and amend the Shelf Registration if required by the rules,
regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used for such
Shelf Registration, if required by the Securities Act, or if reasonably
requested by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
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Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement or by any underwriter
of such Registrable Notes.
Section 4. Additional Interest
(a) The Company and the Initial Purchasers agree that the Holders
will suffer damages if the Company fails to fulfill its obligations under
Section 2 or Section 3 hereof and that it would not be feasible to ascertain the
extent of such damages with precision. Accordingly, the Company agrees to pay,
as liquidated damages, additional interest on the Notes ("Additional Interest")
under the circumstances and to the extent set forth below (each of which shall
be given independent effect):
(i) if (A) neither the Exchange Offer Registration Statement nor the
Initial Shelf Registration has been filed on or prior to the applicable
Filing Date or (B) notwithstanding that the Company has consummated or
will consummate the Exchange Offer, the Company is required to file a
Shelf Registration and such Shelf Registration is not filed on or prior to
the Filing Date applicable thereto, then, commencing on the day after any
such Filing Date, Additional Interest shall accrue on the principal amount
of the Notes at a rate of 0.50% per annum for the first 90 days
immediately following each such Filing Date, and such Additional Interest
rate shall increase by an additional 0.25% per annum at the beginning of
each subsequent 90-day period; or
(ii) if (A) neither the Exchange Offer Registration Statement nor the
Initial Shelf Registration is declared effective by the Commission on or
prior to the relevant Effectiveness Date or (B) notwithstanding that the
Company has consummated or will consummate the Exchange Offer, the Company
is required to file a Shelf Registration and such Shelf Registration is
not declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the Effectiveness
Date in respect of such Shelf Registration, then, commencing on the day
after such Effectiveness Date, Additional Interest shall accrue on the
principal amount of the Notes at a rate of 0.50% per annum for the first
90 days immediately following the day after such Effectiveness Date, and
such Additional Interest rate shall increase by an additional 0.25% per
annum at the beginning of each subsequent 90-day period; or
(iii) if (A) the Company has not exchanged Exchange Notes for all
Notes validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer
on or prior to the 180th day following the Issue Date or (B) the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration is declared
effective but thereafter ceases to be effective at any time during the
Effectiveness Period (except as
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permitted by Section 10(a) hereof) for a period of 15 consecutive days
without being succeeded immediately by an additional Exchange Offer
Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may
be, filed and declared effective, then Additional Interest shall accrue on
the principal amount of the Notes at a rate of 0.50% per annum for the
first 90 days commencing on the (x) 181st day after the Issue Date, in the
case of (A) above, or (y) the 16th day after such Shelf Registration
ceases to be effective in the case of (B) above, and such Additional
Interest rate shall increase by an additional 0.25% per annum at the
beginning of each such subsequent 90-day period;
provided, however, that the Additional Interest rate on the Notes may not exceed
at any one time in the aggregate 1.0% per annum; provided, further, however,
that (1) upon the filing of the applicable Exchange Offer Registration Statement
or the applicable Shelf Registration as required hereunder (in the case of
clause (i) above of this Section 4), (2) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement or the applicable Shelf Registration Statement as
required hereunder (in the case of clause (ii) of this Section 4), or (3) upon
the exchange of the applicable Exchange Notes for all Notes tendered (in the
case of clause (iii)(A) of this Section 4), or upon the effectiveness of the
applicable Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement
which had ceased to remain effective (in the case of (iii)(B) of this Section
4), Additional Interest on the Notes in respect of which such events relate as a
result of such clause (or the relevant subclause thereof), as the case may be,
shall cease to accrue.
(b) The Company shall notify the Trustee within one Business Day
after each and every date on which an event occurs in respect of which
Additional Interest is required to be paid (an "Event Date"). Any amounts of
Additional Interest due pursuant to (a)(i), (a)(ii) or (a)(iii) of this Section
4 will be payable in cash semi-annually on the interest payment dates specified
in the Indenture (to the holders of record as specified in the Indenture),
commencing with the first such interest payment date occurring after any such
Additional Interest commences to accrue. The amount of Additional Interest will
be determined by multiplying the applicable Additional Interest rate by the
principal amount of the Registrable 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, in the case of a partial month, the
actual number of days elapsed), and the denominator of which is 360.
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Section 5. Registration Procedures
In connection with the filing of any Registration Statement pursuant
to Sections 2 or 3 hereof, the Company shall effect such registrations to permit
the sale of the securities covered thereby in accordance with the intended
method or methods of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto and in connection
with any Registration Statement filed by the Company hereunder the Company
shall:
(a) Prepare and file with the Commission prior to the applicable
Filing Date, a Registration Statement or Registration Statements as
prescribed by Sections 2 or 3 hereof, and use its best efforts to cause
each such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective
as provided herein; provided, however, that, if (1) such filing is
pursuant to Section 3 hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof
is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating
Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable
Period relating thereto, before filing any Registration Statement or
Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Company shall
furnish to and afford the Holders of the Registrable Notes covered by such
Registration Statement or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the
case may be, their counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, a
reasonable opportunity to review copies of all such documents (including
copies of any documents to be incorporated by reference therein and all
exhibits thereto) proposed to be filed (in each case at least five
Business Days prior to such filing). The Company shall not file any
Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements
thereto if the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement, or any such
Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, their counsel, or the
managing underwriters, if any, shall reasonably object.
(b) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and
post-effective amendments to each Shelf Registration Statement or Exchange
Offer Registration Statement, as the case may be, as may be necessary to
keep such Registration Statement continuously effective for the
Effectiveness Period or the Applicable Period, as the case may be; cause
the related Prospectus to be supplemented by any Prospectus supplement
required by applicable law, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to
Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force) promulgated under the
Securities Act; and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act and
the Exchange Act applicable to each of them with respect to the
disposition of all securities
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covered by such Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus
as so supplemented and with respect to the subsequent resale of any
securities being sold by a Participating Broker-Dealer covered by any such
Prospectus, in each case, in accordance with the intended methods of
distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or Prospectus, as so
amended. The Company shall be deemed not to have used its best efforts to
keep a Registration Statement effective during the Effective Period or the
Applicable Period, as the case may be, relating thereto if the Company
voluntarily takes any action that would result in selling Holders of the
Registrable Notes covered thereby or Participating Broker-Dealers seeking
to sell Exchange Notes not being able to sell such Registrable Notes or
such Exchange Notes during that period unless such action is required by
applicable law.
(c) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3
hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered
under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to
sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period relating thereto, notify
the selling Holders of Registrable Notes, or each such Participating
Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, their counsel and the managing
underwriters, if any, as promptly as possible, and, if requested by any
such Person, confirm such notice in writing, (i) when a Prospectus or any
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and,
with respect to a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment,
when the same has become effective under the Securities Act (including in
such notice a written statement that any Holder may, upon request, obtain,
at the sole expense of the Company, one conformed copy of such
Registration Statement or post-effective amendment including financial
statements and schedules, documents incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference and exhibits), (ii) of the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a
Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of
any preliminary prospectus or the initiation of any proceedings for that
purpose, (iii) if at any time when a prospectus is required by the
Securities Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Registrable
Notes or resales of Exchange Notes by Participating Broker-Dealers the
representations and warranties of the Company contained in any agreement
(including any underwriting agreement) contemplated by Section 5(m) hereof
cease to be true and correct in all material respects, (iv) of the receipt
by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the
qualification or exemption from qualification of a
17
Registration Statement or any of the Registrable Notes or the Exchange
Notes to be sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer for offer or sale in
any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for
such purpose, (v) of the happening of any event, the existence of any
condition or any information becoming known to the Company that makes any
statement made in such Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any
document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference
untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes
in or amendments or supplements to such Registration Statement, Prospectus
or documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it 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 not misleading, and that in the case of the Prospectus,
it 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 light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading, and (vi) of the Company's determination that a
post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate.
(d) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3
hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered
under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to
sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, use its best efforts to
prevent the issuance of any order suspending the effectiveness of a
Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of
a Prospectus or suspending the qualification (or exemption from
qualification) of any of the Registrable Notes or the Exchange Notes to be
sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer, for sale in any jurisdiction,
and, if any such order is issued, to use its best efforts to obtain the
withdrawal of any such order at the earliest practicable moment.
(e) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 and if
requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters (if any), the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable
Notes being sold in connection with an underwritten offering or any
Participating Broker-Dealer, (i) promptly incorporate in a prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the managing
underwriter or underwriters (if any), such Holders or any Participating
Broker-Dealer (based upon advice of counsel) determine is reasonably
necessary to be included therein, (ii) make all required filings of such
prospectus supplement or such post-
18
effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company has received
notification of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be required to take any action hereunder that would, in
the written opinion of counsel to the Company, violate applicable laws,
and (iii) supplement or make amendments to such Registration Statement
(based upon advice of counsel).
(f) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3
hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered
under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to
sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, furnish to each selling
Holder of Registrable Notes and to each such Participating Broker-Dealer
who so requests and to counsel and each managing underwriter, if any, at
the sole expense of the Company, one conformed copy of the Registration
Statement or Registration Statements and each post-effective amendment
thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and, if requested,
all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by
reference and all exhibits.
(g) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3
hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered
under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to
sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, deliver to each selling
Holder of Registrable Notes, or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as
the case may be, their respective counsel, and the underwriters, if any,
at the sole expense of the Company, as many copies of the Prospectus or
Prospectuses (including each form of preliminary prospectus) and each
amendment or supplement thereto and any documents incorporated by
reference therein as such Persons may reasonably request; and, subject to
the last paragraph of this Section 5, the Company hereby consents to the
use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of
the selling Holders of Registrable Notes or each such Participating
Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, and the underwriters or agents, if any,
and dealers (if any), in connection with the offering and sale of the
Registrable Notes covered by, or the sale by Participating Broker-Dealers
of the Exchange Notes pursuant to, such Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement thereto.
(h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Notes or any
delivery of a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement by any Participating
19
Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable
Period, use its best efforts to register or qualify, and to cooperate with
the selling Holders of Registrable Notes or each such Participating
Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel in connection with the
registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration or
qualification) of, such Registrable Notes for offer and sale under the
securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States
as any selling Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer, or the managing
underwriter or underwriters reasonably request; provided, however, that
where Exchange Notes held by Participating Broker-Dealers or Registrable
Notes are offered other than through an underwritten offering, the Company
agrees to cause the Company's counsel to perform Blue Sky investigations
and file registrations and qualifications required to be filed pursuant to
this Section 5(h); keep each such registration or qualification (or
exemption therefrom) effective during the period such Registration
Statement is required to be kept effective and do any and all other acts
or things reasonably necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in
such jurisdictions of the Exchange Notes held by Participating
Broker-Dealers or the Registrable Notes covered by the applicable
Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where
it is not then so qualified, (B) take any action that would subject it to
general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then
so subject or (C) subject itself to taxation in excess of a nominal dollar
amount in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(i) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof,
cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Notes and the managing
underwriter or underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation
and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Notes to be sold,
which certificates shall not bear any restrictive legends and shall be in
a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company; and enable
such Registrable Notes to be in such denominations and registered in such
names as the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or Holders may
request at least two Business Days prior to any sale of such Registrable
Notes.
(j) Use its best efforts to cause the Registrable Notes covered by
the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other
governmental agencies or authorities as may be reasonably necessary to
enable the seller or sellers thereof or the underwriter or underwriters,
if any, to consummate the disposition of
20
such Registrable Notes, except as may be required solely as a consequence
of the nature of such selling Holder's business, in which case the Company
will cooperate in all reasonable respects with the filing of such
Registration Statement and the granting of such approvals.
(k) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3
hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered
under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to
sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, upon the occurrence of
any event contemplated by paragraph 5(c)(v) or 5(c)(vi) hereof, as
promptly as practicable prepare and (subject to Section 5(a) hereof) file
with the Commission, at the sole expense of the Company, a supplement or
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to
the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference, or file any other required document so
that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Notes
being sold thereunder or to the purchasers of the Exchange Notes to whom
such Prospectus will be delivered by a Participating Broker-Dealer, any
such Prospectus will not contain 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, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.
(l) Prior to the effective date of the first Registration Statement
relating to the Registrable Notes, (i) provide the Trustee with
certificates for the Registrable Notes in a form eligible for deposit with
The Depository Trust Company and (ii) provide a CUSIP number for the
Registrable Notes.
(m) In connection with any underwritten offering of Registrable
Notes pursuant to a Shelf Registration, enter into an underwriting
agreement as is customary in underwritten offerings of debt securities
similar to the Notes and take all such other actions as are reasonably
requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters in order to expedite
or facilitate the registration or the disposition of such Registrable
Notes and, in such connection, (i) make such representations and
warranties to, and covenants with, the underwriters with respect to the
business of the Company and its subsidiaries (including any acquired
business, properties or entity, if applicable) and the Registration
Statement, Prospectus and documents, if any, incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference therein, in each case, as are customarily made
by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings of debt securities
similar to the
21
Notes, and confirm the same in writing if and when requested; (ii) use its
best efforts to obtain the written opinions of counsel to the Company and
written updates thereof in form, scope and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the managing underwriter or underwriters, addressed to the
underwriters covering the matters customarily covered in opinions
requested in underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be
reasonably requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters; (iii)
use its best efforts to obtain "cold comfort" letters and updates thereof
in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to the managing
underwriter or underwriters from the independent certified public
accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent
certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any
business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and
financial data are, or are required to be, included or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement), addressed to each of the
underwriters, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of
the type customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in connection with
underwritten offerings; and (iv) if an underwriting agreement is entered
into, the same shall contain indemnification provisions and procedures no
less favorable than those set forth in Section 7 hereof (or such other
provisions and procedures acceptable to Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of Registrable Notes covered by such Registration
Statement and the managing underwriter or underwriters or agents) with
respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to said Section. The
above shall be done at each closing under such underwriting agreement, or
as and to the extent required thereunder.
(n) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3
hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered
under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to
sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, make available for
inspection by any selling Holder of such Registrable Notes being sold, or
each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, any underwriter
participating in any such disposition of Registrable Notes, if any, and
any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such selling
Holder or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, or
underwriter (collectively, the "Inspectors"), at the offices where
normally kept, during reasonable business hours, all financial and other
records, pertinent corporate documents and instruments of the Company and
its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Records") as shall be reasonably
necessary to enable them to exercise any applicable due diligence
responsibilities, and cause the
22
officers, directors and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries to
supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector in
connection with such Registration Statement and Prospectus. Each Inspector
shall agree in writing that it will not disclose any records that the
Company determines, in good faith, to be confidential and that it notifies
the Inspectors in writing are confidential unless (i) the disclosure of
such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission
in such Registration Statement or Prospectus, (ii) the release of such
Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of
competent jurisdiction, (iii) disclosure of such information is necessary
or advisable in connection with any action, claim, suit or proceeding,
directly or indirectly, involving or potentially involving such Inspector
and arising out of, based upon, relating to, or involving this Agreement
or the Purchase Agreement, or any transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby or arising hereunder or thereunder, or (iv) the information in
such Records has been made generally available to the public; provided,
however, that such Inspector shall take such actions as are reasonably
necessary to protect the confidentiality of such information (if
practicable) to the extent such action is otherwise not inconsistent with,
an impairment of or in derogation of the rights and interests of the
Holder or any Inspector.
(o) Provide an indenture trustee for the Registrable Notes or the
Exchange Notes, as the case may be, and cause the Indenture or the trust
indenture provided for in Section 2(a) hereof, as the case may be, to be
qualified under the TIA not later than the effective date of the first
Registration Statement relating to the Registrable Notes; and in
connection therewith, cooperate with the trustee under any such indenture
and the Holders of the Registrable Notes, to effect such changes to such
indenture as may be required for such indenture to be so qualified in
accordance with the terms of the TIA; and execute, and use its best
efforts to cause such trustee to execute, all documents as may be required
to effect such changes, and all other forms and documents required to be
filed with the Commission to enable such indenture to be so qualified in a
timely manner.
(p) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission and make generally available to its securityholders earnings
statements satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities
Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar rule promulgated under the
Securities Act) no later than 45 days after the end of any 12-month period
(or 90 days after the end of any 12-month period if such period is a
fiscal year) (i) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which
Registrable Notes
23
are sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts underwritten
offering and (ii) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering,
commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the Company
after the effective date of a Registration Statement, which statements
shall cover said 12-month periods.
(q) Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange,
use its best efforts to obtain an opinion of counsel to the Company, in a
form customary for underwritten transactions, addressed to the Trustee for
the benefit of all Holders of Registrable Notes participating in the
Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, as the case may be, that the
Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, and the
related indenture constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the
Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its respective
terms, subject to customary exceptions and qualifications.
(r) If the Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be
consummated, upon delivery of the Registrable Notes by Holders to the
Company (or to such other Person as directed by the Company) in exchange
for the Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be,
xxxx, or cause to be marked, on such Registrable Notes that such
Registrable Notes are being cancelled in exchange for the Exchange Notes
or the Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be; in no event shall such
Registrable Notes be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.
(s) Cooperate with each seller of Registrable Notes covered by any
Registration Statement and each underwriter, if any, participating in the
disposition of such Registrable Notes and their respective counsel in
connection with any filings required to be made with the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD").
(t) Use its best efforts to take all other steps necessary or
advisable to effect the registration of the Exchange Notes and/or
Registrable Notes covered by a Registration Statement contemplated hereby.
The Company may require each seller of Registrable Notes as to which
any registration is being effected to furnish to the Company such information
regarding such seller and the distribution of such Registrable Notes as the
Company may, from time to time, reasonably request. The Company may exclude from
such registration the Registrable Notes of any seller so long as such seller
fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such
request. Each seller as to which any Shelf Registration is being effected agrees
to
24
furnish promptly to the Company all information required to be disclosed in
order to make the information previously furnished to the Company by such seller
not materially misleading.
If any such Registration Statement refers to any Holder by name or
otherwise as the holder of any securities of the Company, then such Holder shall
have the right to require (i) the insertion therein of language, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to such Holder, to the effect that the holding
by such Holder of such securities is not to be construed as a recommendation by
such Holder of the investment quality of the securities covered thereby and that
such holding does not imply that such Holder will assist in meeting any future
financial requirements of the Company, or (ii) in the event that such reference
to such Holder by name or otherwise is not required by the Securities Act or any
similar federal statute then in force, the deletion of the reference to such
Holder in any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement filed or
prepared subsequent to the time that such reference ceases to be required.
Each Holder of Registrable Notes and each Participating
Broker-Dealer agrees by acquisition of such Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes
to be sold by such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, that, upon
actual receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of
the kind described in Section 5(c)(ii), 5(c)(iv), 5(c)(v), or 5(c)(vi) hereof,
such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Notes
covered by such Registration Statement or Prospectus or Exchange Notes to be
sold by such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, until
such Holder's or Participating Broker-Dealer's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(k) hereof, or until
it is advised in writing (the "Advice") by the Company that the use of the
applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any amendments
or supplements thereto. In the event that the Company shall give any such
notice, each of the Effectiveness Period and the Applicable Period shall be
extended by the number of days during such periods from and including the date
of the giving of such notice to and including the date when each seller of
Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement or Exchange Notes to be
sold by such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, shall have
received (x) the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated
by Section 5(k) hereof or (y) the Advice.
Section 6. Registration Expenses
All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance
with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne by the Company, whether or not
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or any Shelf Registration is filed or
becomes
25
effective or the Exchange Offer is consummated, including, without limitation,
(i) all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation, (A) fees
with respect to filings required to be made with the NASD in connection with an
underwritten offering and (B) fees and expenses of compliance with state
securities or Blue Sky laws (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel in connection with Blue Sky qualifications of the
Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes and determination of the eligibility of the
Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes for investment under the laws of such
jurisdictions (x) where the holders of Registrable Notes are located, in the
case of the Exchange Notes, or (y) as provided in Section 5(h) hereof, in the
case of Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes to be sold by a Participating
Broker-Dealer during the Applicable Period)), (ii) printing expenses, including,
without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Notes or
Exchange Notes in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company
and of printing prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is requested by the
managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, by the Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes included in any Registration
Statement or in respect of Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes to be sold by any
Participating Broker-Dealer during the Applicable Period, as the case may be,
(iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company and reasonable fees and disbursements of one special
counsel for all of the sellers of Registrable Notes (exclusive of any counsel
retained pursuant to Section 7 hereof), (v) fees and disbursements of all
independent certified public accountants referred to in Section 5(n)(iii) hereof
(including, without limitation, the expenses of any special audit and "cold
comfort" letters required by or incident to such performance), (vi) Securities
Act liability insurance, if the Company desires such insurance, (vii) fees and
expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company, (viii) internal expenses
of the Company (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of
officers and employees of the Company performing legal or accounting duties),
(ix) the expense of any annual audit, (x) the fees and expenses incurred in
connection with the listing of the securities to be registered on any securities
exchange, and the obtaining of a rating of the securities, in each case, if
applicable, and (xi) the expenses relating to printing, word processing and
distributing all Registration Statements, underwriting agreements, indentures
and any other documents necessary in order to comply with this Agreement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary, each Holder shall pay
all underwriting discounts and commissions of any underwriters with respect to
any Registrable Notes sold by or on behalf of it.
26
Section 7. Indemnification
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of
Registrable Notes and each Participating Broker-Dealer selling Exchange Notes
during the Applicable Period, the officers and directors of each such Person,
and each Person, if any, who controls any such Person within the meaning of
either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each,
a "Participant"), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and
liabilities (including, without limitation, the reasonable legal fees and other
expenses actually incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or
any claim asserted) caused by, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto) or Prospectus (as amended or supplemented
if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or
any preliminary prospectus, or caused by, arising out of or 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, in the case of the
Prospectus in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are
caused by any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or
omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to
any Participant furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf of such
Participant expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the foregoing
indemnity with respect to any preliminary prospectus shall not inure to the
benefit of any Participant from whom the Person asserting such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities purchased Registrable Notes if (x) it is established in
the related proceeding that such Participant failed to send or give a copy of
the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if such amendment or supplement was
furnished to such Participant prior to the written confirmation of such sale) to
such Person with or prior to the written confirmation of such sale, if required
by applicable law, and (y) the untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue
statement or omission was completely corrected in the Prospectus (as amended or
supplemented if amended or supplemented as aforesaid) and such Prospectus does
not contain any other untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement
or omission that was the subject matter of the related proceeding.
(b) Each Participant agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify
and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers and each Person who
controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent (but on a several, and not
joint, basis) as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Participant,
but only with reference to information relating to such Participant furnished to
the
27
Company in writing by such Participant expressly for use in any Registration
Statement or Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, or any preliminary
prospectus.
(c) If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or
regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against
any Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to either of the
two preceding paragraphs, such Person (the "Indemnified Person") shall promptly
notify the Persons against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "Indemnifying
Persons") in writing, and the Indemnifying Persons, upon request of the
Indemnified Person, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person and any others the
Indemnifying Persons may reasonably designate in such proceeding and shall pay
the fees and expenses actually incurred by such counsel related to such
proceeding; provided, however, that the failure to so notify the Indemnifying
Persons shall not relieve any of them of any obligation or liability which any
of them may have hereunder or otherwise. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified
Person shall have the right 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 Persons and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed
to the contrary, (ii) the Indemnifying Persons shall have failed within a
reasonable period of time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnified Person or (iii) the named parties in any such proceeding (including
any impleaded parties) include both any Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified
Person or any affiliate thereof and representation of both parties by the same
counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests
between them. It is understood that, unless there exists a conflict among
Indemnified Persons, the Indemnifying Persons shall not, in connection with any
one such proceeding or separate but substantially similar related proceeding in
the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations, be liable for
the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local
counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall
be reimbursed promptly as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for the
Participants and such control Persons of Participants shall be designated in
writing by Participants who sold a majority in interest of Registrable Notes and
Exchange Notes sold by all such Participants and shall be reasonably acceptable
to the Company and any such separate firm for the Company, their respective
directors, their respective officers and such control Persons of the Company
shall be designated in writing by the Company and shall be reasonably acceptable
to the Holders. The Indemnifying Persons shall not be liable for any settlement
of any proceeding effected without its prior written consent (which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), but if settled with such consent
or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff for which the
28
Indemnified Person is entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement,
each of the Indemnifying Persons agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such
settlement or judgment. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the prior written
consent of the Indemnified Persons (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld or delayed), effect any settlement or compromise of any pending or
threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could
have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such
Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (A) includes an unconditional written
release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are
the subject matter of such proceeding and (B) does not include any statement as
to an admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of such
Indemnified Person.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in the first and second
paragraphs of this Section 7 is for any reason unavailable to, or insufficient
to hold harmless, an Indemnified Person in respect of any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under
such paragraphs, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder and
in order to provide for just and equitable contribution, shall contribute to the
amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
(i) the relative benefits received by the Indemnifying Person or Persons on the
one hand and the Indemnified Person or Persons on the other from the offering of
the Notes or (ii) if the allocation provided by the foregoing clause (i) is not
permitted by applicable law, not only such relative benefits but also the
relative fault of the Indemnifying Person or Persons on the one hand and the
Indemnified Person or Persons on the other in connection with the statements or
omissions or alleged 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 benefits received by the
Company on the one hand and the Participants on the other shall be deemed to be
in the same proportion as the total proceeds from the offering (net of discounts
and commissions but before deducting expenses) of the Notes received by the
Company bears to the total proceeds received by such Participant from the sale
of Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes, as the case may be. 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 Participant or such other Indemnified Person, as
the case may be, on the other, the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access
to information and opportunity to correct or
29
prevent such statement or omission, and any other equitable considerations
appropriate in the circumstances.
(e) The parties agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation
(even if the Participants were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any
other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount
paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims,
damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall
be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any reasonable
legal or other expenses actually incurred by such Indemnified Person in
connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, in no event shall a
Participant be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by
which proceeds received by such Participant from sales of Registrable Notes or
Exchange Notes, as the case may be, exceeds the amount of any damages that such
Participant has otherwise been required to pay or has paid 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.
(f) Any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses for which
an indemnified party is entitled to indemnification or contribution under this
Section 7 shall be paid by the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified Party as
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are incurred. The
indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 7 and the
representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement shall
remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Holder or any person who controls a
Holder, any Company, their respective directors or officers or any person
controlling any Company, and (ii) any termination of this Agreement.
(g) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this
Section 7 will be in addition to any liability which the Indemnifying Persons
may otherwise have to the Indemnified Persons referred to above.
Section 8. Rules 144 and 144A
The Company covenants that it will file the reports required to be
filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder in a timely manner in
accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and,
if
30
at any time the Company is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the
request of any Holder or beneficial owner of Registrable Notes, make available
such information necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144A under the
Securities Act. The Company further covenants that it will take such further
action as any Holder of Registrable Notes may reasonably request, all to the
extent required from time to time to enable such holder to sell Registrable
Notes without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the
exemptions provided by (a) Rule 144(k) and Rule 144A under the Securities Act,
as such Rules may be amended from time to time, or (b) any similar rule or
regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
nothing in this Section 8 shall be deemed to require the Company to register any
of its securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.
Section 9. Underwritten Registrations
If any of the Registrable Notes 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 manage the offering will be selected
by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Registrable
Notes included in such offering and shall be reasonably acceptable to the
Company.
No Holder of Registrable Notes may participate in any underwritten
registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder's
Registrable Notes on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements
approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b)
completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities,
underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such
underwriting arrangements.
Section 10. Miscellaneous
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not, as of the date
hereof, and the Company shall not, after the date of this Agreement, enter into
any agreement with respect to any of its securities that is inconsistent with
the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Notes in this Agreement or
otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted to the
Holders hereunder do not conflict with and are not inconsistent with, in any
material respect, the rights granted to the holders of the Company's other
issued and outstanding securities under any such agreements. The Company has not
entered and will not enter into any agreement with respect to any of its
securities which will grant to any Person piggy-back registration rights with
respect to any Registration Statement.
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(b) Adjustments Affecting Registrable Notes. The Company shall not,
directly or indirectly, take any action with respect to the Registrable Notes as
a class that would adversely affect the ability of the Holders of Registrable
Notes to include such Registrable Notes in a registration undertaken pursuant to
this Agreement.
(c) 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 pursuant to a written agreement
duly signed and delivered by (I) the Company and (II)(A) the Holders of not less
than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding
Registrable Notes and (B) in circumstances that would adversely affect the
Participating Broker-Dealers, the Participating Broker-Dealers holding not less
than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Exchange Notes held by all
Participating Broker-Dealers; provided, however, that Section 7 and this Section
10(c) may not be amended, modified or supplemented except pursuant to a written
agreement duly signed and delivered by each Holder and each Participating
Broker-Dealer (including any person who was a Holder or Participating
Broker-Dealer of Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes, as the case may be,
disposed of pursuant to any Registration Statement) affected by any such
amendment, modification or supplement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver
or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that
relates exclusively to the rights of Holders of Registrable Notes whose
securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not
directly or indirectly affect, impair, limit or compromise the rights of other
Holders of Registrable Notes may be given by Holders of at least a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes being sold pursuant to such
Registration Statement.
(d) Notices. All notices and other communications (including,
without limitation, any notices or other communications to the Trustee) provided
for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered
first-class mail, next-day air courier or telecopier:
(i) if to a Holder of the Registrable Notes or any Participating
Broker-Dealer, at the most current address of such Holder or Participating
Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, set forth on the records of the
registrar under the Indenture.
32
(ii) if to the Company, at the address as follows:
X.X. Xxx 000000
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
(iii) if to the Initial Purchasers, as provided in the Purchase
Agreement.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been
duly given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days
after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt is
acknowledged by the recipient's telecopier machine, if telecopied; and on the
next Business Day, if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight
delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the
address and in the manner specified in such Indenture.
(e) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties
hereto, the Holders and the Participating Broker-Dealers; 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 holds Registrable Notes.
(f) 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.
(g) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience
of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(h) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AS APPLIED TO CONTRACTS
MADE AND PERFORMED WHOLLY WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.
(i) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired
33
or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their best efforts to find and
employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result
as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is
hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they
would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions
without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal,
void or unenforceable.
(j) Securities Held by the Company or their Affiliates. Whenever the
consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Notes is
required hereunder, Registrable Notes held by the Company or any of its
affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) shall
not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the
Holders of such required percentage.
(k) Third Party Beneficiaries. Holders and beneficial owners of
Registrable Notes and Participating Broker-Dealers are intended third party
beneficiaries of this Agreement, and this Agreement may be enforced by such
Persons.
(l) Attorneys' Fees. As between the parties to this Agreement, in
any action or proceeding brought to enforce any provision of this Agreement, or
where any provision hereof is validly asserted as a defense, the successful
party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys' fees in addition to its
costs and expenses and any other available remedy.
(m) Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Purchase
Agreement and the Indenture, is intended by the parties as a final and exclusive
statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of
the subject matter contained herein and therein and any and all prior oral or
written agreements, representations, or warranties, contracts, understandings,
correspondence, conversations and memoranda between the Holders on the one hand
and the Company on the other, or between or among any agents, representatives,
parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, predecessors in interest or successors in
interest with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof are merged herein
and replaced hereby.
34
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of
the date first written above.
INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED
By:
Name:
Title:
XXXXX XXXXXX INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
