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EXHIBIT 4(d)
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of November 7, 1997
by and among
CMS Energy Corporation
and
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation
Chase Securities Inc.
CIBC Xxxxxxxxxxx Corp.
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
Salomon Brothers Inc
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This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and entered
into as of November 7, 1997, by and among CMS Energy Corporation, a Michigan
corporation (the "Company"), and Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx Securities
Corporation, Chase Securities Inc., CIBC Xxxxxxxxxxx Corp., Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx &
Co. Incorporated, and Salomon Brothers Inc, (each an "Initial Purchaser" and,
collectively, the "Initial Purchasers"), each of whom has agreed to purchase
the Company's 7 3/8% Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2000, Series A (the "Series A
Notes") pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated November
4, 1997 (the "Purchase Agreement"), by and among the Company and the Initial
Purchasers. In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to purchase the Series A
Notes, the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in
this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to
the obligations of the Initial Purchasers set forth in Section 3 of the
Purchase Agreement.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the
following meanings:
Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Business Day: Any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day in the City
of New York, or in the city of the primary corporate trust office of the
Trustee, on which banks are authorized to close.
Broker-Dealer: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.
Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities: Series B Notes that are
acquired by a Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer in exchange for Series A
Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of
market making activities or other trading activities (other than Series A Notes
acquired directly from the Company or any of its affiliates).
Certificated Securities: As defined in the Indenture.
Closing Date: The date hereof.
Commission: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
Consummate: An Exchange Offer shall be deemed "Consummated" for purposes
of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (a) the filing and effectiveness under
the Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement relating to the Series B
Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (b) the maintenance of such
Registration Statement continuously effective and the keeping of the Exchange
Offer open for a period not less than the minimum period required pursuant to
Section 3(b) hereof and (c) the delivery by the Company to the Registrar under
the Indenture of Series B Notes in the same aggregate principal amount as the
aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes tendered by Holders thereof
pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
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Damages Payment Date: With respect to the Series A Notes, each Interest
Payment Date.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Exchange Offer: The registration by the Company under the Act of the
Series B Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant
to which the Company shall offer the Holders of all outstanding Transfer
Restricted Securities the opportunity to exchange all such outstanding Transfer
Restricted Securities for Series B Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal
to the aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities
tendered in such exchange offer by such Holders.
Exchange Offer Registration Statement: The Registration Statement
relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.
Exempt Resales: The transactions in which the Initial Purchasers propose
to sell the Series A Notes to certain "qualified institutional buyers," as such
term is defined in Rule 144A under the Act, and to persons permitted to
purchase the Series A Notes in offshore transactions in reliance upon
Regulation S under the Act.
Global Noteholder: As defined in the Indenture.
Holders: As defined in Section 2 hereof.
Indemnified Holder: As defined in Section 8(a) hereof.
Indenture: The Indenture, dated as of September 15, 1992, as previously
supplemented, between the Company and NBD Bank, as Trustee (the "Trustee"), and
as further supplemented by a Fifth Supplemental Indenture pursuant to which the
Notes are to be issued, as such Indenture is amended or supplemented from time
to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
Interest Payment Date: As defined in the Indenture and the Notes.
NASD: National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Notes: The Series A Notes and the Series B Notes.
Person: An individual, partnership, corporation, trust, unincorporated
organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
Prospectus: The prospectus included in a Registration Statement at the
time such Registration Statement is declared effective, as amended or
supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments thereto,
including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by
reference into such Prospectus.
Record Holder: With respect to any Damages Payment Date, each Person who
is a Holder of Notes on the record date with respect to the Interest Payment
Date on which such Damages Payment Date shall occur.
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Registration Default: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company
relating to (a) an offering of Series B Notes pursuant to an Exchange Offer or
(b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to
the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, (i) which is filed pursuant to
the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) including the Prospectus included
therein, all amendments and supplements thereto (including post-effective
amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by reference therein.
Restricted Broker-Dealer: Any Broker-Dealer which holds Broker-Dealer
Transfer Restricted Securities.
Series B Notes: The Company's 7 3/8% Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2000,
Series B to be issued pursuant to the Indenture (i) in the Exchange Offer or
(ii) upon the request of any Holder of Series A Notes covered by a Shelf
Registration Statement, in exchange for such Series A Notes.
Shelf Registration Statement: As defined in Section 4 hereof.
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Section 77aaa-77bbbb) as
in effect on the date of the Indenture.
Transfer Restricted Securities: Each Note, until the earliest to occur of
(a) the date on which such Note is exchanged in the Exchange Offer and entitled
to be resold to the public by the Holder thereof without complying with the
prospectus delivery requirements of the Act, (b) the date on which such Note
has been disposed of in accordance with a Shelf Registration Statement, (c) the
date on which such Note is disposed of by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the "Plan
of Distribution" contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
(including delivery of the Prospectus contained therein) or (d) the date on
which such Note is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the
Act.
Underwritten Registration or Underwritten Offering: A registration in
which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to
the public.
SECTION 2. HOLDERS
A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (each,
a "Holder") whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities.
SECTION 3. REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER
(a) Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permitted by applicable
federal law (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below have been
complied with), the Company shall (i) cause to be filed with the Commission as
soon as practicable after the Closing Date, but in no event later than 60 days
after the Closing Date, the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (ii) use its
best efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become
effective at the earliest possible time, but in no event later than 120 days
after the Closing Date, (iii) in connection with the foregoing, (A) file all
pre-effective amendments to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement as may
be necessary in order to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to
become effective, (B) file, if applicable, a
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post-effective amendment to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement
pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act and (C) cause all necessary filings, if
any, in connection with the registration and qualification of the Series B
Notes to be made under the Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as are necessary
to permit Consummation of the Exchange Offer, and (iv) upon the effectiveness
of such Exchange Offer Registration Statement, commence and Consummate the
Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall be on the appropriate form permitting
registration of the Series B Notes to be offered in exchange for the Series A
Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities and to permit sales of
Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities by Restricted Broker-Dealers as
contemplated by Section 3(c) below.
(b) The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement to be effective continuously, and shall keep the
Exchange Offer open for a period of not less than the minimum period required
under applicable federal and state securities laws to Consummate the Exchange
Offer; provided, however, that in no event shall such period be less than 20
Business Days. The Company shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply with all
applicable federal and state securities laws. No securities other than the
Notes shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. The
Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be
Consummated on the earliest practicable date after the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement has become effective, but in no event later than 30
Business Days thereafter.
(c) The Company shall include a "Plan of Distribution" section in the
Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and indicate
therein that any Restricted Broker-Dealer who holds Series A Notes that are
Transfer Restricted Securities and that were acquired for the account of such
Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, may exchange such Series A Notes (other than Transfer Restricted
Securities acquired directly from the Company or any Affiliate of the Company)
pursuant to the Exchange Offer; however, such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be
an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Act and must, therefore, deliver a
prospectus meeting the requirements of the Act in connection with its initial
sale of each Series B Note received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange
Offer, which prospectus delivery requirement may be satisfied by the delivery
by such Broker-Dealer of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement. Such "Plan of Distribution" section shall also contain
all other information with respect to such sales of Broker-Dealer Transfer
Restricted Securities by Restricted Broker-Dealers that the Commission may
require in order to permit such sales pursuant thereto, but such "Plan of
Distribution" shall not name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of
Notes held by any such Broker-Dealer, except to the extent required by the
Commission as a result of a change in policy after the date of this Agreement.
The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as
required by the provisions of Section 6(c) below to the extent necessary to
ensure that it is available for sales of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted
Securities by Restricted Broker-Dealers, and to ensure that such Registration
Statement conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the
policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to
time, for a period of one year from the date on which the Exchange Offer is
Consummated.
The Company shall promptly provide sufficient copies of the latest version
of such Prospectus to such Restricted Broker-Dealers promptly upon request,
and in no event later than one day after such request, at any time during such
one-year period in order to facilitate such sales.
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SECTION 4. SHELF REGISTRATION
(a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Company is not required to file an
Exchange Offer Registration Statement with respect to the Series B Notes
because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or Commission
policy (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below have been
complied with) or (ii) if any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall
notify the Company within 20 Business Days following the Consummation of the
Exchange Offer that (A) such Holder was prohibited by law or Commission policy
from participating in the Exchange Offer or (B) such Holder may not resell the
Series B Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without
delivering a prospectus and the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales by such
Holder or (C) such Holder is a Broker-Dealer and holds Series A Notes acquired
directly from the Company or one of its affiliates, then the Company shall (x)
cause to be filed on or prior to 60 days after the date on which the Company
determines that it is not required to file the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement pursuant to clause (i) above or 60 days after the date on which the
Company receives the notice specified in clause (ii) above a shelf registration
statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act (which may be an amendment to the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement (in either event, the "Shelf Registration
Statement")), relating to all Transfer Restricted Securities the Holders of
which shall have provided the information required pursuant to Section 4(b)
hereof, and shall (y) use its best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration
Statement to become effective on or prior to 120 days after the date on which
the Company becomes obligated to file such Shelf Registration Statement. If,
after the Company has filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement which
satisfies the requirements of Section 3(a) above, the Company is required to
file and make effective a Shelf Registration Statement solely because the
Exchange Offer shall not be permitted under applicable federal law, then the
filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement shall be deemed to satisfy
the requirements of clause (x) above. Such an event shall have no effect on
the requirements of clause (y) above. The Company shall use its best efforts
to keep the Shelf Registration Statement discussed in this Section 4(a)
continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by and subject to
the provisions of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof to the extent necessary to
ensure that it is available for sales of Transfer Restricted Securities by the
Holders thereof entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a), and to ensure
that it conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the
policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to
time, for a period of at least two years (as extended pursuant to Section
6(c)(i)) following the date on which such Shelf Registration Statement first
becomes effective under the Act.
(b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with the
Shelf Registration Statement. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may
include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration
Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to
the Company in writing, within 20 days after receipt of a request therefor,
such information specified in item 507 of Regulation S-K under the Act for use
in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or
preliminary Prospectus included therein. No Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities shall be entitled to Liquidated Damages pursuant to Section 5 hereof
unless and until such Holder shall have used its best efforts to provide all
such information. Each Holder as to which any Shelf Registration Statement is
being effected agrees to furnish promptly to the Company all information
required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished
to the Company by such Holder not materially misleading.
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SECTION 5. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
If (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not filed
with the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such filing in this
Agreement, (ii) any such Registration Statement has not been declared effective
by the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such effectiveness in
this Agreement, (iii) the Exchange Offer has not been Consummated within 30
Business Days after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is first declared
effective by the Commission or (iv) any Registration Statement required by this
Agreement is filed and declared effective but shall thereafter cease to be
effective or fail to be usable for its intended purpose without being succeeded
within fifteen business days by a post-effective amendment to such Registration
Statement that cures such failure and that is itself declared effective within
five business days (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a
"Registration Default"), then the Company agrees to pay liquidated damages to
each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities with respect to the first 90-day
period immediately following the occurrence of such Registration Default, in an
amount equal to $.05 per week per $1,000 principal amount of Transfer
Restricted Securities held by such Holder for each week or portion thereof that
the Registration Default continues. The amount of the liquidated damages shall
increase by an additional $.05 per week per $1,000 in principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities with respect to each subsequent 90-day period
until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum amount of
liquidated damages of $.25 per week per $1,000 principal amount of Transfer
Restricted Securities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth
herein, (1) upon filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or,
if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of (i) above, (2)
upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if
applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of (ii) above, (3)
upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer, in the case of (iii) above, or (4)
upon the filing of a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or
an additional Registration Statement that causes the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration
Statement) to again be declared effective or made usable in the case of (iv)
above, the liquidated damages payable with respect to the Transfer Restricted
Securities as a result of such clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), as applicable,
shall cease.
All accrued liquidated damages shall be paid to the Global Note Holder by
wire transfer of immediately available funds or by federal funds check and to
Holders of Certificated Securities by mailing checks to their registered
addresses on each Damages Payment Date. All obligations of the Company set
forth in the preceding paragraph that are outstanding with respect to any
Transfer Restricted Security at the time such security ceases to be a Transfer
Restricted Security shall survive until such time as all such obligations with
respect to such security shall have been satisfied in full.
SECTION 6. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. In connection with the
Exchange Offer, the Company shall comply with all applicable provisions of
Section 6(c) below, shall use its best efforts to effect such exchange and to
permit the sale of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in
accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and
shall comply with all of the following provisions:
(i) If, following the date hereof, there has been published a change
in Commission policy with respect to exchange offers such as the Exchange
Offer, such that in the reasonable opinion of
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counsel to the Company there is a substantial question as to whether the
Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable federal law, the Company hereby
agrees to seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision from the
Commission allowing the Company to Consummate an Exchange Offer for such
Series A Notes. The Company hereby agrees to pursue the issuance of such a
decision to the Commission staff level. In connection with the foregoing,
the Company hereby agrees to take all such other actions as are reasonably
requested by the Commission or otherwise required in connection with the
issuance of such decision, including without limitation (A) participating in
telephonic conferences with the Commission, (B) delivering to the Commission
staff an analysis prepared by counsel to the Company setting forth the legal
bases, if any, upon which such counsel has concluded that such an Exchange
Offer should be permitted and (C) diligently pursuing a resolution (which
need not be favorable) by the Commission staff of such submission.
(ii) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities shall furnish, upon the request of the Company, prior to the
Consummation of the Exchange Offer, a written representation to the Company
(which may be contained in the letter of transmittal contemplated by the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to the effect that (A) it is not an
affiliate of the Company, (B) it is not engaged in, and does not intend to
engage in, and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to
participate in, a distribution of the Series B Notes to be issued in the
Exchange Offer and (C) it is acquiring the Series B Notes in its ordinary
course of business. Each Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that any
Broker-Dealer and any such Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate in
a distribution of the securities to be acquired in the Exchange Offer (1)
could not under Commission policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement
rely on the position of the Commission enunciated in Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx and Co.,
Inc. (available June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation
(available May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the Commission's letter to
Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and similar no-action letters
(including, if applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause
(i) above), and (2) must comply with the registration and prospectus
delivery requirements of the Act in connection with a secondary resale
transaction and that such a secondary resale transaction must be covered by
an effective registration statement containing the selling security holder
information required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K if
the resales are of Series B Notes obtained by such Holder in exchange for
Series A Notes acquired by such Holder directly from the Company or an
affiliate thereof.
(iii) Prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, the Company shall provide a supplemental letter to the Commission
(A) stating that the Company is registering the Exchange Offer in reliance
on the position of the Commission enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings
Corporation (available May 13, 1988), Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx and Co., Inc.
(available June 5, 1991) and, if applicable, any no-action letter obtained
pursuant to clause (i) above, (B) including a representation that the
Company has not entered into any arrangement or understanding with any
Person to distribute the Series B Notes to be received in the Exchange Offer
and that, to the best of the Company's information and belief, each Holder
participating in the Exchange Offer is acquiring the Series B Notes in its
ordinary course of business and has no arrangement or understanding with any
Person to participate in the distribution of the Series B Notes received in
the Exchange Offer and (C) any other undertaking or representation required
by the Commission as set forth in any no-action letter obtained pursuant to
clause (i) above.
(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, the
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Company shall comply with all the provisions of Section 6(c) below and
shall use its best efforts to effect such registration to permit the sale of
the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in accordance with the intended
method or methods of distribution thereof (as indicated in the information
furnished to the Company pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof), and pursuant thereto
the Company will prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement
relating to the registration on any appropriate form under the Act, which form
shall be available for the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities in
accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof within
the time periods and otherwise in accordance with the provisions hereof.
(c) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration Statement
and any related Prospectus required by this Agreement to permit the sale or
resale of Transfer Restricted Securities (including, without limitation, any
Exchange Offer Registration Statement and the related Prospectus, to the extent
that the same are required to be available to permit sales of Broker-Dealer
Transfer Restricted Securities by Restricted Broker-Dealers), the Company
shall:
(i) use its best efforts to keep such Registration Statement
continuously effective and provide all requisite financial statements for
the period specified in Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement, as applicable.
Upon the occurrence of any event that would cause any such Registration
Statement or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain a material
misstatement or omission or (B) not to be effective and usable for resale of
Transfer Restricted Securities during the period required by this Agreement,
the Company shall file promptly an appropriate amendment to such
Registration Statement, (1) in the case of clause (A), correcting any such
misstatement or omission, and (2) in the case of clauses (A) and (B), use
its best efforts to cause such amendment to be declared effective and such
Registration Statement and the related Prospectus to become usable for their
intended purpose(s) as soon as practicable thereafter.
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and
post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement as may be necessary
to keep the Registration Statement effective for the applicable period set
forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, or such shorter period as will terminate
when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration
Statement have been sold; cause the Prospectus to be supplemented by any
required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant
to Rule 424 under the Act, and to comply fully with Rules 424, 430A and 462,
as applicable, under the Act in a timely manner; and comply with the
provisions of the Act with respect to the disposition of all securities
covered by such Registration Statement during the applicable period in
accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by the
sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to
the Prospectus;
(iii) advise the underwriter(s), if any, and selling Holders promptly
and, if requested by such Persons, confirm such advice in writing, (A) when
the Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has
been filed, and, with respect to any Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective, (B) of
any request by the Commission for amendments to the Registration Statement
or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or for additional information
relating thereto, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Act or
of the suspension by any state securities commission of the qualification of
the Transfer Restricted Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction,
or the initiation of any proceeding for any of the preceding purposes, (D)
of the existence of any fact or the happening of any event that makes any
statement of
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a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any
amendment or supplement thereto or any document incorporated by reference
therein untrue, or that requires the making of any additions to or changes
in the Registration Statement in order to make the statements therein not
misleading, or that requires the making of any additions to or changes in
the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If at any time
the Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement, or any state securities commission or other
regulatory authority shall issue an order suspending the qualification or
exemption from qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under
state securities or Blue Sky laws, the Company shall use its best efforts to
obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible
time;
(iv) furnish to the Initial Purchaser(s), each selling Holder named
in any Registration Statement or Prospectus and each of the underwriter(s)
in connection with such sale, if any, before filing with the Commission,
copies of any Registration Statement or any Prospectus included therein or
any amendments or supplements to any such Registration Statement or
Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference after the
initial filing of such Registration Statement), which documents will be
subject to the review and comment of such Holders and underwriter(s) in
connection with such sale, if any, for a period of at least five Business
Days, and the Company will not file any such Registration Statement or
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any such Registration Statement
or Prospectus (including all such documents incorporated by reference) to
which the selling Holders of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by
such Registration Statement or the underwriter(s) in connection with such
sale, if any, shall reasonably object within five Business Days after the
receipt thereof;
(v) promptly prior to the filing of any document that is to be
incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or Prospectus,
provide copies of such document to the selling Holders and to the
underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, make the Company's
representatives available for discussion of such document and other
customary due diligence matters, and include such information in such
document prior to the filing thereof as such selling Holders or
underwriter(s), if any, reasonably may request;
(vi) make available at reasonable times for inspection by the selling
Holders, any managing underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant
to such Registration Statement and any attorney or accountant retained by
such selling Holders or any of such underwriter(s), all financial and other
records, material corporate documents and properties of the Company and
cause the Company's officers, directors and employees to supply all
information reasonably requested by any such Holder, underwriter, attorney
or accountant in connection with such Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment thereto subsequent to the filing thereof and prior
to its effectiveness;
(vii) if requested by any selling Holders or the underwriter(s) in
connection with such sale, if any, promptly include in any Registration
Statement or Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or post-effective
amendment if necessary, such information as such selling Holders and
underwriter(s), if any, may reasonably request to have included therein,
including, without limitation, information relating to the "Plan of
Distribution" of the Transfer Restricted Securities, information with
respect to the principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities being sold
to such underwriter(s), the purchase price being paid therefor and any other
terms of the offering of the Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold in
such offering; and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement
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or post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company is
notified of the matters to be included in such Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment;
(viii) furnish to each selling Holder and each of the underwriter(s)
in connection with such sale, if any, without charge, at least one copy of
the Registration Statement, as first filed with the Commission, and of each
amendment thereto, including all documents incorporated by reference therein
and all exhibits (including exhibits incorporated therein by reference);
(ix) deliver to each selling Holder and each of the underwriter(s), if
any, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (including each
preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto as such
Persons reasonably may request; the Company hereby consents to the use (in
accordance with law) of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement
thereto by each of the selling Holders and each of the underwriter(s), if
any, in connection with the offering and the sale of the Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;
(x) enter into such agreements (including an underwriting agreement)
and make such representations and warranties and take all such other actions
in connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition
of the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement
contemplated by this Agreement as may be reasonably requested by any Holder
of Transfer Restricted Securities or underwriter in connection with any sale
or resale pursuant to any Registration Statement contemplated by this
Agreement, and in such connection, whether or not an underwriting agreement
is entered into and whether or not the registration is an Underwritten
Registration, the Company shall:
(A) furnish (or in the case of paragraphs (2) and (3), use its best
efforts to furnish) to each selling Holder and each underwriter, if any,
upon the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement and to each
Restricted Broker-Dealer upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer:
(1) a certificate, dated the date of Consummation of the Exchange
Offer or the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration
Statement, as the case may be, signed on behalf of the Company by (x)
the President or any Vice President and (y) a principal financial or
accounting officer of the Company, confirming, as of the date
thereof, the matters set forth in paragraphs (a) through (d) of
Section 8 of the Purchase Agreement and such other similar matters as
the Holders, underwriter(s) and/or Restricted Broker Dealers may
reasonably request;
(2) an opinion, dated the date of Consummation of the Exchange
Offer or the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration
Statement, as the case may be, of counsel for the Company covering
matters similar to those set forth in paragraph (f) of Section 8 of
the Purchase Agreement and such other matters as the Holders,
underwriters and/or Restricted Broker Dealers may reasonably request,
and in any event including a statement to the effect that such
counsel has participated in conferences with officers and other
representatives of the Company, representatives of the independent
public accountants for the Company and have considered the matters
required to be stated therein and the statements contained therein,
although such counsel has not independently verified the accuracy,
completeness or fairness of such statements; and that such counsel
advises that,
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on the basis of the foregoing (relying as to materiality to a large
extent upon facts provided to such counsel by officers and other
representatives of the Company and without independent check or
verification), no facts came to such counsel's attention that caused
such counsel to believe that the applicable Registration Statement,
at the time such Registration Statement or any post-effective
amendment thereto became effective and, in the case of the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement, as of the date of Consummation of the
Exchange Offer, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or that the
Prospectus contained in such Registration Statement as of its date
and, in the case of the opinion dated the date of Consummation of the
Exchange Offer, as of the date of Consummation, contained an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
Without limiting the foregoing, such counsel may state further that
such counsel assumes no responsibility for, and has not indepen-
dently verified, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the
financial statements, notes and schedules and other financial data
included in any Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement
or the related Prospectus; and
(3) a customary comfort letter, dated as of the date of
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement or the date of
Consummation of the Exchange Offer, as the case may be, from the
Company's independent accountants, in the customary form and covering
matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters to
underwriters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, and
affirming the matters set forth in the comfort letters delivered
pursuant to Section 8 of the Purchase Agreement, without exception.
(B) set forth in full or incorporate by reference in the underwriting
agreement, if any, in connection with any sale or resale pursuant to any
Shelf Registration Statement, the indemnification provisions and
procedures of Section 8 hereof with respect to all parties to be
indemnified pursuant to said Section; and
(C) deliver such other documents and certificates as may be reasonably
requested by the selling Holders, the underwriter(s), if any, and
Restricted Broker Dealers, if any, to evidence compliance with clause (A)
above and with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting
agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company pursuant to this
clause (x).
The above shall be done at each closing under such underwriting or similar
agreement, as and to the extent required thereunder, and if at any time the
representations and warranties of the Company contemplated in (A)(1) above
cease to be true and correct, the Company shall so advise the
underwriter(s), if any, the selling Holders and each Restricted
Broker-Dealer promptly and, if requested by such Persons, shall confirm such
advice in writing;
(xi) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted Securities,
cooperate with the selling Holders, the underwriter(s), if any, and their
respective counsel in connection with the registration and qualification of
the Transfer Restricted Securities under the securities or Blue Sky laws of
such
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jurisdictions as the selling Holders or underwriter(s), if any, may request
and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the
disposition in such jurisdictions of the Transfer Restricted Securities
covered by the applicable Registration Statement; provided, however, that
the Company shall not be required to register or qualify as a foreign
corporation where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that
would subject it to the service of process in suits or to taxation, other
than as to matters and transactions relating to the Registration Statement,
in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject;
(xii) issue, upon the request of any Holder of Series A Notes covered
by any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, Series B
Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal
amount of Series A Notes surrendered to the Company by such Holder in
exchange therefor or being sold by such Holder; such Series B Notes to be
registered in the name of such Holder or in the name of the purchaser(s) of
such Notes, as the case may be; in return, the Series A Notes held by such
Holder shall be surrendered to the Company for cancellation;
(xiii) in connection with any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities
that will result in such securities no longer being Transfer Restricted
Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders and the underwriter(s), if
any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates
representing Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold and not bearing any
restrictive legends; and to register such Transfer Restricted Securities in
such denominations and such names as the Holders or the underwriter(s), if
any, may request at least two Business Days prior to such sale of Transfer
Restricted Securities;
(xiv) use its best efforts to cause the disposition of the Transfer
Restricted Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered
with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may
be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof or the underwriter(s),
if any, to consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted
Securities, subject to the proviso contained in clause (xi) above;
(xv) subject to Section 6(c)(i), if any fact or event contemplated by
Section 6(c)(iii)(D) above shall exist or have occurred, prepare a
supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or
related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file
any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the
purchasers of Transfer Restricted Securities, the Prospectus will not
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(xvi) provide a CUSIP number for all Transfer Restricted Securities
not later than the effective date of a Registration Statement covering such
Transfer Restricted Securities and provide the Trustee under the Indenture
with printed certificates for the Transfer Restricted Securities which are
in a form eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company;
(xvii) cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with
the NASD and in the performance of any due diligence investigation by any
underwriter (including any "qualified independent underwriter") that is
required to be retained in accordance with the rules and regulations of the
NASD, and use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to
become effective and approved by such governmental agencies or authorities
as may be necessary to enable the Holders
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e
selling Transfer Restricted Securities to consummate the disposition of such
Transfer Restricted Securities;
(xviii) otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all applicable
rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally available to its
security holders with regard to any applicable Registration Statement, as
soon as practicable, a consolidated earnings statement meeting the
requirements of Rule 158 (which need not be audited) covering a twelve-month
period beginning after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as
such term is defined in paragraph (c) of Rule 158 under the Act);
(xix) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA not later than
the effective date of the first Registration Statement required by this
Agreement and, in connection therewith, cooperate with the Trustee and the
Holders of Notes to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required
for such Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the
TIA; and execute and use its best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute,
all documents that may be required to effect such changes and all other
forms and documents required to be filed with the Commission to enable such
Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner; and
(xx) provide promptly to each Holder upon request each document filed
with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or Section
15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(d) Restrictions on Holders. Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a
Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of the notice referred to in
Section 6(c)(i) or any notice from the Company of the existence of any fact of
the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof, such Holder will forthwith
discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the
applicable Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of
twhe supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xv) hereof,
or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus
may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental
filings that are incorporated by reference in the Prospectus (the "Advice").
If so directed by the Company, each Holder will deliver to the Company (at the
Company's expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such
Holder's possession, of the Prospectus covering such Transfer Restricted
Securities that was current at the time of receipt of either such notice. In
the event the Company shall give any such notice, the time period regarding the
effectiveness of such Registration Statement set forth in Section 3 or 4
hereof, as applicable, shall be extended by the number of days during the
period from and including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to
Section 6(c)(i) or Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof to and including the date when
each selling Holder covered by such Registration Statement shall have received
the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section
6(c)(xv) hereof or shall have received the Advice.
SECTION 7. REGISTRATION EXPENSES
(a) All expenses incident to the Company's performance of or compliance
with this Agreement will be borne by the Company, regardless of whether a
Registration Statement becomes effective, including without limitation: (i) all
registration and filing fees; (ii) all fees and expenses of compliance with
federal securities and state Blue Sky or securities laws; (iii) all expenses of
printing (including printing certificates for the Series B Notes to be issued
in the Exchange Offer and printing of Prospectuses), messenger and delivery
services and telephone; (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel
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for the Company and (other than in connection with the Exchange Offer)
the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; (v) all application and filing
fees in connection with listing the Notes on a national securities exchange or
automated quotation system pursuant to the requirements hereof; and (vi) all
fees and disbursements of independent certified public accountants of the
Company (including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters
required by or incident to such performance).
The Company will, in any event, bear its internal expenses (including,
without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees
performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and
the fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts, retained by the
Company.
(b) In connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company will
reimburse the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities registered pursuant to
the Shelf Registration Statement, for the reasonable fees and disbursements of
not more than one counsel, who shall be chosen by the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities for whose benefit the
Shelf Registration Statement is being prepared in consultation with the
Company.
SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION
Indemnification. (a) The Company agrees, to the extent permitted by law,
to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder and each person, if any, who
controls any Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20
of the Exchange Act, against any and all losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject
under the Act or otherwise, and to reimburse the Holders and such controlling
person or persons, if any, for any legal or other expenses incurred by them in
connection with defending any action, suit or proceeding (including
governmental investigations) as provided in Section 8(c) hereof, insofar as
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions, suits or proceedings
(including governmental investigations) arise out of or are based upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
any Registration Statement, or, if any Registration Statement shall be amended
or supplemented, in the Registration Statement as so amended or supplemented,
or arise out of or are based upon any omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any such untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission which was
made in the Registration Statement or in the Registration Statement as so
amended or supplemented, in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished in writing to the Company by, any Holder expressly for use therein.
The Company's indemnity agreement contained in this Section 8(a), and the
covenants, representations and warranties of the Company contained in this
Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of any person, and the indemnity agreement
contained in this Section 8 shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
The liabilities of the Company in this Section 8(a) are in addition to any
other liabilities of the Company under this Agreement or otherwise.
(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to the extent
permitted by law, to indemnify, hold harmless and reimburse the Company and
each person, if any, who controls the
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Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of
the Exchange Act, to the same extent and upon the same terms as the indemnity
agreement of the Company set forth in Section 8(a) hereof, but only with
respect to alleged untrue statements or omissions made in the Registration
Statement or in the Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented, (if
applicable) in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in
writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein.
The indemnity agreement on the part of each Holder contained in this
Section 8(b) shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of the Company or any other person, and the
indemnity agreement contained in this Section 8(b) shall survive any
termination of this Agreement.
(c) If a claim is made or an action, suit or proceeding (including
governmental investigations) is commenced or threatened against any person as
to which indemnity may be sought under Section 8(a) or 9(b), such person (the
"Indemnified Person") shall notify the person against whom such indemnity may
be sought (the "Indemnifying Person") promptly after any assertion of such
claim threatening to institute an action, suit or proceeding or if such an
action, suit or proceeding is commenced against such Indemnified Person,
promptly after such Indemnified Person shall have been served with a summons or
other first legal process, giving information as to the nature and basis of the
claim. Failure to so notify the Indemnifying Person shall not, however,
relieve the Indemnifying Person from any liability which it may have on account
of the indemnity under Section 8(a) or 8(b) if the Indemnifying Person has not
been prejudiced in any material respect by such failure. Subject to the
immediately succeeding sentence, the Indemnifying Person shall assume the
defense of any such litigation or proceeding, including the employment of
counsel and the payment of all expenses, with such counsel being designated,
subject to the immediately succeeding sentence, in writing by a majority in
principal amount of the Holders in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to
Section 8(b) and by the Company in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to
Section 8(a). Any Indemnified Person shall have the right to participate in
such litigation or proceeding and to retain its own counsel, but the fees and
expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person
unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have
mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to
any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include (x) the
Indemnifying Person and (y) the Indemnified Person and, in the written opinion
of counsel to such Indemnified Person, representation of both parties by the
same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or likely conflicts of
interest between them, in either of which cases the reasonable fees and
expenses of counsel (including disbursements) for such Indemnified Person shall
be reimbursed by the Indemnifying Person to the Indemnified Person. If there
is a conflict as described in clause (ii) above, and the Indemnified Persons
have participated in the litigation or proceeding utilizing separate counsel
whose fees and expenses have been reimbursed by the Indemnifying Person and the
Indemnified Persons, or any of them, are found to be such fees and expenses of
such separate counsel as the Indemnifying Person shall have reimbursed. It is
understood that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any
litigation or proceeding or related litigation or proceedings in the same
jurisdiction as to which the Indemnified Persons are entitled to such separate
representation, be liable under this Agreement for the reasonable fees and
out-of-pocket expenses of more than one separate firm (together with not more
than one appropriate local counsel) for all such Indemnified Persons. Subject
to the next paragraph, all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed by
payment to the Indemnified Persons of such reasonable fees and expenses of
counsel promptly after payment thereof by the Indemnified Persons.
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In furtherance of the requirement above that fees and expenses of any
separate counsel for the Indemnified Persons shall be reasonable, the Holders
and the Company agree that the Indemnifying Person's obligations to pay such
fees and expenses shall be conditioned upon the following:
(1) in case separate counsel is proposed to be retained by the
Indemnified Persons pursuant to clause (ii) of the preceding paragraph,
the Indemnified Persons shall in good faith fully consult with the
Indemnifying Person in advance as to the selection of such counsel;
(2) reimbursable fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be
detailed and supported in a manner reasonably acceptable to the
Indemnifying Person (but nothing herein shall be deemed to require the
furnishing to the Indemnifying Person of any information, including
without limitation, computer print-outs of lawyers' daily time entries, to
the extent that, in the judgment of such counsel, furnishing such
information might reasonably be expected to result in a waiver of any
attorney-client privilege); and
(3) the Company and the Holders shall cooperate in monitoring and
controlling the fees and expenses of separate counsel for Indemnified
Persons for which the Indemnifying Person is liable hereunder, and the
Indemnified Person shall use every reasonable effort to cause such
separate counsel to minimize the duplication of activities as between
themselves and counsel to the Indemnifying Person.
The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any
litigation or proceeding effected without the written consent of the
Indemnifying Person, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final
judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees, subject to the
provisions of this Section 8, to indemnify the Indemnified Person from and
against any loss, damage, liability or expenses by reason of such settlement or
judgment. The Indemnifying Person shall not, without the prior written consent
of the Indemnified Persons, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened
litigation, proceeding or claim in respect of which indemnity has been properly
sought by the Indemnified Persons hereunder, unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release by the claimant of all Indemnified Persons from all
liability with respect to claims which are the subject matter of such
litigation, proceeding or claim.
Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 above
is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnified Person under
this Section 8 above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities
(or actions, suits or proceedings (including governmental investigations) in
respect thereof) referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under this
Section 8 above shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities
(or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative benefits received by the Indemnifying Person on the one hand and
the Indemnified Person on the other from the sale of the Transfer Restricted
Securities. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding
sentence is not permitted by applicable law, then each Indemnifying Person
shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits
but also the relative fault of each Indemnifying Person, if any, on the one
hand and the Indemnified Person on the other in connection with the statements
or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions, suits or proceedings (including governmental investigations) in
respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The
relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether
the
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untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission
or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by
the Company on the one hand or the Holders on the other and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Holders agree that it
would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were
determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one
entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not
take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section
8. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions, suits or proceedings
(including governmental proceedings) in respect thereof) referred to above in
this Section 8 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with investigating
or defending any such action, suits or proceedings (including governmental
proceedings) or claim, provided that the provisions of Section 8 have been
complied with (in all material respects) in respect of any separate counsel for
such Indemnified Person. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no
Holder shall be required to contribute any amount greater than the excess of
the amount by which the total received by such Holder with respect to the sale
of its Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement
exceeds the sum of (A) the amount paid by such Holder for such Transfer
Restricted Securities plus (B) the amount of any damages which such Holder has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The Holders' obligations in this Section 8 to contribute
are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not
joint.
The agreement with respect to contribution contained in this Section 8
hereof shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation
made by or on behalf of the Company or any Holder, and shall survive any
termination of this Agreement.
SECTION 9. RULE 144A
The Company hereby agrees with each Holder, for so long as any Transfer
Restricted Securities remain outstanding and during any period in which the
Company is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act,
to make available, upon request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities, to any Holder or beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted Securities
in connection with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such
Transfer Restricted Securities designated by such Holder or beneficial owner,
the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act in order to permit
resales of such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A.
SECTION 10. UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATIONS
No Holder may participate in any Underwritten Registration hereunder
unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder's Transfer Restricted
Securities on the basis provided in customary underwriting arrangements entered
into in connection therewith and (b) completes and executes all reasonable
questionnaires, powers of attorney, and other documents required under the
terms of such underwriting arrangements.
SECTION 11. SELECTION OF UNDERWRITERS
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For any Underwritten Offering, the investment banker or investment bankers
and manager or managers for any Underwritten Offering that will administer such
offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities included in such offering;
provided, that such investment bankers and managers must be reasonably
satisfactory to the Company. The Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities
included in any such Underwritten Offering shall be responsible for paying all
underwriting or placement fees charged, or costs or expenses incurred, by such
investment bankers and managers in connection with such Underwritten Offering.
Such investment bankers and managers are referred to herein as the
"underwriters."
SECTION 12. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) Remedies. Each Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all
rights provided herein, in the Indenture, the Purchase Agreement or granted by
law, including recovery of liquidated or other damages, will be entitled to
specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company agrees
that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred
by reason of a breach by them of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby
agree to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy
at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company will not, on or after the
date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to its securities
that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement
or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The Company has not
previously entered into any agreement granting any registration rights with
respect to its securities to any Person. The rights granted to the Holders
hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the
rights granted to the holders of the Company's securities under any agreement
in effect on the date hereof.
(c) Adjustments Affecting the Notes. The Company will not take any
action, or voluntarily permit any change to occur, with respect to the Notes
that would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Holders to
Consummate any Exchange Offer.
(d) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be
amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures
from the provisions hereof may not be given unless (i) in the case of Section 5
hereof and this Section 12(d)(i), the Company has obtained the written consent
of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) in the
case of all other provisions hereof, the Company has obtained the written
consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or
consent to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the
rights of Holders whose securities are being tendered pursuant to the Exchange
Offer and that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights of other
Holders whose securities are not being tendered pursuant to such Exchange Offer
may be given by the Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount
of Transfer Restricted Securities subject to such Exchange Offer.
(e) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class
mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier, or
air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(i) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of the
Registrar under the Indenture,
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with a copy to the Registrar under the Indenture; and
(ii) if to the Company:
Fairlane Plaza South, Suite 1100
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
With a copy to:
Xxxxxxx X. XxxXxxxxx, Esq.
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business
Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when
receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next business day, if timely
delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the
address specified in the Indenture.
(f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties,
including without limitation and without the need for an express assignment,
subsequent Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided, however, that
this Agreement shall not inure to the benefit of or be binding upon a successor
or assign of a Holder unless and to the extent such successor or assign
acquired Transfer Restricted Securities directly from such Holder.
(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(i) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE
CONFLICT OF LAW RULES THEREOF.
(j) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions
contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions
contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
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(k) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a
final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive
statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect
of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises,
warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein
with respect to the registration rights granted with respect to the Transfer
Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
CMS ENERGY CORPORATION
By: /s/ A.M. Xxxxxx
_______________________________
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Senior Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
XXXXXXXXX, XXXXXX & XXXXXXXX
SECURITIES CORPORATION
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
CIBC XXXXXXXXXXX CORP.
XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED
SALOMON BROTHERS INC
By: XXXXXXXXX, XXXXXX & XXXXXXXX
SECURITIES CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
_______________________________
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Senior Vice President
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