REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Exhibit 4.3
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT dated May 7, 2007 (this “Agreement”) is entered
into by and among Xxxx & Xxxxxxx Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”),
and the several initial purchasers named in Schedule I (the “Initial Purchasers”),
for whom Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated is acting as Representative (the
“Representative”).
The Company and the Initial Purchasers are parties to the Purchase Agreement dated April 23,
2007 (the “Purchase Agreement”), which provides for the sale by the Company to the Initial
Purchasers of $330,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 7 3/4% Senior Notes due 2017
(the “Securities”). On the Closing Date (as defined herein), the Initial Purchasers will
pay to the Company the net proceeds of the offering of the Securities and the Company will assume
its obligations under the Securities and the Indenture (as defined below).
As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company
has agreed to provide to the Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees the
registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a
condition to the closing under the Purchase Agreement.
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
“Business Day” shall mean any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which
commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed.
“Closing Date” shall mean the Closing Date, as defined in the Purchase Agreement.
“Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include the
Company’s successors.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to
time.
“Exchange Dates” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(ii) hereof.
“Exchange Offer” shall mean the exchange offer by the Company of Exchange Securities
for Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
“Exchange Offer Registration” shall mean a registration under the Securities Act
effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
“Exchange Offer Registration Statement” shall mean an exchange offer registration
statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate form) and all amendments and
supplements to such registration statement, in each case including the Prospectus contained
therein, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.
“Exchange Securities” shall mean senior notes issued by the Company under the
Indenture containing terms identical to the Securities (except that the Exchange Securities will
not be subject to restrictions on transfer or to any increase in annual interest rate for failure
to comply with this Agreement and interest thereon shall accrue from the last date on which
interest has been paid on the Securities or, if no such interest has been paid, from the date of
issuance of the Securities) and to be offered to Holders of Securities in exchange for Securities
pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
“Holders” shall mean the Initial Purchasers, for so long as they own any Registrable
Securities, and each of their successors, assigns and direct and indirect transferees who become
holders of Registrable Securities under the Indenture; provided that for purposes of Sections 4 and
5 of this Agreement, the term “Holders” shall include Participating Broker-Dealers.
“Initial Purchasers” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Indenture” shall mean the Indenture relating to the Securities dated as of May 7,
2007, between the Company and Trustee, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time
in accordance with the terms thereof.
“Majority Holders” shall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal
amount of outstanding Registrable Securities; provided that whenever the consent or approval of
Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder, Registrable
Securities owned directly or indirectly by the Company or any of its affiliates shall not be
counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required
percentage or amount.
“Participating Broker-Dealers” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a)
hereof.
“Person” shall mean an individual, partnership, limited liability company,
corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political
subdivision thereof.
“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in a Registration Statement, including
any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus
supplement, including a prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any
portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other
amendments and supplements to such prospectus, and in each case including any document incorporated
by reference therein.
“Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Registrable Securities” shall mean the Securities; provided that the Securities shall
cease to be Registrable Securities (i) when a Registration Statement with respect to such
Securities has been declared effective under the Securities Act and such Securities have been
exchanged, sold or otherwise disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) when such
Securities are eligible to be sold pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any similar provision then in force,
but not Rule 144A) under the Securities Act or (iii) when such Securities cease to be outstanding.
2
“Registration Expenses” shall mean any and all expenses incident to performance of or
compliance by the Company with this Agreement, including, without limitation, (i) all SEC, stock
exchange or National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. registration and filing fees, (ii) all
fees and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities or blue sky laws
(including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for any Underwriters or any Holder in
connection with blue sky qualification of any Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities), (iii)
all expenses of the Company in preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing, printing and
distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto
and any other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all
rating agency fees, (v) all fees and disbursements relating to the qualification of the Indenture
under applicable securities laws, (vi) the fees and disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel,
(vii) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and, in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement, the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for the Holders (which
counsel shall be selected by the Majority Holders and (x) which counsel may also be counsel for the
Initial Purchasers and (y) shall be satisfactory to the Company acting reasonably) and (viii) the
fees and disbursements of the independent public accountants of the Company, including the expenses
of any special audits or “comfort” letters required by or incident to the performance of and
compliance with this Agreement, but excluding fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters
(other than fees and expenses set forth in clause (ii) above) or the Holders and underwriting
discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of
Registrable Securities by a Holder.
“Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement of the Company that
covers any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement and all amendments and supplements to any such registration statement, including
post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits
thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.
“Representative” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
“Shelf Effectiveness Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.
“Shelf Registration” shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 2(b)
hereof.
“Shelf Registration Statement” shall mean a “shelf” registration statement of the
Company that covers all the Registrable Securities (but no other securities unless approved by the
Holders owning a majority of the Registrable Securities to be covered by such Shelf Registration
Statement) on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, or any similar rule that
may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement,
including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all
exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.
3
“Target Exchange Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.
“Trust Indenture Act” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended from time
to time.
“Trustee” shall mean The Bank of New York and its succesors under the Indenture.
“Underwriter” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3 hereof.
“Underwritten Offering” shall mean an offering in which Registrable Securities are
sold to an Underwriter for reoffering to the public.
2. Registration Under the Securities Act. (a) To the extent not prohibited by any applicable
law or applicable interpretations of the staff of the SEC, the Company shall use its reasonable
best efforts to (i) cause to be filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement covering an offer to
the Holders to exchange all the Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities and (ii) have such
Exchange Offer Registration Statement remain effective until 180 days after the closing of the
Exchange Offer. The Company shall commence the Exchange Offer promptly after the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC and use its reasonable best efforts to
complete the Exchange Offer not later than 60 days after such effective date. For purposes of this
section “complete” shall mean compliance by the Company with the provisions set forth below in this
Section 2(a).
The Company shall commence the Exchange Offer by mailing the related Prospectus, appropriate
letters of transmittal and other accompanying documents to each Holder stating, in addition to such
other disclosures as are required by applicable law:
(i) | that the Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to this Agreement and that all Registrable Securities validly tendered and not properly withdrawn will be accepted for exchange; | |
(ii) | the dates of acceptance for exchange (which shall be a period of at least 20 Business Days from the date such notice is mailed) (the “Exchange Dates”); | |
(iii) | that any Registrable Security not tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest but will not retain any rights under this Agreement; | |
(iv) | that any Holder electing to have a Registrable Security exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to surrender such Registrable Security, together with the appropriate letters of transmittal, to the institution and at the address (located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) and in the manner specified in the notice, prior to the close of business on the last Exchange Date; and | |
(v) | that any Holder will be entitled to withdraw its election, not later than the close of business on the last Exchange Date, by sending to the institution and at the address (located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) specified in the notice, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the principal amount of |
4
Registrable Securities delivered for exchange and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such Securities exchanged. |
As a condition to participating in the Exchange Offer, a Holder will be required to represent
to the Company 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 it has
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) it is not an “affiliate” (within the meaning of Rule 405 under Securities
Act) of the Company and (iv) if such Holder is a broker-dealer, it 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, and such Holder will deliver a Prospectus in connection
with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
As soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date, the Company shall
(i) | accept for exchange Registrable Securities or portions thereof validly tendered in accordance with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and the letter of transmittal and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer; and | |
(ii) | deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable Securities or portions thereof so accepted for exchange by the Company and issue, and cause the Trustee to promptly authenticate and deliver to each Holder, Exchange Securities equal in principal amount to the principal amount of the Registrable Securities surrendered by such Holder. |
The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as provided
above and shall comply with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and
other applicable laws and regulations in connection with the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer
shall not be subject to any conditions, other than that each exchange pursuant to the Exchange
Offer does not violate any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the staff of the SEC and
the due tendering of Registrable Securities in accordance with the Exchange Offer.
(b) In the event that (i) the Company determines that the Exchange Offer Registration provided
for in Section 2(a) above is not available or may not be completed as soon as practicable after the
last Exchange Date because it would violate any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the
Staff of the SEC, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not for any other reason completed by the date that is
270 days after the Closing Date (the “Target Exchange Date”) or (iii) upon completion of the
Exchange Offer any Initial Purchaser holding an unsold allotment of Registrable Securities shall so
request or any Initial Purchaser shall otherwise reasonably request in connection with any offering
or sale of Registrable Securities, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause to be
filed as soon as practicable after such determination, date or request, as the case may be, a Shelf
Registration Statement providing for the sale of all the Registrable Securities by the Holders
thereof and to have such Shelf Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC. To the extent
that a Shelf Registration Statement is required to be filed solely pursuant to clause (ii) above,
but the Exchange Offer is completed on a date later than the Target Exchange Date, upon
consummation of such Exchange Offer, the Company will no longer be required to file, make effective
or continue the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement.
5
In the event that the Company is required to file a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to
clause (iii) of the preceding sentence, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to file
and have declared effective by the SEC both an Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to
Section 2(a) with respect to all Registrable Securities and a Shelf Registration Statement (which
may be a combined Registration Statement with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) with
respect to offers and sales of Registrable Securities held by the Initial Purchasers after
completion of the Exchange Offer.
The Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement
continuously effective until there are no longer any Registrable Securities (the “Shelf
Effectiveness Period”). The Company further agrees to supplement or amend the Shelf
Registration Statement and the related Prospectus if 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 by any other rules and regulations thereunder for shelf
registration or if reasonably requested by a Holder of Registrable Securities with respect to
information relating to such Holder, and to use its reasonable best efforts to cause any such
amendment to become effective and such Shelf Registration Statement and Prospectus to become usable
as soon as thereafter practicable. The Company agrees to furnish to the Holders of Registrable
Securities copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with
the SEC.
(c) The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with the registration
pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof. Each Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts
and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder’s
Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and, except as otherwise
contemplated by this Agreement, any fees and disbursements of any counsel or experts it retains in
connection therewith.
(d) An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof or a Shelf
Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective
unless it has been declared effective by the SEC.
In the event that either the Exchange Offer is not completed or the Shelf Registration
Statement, if required hereby, is not declared effective on or prior to the Target Exchange Date,
the interest rate on the Registrable Securities will be increased, up to a maximum of 1.00% per
annum of additional interest, by (i) 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period immediately
following the Target Exchange Date and (ii) an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each
subsequent 90-day period, in each case until the Exchange Offer is completed or the Shelf
Registration Statement, if required hereby, is declared effective by the SEC or the Securities
become freely tradable under the Securities Act.
If the Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective and thereafter either ceases
to be effective or the Prospectus contained therein ceases to be usable at any time during the
Shelf Effectiveness Period, and such failure to remain effective or usable exists for more than 90
days (whether or not consecutive) in any 12-month period, then the interest rate on the Registrable
Securities will be increased by 1.00% per annum commencing on the 31st day in such
12-month period
6
and ending on such date that the Shelf Registration Statement has again been declared
effective or the Prospectus again becomes usable.
(e) Without limiting the remedies available to the Initial Purchasers and the Holders, the
Company acknowledges that any failure by the Company to comply with their obligations under Section
2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or
the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure
damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial
Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the
Company’s obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof.
3. Registration Procedures. In connection with its obligations pursuant to Section 2(a) and
Section 2(b) hereof, the Company shall as soon as practicable:
(a) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on the appropriate form under the
Securities Act, which form (x) shall be selected by the Company, (y) shall, in the case of a Shelf
Registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the selling Holders
thereof and (z) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the
applicable form and include or incorporate by reference all financial statements required by the
SEC to be filed therewith; and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement
to become effective and remain effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2
hereof;
(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each
Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the
applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof and cause each Prospectus to be supplemented
by any required prospectus supplement and, as so supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424
under the Securities Act; and keep each Prospectus current during the period described in Section
4(3) of and Rule 174 under the Securities Act that is applicable to transactions by brokers or
dealers with respect to the Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities;
(c) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities, to
counsel for the Initial Purchasers, to counsel for such Holders and to each Underwriter of an
Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, upon request, as many
copies of each Prospectus, including each preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement
thereto, in order to facilitate the sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities
thereunder; and the Company consents to the use of such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement
thereto in accordance with applicable law and the other provisions of this Agreement by each of the
selling Holders of Registrable Securities and any such Underwriters in connection with the offering
and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by and in the manner described in such Prospectus or
any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law;
(d) use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities under
all applicable state securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder of Registrable
Securities covered by a Registration Statement shall reasonably request in writing by the time the
applicable Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC; cooperate with the Holders in
connection with any filings required to be made with the National Association of Securities
Dealers,
7
Inc.; and do any and all other acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or advisable
to enable each Holder to complete the disposition in each such jurisdiction of the Registrable
Securities owned by such Holder; provided that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as
a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where
it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of
process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation or tariff in any such
jurisdiction if it is not so subject;
(e) in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Holder of Registrable Securities and
counsel for such Holders and counsel for the Initial Purchasers as soon as practicable and, if
requested by any such Holder or counsel, confirm such advice in writing (i) when a Registration
Statement has become effective and when any post-effective amendment thereto has been filed and
becomes effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments
and supplements to a Registration Statement and Prospectus or for additional information after the
Registration Statement has become effective, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any state
securities authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or
the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) if, between the effective date of a
Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities covered thereby, the
representations and warranties of the Company contained in any underwriting agreement, securities
sales agreement or other similar agreement, if any, relating to an offering of such Registrable
Securities cease to be true and correct in all material respects or if the Company receives any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for
sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the happening
of any event during the period a Shelf Registration Statement is required to be effective pursuant
to Section 2(b) that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or the related
Prospectus untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such
Registration Statement or Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading and
(vi) of any determination by the Company that a post-effective amendment to a Registration
Statement would be appropriate;
(f) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the
effectiveness of a Registration Statement as soon as practicable and provide prompt notice to each
Holder of the withdrawal of any such order;
(g) in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon request, furnish to each Holder of Registrable
Securities, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement relating to
such Shelf Registration and any post-effective amendment thereto (without any documents
incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested);
(h) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable
Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing
Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends and enable such
Registrable Securities to be issued in such denominations and registered in such names (consistent
with the provisions of the Indenture) as the selling Holders may reasonably request at least two
Business Days prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities;
8
(i) in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by
Section 3(e)(v) hereof, use its reasonable best efforts to prepare and file with the SEC a
supplement or post-effective amendment to the relevant Registration Statement or the related
Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so
that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Registrable Securities, such Prospectus will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; and the Company shall notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to suspend use of
the Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event, and such Holders
hereby agree to suspend use of the Prospectus until the Company has amended or supplemented the
Prospectus to correct such misstatement or omission;
(j) a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any
amendment to a Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to a Prospectus, provide copies of
such document to counsel for the Initial Purchasers (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration
Statement, to counsel for the Holders of Registrable Securities) and make in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement, such of the representatives of the Company as shall be reasonably requested
by the Holders of Registrable Securities or their counsel available for discussion of such
document; and, in the case of an Underwritten Offering, until such distribution is completed the
Company shall not, at any time after initial filing of a Registration Statement, file any
Prospectus, any amendment of or supplement to a Registration Statement or a Prospectus, or any
document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or a Prospectus, of
which counsel for the Initial Purchasers (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement,
counsel for the selling Holders of Registrable Securities) shall not have previously been advised
and furnished a copy or to which the Initial Purchasers or their counsel (and, in the case of a
Shelf Registration Statement, the selling Holders or their counsel) shall reasonably object;
provided, that the foregoing shall not prevent the Company from fulfilling its ongoing reporting
requirements under applicable law;
(k) obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case
may be, not later than the effective date of a Registration Statement;
(l) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act (unless an exemption
therefrom is available) in connection with the registration of the Exchange Securities or
Registrable Securities, as the case may be; cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders to effect
such changes to the Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance
with the terms of the Trust Indenture Act; and execute, and use their reasonable best efforts to
cause the Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes and all other
forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable the Indenture to be so qualified in
a timely manner;
(m) in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available for inspection prior to the filing of
the Shelf Registration Statement and during the Shelf Effectiveness Period by a representative of
the Holders of the Registrable Securities (an “Inspector”), any Underwriter participating
in any disposition pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, and attorneys and accountants
designated by the Holders, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all pertinent financial
and other records, pertinent documents and properties of the Company, and cause the respective
officers, directors and
9
employees of the Company to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector,
Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement as shall be
reasonably necessary to enable them to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of
Section 11 of the Securities Act or to otherwise establish any applicable due diligence defense;
provided that if any such information is identified by the Company as being confidential or
proprietary it shall be maintained in confidence and shall not be disclosed to any other Person
until such time as (1) the disclosure of such information is required to be set forth in the 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, does 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, (in which case the subject information may only be disclosed to another Person following
such time as the Shelf Registration Statement in which such information is included is publicly
filed by the Company with the SEC), (2) such Person shall be legally compelled to disclose such
information pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction (but only
after such Person shall have given the Company prior written notice of such requirement) or (3) the
information has been made generally available to the public. Each such Inspector or other Person
will be required to agree to keep information obtained by it as a result of its inspections
pursuant to this Agreement confidential and not to use such information as the basis for any market
transactions in the securities of the Company unless and until such is made generally available to
the public. Each such Inspector or other Person will be required to further agree that it will,
upon learning that disclosure of such information is sought under (1) above, give notice to the
Company and allow the Company at its expense to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure
of the information deemed confidential;
(n) in the case of a Shelf Registration, use its reasonable best efforts to cause all
Registrable Securities to be listed on any securities exchange or any automated quotation system on
which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed if requested by the Majority
Holders, to the extent such Registrable Securities satisfy applicable listing requirements;
(o) if reasonably requested by any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf
Registration Statement, promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment
such information with respect to such Holder as such Holder reasonably requests to be included
therein and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective
amendment as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company has received notification of the
matters to be incorporated in such filing; and
(p) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such customary agreements and take all
such other actions as may be reasonably requested in connection therewith (including those
requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being
sold) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities including,
but not limited to, an Underwritten Offering and in such connection, (i) to the extent possible,
make such representations and warranties to the Holders and any Underwriters of such Registrable
Securities with respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, the Registration
Statement, Prospectus and documents incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by reference,
if any, in each case, in form, substance
10
and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings and
confirm the same if and when requested, (ii) in connection with an Underwritten Offering, obtain an
opinion of counsel to the Company (which counsel and opinion, in scope and substance similar to
that provided in the Purchase Agreement, as modified for a registered offering, shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the Holders and such Underwriters and their respective counsel) addressed to each
selling Holder and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, covering the matters customarily covered
in opinions requested in underwritten offerings, (iii) in connection with an Underwritten Offering,
obtain “comfort” letters from the independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if
necessary, any other certified public accountant of any subsidiary of the Company, or of any
business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are or are
required to be included in the Registration Statement) addressed to each selling Holder and
Underwriter of Registrable Securities, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of
the type customarily covered in “comfort” letters in connection with underwritten offerings and
(iv) in connection with an Underwritten Offering, deliver such documents and certificates as may be
reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities
being sold or the Underwriters, and which are customarily delivered in underwritten offerings, to
evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties of the Company made pursuant
to clause (i) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in an
underwriting agreement.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may require, as a condition to
including such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder of
Registrable Securities to furnish to the Company such information regarding such Holder and the
proposed disposition by such Holder of such Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to
time reasonably request in writing.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees
that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind
described in Section 3(e)(iii) or 3(e)(v) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue
disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement until such Holder’s
receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(i) hereof
and, if so directed by the Company, such Holder will deliver to the Company all copies in its
possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus
covering such Registrable Securities that is current at the time of receipt of such notice.
If the Company shall give any such notice to suspend the disposition of Registrable Securities
pursuant to a Registration Statement, the Company shall extend the period during which the
Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of
days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including
the date when the Holders shall have received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus
necessary to resume such dispositions. The Company may give any such notice only twice during any
365-day period and any such suspensions shall not exceed 45 days for each suspension and there
shall not be more than two suspensions in effect during any 365-day period.
The Holders of Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement who desire to
do so may sell such Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten
11
Offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers (the
“Underwriters”) that will administer the offering will be selected by the Majority Holders
of the Registrable Securities included in such offering subject, in the case of any Underwriter
other than any Initial Purchaser, to the consent of the Company, such consent not to be
unreasonably withheld or delayed.
4. Participation of Broker-Dealers in Exchange Offer. (a) The staff of the SEC has taken the
position that any broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in the
Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities that were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of
market-making or other trading activities (a “Participating Broker-Dealer”) may be deemed
to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to resales of Exchange
Securities and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in
connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
The Company understands that it is the Staff’s position that if the Prospectus contained in
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement includes a plan of distribution containing a statement to
the above effect and the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange
Securities, without naming the Participating Broker-Dealers or specifying the amount of Exchange
Securities owned by them, such Prospectus may be delivered by Participating Broker-Dealers to
satisfy their prospectus delivery obligation under the Securities Act in connection with resales of
Exchange Securities for their own accounts, so long as the Prospectus otherwise meets the
requirements of the Securities Act.
(b) In light of the above, and notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement, the
Company agrees to amend or supplement the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, as would otherwise be contemplated by Section 3(i), for a period of up to 180 days after
the last Exchange Date (as such period may be extended pursuant to the penultimate paragraph of
Section 3 of this Agreement), if requested by one or more Participating Broker-Dealers, in order to
expedite or facilitate the disposition of any Exchange Securities by Participating Broker-Dealers
consistent with the positions of the staff of the SEC recited in Section 4(a) above. The Company
further agrees that Participating Broker-Dealers shall be authorized to deliver such Prospectus
during such period (but not thereafter) in connection with the resales contemplated by this Section
4.
(c) The Initial Purchasers shall have no liability to the Company or any Holder with respect
to any request that they may make pursuant to Section 4(b) above.
5. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
each Initial Purchaser and each Holder, their respective affiliates, directors and officers and
each Person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser or any Holder within the meaning of Section
15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (collectively, the “Indemnified
Parties”), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including,
without limitation, legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or
proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that
arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in any Registration Statement or any Prospectus or any omission or alleged omission
to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
12
which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue
statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any
Initial Purchaser or any Holder furnished to the Company in writing through the Representative or
any selling Holder expressly for use therein; and provided, further, that with respect to any such
untrue statement in or omission from any related preliminary prospectus, the indemnity agreements
contained in this Section 6(a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder from which the person
asserting such loss, claim, damage, liability or action received Registrable Securities or Exchange
Securities to the extent that such loss, claim, damage, liability or action of or with respect to
such holder results from the fact that (A) such Holder had a duty to deliver a Prospectus in
connection with a sale of Registrable Securities by it; (B) a copy of the final prospectus was not
sent or given to such person at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such
Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities to such person and (C) the untrue statement in or
omission from the related preliminary prospectus was corrected in the final prospectus unless, in
either case, the Company had not provided such final Prospectus to such Holder. In connection with
any Underwritten Offering permitted by Section 3, the Company will also indemnify the Underwriters,
if any, selling brokers, dealers and similar securities industry professionals participating in the
distribution, their respective affiliates and each Person who controls such Persons (within the
meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act) to the same extent as provided above with
respect to the indemnification of the Holders, if requested in connection with any Registration
Statement.
(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company,
the Initial Purchasers and the other selling Holders, their respective affiliates, the directors of
the Company and each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and each Person,
if any, who controls the Company, any Initial Purchaser and any other selling Holder within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as
the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or
alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information
relating to such Holder furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any
Registration Statement and any Prospectus.
(c) If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation),
claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any Person in respect of which indemnification
may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) above, such Person (the “Indemnified
Person”) shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the
“Indemnifying Person”) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying
Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under this Section 5 except to the
extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or
defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying
Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise
than under this Section 5. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an
Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying
Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the
Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 5 that the
Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall
13
pay the fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any
such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the
fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the
Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the
Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory
to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there
may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to
the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded
parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both
parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests
between them, in each of which cases the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of
counsel will be at the expense of the Indemnifying Person or Persons. It is understood and agreed
that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in
the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in
addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses
shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm (x) for any Initial Purchaser,
its affiliates, directors and officers and any control Persons of such Initial Purchaser shall be
designated in writing by the Representative, (y) for any Holder, its affiliates, directors and
officers and any control Persons of such Holder shall be designated in writing by the Majority
Holders and (z) in all other cases shall be designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying
Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written
consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the
Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or
liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at
any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the
Indemnified Person for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the
Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its
written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by the
Indemnifying Person of such request and (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the
Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No
Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any
settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or
could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified
Person, unless such settlement (A) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims
that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (B) does not include any statement as to or any
admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) above is unavailable to an
Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities
referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying
such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company from the
offering of the Securities and the Exchange Securities, on the one hand, and by the Holders from
receiving Securities or Exchange Securities registered under the Securities Act, on the other hand,
or (ii) if the allocation provided by
14
clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the
Indemnifying Person on the one hand and the Indemnified Person on the other in connection with the
statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as
any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Indemnifying Person on the
one hand and the Indemnified Person on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Indemnifying
Person or by the Indemnified Person and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
(e) The Company and the Holders agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this Section 5 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated
as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of
the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an
Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in
paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any
legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or
claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5, in no event shall a Holder be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities or
Exchange Securities sold by such Holder exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty
of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
(f) The remedies provided for in this Section 5 are not exclusive and shall not limit any
rights or remedies that may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.
(g) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 5 shall remain
operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii)
any investigation made by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers or any Holder, their respective
affiliates or any Person controlling any Initial Purchaser or any Holder, or by or on behalf of the
Company its respective affiliates or the officers or directors of or any Person controlling the
Company, (iii) acceptance of any of the Exchange Securities and (iv) any sale of Registrable
Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement.
6. General.
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company represents, warrants and agrees that (i) the
rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent
with the rights granted to the holders of any other outstanding securities issued by the Company
under any other agreement and (ii) the Company has not entered into, and will not after the date of
this Agreement enter into, any agreement that conflicts with or is inconsistent with the rights
granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the
provisions hereof.
15
(b) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of
this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures
from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Company has obtained the written consent of
Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable
Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent; provided that
no amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent to any departure from the provisions of
Section 5 hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of Registrable Securities unless
consented to in writing by such Holder. Any amendments, modifications, supplements, waivers or
consents pursuant to this Section 6(b) shall be by a writing executed by each of the parties
hereto.
(c) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall
be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier
guaranteeing overnight delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such
Holder to the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section
6(c), which address initially is, with respect to the Initial Purchasers, the address set forth in
the Purchase Agreement; (ii) if to the Company, initially at the Company’s address set forth in the
Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance
with the provisions of this Section 6(c); and (iii) to such other persons at their respective
addresses as provided in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of
which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c) (it being understood that,
any notice that is required to be provided to counsel for any Holder may be provided to counsel for
the Initial Purchasers (with reference to the fact that such item is being provided as a result of
not having such Holder’s counsel’s address for notices) unless such Holder advises the Company to
the contrary). All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given at the
time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the
mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if
telecopied; and on the next Business Day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing
overnight delivery. Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee, at the address specified in
the Indenture.
(d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
the successors, assigns and transferees of each of the parties, including, without limitation and
without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein shall
be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable Securities in
violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture. If any transferee of any Holder
shall acquire Registrable Securities in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such
Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and
holding such Registrable Securities such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be
bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and such Person shall be
entitled to receive the benefits hereof. The Initial Purchasers (in their capacity as Initial
Purchasers) shall have no liability or obligation to the Company with respect to any failure by a
Holder to comply with, or any breach by any Holder of, any of the obligations of such Holder under
this Agreement.
(e) Third Party Beneficiaries. Each Holder shall be a third party beneficiary to the
agreements made hereunder between the Company and the Initial Purchasers, and shall have the right
16
to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such enforcement necessary or
advisable to protect its rights or the rights of other Holders hereunder.
(f) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the
parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an
original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(g) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, are not a
part of this Agreement and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(h) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the
laws of the State of New York.
(i) Miscellaneous. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties relating
to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all oral statements and prior writings with respect
thereto. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained in this Agreement is held by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable or against public policy, the
remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions contained herein shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated. The Company and
the Initial Purchasers shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the invalid, void or
unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as
possible to that of the invalid, void or unenforceable provisions.
[Signature Page Follows]
17
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written
above.
XXXX & XXXXXXX HOLDINGS CORP. |
||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
Confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written:
XXXXXXX XXXXX & CO. |
||||
XXXXXXX LYNCH, PIERCE, XXXXXX & XXXXX INCORPORATED |
||||
By: | ||||
Authorized Signatory |
||||
For itself and on behalf of the
several Initial Purchasers
several Initial Purchasers
SCHEDULE I
Initial Purchasers
Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated
UBS Securities LLC
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxx, Incorporated
RBC Capital Markets Corporation