1
EXHIBIT 4.3
UST INC.
8.80% SENIOR NOTES DUE MARCH 15, 2005
------
EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
March 6, 2000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
FleetBoston Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Inc.
c/o Goldman Sachs & Co.
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
UST Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), proposes to issue and
sell to the Purchasers (as defined herein) upon the terms set forth in the
Purchase Agreement (as defined herein) its 8.80% Senior Notes due March 15,
2005. As an inducement to the Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement
and in satisfaction of a condition to the obligations of the Purchasers
thereunder, the Company agrees with the Purchasers for the benefit of holders
(as defined herein) from time to time of the Registrable Securities (as defined
herein) as follows:
1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement, the following terms shall have the following respective
meanings:
"Base Interest" shall mean the interest that would otherwise accrue on the
Securities under the terms thereof and the Indenture, without giving effect
to the provisions of this Agreement.
The term "broker-dealer" shall mean any broker or dealer registered with
the Commission under the Exchange Act.
"Closing Date" shall mean the date on which the Securities are initially
issued.
1
2
"Commission" shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any other federal agency at the time administering the
Exchange Act or the Securities Act, whichever is the relevant statute for the
particular purpose.
"Effective Time," in the case of (i) an Exchange Registration, shall mean
the time and date as of which the Commission declares the Exchange
Registration Statement effective or as of which the Exchange Registration
Statement otherwise becomes effective and (ii) a Shelf Registration, shall
mean the time and date as of which the Commission declares the Shelf
Registration Statement effective or as of which the Shelf Registration
Statement otherwise becomes effective.
"Electing Holder" shall mean any holder of Registrable Securities that has
returned a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company in
accordance with Section 3(d)(ii) or 3(d)(iii) hereof.
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any
successor thereto, as the same shall be amended from time to time.
"Exchange Offer" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(a)
hereof.
"Exchange Registration" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
3(c) hereof.
"Exchange Registration Statement" shall have the meaning assigned thereto
in Section 2(a) hereof.
"Exchange Securities" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
2(a) hereof.
The term "holder" shall mean each of the Purchasers and other persons who
acquire Registrable Securities from time to time (including any successors or
assigns), in each case for so long as such person owns any Registrable
Securities.
"Indenture" shall mean the Indenture, dated as of May 27, 1999, between
the Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee, as the same
shall be amended from time to time.
"Notice and Questionnaire" means a Notice of Registration Statement and
Selling Securityholder Questionnaire substantially in the form of Exhibit A
hereto.
The term "person" shall mean a corporation, association, partnership,
organization, business, individual, government or political subdivision
thereof or governmental agency.
"Purchase Agreement" shall mean the Purchase Agreement, dated as of March
1, 2000, between the Purchasers and the Company relating to the Securities.
"Purchasers" shall mean the Purchasers named in Schedule I to the Purchase
Agreement.
2
3
"Registrable Securities" shall mean the Securities; provided, however,
that a Security shall cease to be a Registrable Security when (i) in the
circumstances contemplated by Section 2(a) hereof, the Security has been
exchanged for an Exchange Security in an Exchange Offer as contemplated in
Section 2(a) hereof (provided that any Exchange Security that, pursuant to
the last two sentences of Section 2(a), is included in a prospectus for use
in connection with resales by broker-dealers shall be deemed to be a
Registrable Security with respect to Sections 5, 6 and 9 until resale of such
Registrable Security has been effected within the 90-day period referred to
in Section 2(a)); (ii) in the circumstances contemplated by Section 2(b)
hereof, a Shelf Registration Statement registering such Security under the
Securities Act has been declared or becomes effective and such Security has
been sold or otherwise transferred by the holder thereof pursuant to and in a
manner contemplated by such effective Shelf Registration Statement; (iii)
such Security is sold pursuant to Rule 144 under circumstances in which any
legend borne by such Security relating to restrictions on transferability
thereof, under the Securities Act or otherwise, is removed by the Company or
pursuant to the Indenture; (iv) such Security is eligible to be sold pursuant
to paragraph (k) of Rule 144; or (v) such Security shall cease to be
outstanding.
"Registration Default" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
2(c) hereof.
"Registration Expenses" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
4 hereof.
"Resale Period" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(a)
hereof.
"Restricted Holder" shall mean (i) a holder that is an affiliate of the
Company within the meaning of Rule 405, (ii) a holder who acquires Exchange
Securities outside the ordinary course of such holder's business, (iii) a
holder who has arrangements or understandings with any person to participate
in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of distributing Exchange Securities and
(iv) a holder that is a broker-dealer, but only with respect to Exchange
Securities received by such broker-dealer pursuant to an Exchange Offer in
exchange for Registrable Securities acquired by the broker-dealer directly
from the Company.
"Rule 144," "Rule 405" and "Rule 415" shall mean, in each case, such rule
promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor provision), as the
same shall be amended from time to time.
"Securities" shall mean, the 8.80% Senior Notes due March 15, 2005 of the
Company to be issued and sold to the Purchasers, and securities issued in
exchange therefor or in lieu thereof pursuant to the Indenture.
"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, or any successor
thereto, as the same shall be amended from time to time.
"Shelf Registration" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
2(b) hereof.
"Shelf Registration Statement" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 2(b) hereof.
3
4
"Special Interest" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(c)
hereof.
"Trust Indenture Act" shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, or any
successor thereto, and the rules, regulations and forms promulgated
thereunder, all as the same shall be amended from time to time.
Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference herein to a "Section"
or "clause" refers to a Section or clause, as the case may be, of this Exchange
and Registration Rights Agreement, and the words "herein," "hereof" and
"hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Section or
other subdivision.
2. Registration Under the Securities Act.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 2(b) below, the Company agrees to file
under the Securities Act, as soon as practicable, but no later than 90 days
after the Closing Date, a registration statement relating to an offer to
exchange (such registration statement, the "Exchange Registration Statement",
and such offer, the "Exchange Offer") any and all of the Securities for a
like aggregate principal amount of debt securities issued by the Company,
which debt securities are substantially identical to the Securities (and are
entitled to the benefits of a trust indenture which is substantially
identical to the Indenture or is the Indenture and which has been qualified
under the Trust Indenture Act), except that they have been registered
pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and
do not contain provisions for the additional interest contemplated in Section
2(c) below (such new debt securities hereinafter called "Exchange
Securities"). The Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to cause
the Exchange Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities
Act as soon as practicable, but no later than 180 days after the Closing
Date. The Exchange Offer will be registered under the Securities Act on the
appropriate form and will comply with all applicable tender offer rules and
regulations under the Exchange Act. The Company further agrees to use its
reasonable best efforts to commence and complete the Exchange Offer promptly,
but no later than 45 days after such registration statement has become
effective, hold the Exchange Offer open for at least 30 days and exchange
Exchange Securities for all Registrable Securities that have been properly
tendered and not withdrawn on or prior to the expiration of the Exchange
Offer. The Exchange Offer will be deemed to have been "completed" only if the
debt securities received by holders other than Restricted Holders in the
Exchange Offer for Registrable Securities are, upon receipt, transferable by
each such holder without restriction under the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act and without material restrictions under the blue sky or
securities laws of a substantial majority of the States of the United States
of America. The Exchange Offer shall be deemed to have been completed upon
the earlier to occur of (i) the Company having exchanged the Exchange
Securities for all outstanding Registrable Securities pursuant to the
Exchange Offer and (ii) the Company having exchanged, pursuant to the
Exchange Offer, Exchange Securities for all Registrable Securities that have
been properly tendered and not withdrawn before the expiration of the
Exchange Offer, which shall be on a date that is at least 30 days following
the commencement of the Exchange Offer. The Company agrees (x) to include in
the Exchange Registration Statement a prospectus for use in any resales by
any holder of Exchange Securities that is a broker-dealer and (y) to keep
such
4
5
Exchange Registration Statement effective for a period (the "Resale Period")
beginning when Exchange Securities are first issued in the Exchange Offer and
ending upon the earlier of the expiration of the 90th day after the Exchange
Offer has been completed or such time as such broker-dealers no longer own
any Registrable Securities. With respect to such Exchange Registration
Statement, such holders shall have the benefit of the rights of
indemnification and contribution set forth in Sections 6(a), (c), (d) and (e)
hereof.
Each holder that participates in the Exchange Offer will be required, as a
condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer, to represent to the
Company in writing (which may be contained in the applicable letter of
transmittal) substantially to the effect that (i) any Exchange Securities to
be received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of its business,
(ii) at the time of the commencement of the Exchange Offer such holder will
have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the
distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange
Securities in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act, (iii) such
holder is not an affiliate of the Company within the meaning of the
Securities Act and (iv) such holder is not acting on behalf of a person who
could make the foregoing representations. In addition, each broker-dealer
that will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for
Registrable Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making or
other trading activities will be required to represent that the Registrable
Securities of such broker-dealer were acquired in ordinary trading or
market-making activities. A broker-dealer that is not able to make the
foregoing representation will not be permitted to participate in the Exchange
Offer.
(b) If (i) on or prior to the time the Exchange Offer is completed
existing Commission interpretations are changed such that the debt securities
received by holders other than Restricted Holders in the Exchange Offer for
Registrable Securities are not or would not be, upon receipt, transferable by
each such holder without restriction under the Securities Act, (ii) the
Exchange Offer has not been completed within 225 days following the Closing
Date or (iii) the Exchange Offer is not available to any holder of the
Securities, the Company shall, in lieu of (or, in the case of clause (iii),
in addition to) conducting the Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 2(a),
file under the Securities Act as soon as practicable, but no later than the
later of 30 days after the time such obligation to file arises, a "shelf"
registration statement providing for the registration of, and the sale on a
continuous or delayed basis by the holders of, all of the Registrable
Securities, pursuant to Rule 415 or any similar rule that may be adopted by
the Commission (such filing, the "Shelf Registration" and such registration
statement, the "Shelf Registration Statement"). The Company agrees to use its
reasonable best efforts (x) to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to
become or be declared effective no later than 120 days after such Shelf
Registration Statement is filed and to keep such Shelf Registration Statement
continuously effective for a period ending on the earlier of the second
anniversary of the Effective Time or such time as there are no longer any
Registrable Securities outstanding, provided, however, that no holder shall
be entitled to be named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration
Statement or to use the prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of
Registrable Securities unless such holder is an Electing Holder, and (y)
after the Effective Time of the Shelf Registration Statement, as soon as
practicable after the request of any holder of Registrable Securities that is
not then an Electing Holder, to take any action reasonably necessary to
enable such holder to use the prospectus forming a part thereof for resales
of
5
6
Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, any action necessary
to identify such holder as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration
Statement, provided, however, that nothing in this Clause (y) shall relieve
any such holder of the obligation to return a completed and signed Notice and
Questionnaire to the Company in accordance with Section 3(d)(iii) hereof. The
Company further agrees to supplement or make amendments to the Shelf
Registration Statement, as and when required by the rules, regulations or
instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company for such
Shelf Registration Statement or by the Securities Act or rules and
regulations thereunder for shelf registration, and the Company agrees to
furnish to each Electing Holder copies of any such supplement or amendment
prior to its being used or promptly following its filing with the Commission.
(c) In the event that (i) the Company has not filed the Exchange
Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement on or before the date
on which such registration statement is required to be filed pursuant to
Section 2(a) or 2(b), respectively, or (ii) such Exchange Registration
Statement or Shelf Registration Statement has not become effective or been
declared effective by the Commission on or before the date on which such
registration statement is required to become or be declared effective
pursuant to Section 2(a) or 2(b), respectively, or (iii) the Exchange Offer
has not been completed within 45 days after the initial effective date of the
Exchange Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Offer (if the
Exchange Offer is then required to be made) or (iv) any Exchange Registration
Statement or Shelf Registration Statement required by Section 2(a) or 2(b)
hereof is filed and declared effective but shall thereafter either be
withdrawn by the Company or shall become subject to an effective stop order
issued pursuant to Section 8(d) of the Securities Act suspending the
effectiveness of such registration statement (except as specifically
permitted herein) without being succeeded immediately by an additional
registration statement filed and declared effective (each such event referred
to in clauses (i) through (iv), a "Registration Default" and each period
during which a Registration Default has occurred and is continuing, a
"Registration Default Period"), then, as liquidated damages for such
Registration Default, subject to the provisions of Section 9(b), special
interest ("Special Interest"), in addition to the Base Interest, shall accrue
at a per annum rate of 0.25% for the first 90 days of the Registration
Default Period, at a per annum rate of 0.50% for the second 90 days of the
Registration Default Period, at a per annum rate of 0.75% for the third 90
days of the Registration Default Period and at a per annum rate of 1.0%
thereafter for the remaining portion of the Registration Default Period.
(d) The Company shall take all reasonable actions necessary or advisable
to be taken by it to ensure that the transactions contemplated herein are
effected as so contemplated.
(e) Any reference herein to a registration statement as of any time shall
be deemed to include any document incorporated, or deemed to be incorporated,
therein by reference as of such time and any reference herein to any
post-effective amendment to a registration statement as of any time shall be
deemed to include any document incorporated, or deemed to be incorporated,
therein by reference as of such time.
3. Registration Procedures.
6
7
If the Company files a registration statement pursuant to Section 2(a)
or Section 2(b), the following provisions shall apply:
(a) At or before the Effective Time of the Exchange Offer or the Shelf
Registration, as the case may be, the Company shall qualify the Indenture
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
(b) In the event that such qualification would require the appointment of
a new trustee under the Indenture, the Company shall appoint a new trustee
thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Indenture.
(c) In connection with the Company's obligations with respect to the
registration of Exchange Securities as contemplated by Section 2(a) (the
"Exchange Registration"), if applicable, the Company shall, as soon as
practicable (or as otherwise specified):
(i) prepare and file with the Commission, as soon as practicable but
no later than 90 days after the Closing Date, an Exchange Registration
Statement on any form which may be utilized by the Company and which
shall permit the Exchange Offer and resales of Exchange Securities by
broker-dealers during the Resale Period to be effected as contemplated
by Section 2(a), and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such
Exchange Registration Statement to become effective as soon as
practicable there after, but no later than 180 days after the Closing
Date;
(ii) as soon as practicable, prepare and file with the Commission
such amendments and supplements to such Exchange Registration Statement
and the prospectus included therein as may be necessary to effect and
maintain the effectiveness of such Exchange Registration Statement for
the periods and purposes contemplated in Section 2(a) hereof and as may
be required by the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission
and the instructions applicable to the form of such Exchange
Registration Statement, and promptly provide each broker-dealer holding
Exchange Securities with such number of copies of the prospectus
included therein (as then amended or supplemented), in conformity in
all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and
the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder, as such broker-dealer reasonably may request prior to the
expiration of the Resale Period, for use in connection with resales of
Exchange Securities;
(iii) promptly notify each broker-dealer holding Exchange Securities
that has requested or received copies of the prospectus included in
such registration statement, and confirm such advice in writing, (A)
when such Exchange Registration Statement or the prospectus included
therein or any prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective
amendment has been filed, and, with respect to such Exchange
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same
has become effective, (B) of any comments by the Commission and by the
blue sky or securities commissioner or regulator of any state with
respect thereto or any request by the Commission for amendments or
supplements to such Exchange Registration Statement or prospectus or
for additional information, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of
any
7
8
stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Exchange Registration
Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for that
purpose, (D) if at any time the representations and warranties of the
Company contemplated by Section 5 cease to be true and correct in all
material respects, (E) of the receipt by the Company of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the
Exchange Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or
threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, or (F) at any time
during the Resale Period when a prospectus is required to be delivered
under the Securities Act, that such Exchange Registration Statement,
prospectus, prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective
amendment does not conform in all material respects to the applicable
requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder or contains an
untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;
(iv) in the event that the Company would be required, pursuant to
Section 3(e)(iii)(F) above, to notify any broker-dealers holding
Exchange Securities, without delay prepare and furnish to each such
holder a reasonable number of copies of a prospectus supplemented or
amended so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of such Exchange
Securities during the Resale Period, such prospectus shall conform in
all material respects to the applicable requirements of the Securities
Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder and shall 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 not misleading in
light of the circumstances then existing;
(v) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any
order suspending the effectiveness of such Exchange Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto at the earliest
practicable date;
(vi) use its reasonable best efforts to (A) register or qualify the
Exchange Securities under the securities laws or blue sky laws of such
jurisdictions as are contemplated by Section 2(a) no later than the
commencement of the Exchange Offer and (B) keep such registrations or
qualifications in effect and comply with such laws so as to permit the
continuance of offers, sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions
until the expiration of the Resale Period; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be required for any such purpose to (1) qualify as a
foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not otherwise
be required to qualify but for the requirements of this Section
3(c)(vi), (2) consent to general service of process in any such
jurisdiction or (3) make any changes to its certificate of
incorporation or by-laws or any agreement between it and its
stockholders;
(vii) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the consent or
approval of each governmental agency or authority, whether federal,
state or local, which may be required to effect the Exchange
Registration, the Exchange Offer and the offering and sale of Exchange
Securities by broker-dealers during the Resale Period;
8
9
(viii) provide a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities, not later
than the applicable Effective Time;
(ix) comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission, and make generally available to its securityholders as soon
as practicable but no later than eighteen months after the effective
date of such Exchange Registration Statement, an earning statement of
the Company and its subsidiaries complying with Section 11(a) of the
Securities Act (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158
thereunder).
(d) In connection with the Company's obligations with respect to the Shelf
Registration, if applicable, the Company shall, as soon as practicable (or as
otherwise specified):
(i) prepare and file with the Commission, as soon as practicable but
in any case within the time periods specified in Section 2(b), a Shelf
Registration Statement on any form which may be utilized by the Company
and which shall register all of the Registrable Securities for resale
by the holders thereof in accordance with such method or methods of
disposition as may be specified by such of the holders as, from time to
time, may be Electing Holders and use its reasonable best efforts to
cause such Shelf Registration Statement to become effective as soon as
practicable but in any case within the time periods specified in
Section 2(b);
(ii) not less than 30 calendar days prior to the Effective Time of
the Shelf Registration Statement, mail the Notice and Questionnaire to
the holders of Registrable Securities; no holder shall be entitled to
be named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration
Statement as of the Effective Time, and no holder shall be entitled to
use the prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable
Securities at any time, unless such holder has returned a completed and
signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company by the deadline for
response set forth therein; provided, however, holders of Registrable
Securities shall have at least 28 calendar days from the date on which
the Notice and Questionnaire is first mailed to such holders to return
a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company;
(iii) after the Effective Time of the Shelf Registration Statement,
upon the request of any holder of Registrable Securities that is not
then an Electing Holder, as soon as practicable send a Notice and
Questionnaire to such holder; provided that the Company shall not be
required to take any action to name such holder as a selling
securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement or to enable such
holder to use the prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of
Registrable Securities until such holder has returned a completed and
signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company;
(iv) as soon as practicable prepare and file with the Commission
such amendments and supplements to such Shelf Registration Statement
and the prospectus included therein as may be necessary to effect and
maintain the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement for the
period specified in Section 2(b) hereof and as may be required by the
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and the instructions
applicable to the form of such Shelf Registration Statement, and
furnish to the Electing
9
10
Holders copies of any such supplement or amendment simultaneously with
or prior to its being used or filed with the Commission;
(v) comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to
the disposition of all of the Registrable Securities covered by such
Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the intended methods of
disposition by the Electing Holders provided for in such Shelf
Registration Statement;
(vi) provide (A) the Electing Holders, (B) the underwriters (which
term, for purposes of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement,
shall include a person deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning
of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act), if any, thereof, (C) any
sales or placement agent therefor, (D) counsel for any such underwriter
or agent and (E) not more than one counsel for all the Electing Holders
the opportunity to participate in the preparation of such Shelf
Registration Statement, each prospectus included therein or filed with
the Commission and each amendment or supplement thereto;
(vii) for a reasonable period prior to the filing of such Shelf
Registration Statement, and throughout the period specified in Section
2(b), make available at reasonable times at the Company's principal
place of business or such other reasonable place determined by the
Company for inspection by the persons referred to in Section 3(d)(vi)
who shall certify to the Company in writing that they have a current
intention to sell the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf
Registration such financial and other information and books and records
of the Company, and cause the officers, employees, counsel and
independent certified public accountants of the Company to respond to
such inquiries, as shall be reasonably necessary, in the judgment of
the respective counsel referred to in such Section, to conduct a
reasonable investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the
Securities Act; provided, however, that each such party shall be
required to maintain in confidence and not to disclose to any other
person any information or records reasonably designated by the Company
as being confidential, until such time as (A) such information becomes
a matter of public record (whether by virtue of its inclusion in such
registration statement or otherwise), or (B) such person shall be
required so to disclose such information pursuant to a subpoena or
order of any court or other governmental agency or body having
jurisdiction over the matter (subject to the requirements of such
order, and only after such person shall have given the Company prompt
prior written notice of such requirement), or (C) such information is
required to be set forth in such Shelf Registration Statement or the
prospectus included therein or in an amendment to such Shelf
Registration Statement or an amendment or supplement to such prospectus
in order that such Shelf Registration Statement, prospectus, amendment
or supplement, as the case may be, complies with applicable
requirements of the federal securities laws and the rules and
regulations of the Commission and does not contain an untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state therein a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;
10
11
(viii) promptly notify each of the Electing Holders, any sales or
placement agent therefor and any underwriter thereof (which
notification may be made through any managing underwriter that is a
representative of such underwriter for such purpose) and confirm such
advice in writing, (A) when such Shelf Registration Statement or the
prospectus included therein or any prospectus amendment or supplement
or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to such
Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the
same has become effective, (B) of any comments by the Commission and by
the blue sky or securities commissioner or regulator of any state with
respect thereto or any request by the Commission for amendments or
supplements to such Shelf Registration Statement or prospectus or for
additional information, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of any
stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration
Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for that
purpose, (D) if at any time the representations and warranties of the
Company contemplated by Section 3(d)(xvii) or Section 5 cease to be
true and correct in all material respects, (E) of the receipt by the
Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the
qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for
such purpose, or (F) if at any time when a prospectus is required to be
delivered under the Securities Act, that such Shelf Registration
Statement, prospectus, prospectus amendment or supplement or
post-effective amendment does not conform in all material respects to
the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust
Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits
to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the
circumstances then existing;
(ix) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any
order suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement or
any post-effective amendment thereto at the earliest practicable date;
(x) if requested by any managing underwriter or underwriters, any
placement or sales agent or any Electing Holder, promptly incorporate
in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information
as is required by the applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission and as such managing underwriter or underwriters, such agent
or such Electing Holder specifies in writing should be included therein
relating to the terms of the sale of such Registrable Securities,
including information with respect to the principal amount of
Registrable Securities being sold by such Electing Holder or agent or
to any underwriters, the name and description of such Electing Holder,
agent or underwriter, the offering price of such Registrable Securities
and any discount, commission or other compensation payable in respect
thereof, the purchase price being paid therefor by such underwriters
and with respect to any other terms of the offering of the Registrable
Securities to be sold by such Electing Holder or agent or to such
underwriters; and make all required filings of such prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment promptly after notification of
the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment;
11
12
(xi) furnish or make available to each Electing Holder, each
placement or sales agent, if any, therefor, each underwriter, if any,
thereof and the respective counsel referred to in Section 3(d)(vi) an
executed copy (or, in the case of an Electing Holder, a conformed copy)
of such Shelf Registration Statement, each such amendment and
supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits thereto (in the
case of an Electing Holder of Registrable Securities, upon request) and
documents incorporated by reference therein) and such number of copies
of such Shelf Registration Statement (excluding exhibits thereto and
documents incorporated by reference therein unless specifically so
requested by such Electing Holder, agent or underwriter, as the case
may be) and of the prospectus included in such Shelf Registration
Statement (including each preliminary prospectus and any summary
prospectus), in conformity in all material respects with the applicable
requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and such other
documents, as such Electing Holder, agent, if any, and underwriter, if
any, may reasonably request in order to facilitate the offering and
disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Electing
Holder, offered or sold by such agent or underwritten by such
underwriter and to permit such Electing Holder, agent and underwriter
to satisfy the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act;
and the Company hereby consents to the use of such prospectus
(including such preliminary and summary prospectus) and any amendment
or supplement thereto by each such Electing Holder and by any such
agent and underwriter, in each case in the form most recently provided
to such person by the Company, in connection with the offering and sale
of the Registrable Securities covered by the prospectus (including such
preliminary and summary prospectus) or any supplement or amendment
thereto;
(xii) use its reasonable best efforts to (A) register or qualify the
Registrable Securities to be included in such Shelf Registration
Statement under such securities laws or blue sky laws of such
jurisdictions as any Electing Holder and each placement or sales agent,
if any, therefor and underwriter, if any, thereof shall reasonably
request and (B) keep such registrations or qualifications in effect and
comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of offers, sales
and dealings therein in such jurisdictions during the period the Shelf
Registration is required to remain effective under Section 2(b) above
and for so long as may be necessary to enable any such Electing Holder,
agent or underwriter to complete its distribution of Securities
pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement; provided, however, that
the Company shall not be required for any such purpose to (1) qualify
as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not
otherwise be required to qualify but for the requirements of this
Section 3(d)(xii), (2) consent to general service of process in any
such jurisdiction or (3) make any changes to its certificate of
incorporation or by-laws or any agreement between it and its
stockholders;
(xiii) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the consent or
approval of each governmental agency or authority, whether federal,
state or local, which may be required to effect the Shelf Registration
or the offering or sale in connection therewith or to enable the
selling holder or holders to offer, or to consummate the disposition
of, their Registrable Securities;
12
13
(xiv) unless any Registrable Securities shall be in book-entry only
form, cooperate with the Electing Holders and the managing
underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery
of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold, which
certificates, if so required by any securities exchange upon which any
Registrable Securities are listed, shall be penned, lithographed or
engraved, or produced by any combination of such methods, on steel
engraved borders, and which certificates shall not bear any restrictive
legends; and, in the case of an underwritten offering, enable such
Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in
such names as the managing underwriters may request at least two
business days prior to any sale of the Registrable Securities;
(xv) provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable Securities, not
later than the applicable Effective Time;
(xvi) enter into underwriting agreements, engagement letters, agency
agreements, "best efforts" underwriting agreements or similar
agreements, as appropriate, including customary provisions relating to
indemnification and contribution, and take such other actions in
connection therewith as any Electing Holders aggregating at least 20%
in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities at the time
outstanding shall request in order to expedite or facilitate the
disposition of such Registrable Securities; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be required to enter into any such agreement more
than once with respect to all of the Registrable Securities;
(xvii) if an agreement of the type referred to in Section 3(d)(xvi)
hereof is entered into, (A) make such representations and warranties to
the Electing Holders and the placement or sales agent, if any, therefor
and the underwriters, if any, thereof in form, substance and scope as
are customarily made in connection with an offering of debt securities
pursuant to any appropriate agreement or to a registration statement
filed on the form applicable to the Shelf Registration; (B) obtain an
opinion of counsel to the Company in customary form and covering such
matters, of the type customarily covered by such an opinion, as the
managing underwriters, if any, or as any Electing Holders of at least
20% in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities at the
time outstanding may reasonably request, addressed to such Electing
Holder or Electing Holders and the placement or sales agent, if any,
therefor and the underwriters, if any, thereof and dated the effective
date of such Shelf Registration Statement (and if such Shelf
Registration Statement contemplates an underwritten offering of a part
or all of the Registrable Securities, dated the date of the closing
under the underwriting agreement relating thereto) (it being agreed
that the matters to be covered by such opinion shall include the due
incorporation and good standing of the Company and its subsidiaries;
the qualification of the Company and its subsidiaries to transact
business as foreign corporations; the due authorization, execution and
delivery of the relevant agreement of the type referred to in Section
3(d)(xvi) hereof; the due authorization, execution, authentication and
issuance, and the validity and enforceability, of the Securities; the
absence of legal or governmental proceedings involving the Company that
would have material adverse effect; the absence of a breach by the
Company or any of its subsidiaries of, or a default under, material
agreements binding upon the Company or
13
14
any subsidiary of the Company as a result of the offering of the
Securities; the absence of governmental approvals required to be
obtained in connection with the Shelf Registration, the offering and
sale of the Registrable Securities, this Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement or any agreement of the type referred to in Section
3(d)(xvi) hereof, except such approvals as may be required under state
securities or blue sky laws; the material compliance as to form of such
Shelf Registration Statement and any documents incorporated by
reference therein and of the Indenture with the requirements of the
Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder, respectively; and, as of the
date of the opinion and of the Shelf Registration Statement or most
recent post-effective amendment thereto, as the case may be, the
absence from such Shelf Registration Statement and the prospectus
included therein, as then amended or supplemented, and from the
documents incorporated by reference therein (in each case other than
the financial statements and other financial information contained
therein) of an untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to
state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading (in the case of such documents, in the light of the
circumstances existing at the time that such documents were filed with
the Commission under the Exchange Act)); (C) obtain a "cold comfort"
letter or letters from the independent certified public accountants of
the Company addressed to the selling Electing Holders, the placement or
sales agent, if any, therefor or the underwriters, if any, thereof,
dated (i) the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement and
(ii) the effective date of any prospectus supplement to the prospectus
included in such Shelf Registration Statement or post-effective
amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement which includes unaudited
or audited financial statements as of a date or for a period subsequent
to that of the latest such statements included in such prospectus (and,
if such Shelf Registration Statement contemplates an underwritten
offering pursuant to any prospectus supplement to the prospectus
included in such Shelf Registration Statement or post-effective
amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement which includes unaudited
or audited financial statements as of a date or for a period subsequent
to that of the latest such statements included in such prospectus,
dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement relating
thereto), such letter or letters to be in customary form and covering
such matters of the type customarily covered by letters of such type;
(D) deliver such documents and certificates, including officers'
certificates, as may be reasonably requested by any Electing Holders of
at least 20% in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable
Securities at the time outstanding or the placement or sales agent, if
any, therefor and the managing underwriters, if any, thereof to
evidence the accuracy of the representations and warranties made
pursuant to clause (A) above or those contained in Section 5(a) hereof
and the compliance with or satisfaction of any agreements or conditions
contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into
by the Company; and (E) undertake such obligations relating to expense
reimbursement, indemnification and contribution as are provided for in
Section 6 hereof.
(xviii) notify in writing each holder of Registrable Securities of
any proposal by the Company to amend or waive any provision of this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement pursuant to Section 9(h)
hereof and of any amendment or waiver effected
14
15
pursuant thereto, each of which notices shall contain the text of the
amendment or waiver proposed or effected, as the case may be;
(xix) in the event that any broker-dealer registered under the
Exchange Act shall underwrite any Registrable Securities or participate
as a member of an underwriting syndicate or selling group or "assist in
the distribution" (within the meaning of the Conduct Rules (the
"Conduct Rules) of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
("NASD") or any successor thereto, as amended from time to time)
thereof, whether as a holder of such Registrable Securities or as an
underwriter, a placement or sales agent or a broker or dealer in
respect thereof, or otherwise, assist such broker-dealer in complying
with the requirements of such Conduct Rules, including by (A) if such
Conduct Rules shall so require, engaging a "qualified independent
underwriter" (as defined in such Conduct Rules) to participate in the
preparation of the Shelf Registration Statement relating to such
Registrable Securities, to exercise usual standards of due diligence in
respect thereto and, if any portion of the offering contemplated by
such Shelf Registration Statement is an underwritten offering or is
made through a placement or sales agent, to recommend the yield of such
Registrable Securities, (B) indemnifying any such qualified independent
underwriter to the extent of the indemnification of underwriters
provided in Section 6 hereof (or to such other customary extent as may
be requested by such underwriter), and (C) providing such information
to such broker-dealer as may be required in order for such
broker-dealer to comply with the requirements of the Conduct Rules; and
(xx) comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission, and make generally available to its securityholders as soon
as practicable but in any event not later than eighteen months after
the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement, an earning
statement of the Company and its subsidiaries complying with Section
11(a) of the Securities Act (including, at the option of the Company,
Rule 158 thereunder).
(e) In the event that the Company would be required, pursuant to Section
3(d)(viii)(F) above, to notify the Electing Holders, the placement or sales
agent, if any, therefor and the managing underwriters, if any, thereof, the
Company shall without delay prepare and furnish to each of the Electing
Holders, to each placement or sales agent, if any, and to each such
underwriter, if any, a reasonable number of copies of a prospectus
supplemented or amended so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of
Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall conform in all material
respects to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust
Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and
shall 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 not misleading in light of the circumstances then
existing. Each Electing Holder agrees that upon receipt of any notice from
the Company pursuant to Section 3(d)(viii)(F) hereof, such Electing Holder
shall forthwith discontinue the disposition of Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement applicable to such Registrable
Securities until such Electing Holder shall have received copies of such
amended or supplemented prospectus, and if so directed by the Company, such
Electing Holder shall deliver to the Company (at the Company's expense) all
copies, other than permanent file
15
16
copies, then in such Electing Holder's possession of the prospectus covering
such Registrable Securities at the time of receipt of such notice.
(f) In the event of a Shelf Registration, in addition to the information
required to be provided by each Electing Holder in its Notice Questionnaire,
the Company may require such Electing Holder to furnish to the Company such
additional information regarding such Electing Holder and such Electing
Holder's intended method of distribution of Registrable Securities as may be
required in order to comply with the Securities Act. No Electing Holder may
include any of its Registrable Securities in any Shelf Registration pursuant
to this Agreement unless and until such Electing Holder furnishes to the
Company, in writing, such information as is required by applicable law for
use in connection with any Shelf Registration or related prospectus or
preliminary prospectus. Each such Electing Holder agrees to notify the
Company as promptly as practicable of any inaccuracy or change in information
previously furnished by such Electing Holder to the Company or of the
occurrence of any event in either case as a result of which any prospectus
relating to such Shelf Registration contains or would contain an untrue
statement of a material fact regarding such Electing Holder or such Electing
Holder's intended method of disposition of such Registrable Securities or
omits to state any material fact regarding such Electing Holder or such
Electing Holder's intended method of disposition of such Registrable
Securities required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing, and
promptly to furnish to the Company any additional information required to
correct and update any previously furnished information or required so that
such prospectus shall not contain, with respect to such Electing Holder or
the disposition of such Registrable Securities, an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the
circumstances then existing.
(g) Until the expiration of two years after the Closing Date, the Company
will not, and will not permit any of its "affiliates" (as defined in Rule
144) to, resell any of the Securities that have been reacquired by any of
them except pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
Securities Act.
4. Registration Expenses.
The Company agrees to bear and to pay or cause to be paid promptly all
expenses incident to the Company's performance of or compliance with this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, including (a) all Commission and any
NASD registration, filing and review fees and expenses including fees and
disbursements of counsel for the placement or sales agent or underwriters in
connection with such registration, filing and review, (b) all fees and expenses
in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale
under the State securities and blue sky laws referred to in Section 3(d)(xii)
hereof and determination of their eligibility for investment under the laws of
such jurisdictions as any managing underwriters or the Electing Holders may
designate, including any fees and disbursements of counsel for the Electing
Holders or underwriters in connection with such qualification and determination,
(c) all expenses relating to the preparation, printing, production, distribution
and reproduction of each registration statement required to be filed hereunder,
each prospectus included therein or prepared for distribution pursuant hereto,
each amendment or supplement to the foregoing, the expenses of preparing the
16
17
Securities for delivery and the expenses of printing or producing any
underwriting agreements, agreements among underwriters, selling agreements and
blue sky or legal investment memoranda and all other documents in connection
with the offering, sale or delivery of Securities to be disposed of (including
certificates representing the Securities), (d) delivery expenses relating to the
offering, sale or delivery of Securities and the preparation of documents
referred in clause (c) above, (e) fees and expenses of the Trustee under the
Indenture, any agent of the Trustee and any counsel for the Trustee and of any
collateral agent or custodian, (f) internal expenses (including all salaries and
expenses of the Company's officers and employees performing legal or accounting
duties), (g) fees, disbursements and expenses of counsel and independent
certified public accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any
opinions or "cold comfort" letters required by or incident to such performance
and compliance), (h) fees, disbursements and expenses of any "qualified
independent underwriter" engaged pursuant to Section 3(d)(xix) hereof, (i) fees,
disbursements and expenses of one counsel for the Electing Holders retained in
connection with a Shelf Registration, as selected by the Electing Holders of at
least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities
held by Electing Holders (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
Company), (j) any fees charged by securities rating services for rating the
Securities, and (k) fees, expenses and disbursements of any other persons,
including special experts, retained by the Company in connection with such
registration (collectively, the "Registration Expenses"). To the extent that any
reasonable Registration Expenses are incurred, assumed or paid by any holder of
Registrable Securities or any placement or sales agent therefor or underwriter
thereof, the Company shall reimburse such person for the full amount of the
Registration Expenses so incurred, assumed or paid promptly after receipt of a
request therefor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holders of the Registrable
Securities being registered shall pay all agency fees and commissions and
underwriting discounts and commissions attributable to the sale of such
Registrable Securities and the fees and disbursements of any counsel or other
advisors or experts retained by such holders (severally or jointly), other than
the counsel and experts specifically referred to above.
5. Representations and Warranties.
The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each Purchaser
and each of the holders from time to time of Registrable Securities that:
(a) Each registration statement covering Registrable Securities and each
prospectus (including any preliminary or summary prospectus) contained
therein or furnished pursuant to Section 3(d) or Section 3(c) hereof and any
further amendments or supplements to any such registration statement or
prospectus, when it becomes effective or is filed with the Commission, as the
case may be, and, in the case of an underwritten offering of Registrable
Securities, at the time of the closing under the underwriting agreement
relating thereto, will conform in all material respects to the requirements
of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder and 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 not misleading;
and at all times subsequent to the Effective Time when a prospectus would be
required to be delivered under the Securities Act, other than from (i) such
time as a notice has been given to holders of Registrable Securities pursuant
to Section 3(d)(viii)(F) or Section 3(c)(iii)(F) hereof until (ii) such time
as the Company furnishes an amended or supplemented prospectus pursuant to
Section 3(e) or Section 3(c)(iv) hereof, each
17
18
such registration statement, and each prospectus (including any summary
prospectus) contained therein or furnished pursuant to Section 3(d) or
Section 3(c) hereof, as then amended or supplemented, will conform in all
material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust
Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and
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 not misleading in the light of the circumstances then
existing; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not
apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity
with information furnished in writing to the Company by a holder of
Registrable Securities expressly for use therein.
(b) Any documents incorporated by reference in any prospectus referred to
in Section 5(a) hereof, when they become or became effective or are or were
filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform or conformed in
all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act, as applicable, and none of such documents will contain or
contained an untrue statement of a material fact or will omit or omitted to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that this
representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions
made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing
to the Company by a holder of Registrable Securities expressly for use
therein.
(c) The compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions herein contemplated will not conflict with or result in a breach
of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or
instrument to which the Company or any subsidiary of the Company is a party
or by which the Company or any subsidiary of the Company is bound or to which
any of the property or assets of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company
is subject, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of
the certificate of incorporation, as amended, or the by-laws of the Company
or any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental
agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary of the
Company or any of their properties; and no consent, approval, authorization,
order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or
governmental agency or body is required for the consummation by the Company
of the transactions contemplated by this Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement, except the registration under the Securities Act of the
Securities, qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act and
such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as
may be required under State securities or blue sky laws in connection with
the offering and distribution of the Securities.
(d) This Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
6. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company will indemnify and hold
harmless each of the holders of Registrable Securities included in an
Exchange Registration Statement, each
18
19
of the Electing Holders of Registrable Securities included in a Shelf
Registration Statement and each person who participates as a placement or
sales agent or as an underwriter in any offering or sale of such Registrable
Securities against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or
several, to which such holder, agent or underwriter may become subject under
the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
any Exchange Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement, as the
case may be, under which such Registrable Securities were registered under
the Securities Act, or any preliminary, final or summary prospectus contained
therein or furnished by the Company to any such holder, Electing Holder,
agent or underwriter, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of
or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse such holder, such
Electing Holder, such agent and such underwriter for any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided,
however, that the Company shall not be liable to any such person in any such
case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out
of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission made in such registration statement, or
preliminary, final or summary prospectus, or amendment or supplement thereto,
in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by such person expressly for use therein ; and provided, further,
that with respect to any untrue statement or omission of a material fact made
in such Exchange Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement or
any amendment thereto, the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 6(a)
shall not inure to the benefit of any person from whom the person asserting
any such loss, claim, damage or liability purchased the Securities concerned,
to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such person
occurs under the circumstance where it shall have been determined by a court
of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment that (w) the
Company had previously furnished copies of the Exchange Registration
Statement or Shelf Registration Statement to such person or their
representative, (x) delivery of the Exchange Registration Statement or Shelf
Registration Statement was required to be made to such person, (y) the untrue
statement or omission of a material fact contained in the Exchange
Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement was corrected by an
amendment or supplement to the prospectus (including any summary prospectus)
forming a part thereof, and (z) there was not sent or given to the person, at
or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such Securities to such
person, a copy of the amended or supplemented Exchange Registration Statement
or Shelf Registration Statement.
(b) Indemnification by the Holders and any Agents and Underwriters. The
Company may require, as a condition to including any Registrable Securities
in any registration statement filed pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof and to
entering into any underwriting agreement with respect thereto, that the
Company shall have received an undertaking reasonably satisfactory to it from
the Electing Holder of such Registrable Securities and from each underwriter
named in any such underwriting agreement, severally and not jointly, to (i)
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, and all other holders of Registrable
Securities, against any losses, claims, damages or
19
20
liabilities to which the Company or such other holders of Registrable
Securities may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar
as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in such registration statement, or any
preliminary, final or summary prospectus contained therein or furnished by
the Company to any such Electing Holder, agent or underwriter, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in
each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by such Electing Holder or underwriter expressly for use therein, and
(ii) reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending any
such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that
no such Electing Holder shall be required to undertake liability to any
person under this Section 6(b) for any amounts in excess of the dollar amount
of the proceeds to be received by such Electing Holder from the sale of such
Electing Holder's Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration.
(c) Notices of Claims, Etc. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party
under subsection (a) or (b) above of written notice of the commencement of
any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to
be made against an indemnifying party pursuant to the indemnification
provisions of or contemplated by this Section 6, notify such indemnifying
party in writing of the commencement of such action; but the omission so to
notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which
it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under the indemnification
provisions of or contemplated by Section 6(a) or 6(b) hereof. In case any
such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall
notify an indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, such indemnifying
party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it
shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to
assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such
indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified
party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and, after notice from the
indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the
defense thereof, such indemnifying party shall not be liable to such
indemnified party for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other
expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in
connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of
investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of
the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to
the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action
or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought
hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential
party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment
(i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all
liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a
statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by
or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) Contribution. If for any reason the indemnification provisions
contemplated by Section 6(a) or Section 6(b) are unavailable to or
insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to
therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities (or actions in respect
20
21
thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault
of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in connection with the
statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative fault of such indemnifying party and
indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission
or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied
by such indemnifying party or by such indemnified party, and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct
or prevent such statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it would
not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 6(d) were
determined by pro rata allocation (even if the holders or any agents or
underwriters or all of them 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 in this Section 6(d). The amount paid or
payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages,
or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above shall be
deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by
such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such
action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6(d), no
holder shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by
which the dollar amount of the proceeds received by such holder from the sale
of any Registrable Securities (after deducting any fees, discounts and
commissions applicable thereto) exceeds 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, and no underwriter shall be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Registrable Securities underwritten by it and distributed
to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages
which such underwriter 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 Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who
was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The holders' and any
underwriters' obligations in this Section 6(d) to contribute shall be several
in proportion to the principal amount of Registrable Securities registered
or underwritten, as the case may be, by them and not joint.
(e) The obligations of the Company under this Section 6 shall be in
addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall
extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer, director and
partner of each holder, agent and underwriter and each person, if any, who
controls any holder, agent or underwriter within the meaning of the
Securities Act; and the obligations of the holders and any agents or
underwriters contemplated by this Section 6 shall be in addition to any
liability which the respective holder, agent or underwriter may otherwise
have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer
and director of the Company (including any person who, with his consent, is
named in any registration statement as about to become a director of the
Company) and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the
meaning of the Securities Act.
7. Underwritten Offerings.
21
22
(a) Selection of Underwriters. If any of the Registrable Securities
covered by the Shelf Registration are to be sold pursuant to an underwritten
offering, the managing underwriter or underwriters thereof shall be
designated by Electing Holders holding at least a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Registrable Securities to be included in such
offering, provided that such designated managing underwriter or underwriters
is or are reasonably acceptable to the Company.
(b) Participation by Holders. Each holder of Registrable Securities hereby
agrees with each other such holder that no such holder may participate in any
underwritten offering hereunder unless such holder (i) agrees to sell such
holder's Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting
arrangements approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such
arrangements and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of
attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably
required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
8. Rule 144.
The Company covenants to the holders of Registrable Securities that to
the extent it shall be required to do so under the Exchange Act, the Company
shall timely file the reports required to be filed by it under the Exchange Act
or the Securities Act (including the reports under Section 13 and 15(d) of the
Exchange Act referred to in subparagraph (c)(1) of Rule 144 adopted by the
Commission under the Securities Act) and the rules and regulations adopted by
the Commission thereunder, and shall take such further action as any holder of
Registrable Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from
time to time to enable such holder to sell Registrable Securities without
registration under the Securities Act within the limitations of the exemption
provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from
time to time, or any similar or successor rule or regulation hereafter adopted
by the Commission. Upon the written request of any holder of Registrable
Securities in connection with that holder's sale pursuant to Rule 144, the
Company shall deliver to such holder a written statement as to whether it has
complied with such requirements.
9. Miscellaneous.
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company represents, warrants,
covenants and agrees that it has not granted, and shall not grant,
registration rights with respect to Registrable Securities or any other
securities which would be inconsistent with the terms contained in this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
(b) Specific Performance. The parties hereto acknowledge that there would
be no adequate remedy at law if the Company fails to perform any of its
obligations hereunder and that the Purchasers and the holders from time to
time of the Registrable Securities may be irreparably harmed by any such
failure, and accordingly agree that the Purchasers and such holders, in
addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled at law or in
equity, shall be entitled to compel specific performance of the obligations
of the Company under this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement in
accordance with the terms and conditions of this Exchange
22
23
and Registration Rights Agreement, in any court of the United States or any
State thereof having jurisdiction.
(c) Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands, waivers and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
duly given when delivered by hand, if delivered personally or by courier, or
three days after being deposited in the mail (registered or certified mail,
postage prepaid, return receipt requested) as follows: If to the Company, to
it at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000, and if to a
holder, to the address of such holder set forth in the security register or
other records of the Company, or to such other address as the Company or any
such holder may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance
herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only
upon receipt.
(d) Parties in Interest. All the terms and provisions of this Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the
benefit of and shall be enforceable by the parties hereto and the holders
from time to time of the Registrable Securities and the respective successors
and assigns of the parties hereto and such holders. In the event that any
transferee of any holder of Registrable Securities shall acquire Registrable
Securities, in any manner, whether by gift, bequest, purchase, operation of
law or otherwise, such transferee shall, without any further writing or
action of any kind, be deemed a beneficiary hereof for all purposes and such
Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, and by taking and holding such
Registrable Securities such transferee shall be entitled to receive the
benefits of, and be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by all of
the applicable terms and provisions of this Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement. If the Company shall so request, any such successor, assign or
transferee shall agree in writing to acquire and hold the Registrable
Securities subject to all of the applicable terms hereof.
(e) Survival. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations,
warranties and each other provision set forth in this Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement or made pursuant hereto shall remain in full
force and effect regardless of any investigation (or statement as to the
results thereof) made by or on behalf of any holder of Registrable
Securities, any director, officer or partner of such holder, any agent or
underwriter or any director, officer or partner thereof, or any controlling
person of any of the foregoing, and shall survive delivery of and payment for
the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the
transfer and registration of Registrable Securities by such holder and the
consummation of an Exchange Offer.
(f) GOVERNING LAW. THIS EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT SHALL
BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.
(g) Headings. The descriptive headings of the several Sections and
paragraphs of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement are inserted
for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
23
24
(h) Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement and the other writings referred to herein (including the Indenture
and the form of Securities) or delivered pursuant hereto which form a part
hereof contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to its
subject matter. This Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement supersedes
all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to
its subject matter. This Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement may be
amended and the observance of any term of this Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance
and either retroactively or prospectively) only by a written instrument duly
executed by the Company and the holders of at least a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Registrable Securities at the time outstanding. Each
holder of any Registrable Securities at the time or thereafter outstanding
shall be bound by any amendment or waiver effected pursuant to this Section
9(h), whether or not any notice, writing or marking indicating such amendment
or waiver appears on such Registrable Securities or is delivered to such
holder.
(i) Inspection. For so long as this Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement shall be in effect, this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement
and a complete list of the names and addresses of all the holders of
Registrable Securities shall be made available for inspection and copying on
any business day by any holder of Registrable Securities for proper purposes
only (which shall include any purpose related to the rights of the holders of
Registrable Securities under the Securities, the Indenture and this
Agreement) at the offices of the Company at the address thereof set forth in
Section 9(c) above and at the office of the Trustee under the Indenture.
(j) Counterparts. This agreement may be executed by the parties in
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such
respective counterparts shall together constitute one and the same
instrument.
24
25
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign
and return to us five counterparts hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof by
you, on behalf of each of the Purchasers, this letter and such acceptance hereof
shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Purchasers and the
Company. It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each
of the Purchasers is pursuant to the authority set forth in a form of Agreement
among Purchasers, the form of which shall be submitted to the Company for
examination upon request, but without warranty on your part as to the authority
of the signers thereof.
Very truly yours,
UST Inc.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. X'Xxxxxxxxxx
--------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. X'Xxxxxxxxxx
Title: Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
Accepted as of the date hereof:
Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co.
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
FleetBoston Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Inc.
By Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co.
/s/ Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.
---------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co.
Title:
On behalf of each of the Purchasers
25
26
EXHIBIT A
UST INC.
INSTRUCTION TO DTC PARTICIPANTS
(DATE OF MAILING)
URGENT - IMMEDIATE ATTENTION REQUESTED
DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE: [DATE] *
The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") has identified you as a DTC Participant
through which beneficial interests in the UST Inc. (the "Company") 8.80% Senior
Notes due March 15, 2005 (the "Securities") are held.
The Company is in the process of registering the Securities under the Securities
Act of 1933 for resale by the beneficial owners thereof. In order to have their
Securities included in the registration statement, beneficial owners must
complete and return the enclosed Notice of Registration Statement and Selling
Securityholder Questionnaire.
It is important that beneficial owners of the Securities receive a copy of the
enclosed materials as soon as possible as their rights to have the Securities
included in the registration statement depend upon their returning the Notice
and Questionnaire by [DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE]. Please forward a copy of the
enclosed documents to each beneficial owner that holds interests in the
Securities through you. If you require more copies of the enclosed materials or
have any questions pertaining to this matter, please contact UST Inc, 000 Xxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000 (212) 661-1100 .
--------
* Not less than 28 calendar days from date of mailing.
A-1
27
UST INC.
NOTICE OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
AND
SELLING SECURITYHOLDER QUESTIONNAIRE
(DATE)
Reference is hereby made to the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement (the
"Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement") between UST Inc. (the "Company")
and the Purchasers named therein. Pursuant to the Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement, the Company has filed with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement on Form [__]
(the "Shelf Registration Statement") for the registration and resale under Rule
415 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), of the
Company's X% Notes due 2009 (the "Securities"). A copy of the Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement is attached hereto. All capitalized terms not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
Each beneficial owner of Registrable Securities (as defined below) is entitled
to have the Registrable Securities beneficially owned by it included in the
Shelf Registration Statement. In order to have Registrable Securities included
in the Shelf Registration Statement, this Notice of Registration Statement and
Selling Securityholder Questionnaire ("Notice and Questionnaire") must be
completed, executed and delivered to the Company's counsel at the address set
forth herein for receipt ON OR BEFORE [DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE]. Beneficial owners
of Registrable Securities who do not complete, execute and return this Notice
and Questionnaire by such date (i) will not be named as selling securityholders
in the Shelf Registration Statement and (ii) may not use the Prospectus forming
a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities.
Certain legal consequences arise from being named as a selling securityholder in
the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus. Accordingly, holders
and beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are advised to consult their own
securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being named or not being
named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and
related Prospectus.
The term "Registrable Securities" is defined in the Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement.
A-2
28
ELECTION
The undersigned holder (the "Selling Securityholder") of Registrable Securities
hereby elects to include in the Shelf Registration Statement the Registrable
Securities beneficially owned by it and listed below in Item (3). The
undersigned, by signing and returning this Notice and Questionnaire, agrees to
be bound with respect to such Registrable Securities by the terms and conditions
of this Notice and Questionnaire and the Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 6 of the Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement, as if the undersigned Selling Securityholder were
an original party thereto.
Upon any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement, the Selling Securityholder will be required to deliver to the Company
and Trustee the Notice of Transfer set forth in Appendix A to the Prospectus and
as Exhibit B to the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
The Selling Securityholder hereby provides the following information to the
Company and represents and warrants that such information is accurate and
complete:
A-3
29
QUESTIONNAIRE
(1)(a) Full Legal Name of Selling Securityholder:
_____________________________________________________________________________
(b) Full Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as in (a) above) of
Registrable Securities Listed in Item (3) below:
_____________________________________________________________________________
(c) Full Legal Name of DTC Participant (if applicable and if not the same as
(b) above) Through Which Registrable Securities Listed in Item (3) below
are Held:
_____________________________________________________________________________
(2) Address for Notices to Selling Securityholder:
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
Telephone: __________________________________
Fax: __________________________________
Contact Person: __________________________________
(3) Beneficial Ownership of Securities:
Except as set forth below in this Item (3), the undersigned does not
beneficially own any Securities.
(a) Principal amount of Registrable Securities beneficially owned:___________
CUSIP No(s). of such Registrable Securities:_____________________________
(b) Principal amount of Securities other than Registrable Securities
beneficially owned:
__________________________________________________________________________
CUSIP No(s). of such other Securities:____________________________________
(c) Principal amount of Registrable Securities which the undersigned wishes
to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement:______________________
CUSIP No(s). of such Registrable Securities to be included in the Shelf
Registration Statement:__________________________________________________
(4) Beneficial Ownership of Other Securities of the Company:
Except as set forth below in this Item (4), the undersigned Selling
Securityholder is not the beneficial or registered owner of any other
securities of the Company, other than the Securities listed above in Item
(3).
X-0
00
Xxxxx any exceptions here:
(5) Relationships with the Company:
Except as set forth below, neither the Selling Securityholder nor any of
its affiliates, officers, directors or principal equity holders (5% or
more) has held any position or office or has had any other material
relationship with the Company (or its predecessors or affiliates) during
the past three years.
State any exceptions here:
(6) Plan of Distribution:
Except as set forth below, the undersigned Selling Securityholder intends
to distribute the Registrable Securities listed above in Item (3) only as
follows (if at all): Such Registrable Securities may be sold from time to
time directly by the undersigned Selling Securityholder or, alternatively,
through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents. Such Registrable
Securities may be sold in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at
prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at varying prices determined
at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. Such sales may be effected
in transactions (which may involve crosses or block transactions) (i) on
any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the
Registered Securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale, (ii) in
the over-the-counter market, (iii) in transactions otherwise than on such
exchanges or services or in the over-the-counter market, or (iv) through
the writing of options. In connection with sales of the Registrable
Securities or otherwise, the Selling Securityholder may enter into hedging
transactions with broker-dealers, which may in turn engage in short sales
of the Registrable Securities in the course of hedging the positions they
assume. The Selling Securityholder may also sell Registrable Securities
short and deliver Registrable Securities to close out such short
positions, or loan or pledge Registrable Securities to broker-dealers that
in turn may sell such securities.
State any exceptions here:
By signing below, the Selling Securityholder acknowledges that it understands
its obligation to comply, and agrees that it will comply, with the provisions of
the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, particularly
Regulation M.
In the event that the Selling Securityholder transfers all or any portion of the
Registrable Securities listed in Item (3) above after the date on which such
information is provided to the Company, the Selling Securityholder agrees to
notify the transferee(s) at the time of the transfer of its rights and
obligations under this Notice and Questionnaire and the Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement.
A-5
31
By signing below, the Selling Securityholder consents to the disclosure of the
information contained herein in its answers to Items (1) through (6) above and
the inclusion of such information in the Shelf Registration Statement and
related Prospectus. The Selling Securityholder understands that such information
will be relied upon by the Company in connection with the preparation of the
Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus.
In accordance with the Selling Securityholder's obligation under Section 3(d) of
the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement to provide such information as
may be required by law for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, the
Selling Securityholder agrees to promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies
or changes in the information provided herein which may occur subsequent to the
date hereof at any time while the Shelf Registration Statement remains in
effect. All notices hereunder and pursuant to the Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement shall be made in writing, by hand-delivery, first-class mail,
or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery as follows:
(i) To the Company:
[UST Inc.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000]
(ii) With a copy to:
[Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx, LLP]
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
Once this Notice and Questionnaire is executed by the Selling Securityholder and
received by the Company's counsel, the terms of this Notice and Questionnaire,
and the representations and warranties contained herein, shall be binding on,
shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the respective
successors, heirs, personal representatives, and assigns of the Company and the
Selling Securityholder (with respect to the Registrable Securities beneficially
owned by such Selling Securityholder and listed in Item (3) above. This
Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New
York.
A-6
32
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this
Notice and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by its
duly authorized agent.
Dated:_________________
_______________________________________________________________
Selling Securityholder
(Print/type full legal name of beneficial owner of Registrable
Securities)
By:_____________________________________________________________
Name:
Title:
PLEASE RETURN THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE FOR RECEIPT ON
OR BEFORE [DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE] TO THE COMPANY'S COUNSEL AT:
[Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx, LLP]
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
A-7
33
EXHIBIT B
NOTICE OF TRANSFER PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT
State Street Bank & Trust Company
UST Inc.
x/x Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx and Trust Company
Corporate Trust Division
Xxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx,
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Trust Officer
Re: UST Inc. (the "Company")
8.80% Senior Notes due March 15, 2005
Dear Sirs:
Please be advised that has transferred $ aggregate principal amount of the above
reference Notes pursuant to an effective Registration Statement on Form [ ]
(File No. 333-_____) filed by the Company.
We hereby certify that a prospectus delivery requirements, if any, of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, have been satisfied and that the above-named
beneficial owner of the Notes is named as a "Selling Holder" in the Prospectus
dated [date] or in supplements thereto, and that the aggregate principal amount
of the Notes transferred are the Notes listed in such Prospectus
opposite such owner's name.
Dated:
Very truly yours,
[Name]
By:______________________
[Authorized Signature]
A-8
