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EXHIBIT 4.4
EXECUTION COPY
METALLURG, INC.
$100,000,000
11% Senior Notes due 2007
REGISTRATION AGREEMENT
New York, New York
November 20, 1997
To: SALOMON BROTHERS INC
BANCBOSTON SECURITIES INC.
In care of:
Salomon Brothers Inc
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Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Metallurg, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), proposes to
issue and sell to certain purchasers (the "Purchasers"), upon the terms set
forth in a purchase agreement dated the date hereof (the "Purchase Agreement"),
$100,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 11% Senior Notes due 2007 (the
"Notes") (the "Initial Placement") to be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on
a senior unsecured basis (the "Subsidiary Guarantees" and, together with the
Notes, the "Securities") by certain of the Company's subsidiaries signatory
hereto (the "Guarantors"). As an inducement to the Purchasers to enter into the
Purchase Agreement and in satisfaction of a condition to your obligations
thereunder, the Company and the Guarantors jointly and severally agree with you,
(i) for your benefit and the benefit of the other Purchasers and (ii) for the
benefit of the holders from time to time of the Securities (including you and
the other Purchasers) (each of the foregoing a "Holder" and together the
"Holders"), as follows:
1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein without definition
shall have their respective meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement. As
used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms shall have the
following meanings:
"Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules
and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
"Affiliate" of any specified person means any other person which,
directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common
control with, such specified person. For purposes of this definition, control
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of a person means the power, direct or indirect, to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of such person whether by contract or
otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings
correlative to the foregoing.
"Closing Date" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
"Exchange Offer Registration Period" means the one-year period
following the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, exclusive of any
period during which any stop order shall be in effect suspending the
effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.
"Exchange Offer Registration Statement" means a registration
statement of the Company on an appropriate form under the Act with respect to
the Registered Exchange Offer, all amendments and supplements to such
registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case
including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all
material incorporated by reference therein.
"Exchanging Dealer" means any Holder (which may include the
Purchasers) which is a broker-dealer, electing to exchange Securities acquired
for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, for New Securities.
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"Guarantors" has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
"Holder" has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
"Indenture" means the Indenture relating to the Securities dated as
of November 25, 1997, among the Company, the Guarantors and IBJ Xxxxxxxx Bank &
Trust Company as trustee, as the same may be amended from time to time in
accordance with the terms thereof.
"Initial Placement" has the meaning set forth in the preamble
hereto.
"Majority Holders" means the Holders of a majority of the aggregate
principal amount of securities registered under a Registration Statement.
"Managing Underwriters" means the investment banker or investment
bankers and manager or managers that shall administer an underwritten offering.
"New Securities" means debt securities of the Company identical in
all material respects to the Securities (except that the cash interest and the
transfer restrictions will be modified or eliminated, as appropriate), to be
issued under the Indenture.
"New Securities Indenture" means an indenture between the Company
and the New Securities Trustee, identical in all material respects with the
Indenture (except that the cash interest will be modified or eliminated, as
appropriate).
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"New Securities Trustee" means a bank or trust company reasonably
satisfactory to the Purchasers, as trustee with respect to the New Securities
under the New Securities Indenture.
"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in any Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that discloses
information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A under the Act), as amended or
supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the
offering of any portion of the Securities or the New Securities, covered by such
Registration Statement, and all amendments and supplements to the Prospectus,
including post-effective amendments.
"Registered Exchange Offer" means the proposed offer to the Holders
to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Securities, a like
principal amount of the New Securities.
"Registration Securities" has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)
hereof.
"Registration Statement" means any Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or Shelf Registration Statement that covers any of the Securities or
the New Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, all amendments
and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective
amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all
exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.
"Securities" has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
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"Shelf Registration" means a registration effected pursuant to
Section 3 hereof.
"Shelf Registration Period" has the meaning set forth in Section
3(b) hereof.
"Shelf Registration Statement" means a "shelf" registration
statement of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 hereof which
covers some of or all the Securities or New Securities, as applicable, on an
appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Act, or any similar rule that may be
adopted by the Commission, all amendments and supplements to such registration
statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the
Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated
by reference therein.
"Subsidiary Guarantees" has the meaning set forth in the preamble
hereto.
"Trustee" means the trustee with respect to the Securities and the
New Securities under the Indenture.
"underwriter" means any underwriter of Securities in connection with
an offering thereof under a Shelf Registration Statement.
2. Registered Exchange Offer; Resales of New Securities by
Exchanging Dealers; Private Exchange. (a) The Company and the Guarantors shall
prepare and, not later than 60 days after the date of the original issuance of
the Notes, shall file with the Commission the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement with respect to the Registered Exchange Offer. The Company and the
Guarantors shall cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become
effective under the Act within 120 days after the date of the original issuance
of the Notes.
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(b) Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall promptly commence the Registered
Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to
enable each Holder electing to exchange Securities for New Securities (assuming
that such Holder is not an affiliate of the Company within the meaning of the
Act, acquires the New Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder's
business and has no arrangements with any person to participate in the
distribution of the New Securities) to trade such New Securities from and after
their receipt without any limitations or restrictions under the Act and without
material restrictions under the securities laws of a substantial proportion of
the several states of the United States.
(c) In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company
and the Guarantors shall:
(i) mail to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part of the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter
of transmittal and related documents;
(ii) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than 30
days and not more than 45 days after the date notice thereof is mailed to
the Holders (or longer if required by applicable law);
(iii) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered
Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of
New York; and
(iv) comply in all respects with all applicable laws.
(d) As soon as practicable after the close of the
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Registered Exchange Offer, the Company and the Guarantors shall:
(i) accept for exchange all Securities duly tendered and not validly
withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer;
(ii) deliver to the Trustee for cancelation all Securities so
accepted for exchange; and
(iii) cause the Trustee promptly to authenticate and deliver to each
Holder of Securities, New Securities equal in principal amount to the
Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.
(e) The Purchasers, the Company and the Guarantors acknowledge that,
pursuant to current interpretations by the Commission's staff of Section 5 of
the Act, and in the absence of an applicable exemption therefrom, each
Exchanging Dealer is required to deliver a Prospectus in connection with a sale
of any New Securities received by such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to the
Registered Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities acquired for its own
account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities.
Accordingly, the Company and the Guarantors shall:
(i) include the information set forth in Annex A hereto on the cover
of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, in Annex B hereto in the
forepart of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in a section setting
forth details of the Exchange Offer, in Annex C hereto in the underwriting
or plan of distribution section of the Prospectus forming a part of the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and in Annex D hereto in the Letter
of Transmittal delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer; and
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(ii) use its best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement continuously effective under the Act during the Exchange Offer
Registration Period for delivery by Exchanging Dealers in connection with
sales of New Securities received pursuant to the Registered Exchange
Offer, as contemplated by Section 4(h) below.
(f) In the event that any Purchaser determines that it is not
eligible to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer with respect to the
exchange of Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment, at the
request of such Purchaser, the Company and the Guarantors shall issue and
deliver to such Purchaser or the party purchasing New Securities registered
under a Shelf Registration Statement as contemplated by Section 3 hereof from
such Purchaser, in exchange for such Securities, a like principal amount of New
Securities. The Company and the Guarantors shall seek to cause the CUSIP Service
Bureau to issue the same CUSIP number for such New Securities as for New
Securities issued pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer.
3. Shelf Registration. If, (i) because of any change in law or
applicable interpretations thereof by the Commission's staff, the Company and
the Guarantors determine upon advice of outside counsel that they are not
permitted to effect the Registered Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section 2
hereof, or (ii) for any other reason the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
is not declared effective within 120 days after the Closing Date or the
Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated within 150 days after the Closing
Date, or (iii) any Purchaser so requests with respect to Securities (or any New
Securities received pursuant to Section 2(f)) not eligible to be exchanged for
New Securities in a Registered Exchange Offer or, in the case of any Purchaser
that participates in any Registered Exchange Offer, such Purchaser does not
receive freely tradable New Securities, or (iv) any Holder (other than a
Purchaser) is not eligible to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer, or
(v) in the case of any such Holder that participates in the Registered Exchange
Offer, such Holder does not receive freely tradable New Securities in exchange
for tendered securities, other than by reason of such Holder being an affiliate
of the Company within the meaning of the Act (it being understood that, for
purposes of this
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Section 3, (x) the requirement that a Purchaser deliver a Prospectus containing
the information required by Items 507 and/or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Act
in connection with sales of New Securities acquired in exchange for such
Securities shall result in such New Securities being not "freely tradeable" but
(y) the requirement that an Exchanging Dealer deliver a Prospectus in connection
with sales of New Securities acquired in the Registered Exchange Offer in
exchange for Securities acquired as a result of market-making activities or
other trading activities shall not result in such New Securities being not
"freely tradeable"), the following provisions shall apply:
(a) The Company and the Guarantors shall as promptly as practicable
(but in no event more than 30 days after so required or requested pursuant to
this Section 3), file with the Commission and thereafter shall use its best
efforts to cause to be declared effective under the Act a Shelf Registration
Statement relating to the offer and sale of the Securities or the New
Securities, as applicable, by the Holders from time to time in accordance with
the methods of distribution elected by the Majority Holders participating in the
Shelf Registration and set forth in such Shelf Registration Statement (such
Securities or New Securities, as applicable, to be sold by such Holders under
such Shelf Registration Statement being referred to herein as "Registration
Securities"); provided, however, that, with respect to New Securities received
by a Purchaser in exchange for Securities constituting any portion of an unsold
allotment, the Company and the Guarantors may, if permitted by current
interpretations by the Commission's staff, file a post-effective amendment to
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement containing the information required by
Regulation S-K Items 507 and/or 508, as applicable, in satisfaction of its
obligations under this paragraph (a) with respect thereto, and any such Exchange
Offer Registration Statement, as so amended, shall be referred to herein as, and
governed by the provisions herein applicable to, a Shelf Registration Statement.
(b) The Company and the Guarantors shall use their best efforts to
keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit
the Prospectus forming part thereof to be usable by Holders for a period of two
years from the date the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective by
the Commission or such shorter period
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that will terminate when all the Securities or New Securities, as applicable,
covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement (in any such case, such period being called the "Shelf
Registration Period").
4. Registration Procedures. In connection with any Shelf
Registration Statement and, to the extent applicable, any Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) The Company and the Guarantors shall furnish to you, prior to
the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of any Shelf Registration
Statement and any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and each
amendment thereof and each amendment or supplement, if any, to the
Prospectus included therein and shall use its best efforts to reflect in
each such document, when so filed with the Commission, such comments as
you or any Holder reasonably may propose.
(b) The Company and the Guarantors shall ensure that (i) any
Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and any Prospectus
forming part thereof and any amendment or supplement thereto complies in
all material respects with the Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, (ii) any Registration Statement and any amendment thereto does
not, when it becomes effective, 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 (iii) any
Prospectus forming part of any Registration Statement, and any amendment
or supplement to such Prospectus, does not include an untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading.
(c) (1) The Company and the Guarantors shall advise you and, in the
case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders of securities covered
thereby,
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and, if requested by you or any such Holder, confirm such advice in
writing:
(i) when a Registration Statement and any amendment thereto
has been filed with the Commission and when the Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become
effective; and
(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or
supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus included
therein or for additional information.
(2) The Company and the Guarantors shall advise you and, in the case
of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders of securities covered
thereby, and, in the case of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement, any
Exchanging Dealer which has provided in writing to the Company a telephone
or facsimile number and address for notices, and, if requested by you or
any such Holder or Exchanging Dealer, confirm such advice in writing:
(i) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;
(ii) of the receipt by the Company or any Guarantor of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of
the securities included therein for sale in any jurisdiction or the
initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and
(iii) of the happening of any event that requires the making of
any changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus so that,
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as of such date, the statements therein are not misleading and do
not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the
Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made) not misleading (which advice shall be accompanied by an
instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus until the requisite
changes have been made).
(d) The Company and the Guarantors shall use their best efforts to
obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of any
Registration Statement at the earliest possible time.
(e) The Company and the Guarantors shall furnish to each Holder of
securities included within the coverage of any Shelf Registration
Statement, without charge, at least one copy of such Shelf Registration
Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial
statements and schedules, and, if the Holder so requests in writing,
documents incorporated by reference therein and exhibits to such Shelf
Registration Statement (including those incorporated by reference
therein).
(f) The Company and the Guarantors shall, during the Shelf
Registration Period, deliver to each Holder of securities included within
the coverage of any Shelf Registration Statement, without charge, as many
copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary Prospectus) included
in such Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement
thereto as such Holder may reasonably request; and the Company and the
Guarantors consent to the use of the Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of securities in
connection with the offering and sale of the securities covered by the
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto.
(g) The Company and the Guarantors shall furnish to each Exchanging
Dealer which so requests, without
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charge, at least one copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and
any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and
schedules, documents incorporated by reference therein, and, if the
Exchanging Dealer so requests in writing, exhibits to such Shelf
Registration Statement (including those incorporated by reference
therein).
(h) The Company and the Guarantors shall, during the Exchange Offer
Registration Period, promptly deliver to each Exchanging Dealer, without
charge, as many copies of the Prospectus included in such Exchange Offer
Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such
Exchanging Dealer may reasonably request for delivery by such Exchanging
Dealer in connection with a sale of New Securities received by it pursuant
to the Registered Exchange Offer; and the Company and the Guarantors
consent to the use of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto by any such Exchanging Dealer, as aforesaid.
(i) Prior to the Registered Exchange Offer or any other offering of
securities pursuant to any Registration Statement, the Company and the
Guarantors shall register or qualify or cooperate with the Holders of
securities included therein and their respective counsel in connection
with the registration or qualification of such securities for offer and
sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any
such Holder reasonably requests in writing and do any and all other acts
or things necessary or advisable to enable the offer and sale in such
jurisdictions of the securities covered by such Registration Statement;
provided, however, that neither the Company nor any Guarantor will be
required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it
is not then so qualified or to take any action which would subject it to
general service of process or to taxation in any such jurisdiction where
it is not then so subject.
(j) The Company and the Guarantors shall cooperate with the Holders
of Securities to facilitate
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the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing
Securities to be sold pursuant to any Registration Statement free of any
restrictive legends and in such denominations and registered in such names
as Holders may request prior to sales of securities pursuant to such
Registration Statement.
(k) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by paragraph
(c)(2)(iii) above, the Company and the Guarantors shall promptly prepare a
post-effective amendment to any Registration Statement or an amendment or
supplement to the related Prospectus or file any other required document
so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the securities included
therein, the Prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
(l) Not later than the effective date of any such Registration
Statement hereunder, the Company and the Guarantors shall provide a CUSIP
number for the Securities or New Securities, as the case may be,
registered under such Registration Statement, and provide the Trustee with
printed certificates for such Securities or New Securities, in a form, if
requested by the applicable Holder or Holder's counsel, eligible for
deposit with The Depository Trust Company.
(m) The Company and the Guarantors shall use their best efforts to
comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission to the
extent and so long as they are applicable to the Registered Exchange Offer
or the Shelf Registration and will make generally available to its
security holders a consolidated earnings statement covering a twelve-month
period commencing after the effective date of the Registration Statement
and ending not later than 15 months thereafter, as soon as practicable
after the end of such period, which consolidated earnings statement shall
satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act.
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(n) The Company and the Guarantors shall cause the Indenture to be
qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, on or prior
to the effective date of any Shelf Registration Statement or Exchange
Offer Registration Statement.
(o) The Company may require each Holder of securities to be sold
pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the Company
such information regarding the Holder and the distribution of such
securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably require for
inclusion in such Registration Statement. In the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement, the Company may require each Holder, upon receipt
of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event or the
discovery of any fact of the kind described in paragraph (c)(2)(iii)
above, to 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 paragraph (k) above,
and to deliver to the Company (at the Company's expense) all copies in
such Holder's possession, other than permanent file copies then in such
Holder's possession, of the Prospectus covering such registrable
Securities 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 Shelf Registration Statement as a result of the
happening of any event or the discovery of any facts, each of the kind
described in paragraph (c)(2)(iii) hereof, the Company shall be deemed to
have used its best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement
effective during such period of suspension, provided that (i) the Company
shall use its best efforts to file and have declared effective (if an
amendment) as soon as practicable an amendment or supplement to such Shelf
Registration Statement and (ii) the period during which the Shelf
Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this
Agreement shall be extended 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. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Company shall not allow any Shelf Registration
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Statement to fail to be effective for more than 30 days during any 360 day
period.
(p) The Company and the Guarantors shall, if requested, promptly
incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to a
Shelf Registration Statement, such information as the Managing
Underwriters and Majority Holders reasonably agree should be included
therein and shall make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement
or post-effective amendment as soon as notified of the matters to be
incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment.
(q) In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, the Company and
the Guarantors shall enter into such agreements (including underwriting
agreements) and take all other appropriate actions in order to expedite or
facilitate the registration or the disposition of the Securities, and in
connection therewith, if an underwriting agreement is entered into, cause
the same to contain indemnification provisions and procedures no less
favorable than those set forth in Section 6 hereof (or such other
provisions and procedures acceptable to the Majority Holders and the
Managing Underwriters, if any), with respect to all parties to be
indemnified pursuant to Section 6 hereof from Holders of Securities to the
Company and the Guarantors.
(r) In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, the Company and
the Guarantors shall (i) make reasonably available for inspection by the
Holders of securities to be registered thereunder, any underwriter
participating in any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement,
and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by the Holders or any
such underwriter all relevant financial and other records, pertinent
corporate documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries;
(ii) cause the Company's and the Guarantors's officers, directors and
employees to supply all relevant information reasonably requested by the
Holders or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in
connection with any
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such Registration Statement as is customary for similar due diligence
examinations; provided, however, that any information that is designated
in writing by the Company or any Guarantor, in good faith, as confidential
at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by
the Holders or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent, unless
such disclosure is made in connection with a court proceeding or required
by law, or such information becomes available to the public generally or
through a third party without an accompanying obligation of
confidentiality; (iii) make such representations and warranties to the
Holders of securities registered thereunder and the underwriters, if any,
in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to
underwriters in primary underwritten offerings; (iv) obtain opinions of
counsel to the Company and the Guarantors (which counsel and opinions (in
form, scope and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
Managing Underwriters, if any) addressed to each selling Holder and the
underwriters, if any, covering such matters as are customarily covered in
opinions requested in underwritten offerings and such other matters as may
be reasonably requested by such Holders and underwriters; (v) obtain "cold
comfort" letters (or, in the case of any person that does not satisfy the
conditions for receipt of a "cold comfort" letter specified in Statement
on Auditing Standards No. 72, an "agreed-upon procedures" letter) and
updates thereof from the independent certified public accountants of the
Company and the Guarantors (and, if necessary, any other independent
certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any
business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and
financial data are, or are required to be, included in the Registration
Statement), addressed to each selling Holder of securities registered
thereunder and the underwriters, if any, in customary form and covering
matters of the type customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in
connection with primary underwritten offerings; and (vi) deliver such
documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Majority
Holders and the Managing Underwriters, if any, including those to evidence
compliance with Section 4(k) and with any customary conditions contained
in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the
Company and the Guarantors. The foregoing actions set forth in clauses
(iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) of this Section 4(r) shall be performed (A) on
the effective
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date of such Registration Statement and each post-effective amendment
thereto and (B) at each closing under any underwriting or similar
agreement as and to the extent required thereunder.
(s) In the case of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the
Company and the Guarantors shall (i) make reasonably available for
inspection by each Purchaser, and any attorney, accountant or other agent
retained by such Purchaser, all relevant financial and other records,
pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and its
subsidiaries; (ii) cause the Company's and the Guarantors' officers,
directors and employees to supply all relevant information reasonably
requested by such Purchaser or any such attorney, accountant or agent in
connection with any such Registration Statement as is customary for
similar due diligence examinations; provided, however, that any
information that is designated in writing by the Company or any Guarantor,
in good faith, as confidential at the time of delivery of such information
shall be kept confidential by such Purchaser or any such attorney,
accountant or agent, unless such disclosure is made in connection with a
court proceeding or required by law, or such information becomes available
to the public generally or through a third party without an accompanying
obligation of confidentiality; (iii) make such representations and
warranties to such Purchaser, in form, substance and scope as are
customarily made by issuers to underwriters in primary underwritten
offerings; (iv) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and the
Guarantors (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance)
shall be reasonably satisfactory to such Purchaser and its counsel),
addressed to such Purchaser, covering such matters as are customarily
covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings and such other
matters as may be reasonably requested by such Purchaser or its counsel;
(v) obtain "cold comfort" letters and updates thereof from the independent
certified public accountants of the Company and the Guarantors (and, if
necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any
subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the Company for
which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be,
included in the Registration Statement), addressed to such Purchaser, in
customary form and covering matters of
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the type customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in connection with
primary underwritten offerings, or if requested by such Purchaser or its
counsel in lieu of a "cold comfort" letter, an agreed-upon procedures
letter under Statement on Auditing Standards No. 35, covering matters
requested by such Purchaser or its counsel; and (vi) deliver such
documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by such
Purchaser or its counsel, including those to evidence compliance with
Section 4(k) and with conditions customarily contained in underwriting
agreements. The foregoing actions set forth in clauses (iii), (iv), (v)
and (vi) of this Section 4(s) shall be performed (A) at the close of the
Registered Exchange Offer and (B) on the effective date of any
post-effective amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.
5. Registration Expenses. The Company and the Guarantors, jointly
and severally, shall bear all expenses incurred in connection with the
performance of its obligations under Sections 2, 3 and 4 hereof (other than
underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to
the sale or disposition of such Holder's Securities pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement) and, in the event of any Shelf Registration Statement,
will reimburse the Holders for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm
or counsel (in addition to one local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction)
designated by the Majority Holders to act as counsel for the Holders in
connection therewith, and, in the case of any Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, will reimburse the Purchasers for the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel acting in connection therewith.
6. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) In connection with any
Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally,
agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of securities covered thereby
(including each Purchaser and, with respect to any Prospectus delivery as
contemplated in Section 4(h) hereof, each Exchanging Dealer), the directors,
officers, employees and agents of each such Holder and each other person, if
any, who controls any such Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become
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subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law
or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the Registration Statement as originally filed or in any amendment
thereof, or in any preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, or in any amendment
thereof 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 agrees to
reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however,
that (i) neither the Company nor any Guarantor will be liable in any case to the
extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based
upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any such Holder
specifically for inclusion therein and (ii) neither the Company nor any
Guarantor shall be liable to any indemnified party under this indemnity
agreement with respect to the Registration Statement or Prospectus to the extent
that it is determined by a final non-appealable judgment that (1) any such loss,
claim, damage or liability of such indemnified party results solely from an
untrue statement of a material fact contained in, or the omission of a material
fact from, the Registration Statement or Prospectus which untrue statement or
omission was corrected in an amended or supplemented Registration Statement or
Prospectus, (2) the person alleging such loss, claim, damage or liability was
not sent or given, at or prior to the written confirmation of such sale, a copy
of the amended or supplemented Registration Statement or Prospectus, and the
Company had previously furnished copies thereof to such indemnified party and
(3) delivery of a prospectus is required by the Act and was not so made. This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company and
the Guarantors may otherwise have.
The Company also agrees to indemnify or contribute to Losses (as
defined below) of, as provided in Section 6(d), any underwriters of Securities
registered under a Shelf Registration Statement, their officers and directors
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and each person who controls such underwriters on substantially the same basis
as that of the indemnification of the Purchasers and the selling Holders
provided in this Section 6(a) and shall, if requested by any Holder, enter into
an underwriting agreement reflecting such agreement, as provided in Section 4(q)
hereof.
(b) Each Holder of securities covered by a Registration Statement
(including each Purchaser and, with respect to any Prospectus delivery as
contemplated in Section 4(h) hereof, each Exchanging Dealer) severally and not
jointly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Guarantors,
each of their respective directors and officers and each other person, if any,
who controls the Company or any Guarantor within the meaning of Section 15 of
the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing
indemnity from the Company and the Guarantors to each such Holder, but only with
reference to written information relating to such Holder furnished to the
Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion in the
documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement will
be in addition to any liability which any such Holder may otherwise have.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party
will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party
under this Section 6, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the
commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i)
will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and
to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results
in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses
and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any
obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation
provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled
to appoint as counsel one firm of attorneys of the indemnifying party's choice
at the indemnifying party's expense, which counsel, together with one local
counsel in each applicable jurisdiction, shall act on behalf of all the
indemnified parties in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which
case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible
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for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified
party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that such
counsel shall be satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the
indemnifying party's election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified
party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ
separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall
bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel (and local
counsel) if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent
the indemnified party would, in the reasonable judgment of the indemnified
party, present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or
potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the
indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall
have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it
and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those
available to the indemnifying party, (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have
employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent
the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution
of such action or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified
party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. An
indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the
indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any
judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or
proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought
hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential
parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent
includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability
arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.
(d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or (b)
of this Section 6 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an
indemnified party for any reason, then each applicable indemnifying party, in
lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall have a joint and several
obligation to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and
liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection
with investigating or defending same) (collectively "Losses") to which such
indemnified party may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative
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benefits received by such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such
indemnified party, on the other hand, from the Initial Placement and the
Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses; provided, however, that in
no case shall any Purchaser or any subsequent Holder of any Security or New
Security be responsible, in the aggregate, for any amount in excess of the
purchase discount or commission applicable to such Security, or in the case of a
New Security, applicable to the Security which was exchangeable into such New
Security, as set forth on the cover page of the Final Memorandum, nor shall any
underwriter be responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount
or commission applicable to the securities purchased by such underwriter under
the Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses. If the allocation
provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason,
the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall contribute in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also
the relative fault of such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such
indemnified party, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or
omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. Benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors shall be
deemed to be equal to the sum of (x) the total net proceeds from the Initial
Placement (before deducting expenses) as set forth on the cover page of the
Final Memorandum and (y) the total amount of additional interest which the
Company was not required to pay as a result of registering the securities
covered by the Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses. Benefits
received by the Purchasers shall be deemed to be equal to the total purchase
discounts and commissions as set forth on the cover page of the Final
Memorandum, and benefits received by any other Holders shall be deemed to be
equal to the value of receiving Securities or New Securities, as applicable,
registered under the Act. Benefits received by any underwriter shall be deemed
to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, as set forth on
the cover page of the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement
which resulted in such Losses. Relative fault shall be determined by reference
to whether any alleged untrue statement or omission relates to information
provided by the indemnifying party, on the one hand, or by the indemnified
party, on the other hand. The parties agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other
method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations
referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no
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person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 6,
each person who controls a Holder within the meaning of either the Act or the
Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of such Holder shall
have the same rights to contribution as such Holder, and each person who
controls the Company or any Guarantor within the meaning of either the Act or
the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company or any Guarantor who shall have
signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company or any
Guarantor shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company and the
Guarantors, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this
paragraph (d).
(e) The provisions of this Section 6 will remain in full force and
effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Holder or
the Company or any Guarantor or any of the officers, directors or controlling
persons referred to in this Section 6, and will survive the sale by a Holder of
securities covered by a Registration Statement.
7. Miscellaneous.
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any
Guarantor has, as of the date hereof, entered into, nor shall it, on or
after the date hereof, enter into, any agreement with respect to its
securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders
herein or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.
(b) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement,
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, qualified,
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 the Holders of at least a majority of the then
outstanding aggregate principal amount of Securities (or, after the
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consummation of any Exchange Offer in accordance with Section 2 hereof, of
New Securities); provided that, with respect to any matter that directly
or indirectly affects the rights of any Purchaser hereunder, the Company
shall obtain the written consent of each such Purchaser against which such
amendment, qualification, supplement, waiver or consent is to be
effective. Notwithstanding the foregoing (except the foregoing proviso), a
waiver or consent to departure from the provisions hereof with respect to
a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose
securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that
does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be
given by the Majority Holders, determined on the basis of securities being
sold rather than registered under such Registration Statement.
(c) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class
mail, telex, telecopier, or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(1) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such
Holder to the Company in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 7(c), which address initially is, with respect to each
Holder, the address of such Holder maintained by the registrar under
the Indenture, with a copy in like manner to Salomon Brothers Inc by
fax (000-000-0000) and confirmed by mail to them at Seven Xxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000;
(2) if to you, initially at the address set forth in the
Purchase Agreement; and
(3) if to the Company or any Guarantor, initially at its
address set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
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All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been
duly given when received.
The Purchasers, the Company or any Guarantor by notice to the other
may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or
communications.
(d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the
parties, including, without the need for an express assignment or any
consent by the Company or any Guarantor thereto, subsequent Holders of
Securities and/or New Securities. The Company hereby agrees to extend the
benefits of this Agreement to any Holder of Securities and/or New
Securities and any such Holder may specifically enforce the provisions of
this Agreement as if an original party hereto.
(e) Counterparts. This agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of
which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which
taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(f) Headings. The headings in this agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(g) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (WITHOUT
REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS THEREOF).
(h) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the
provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any
circumstances, is held
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invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the
validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other
respect and of the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way
impaired or affected thereby, it being intended that all the rights and
privileges of the parties shall be enforceable to the fullest extent
permitted by law.
(i) Securities Held by the Company, etc. Whenever the consent or
approval of Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of
Securities or New Securities is required hereunder, Securities or New
Securities, as applicable, held by the Company or its Affiliates (other
than subsequent Holders of Securities or New Securities if such subsequent
Holders are deemed to be Affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of
such Securities or New Securities) shall not be counted in determining
whether such consent or
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approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.
Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the
agreement among the Company, the Guarantors and you.
Very truly yours,
METALLURG, INC.,
By:
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
SHIELDALLOY METALLURGICAL
CORPORATION
By:
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
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METALLURG HOLDINGS CORPORATION
By:
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
METALLURG SERVICES, INC.
By:
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
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MIR (CHINA), INC.
By:
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
The foregoing Agreement is
hereby confirmed and accepted
as of the date first above written
SALOMON BROTHERS INC
BANCBOSTON SECURITIES INC.
By: SALOMON BROTHERS INC,
By:
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
For themselves and the other
Purchasers named in Schedule I to
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the Purchase Agreement
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ANNEX A
Each broker-dealer that receives New Securities for its own account pursuant to
the Registered Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus
in connection with any resale of such New Securities. The Letter of Transmittal
states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer
will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of
the Act. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to
time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of New
Securities received in exchange for Securities where such New Securities were
acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other
trading activities. The Company and the Guarantors have agreed that, starting on
the date hereof (the "Expiration Date") and ending on the close of business on
the first anniversary of the Expiration Date, it will make this Prospectus
available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See
"Plan of Distribution."
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ANNEX B
Each broker-dealer that receives New Securities for its own account in exchange
for Securities, where such Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge
that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New
Securities. See "Plan of Distribution."
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ANNEX C
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each broker-dealer that receives New Securities for its own account
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver
a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Securities. The
Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used
by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of New Securities received in
exchange for Securities where such Securities were acquired as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities. Each of the Company and
the Guarantors has agreed that, starting on the Expiration Date and ending on
the close of business on the first anniversary following the Expiration Date, it
will make this Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any
broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. In addition, until ,
199 , all dealers effecting transactions in the Exchange Securities may be
required to deliver a prospectus.(1)/
Neither the Company nor any Guarantor will receive any proceeds from
any sale of New Securities by broker-dealers. New Securities received by
broker-dealers for their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold
from time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in
negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the New Securities or
a combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time
of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated
prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through
brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or
concessions from any such broker-dealer and/or the purchasers of any such New
Securities. Any broker-dealer that resells New Securities that were received by
it for its own account pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and any broker
or dealer that participates in a distribution of such New Securities may be
deemed to be an "underwriter"
----------
(1) In addition, the legend required by Item 502(e) of Regulation S-K will
appear on the back cover page of the Exchange Offer Prospectus.
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within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit of any such resale of
New Securities and any commissions or concessions received by any such persons
may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Act. The Letter of
Transmittal states that by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering
a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Act.
For a period of one year after the Expiration Date, the Company will
promptly send additional copies of this Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement to this Prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents
in the Letter of Transmittal. The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and
severally, have agreed to pay all expenses incident to the Exchange Offer
(including the expenses of one counsel for the holders of the Securities) other
than commissions or concessions of any brokers or dealers and will indemnify the
holders of the Securities (including any broker-dealers) against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Act.
[If applicable, add information required by Regulation S-K Items 507
and/or 508.]
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ANNEX D
Rider A
CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10
ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS
OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.
Name:
Address:
Rider B
If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is
not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of New
Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive New
Securities for its own account in exchange for Securities that were acquired as
a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it
acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such New Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a
prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Act.
