EXHIBIT 4.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXECUTION COPY
NOTES REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of January 15, 1998
by and among
Centennial Communications Corp.
and
Salomon Brothers Inc
Prudential Securities Incorporated
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Notes Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and
---------
entered into as of January 15, 1998, by and among Centennial Communications
Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), Salomon Brothers Inc and
-------
Prudential Securities Incorporated (each an "Initial Purchaser" and,
-----------------
collectively, the "Initial Purchasers").
------------------
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated January
12, 1998, (the "Purchase Agreement"), by and among the Company and the Initial
------------------
Purchasers, relating to, among other things, the agreement of the Company to
sell, and the agreement of the Initial Purchasers to purchase (the "Initial
-------
Placement"), the Company's 40,000 units (the "Units"), each Unit consisting of
--------- -----
$1,000 in principal amount at maturity of 14% Series A Senior Discount Notes due
2005 of the Company (each, a "Series A Notes" and collectively, the "Series A
-------------- --------
Notes") and one warrant to purchase 64 shares of common stock (the "Common
----- ------
Stock"), par value $.01 per share, of the Company. Under certain circumstances
contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, on or prior to February 13, 1998, the
Company may issue and sell to the Initial Purchasers up to an additional 20,000
Units, each Unit consisting of $1,000 in principal amount at maturity of Series
A Notes and one warrant to purchase 64 shares of Common Stock of the Company.
To the extent that any additional Series A Notes are issued under the
circumstances contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, such additional Series A
Notes shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as "Series A Notes" issued
on January 15, 1998. In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to purchase the
Units, 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 as set forth in Section 7 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 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).
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.
Damages Payment Date: With respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities,
--------------------
each Interest Payment Date.
Definitive Notes: As defined in the Indenture.
----------------
Effectiveness Target Date: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
-------------------------
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, as such rule may be amended from
time to time, in transactions under Rule 144A.
Global Noteholder: The Depository Trust Company or its nominee.
-----------------
Holders: As defined in Section 2 hereof.
-------
Indemnified Holder: As defined in Section 8(a) hereof.
------------------
Indenture: The Indenture, dated the Closing Date, between the Company and
---------
State Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee (the "Trustee"), 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.
---------------------
2
NASD: National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
----
Notes: The Series A Notes and the Series B Notes.
-----
Offering Memorandum: As defined in the Purchase Agreement.
-------------------
Participating Broker-Dealer: Any Broker-Dealer which holds Broker-Dealer
---------------------------
Transfer Restricted Securities.
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.
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.
Series B Notes: The Company's 14% Series B Senior Discount Notes due 2005
--------------
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 effectively registered under the Act and has been disposed of in accordance
with the Shelf Registration Statement, (c) following the exchange by a Broker-
Dealer in the Exchange Offer of a Series A Note for a Series B Note, the date on
which such Series B Note is
3
disposed of by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the "Plan of Distribution" contained
in 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 the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement with the Commission on or prior to the earlier to occur of (A) an
offering of securities of the Company pursuant to which the Company is
thereafter subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and (B) 300
days after the Closing Date (such date to be the "Filing Date"), (ii) use its
best efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be declared
effective at the earliest possible time, but in no event later than 60 days
after the Filing 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 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 Participating
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 unless a
longer period is required under applicable federal and state securities laws.
4
(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 Participating 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 Participating 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 law or 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 Participating 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 180 days from the date on which the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement became effective under the Act.
The Company shall promptly provide sufficient copies of the latest version
of such Prospectus to such Participating 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.
5
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 or
permitted to Consummate the Exchange Offer 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 prior to the 20th day
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 use its best efforts to (x) cause to be filed
on or prior to 30 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 30 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 (y) cause
such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission on
or prior to 90 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(d)) following the date on which such Shelf Registration
Statement first becomes effective under the Act or such shorter period ending
when all of the Transfer Restricted Securities available for sale thereunder
have been sold.
(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 15 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 provided all such information. Each Holder as to which
any Shelf Registration Statement is being effected agrees to furnish
6
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.
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 (the "Effectiveness Target Date"), (iii) the Exchange Offer has
-------------------------
not been Consummated within 30 Business Days after the Effectiveness Target Date
or such longer period as is required under applicable federal or state
securities laws with respect to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement 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 immediately by a post-effective
amendment to such Registration Statement that cures such failure and that is
itself declared effective immediately (each such event referred to in clauses
(i) through (iv), a "Registration Default"), then the Company hereby 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 at maturity 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 at maturity 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 $.50 per week
per $1,000 principal amount at maturity 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 Definitive Notes 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.
7
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 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 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
8
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 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 Participating 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
9
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 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 under
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. A selling Holder or
underwriter, if any, shall be deemed to have reasonably objected to such
filing if such Registration Statement, amendment, Prospectus or supplement,
as applicable, as proposed to be filed, contains a material misstatement or
omission or fails to comply with the applicable requirements of the Act;
10
(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, pertinent 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 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
11
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 to each selling Holder and each underwriter, if any, upon
the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement and to each
Participating 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 Exhibit A hereto and such other similar
matters as the Holders, underwriter(s) and/or Participating 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 7 of the Purchase
Agreement and such other matter as the Holders, underwriters and/or
Participating 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 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 is not passing upon
and does not assume any responsibility for and has not verified the
accuracy, completeness or fairness of such statements, and has not made
any independent check or verification thereof; and that such counsel
advises that, on the basis of the foregoing (relying as to materiality
to the extent such counsel deems appropriate upon facts provided by
officers and other representatives of the Company), 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 (it being understood that such counsel need
express no belief or opinion with respect to the financial statements
and schedules and other financial and statistical data included in any
Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement or the related
Prospectus); and
12
(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 7(l) of the Purchase Agreement, without exception;
(B) set forth in full or incorporated 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
Participating 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 Participating 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 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
13
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 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 in respect of any Registration
Statement, 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
14
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
the 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 and expenses (including filings made by any Holder
with the NASD (and, if applicable, the fees and expenses of any "qualified
independent underwriter") and its counsel that may be required by the rules and
regulations of the NASD); (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 for the Company and
counsel for the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities as provided in Section
7(b); (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.
15
(b) In connection with any Registration Statement required by this
Agreement (including, without limitation, the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement and the Shelf Registration Statement), the Company will reimburse the
Purchasers and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities being tendered in
the Exchange Offer and/or resold pursuant to the "Plan of Distribution"
contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or registered pursuant to
the Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable, 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 such Registration Statement is being prepared.
16
SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless (i) each Initial
Purchaser, (ii) each Holder, (iii) each person, if any, who controls (within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) any Initial
Purchaser or Holder (any of the persons referred to in this clause (iii) being
hereinafter referred to as a "controlling person") and (iv) the respective
officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives and agents of any
Initial Purchaser or Holder or any controlling person (any person referred to in
clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) may hereinafter be referred to as an
"Indemnified Holder"), to the fullest extent lawful, from and against any and
-------------------
all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, actions and expenses
(including without limitation and as incurred, reimbursement of all reasonable
costs of investigating, preparing, pursuing or defending any claim or action, or
any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or
threatened, including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to any
Indemnified Holder) directly or indirectly caused by, related to, based upon,
arising out of or in connection with any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement,
preliminary prospectus or Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto),
or 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 expenses are
caused by an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or
omission that is made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
relating to any of the Initial Purchasers or the Holders furnished in writing to
the Company by any of the Initial Purchasers or Holders expressly for use
therein. The Company also agrees to reimburse each Indemnified Holder for any
and all fees and expenses (including, without limitation, the fees and expenses
of counsel) as they are incurred in connection with enforcing such Indemnified
Holder's rights under this Agreement (including, without limitation, its rights
under this Section 8).
17
In case any action or proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory
investigation or proceeding) shall be brought or asserted against any of the
Indemnified Holders with respect to which indemnity may be sought against the
Company, such Indemnified Holder (or the Indemnified Holder controlled by such
controlling person) shall promptly notify the Company in writing (provided, that
the failure to give such notice shall not relieve the Company of its obligations
pursuant to this Agreement). Such Indemnified Holder shall have the right to
employ its own counsel in any such action and the fees and expenses of such
counsel shall be paid, as incurred, by the Company (regardless of whether it is
ultimately determined that an Indemnified Holder is not entitled to
indemnification hereunder). The Company shall not, in connection with any one
such action or proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related
actions or proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general
allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of
more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) at
any time for such Indemnified Holders, which firm shall be designated by the
Indemnified Holders. The Company shall be liable for any settlement of any such
action or proceeding effected with the Company's prior written consent, which
consent shall not be withheld unreasonably, and the Company agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless each Indemnified Holder from and against any loss, claim,
damage, liability or expense by reason of any settlement of any action effected
with the written consent of the Company. The Company shall not, without the
prior written consent of each Indemnified Holder, settle or compromise or
consent to the entry of judgment in or otherwise seek to terminate any pending
or threatened action, claim, litigation or proceeding in respect of which
indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not any
Indemnified Holder is a party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise,
consent or termination includes an unconditional release of each Indemnified
Holder from all liability arising out of such action, claim, litigation or
proceeding.
(b) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agrees, severally and
not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its respective
directors, officers, and any person controlling (within the meaning of Section
15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) the Company, and the respective
officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives and agents of each
such person, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to
each of the Indemnified Holders, but only with respect to claims and actions
based on information relating to such Holder furnished in writing by such Holder
expressly for use in any Registration Statement. In case any action or
proceeding shall be brought against the Company or its directors or officers or
any such controlling person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against
a Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, such Holder shall have the rights
and duties given the Company, and the Company, such directors or officers or
such controlling person shall have the rights and duties given to each Holder by
the preceding paragraph. In no event shall any Holder be liable or responsible
for any amount in excess of the amount by which the total received by such
Holder with respect to its sale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a
Registration Statement exceeds (i) the amount paid by such Holder for such
Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) 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.
(c) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable
to an indemnified party under Section 8(a) or Section 8(b) hereof (other than by
reason of exceptions provided in those Sections) in respect of any losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein,
18
then each applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such
indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits
received by such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified
party, on the other hand, from the Initial Placement and the sale of Transfer
Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement or if
such allocation is not permitted by applicable law, the relative fault of such
indemnifying party, on the one hand, and of such indemnified party, on the other
hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company shall be
deemed to be equal to the sum of (i) the total proceeds from the Initial
Placement (net of the Initial Purchasers' commissions, but before deducting
expenses) as set forth on the cover page of the Offering Memorandum and (ii) 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, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses. The
relative benefits of the Initial Purchasers shall be deemed to be equal to the
total purchase discounts and commissions as set forth on the cover page of the
Offering Memorandum and benefits received by any other Indemnified Holders shall
be deemed to be equal to the value of receiving the Notes registered under the
Act. The relative fault of such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and of such
indemnified party, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by such indemnifying party or by such indemnified party and
the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity
to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company, the Initial Purchasers and each Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this Section 8(c) 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 in the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable
by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities
or expenses referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed
to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Section 8, no Initial Purchaser or its related Indemnified
Holders shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess
of the amount equal to (A) the amount of the total purchase discounts and
commissions applicable to such Transfer Restricted Securities less (B) any
amount paid or contributed by any Initial Purchaser under the Purchase
Agreement; nor shall any Holder or its related Indemnified Holders be required
to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in 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 obligations of the
Initial Purchasers and the Holders to contribute pursuant to this Section 8(c)
are several in proportion to the respective
19
principal amount of Series A Notes held by each of the Holders hereunder and not
joint.
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
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. Such
investment bankers and managers are referred to herein as the "underwriters."
20
SECTION 12. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) Remedies. Each Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all
--------
rights provided herein, in the Indenture 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. Except as disclosed in the
Offering Memorandum, 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), 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, with a copy to the Registrar under the
Indenture; and
(ii) if to the Company:
Centennial Communications Corp.
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
00
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
With a copy to:
Holland & Xxxx LLP
000 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Esq.
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.
(k) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a
----------------
final expression of
22
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.
23
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
Centennial Communications Corp.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Chief Financial Officer
Salomon Brothers Inc
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Title: Vice President
Prudential Securities Incorporated
By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxx
----------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxx
Title: Managing Director
EXHIBIT A
(a) No stop order suspending the qualification or exemption from
qualification of the Notes in any jurisdiction referred to in Section 6(c)(xi)
of the Note Registration Rights Agreement shall have been issued and no
proceeding for that purpose shall have been commenced or shall be pending,
threatened or, to the Company's knowledge, contemplated.
(b) (i) No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation
or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any governmental agency
that would as of the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer or the date of
the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, prevent the issuance or
sale of the Notes; (ii) no injunction, restraining order or order of any nature
by a federal or state court of competent jurisdiction shall have been issued as
of the date of the Consummation of the Exchange Offer or the date of the
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, that
would prevent the issuance or sale of the Notes; and (iii) on the date of the
Consummation of the Exchange Offer or the date of the effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration Statement, as the case may be, no action suit or proceeding shall
be pending against or affecting or threatened against the Company or any of its
respective subsidiaries before any court or arbitrator or any governmental body,
agency or official that, if adversely determined, would individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
(c) (i) Since the date of the latest balance sheet in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable, there
shall not have been any material adverse change, or any development involving,
or which could reasonably be expected to involve a prospective material adverse
change, in the condition (financial or other), business, properties, prospects,
net worth or results of operations, whether or not arising in the ordinary
course of business of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (ii)
since the date of the latest balance sheet included in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable, there
shall not have been any material change, or any development that is reasonably
likely to result in a material change, in the capital stock or in the long-term
debt, or material increase in short-term debt, of the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except for that set forth in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable and (iii)
neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have any liability or
obligation, direct or contingent, which is material to the Company, except as
set forth in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration
Statement.
25
