REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Exhibit 4.2
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the “Agreement” ) is made and entered into as of November
22, 2006 between RARE Hospitality International, Inc., a Georgia
corporation (the “Company”) and
the several initial purchasers (the “Initial Purchasers”) named in Schedule A to the
Purchase Agreement (as defined below), for whom Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC is acting as
representative (the “Representative”).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated November 16, 2006 (the
“Purchase Agreement”), between the Company as issuer of the 2.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026
(the “Notes”) and the Initial Purchasers, which provides for, among other things, the sale of the
Notes by the Company to the Initial Purchasers.
In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company
has agreed to provide to the Initial Purchasers and their respective direct and indirect
transferees the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution of this Agreement
is a condition to the closing under the Purchase Agreement.
In consideration of the foregoing, the Company agrees with the Initial Purchasers (i) for
their benefit as Initial Purchasers and (ii) for the benefit of the Holders (as defined below) from
time to time of Registrable Securities (as defined below):
1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the respective
meanings ascribed to them in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following
capitalized defined terms shall have the following meanings:
“Additional Interest” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(e) hereof.
“Advice” shall have the meaning set forth in the last paragraph of Section 3 hereof.
“Announcement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(ii) hereof.
“Affiliate” has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 under the Securities Act or
any successor rule thereunder.
“Automatic Shelf Registration Statement” shall mean a registration statement filed by a
Well-Known Seasoned Issuer which shall become effective upon filing thereof pursuant to General
Instruction I.D of Form S-3.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day on which banking
institutions in New York, New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to remain
closed.
“Common Stock” means the shares of common stock, no par value, of the Company, potentially
issuable upon conversion of the Notes.
“Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement and also includes
the Company’s successors and permitted assigns.
“Closing Date” shall mean each Closing Date as defined in the Purchase Agreement.
“Effective Date” shall mean the date the initial Shelf Registration Statement becomes
effective or, in the case of designation of an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement as the Shelf
Registration Statement, the date a Prospectus is first made available thereunder for use by the
Holders.
“Effectiveness Deadline” shall mean (i) for purposes of Section 2(a)(i) hereof, the
180th day following the Issue Date, (ii) for purposes of the filing of any
post-effective amendment pursuant to Section 2(a)(iii) hereof, the 30th day after the
obligation to make such filing arises, (iii) for purposes of the filing of any Shelf Registration
Statement pursuant to Section 2(a)(iii) hereof, the 60th day after the obligation to
make such filing arises, and (iv) for purposes of any filing made pursuant to Section 2(a)(iv)
hereof, the fifteenth Business Day after the obligation to make such filing arises.
“Effectiveness Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(iv) hereof.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
“Filing Deadline” shall mean (i) for purposes of Section 2(a)(i) hereof, March 31, 2007 and
(ii) for purposes of Section 2(a)(iii) hereof, the tenth Business Day after the date of receipt by
the Company of the information specified therein (or, if a Suspension Period is then in effect or
initiated within five Business Days following the date of receipt of such information, the
fifteenth Business Day following the end of such Suspension Period).
“Holder” shall mean each Initial Purchaser, for so long as such Initial Purchaser owns any
Registrable Securities, and each of such Initial Purchaser’s respective successors, assigns and
direct and indirect transferees who become registered owners of Registrable Securities.
"Indenture” shall mean the Indenture relating to the Securities, dated as of November 22,
2006, between the Company and the Trustee, pursuant to which the Notes are being issued, and in
accordance with which the Common Stock may be issued, as the same may be amended, supplemented,
waived or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
“Initial Purchasers” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Inspectors” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(l) hereof.
“Issue Date” shall mean November 22, 2006, the date of original issuance of the Notes.
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“Majority Holders” shall mean the Holders collectively holding a majority of the aggregate
principal amount of outstanding Notes or the number of shares of outstanding Common Stock, as the
context requires.
“Notes” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Person” shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation, trust or unincorporated
organization, limited liability corporation, or a government or agency or political subdivision
thereof.
“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in a Shelf Registration Statement, including
any preliminary prospectus, any issuer “free writing prospectus,” as such term is defined in Rule
433 under the Securities Act, and any such prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus
supplement, including a prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any
portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other
amendments and supplements to a prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and, in each case,
including all documents incorporated by reference therein.
“Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Questionnaire” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(ii) hereof.
“Records” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(l) hereof.
“Registrable Securities” shall mean the Notes and the Common Stock; provided, however, that
(i) the Notes shall cease to be Registrable Securities upon the earlier of (1) a Shelf Registration
Statement with respect thereto for the resale of the Notes having been declared effective under the
Securities Act and such Notes having been disposed of pursuant to such Shelf Registration
Statement, (2) such Notes having become eligible to be sold without restriction as contemplated by
Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act by a Person who is not an Affiliate of the Company, or (3)
such Notes having ceased to be outstanding, and (ii) the Common Stock shall cease to be Registrable
Securities upon the earlier of (1) a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Common Stock
for the resale thereof having been declared effective under the Securities Act and such Common
Stock having been disposed of pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, (2) such Common Stock
having become eligible to be sold without restriction as contemplated by Rule 144(k) under the
Securities Act by a Person who is not an Affiliate of the Company, or (3) such Common Stock having
ceased to be outstanding.
“Registration Expenses” shall mean any and all expenses incident to performance of or
compliance by the Company with this Agreement, including without limitation: (i) all SEC or
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “NASD”) registration and filing fees, (ii)
all fees and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities or blue sky laws
(including reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for all underwriters or Holders as a
group in connection with blue sky qualification of any of the Registrable Securities) and
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compliance by the Company with the rules of the NASD, (iii) all expenses of any Persons in
preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing, printing, duplicating, and distributing any
Shelf Registration Statement, any Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, and in
preparing or assisting in preparing, printing, duplicating, and distributing any underwriting
agreements, securities sales agreements and other documents relating to the performance of and
compliance with this Agreement, of one counsel for the Holder in connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, (iv) all rating agency fees, (v) the fees and disbursements of counsel for
the Company, of one counsel for the Holders in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement and
of the independent certified public accountants of the Company, including the expenses of any “cold
comfort” letters required by or incident to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement,
and (vi) the reasonable fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the Company in
connection with the Shelf Registration Statement.
“SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities” shall mean the Notes and the Common Stock.
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
“Shelf Registration” shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
“Shelf Registration Statement” shall mean a “shelf” registration statement of the Company
pursuant to the provisions of Section 2(a) hereof, which covers all or any portion of the
Registrable Securities, on Form S-3 (including an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement) or, if
not then available to the Company, on another appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Securities
Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such
registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus
contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all documents incorporated by reference therein.
“Suspension Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(iv).
“Trustee” shall mean the trustee with respect to the Notes under the Indenture.
“Well-Known Seasoned Issuer” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities
Act.
2. Registration Under the Securities Act.
(a) Shelf Registration.
(i) The Company shall file or cause to be filed (or otherwise designate an existing Automatic
Shelf Registration Statement previously filed with the SEC as) a Shelf Registration Statement
providing for the sale by the Holders of all of the Registrable Securities, as promptly as
reasonably practicable but in any event on or prior to the Filing Deadline. If the Shelf
Registration Statement is not an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement, the Company
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shall use its reasonable best efforts to have such Shelf Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC as
promptly as reasonably practicable after filing thereof, but in any event on or prior to the
Effectiveness Deadline
(ii) Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, no Holder of Registrable Securities shall be
entitled to include any of its Registrable Securities in any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant
to this Agreement unless and until such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by all of the
provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder and the Holder furnishes to the Company a
fully completed notice and questionnaire in the form attached as Appendix A to the Offering
Memorandum (the “Questionnaire”) and such other information in writing as the Company may
reasonably request in writing for use in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement or
Prospectus included therein and in any application to be filed with or under state securities laws.
The Company shall issue a press release through Dow Xxxxx & Company, Inc. or Bloomberg Business
News or publish the information in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of New York (the
“Announcement”) of its filing (or intention to designate an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement)
of the Shelf Registration Statement and either the anticipated Effective Date thereof or the
anticipated filing date of a supplement to the Prospectus to cover resales of the Registrable
Securities by the Holders (the “Initial Questionnaire Deadline”). In order to be named as a
selling securityholder in the Prospectus at the time it is first made available for use, each
Holder must furnish the completed Questionnaire and such other information that the Company may
reasonably request in writing, if any, to the Company in writing no later than the tenth Business
Day prior to the anticipated Initial Questionnaire Deadline as announced in the Announcement. Each
Holder as to which any Shelf Registration is being effected agrees to furnish to the Company from
time to time all information with respect to such Holder necessary to make the information
previously furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially misleading.
(iii) From and after the Initial Questionnaire Deadline, upon receipt of a completed
Questionnaire and such other information that the Company may reasonably request in writing, if
any, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to file as promptly as reasonably practicable
but in any event on or prior to the Filing Deadline either (i) if then permitted by the Securities
Act or the rules and regulations thereunder (or then-current SEC interpretations thereof), a
supplement to the Prospectus naming such Holder as a selling securityholder and containing such
other information as necessary to permit such Holder to deliver the Prospectus to purchasers of the
Holder’s Registrable Securities, or (ii) if it is not then permitted under the Securities Act or
the rules and regulations thereunder (or then-current SEC interpretations thereof) to name such
Holder as a selling securityholder in a supplement to the Prospectus, a post-effective amendment to
the Shelf Registration Statement or an additional Shelf Registration Statement as necessary for
such Holder to be named as a selling securityholder in the Prospectus contained therein to permit
such Holder to deliver the Prospectus to purchasers of the Holder’s Securities (subject, in the
case of either clause (i) or clause (ii), to the Company’s right to suspend use of the Shelf
Registration Statement as described in Section 2(a)(iv) hereof). If a post-effective amendment or
additional Shelf Registration Statement is required to be filed, the Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to have such post-effective amendment or additional Shelf Registration
Statement declared effective by the SEC as promptly as reasonably practicable after filing thereof,
but in any event
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on or prior to the Effectiveness Deadline. Upon giving written notice to the
Holders of Registrable Securities, the Company shall be permitted to suspend sales under the Shelf
Registration Statement until the post-effective amendment or additional Shelf Registration
Statement is declared effective by the SEC. However, any days after the 15th
consecutive day that sales are suspended pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence shall count towards the
30-day and 90-day aggregate limits on Suspension Periods addressed in Section 2(a)(iv) below. The
Company shall not be required to file more than (A) three supplements to the Prospectus in any
fiscal quarter for all such Holders or (b) three post-effective amendments or additional Shelf
Registration Statements in any 180-day period for all such Holders.
(iv) The Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration
Statement continuously effective and the Prospectus usable for resales until there are no
Registrable Securities outstanding (the “Effectiveness
Period”); provided, however, that for 45
days or less (whether or not consecutive) in any three-month period, and for 135 days or less
(whether or not consecutive) in any 12-month period, the Company shall be permitted, by giving
written notice to the Holders of Registrable Securities, to suspend sales thereof if the Shelf
Registration Statement is no longer effective or usable for resales due to circumstances relating
to pending developments, filings with the SEC and similar events, or because the Prospectus
contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make statements therein not misleading (any period of
suspension hereunder, a “Suspension
Period”). If any Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be
effective or usable for resales by Holders for any reason (other than by reason of any such
Holder’s failure to provide a Questionnaire, in which case the provisions of Section 2(a)(ii) or
2(a)(iii) hereof shall apply) at any time during the Effectiveness Period, subject to the existence
of a Suspension Period as described in the proviso contained in the immediately preceding sentence,
the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to promptly cause such Shelf Registration
Statement to become effective under the Securities Act, and in any event shall, within ten Business
Days of such cessation of effectiveness or usability, (i) file with the SEC one or more supplements
to the Prospectus, post-effective amendments or reports under the Exchange Act in a manner
reasonably expected to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such
Shelf Registration Statement, or (ii) file with the SEC an additional Shelf Registration Statement.
If a post-effective amendment or an additional Shelf Registration Statement is filed, the Company
shall use its reasonable best efforts to (A) cause such post-effective amendment or Shelf
Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act as promptly as reasonably
practicable after such filing, but in no event later than the applicable Effectiveness Deadline,
and (B) keep such post-effective amendment or Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective
until the end of the Effectiveness Period.
(v) If the Shelf Registration Statement is not an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement, the
Company shall not permit any securities other than the Registrable Securities to be included in the
Shelf Registration. The Company will provide to each Holder named therein a reasonable number of
copies of the Prospectus which is a part of the Shelf Registration Statement, notify each such
Holder of the Effective Date and take such other actions as are required to permit unrestricted
resales of the Registrable Securities by such Holder. The Company further agrees to supplement or
amend the Shelf Registration Statement or supplement the Prospectus if and as required by the
rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the
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registration form used by the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the Securities Act or by any other rules and regulations
thereunder for shelf registrations, and the Company agrees to furnish to the Holders of Registrable
Securities copies of any such supplement or amendment as promptly as reasonably practicable after
its being used or filed with the SEC.
(b) Listing. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to maintain the approval of
the Common Stock for listing on The NASDAQ Global Select Market.
(c) Expenses. The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with any Shelf
Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof (including the reasonable fees and
disbursements of Fried, Frank, Harris, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP, as counsel for the Holders of the
Registrable Securities in connection with the review of any Shelf Registration Statement,
Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(a)
hereof). Except as provided herein, each Holder shall pay all expenses of its counsel, underwriting
discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such
Holder’s Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.
(d) Effective Shelf Registration Statement. If, after the Effective Date the offering of
Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement is interfered with by any stop
order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or any other governmental agency or
court, such Shelf Registration Statement will be deemed not to have been effective during the
period of such interference, until the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf
Registration Statement may legally resume.
(e) Additional Interest. In the event that:
(i) a Shelf Registration Statement is not filed with the SEC or designated as such by the
Company on or prior to March 31, 2007, then additional interest
(“Additional Interest”) shall
accrue on the principal amount of the Notes at a rate equal to 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day
period from the day following such Filing Deadline, and thereafter at a rate per annum of 0.50% of
the principal amount of the Notes;
(ii) (x) a Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective by the SEC, or (y) if the
Company shall have designated a previously filed and effective Automatic Shelf Registration
Statement as the Shelf Registration Statement for purposes of this Agreement, the Company shall not
have filed a supplement to the Prospectus to cover resales of the Registrable Notes by the Holders,
in the case of either (x) or (y), on or prior to the Effectiveness Deadline pursuant to Section
2(a)(i), then Additional Interest shall accrue on the principal amount of the Securities at a rate
equal to 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period from the day following such Effectiveness
Deadline, and thereafter at a rate per annum of 0.50% of the principal amount of the Notes;
(iii) following the Effective Date, a Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective
(without being succeeded immediately by an additional Shelf Registration Statement that is filed
and immediately becomes effective) or usable for the offer and sale of the Registrable Securities,
other than (x) in connection with a Suspension Period or (y) as a result of
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a requirement to file a post-effective amendment or supplement to the Prospectus to make changes to the information
regarding selling securityholders or the plan of distribution provided for therein, and the Company
does not cure the lapse of effectiveness or usability within ten Business Days (or, if a Suspension
Period is then in effect, within ten Business Days following the expiration of such Suspension
Period) by a post-effective amendment, prospectus supplement or report filed pursuant to the
Exchange Act, then Additional Interest shall accrue on the
principal amount of the Notes at a rate equal to 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period from
the day following such tenth Business Day, and thereafter at a rate per annum of 0.50% of the
principal amount of the Notes; provided, that if the Suspension Period or Periods exceed 45 days in
any three-month period or 135 days in any 12-month period, then, commencing with the
46th day in such three-month period or the 136th day in such 12-month period,
as the case may be, Additional Interest shall accrue on the principal amount of the Notes at a rate
equal to 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period from the day following the 45th or
135th day, as the case may be, and thereafter at a rate per annum of 0.50% of the
principal amount of the Notes; or
(iv) the Company fails to name as a selling securityholder any Holder that had complied timely
with its obligations hereunder in a manner to entitle such Holder to be so named in (A) any Shelf
Registration Statement, or any amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement, at the time it first
becomes effective or (B) any Prospectus at the later of time of filing thereof, or the time the
Shelf Registration Statement or amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement of which the
Prospectus forms a part becomes effective, then Additional Interest will accrue on the principal
amount of Notes held by such Holder at a rate equal to 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period
from the day following the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement or the time of
filing of such Prospectus, as the case may be, and thereafter at a rate per annum of 0.50% of the
principal amount of the Securities held by such Notes;
provided, however, that in no event shall Additional Interest pursuant to all of the provisions
described above at any one time accrue at a rate per annum exceeding 0.50% of the principal amount
of the Notes; and provided further that Additional Interest on the principal amount of the Notes as
a result thereof shall cease to accrue:
(1) upon the filing or designation of a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of clause
(i) above);
(2) upon the Effective Date (in the case of clause (ii) above);
(3) upon such time as the Shelf Registration Statement which had ceased to remain effective or
usable for resales again becomes effective and usable for resales (in the case of clause (iv)
above);
(4) upon the time such Holder is permitted to sell its Registrable Securities pursuant to any
Shelf Registration Statement and Prospectus in accordance with applicable law (in the case of
clause (iv) above); or
(5) such Securities cease to be Registrable Securities.
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Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to Section 2(e) will be payable in cash on the
next succeeding regular interest payment date for the Notes to Holders entitled to receive such
Additional Interest on the relevant record dates for the payment of interest on such Notes.
Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, in no event shall Additional Interest accrue
to holders of Common Stock issued upon conversion of Notes. If any Note ceases to be
outstanding during any period for which Additional Interest are accruing, the Company will prorate
the Additional Interest payable with respect to such Note.
(f) Specific Enforcement. Without limiting the remedies available to the Holders, the Company
acknowledges that any failure by it to comply with its obligations under Section 2(a) hereof may
result in material irreparable injury to the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law,
that it would not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event
of any such failure, any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce
the Company’s obligations under Section 2(a) hereof.
3. Registration Procedures. In connection with the obligations of the Company with respect to
the Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof, the Company shall use its best
efforts to:
(a) prepare and file with the SEC or designate a Shelf Registration Statement as prescribed
by Section 2(a)(i) hereof within the relevant time period specified in Section 2(a)(i) hereof on
the appropriate form under the Securities Act, which filing shall (i) be selected by the Company,
(ii) be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the selling Holders thereof, and
(iii) comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and
include all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith; the Company shall use
its reasonable best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to become effective and
remain effective and the Prospectus usable for resales in accordance with Section 2 hereof;
provided, however, that, before filing any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or any
amendments or supplements thereto, the Company shall furnish to and afford the Holders of the
Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement, their counsel and the managing
underwriters, if any, a reasonable opportunity to review copies of all such documents (excluding
copies of any documents to be incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits thereto) proposed
to be filed; and the Company shall not file any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or any
amendments or supplements thereto in respect of which the Holders must be afforded an opportunity
to review prior to the filing of such document if the Majority Holders, their counsel or the
managing underwriters, if any, shall reasonably object in a timely manner;
(b) subject to Section 2, prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective
amendments to the Shelf Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Shelf Registration
Statement effective for the Effectiveness Period, and cause each Prospectus to be supplemented, if
so determined by the Company or requested by the SEC, by any required prospectus supplement and as
so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force) under
the Securities Act, and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder
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applicable to it with respect to the disposition of
all securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement during the Effectiveness Period in
accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by the selling Holders thereof
described in this Agreement and the Questionnaire;
(c) (i) furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities included in the Shelf Registration
Statement and to each underwriter of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, if any,
without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, including each preliminary prospectus, and
any amendment or supplement thereto, and such other documents as such Holder or underwriter may
reasonably request, in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable
Securities and (ii) consent to the use of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by
each of the selling Holders of Registrable Securities included in the Shelf Registration Statement
in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by the Prospectus or
any amendment or supplement thereto;
(d) register or qualify the Registrable Securities under all applicable state securities or
“blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions by the time the applicable Shelf Registration Statement has
become effective under the Securities Act as any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a
Shelf Registration Statement and each underwriter of an underwritten offering of Registrable
Securities shall reasonably request in writing in advance of such date of effectiveness, and do any
and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such Holder
and underwriter to consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction of such Registrable
Securities owned by such Holder; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to (i)
qualify as a foreign entity or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it would not
otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d), (ii) file any general consent to
service of process in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be subject to such service of
process or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not then so subject;
(e) as promptly as reasonably practicable notify each Holder of Registrable Securities, their
counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, and as promptly as reasonably practicable confirm
such notice in writing (i) when a Shelf Registration Statement has become effective and when any
post-effective amendments thereto become effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any state
securities authority for amendments and supplements to a Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus
or for additional information after the Shelf Registration Statement has become effective, (iii) of
the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement or the qualification of the Registrable Securities
in any jurisdiction described in Section 3(d) hereof or the initiation of any proceedings for that
purpose, (iv) if, between the Effective Date and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities
covered thereby, any of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any purchase
agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar agreement cease to be true and correct in
all material respects, (v) of the happening of any event or the failure of any event to occur or
the discovery of any facts, during the Effectiveness Period, which makes any statement made in a
Shelf Registration Statement or the related Prospectus untrue in any material respect or which
causes such Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus to omit to state a material fact necessary
in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, and (vi) of the reasonable
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determination of the Company that a post-effective amendment to the Shelf
Registration Statement would be appropriate;
(f) obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration
Statement as promptly as reasonably practicable;
(g) furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities included within the coverage of a Shelf
Registration Statement, without charge, at least one conformed copy of the Shelf Registration
Statement relating to such Shelf Registration and any post-effective amendment
thereto (without documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless
requested);
(h) cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not
bearing any restrictive legends and registered in such names as the selling Holders or the
underwriters may reasonably request at least two Business Days prior to the closing of any sale of
Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement;
(i) as promptly as reasonably practicable after the occurrence of any event specified in
Section 3(e)(ii), 3(e)(iii), 3(e)(v) (subject to the respective grace periods set forth in Section
2(a)(iv)) or 3(e)(vi) hereof, prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Shelf
Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference
or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the
Registrable Securities, such Prospectus will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and the Company shall notify each Holder
to suspend use of the Prospectus as promptly as reasonably practicable after the occurrence of such
an event, and each Holder hereby agrees to suspend use of the Prospectus until the Company has
amended or supplemented the Prospectus to correct such misstatement or omission;
(j) subject to Section 5 hereof, enter into such agreements (including underwriting
agreements) as are customary in underwritten offerings and take all such other appropriate actions
in connection therewith as are reasonably requested by any Holders in order to expedite or
facilitate the registration or the disposition of the Registrable Securities;
(k) whether or not an underwriting agreement is entered into and whether or not the
registration is an underwritten registration, if requested by (x) any Initial Purchaser, in the
case where such Initial Purchaser holds any Securities acquired by it as part of its initial
placement or (y) Holders collectively holding at least 25% in aggregate principal amount or number,
as the context requires, of the outstanding Registrable Securities: (i) make such representations
and warranties to Holders of such Registrable Securities and the underwriters (if any), with
respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as then conducted and with respect to
the Shelf Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents, if any, incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference therein, in each case, as were of the type made in the Purchase
Agreement, and confirm the same if and when requested; (ii) obtain opinions of counsel to the
11
Company and updates thereof (which may be in the form of a reliance letter) in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriters, addressed to the underwriters (if any)
covering the matters included in the opinions of counsel of the type provided pursuant to the terms
of the Purchase Agreement and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such
underwriters (it being agreed that the matters to be covered by such opinion may be subject to
customary qualifications and exceptions); (iii) obtain “cold comfort” letters and updates thereof
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriters from the independent
certified public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent certified
public accountants of any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and
financial data are, or are required to be, included in the Registration
Statement), addressed to each of the underwriters, such letters to cover the same types of matters
required pursuant to the terms of the “cold comfort” letter provisions of the Purchase Agreement
and such other matters as reasonably requested by such underwriters in accordance with Statement on
Auditing Standards No. 72; and (iv) if an underwriting agreement is entered into, the same shall
contain indemnification provisions and procedures no less favorable than those set forth in Section
4 hereof (or such other provisions and procedures acceptable to Holders collectively holding a
majority in aggregate principal amount or number, as the context requires, of Registrable
Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement and the managing underwriters) customary
for such agreements with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to said Section
(including, without limitation, such underwriters and selling Holders); and in the case of an
underwritten registration, the above requirements shall be satisfied at each closing under the
related underwriting agreement or as and to the extent required thereunder;
(l) make reasonably available for inspection by any selling Holder of Registrable Securities
who certifies to the Company that it has a current intention to sell Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Shelf Registration, any underwriter participating in any such disposition of
Registrable Securities, if any, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such
selling Holder or underwriter (collectively, the “Inspectors”), at the offices where normally kept,
during the Company’s normal business hours, all financial and other records, pertinent
organizational and operational documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries
(collectively, the “Records”) as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise any
applicable due diligence responsibilities, and cause the officers, trustees and employees of the
Company and its subsidiaries to supply all relevant information in each case reasonably requested
by any such Inspector in connection with such Shelf Registration Statement; records and information
which the Company believes, in good faith, to be confidential and any Records and information which
it notifies the Inspectors are confidential shall not be disclosed to any Inspector except where
(i) the disclosure of such Records or information is necessary to avoid or correct a material
misstatement or omission in such Shelf Registration Statement, (ii) the release of such Records or
information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction
or is necessary in connection with any action, suit or proceeding or (iii) such Records or
information previously has been made generally available to the public; each selling Holder of such
Registrable Securities will be required to agree in writing that Records and information obtained
by it as a result of such inspections shall be deemed confidential and shall not be used by it as
the basis for any market transactions in the securities of the Company unless and until such is
made generally available to the public through no fault of an Inspector or a selling Holder; and
each selling Holder of such Registrable Securities will be
12
required to further agree in writing
that it will, upon learning that disclosure of such Records or information is sought in a court of
competent jurisdiction, or in connection with any action, suit or proceeding, give notice to the
Company and allow the Company at its expense to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure
of the Records and information deemed confidential;
(m) comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC so long as any provision of
this Agreement shall be applicable and make generally available to its securityholders earning
statements satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder
(or any similar rule promulgated under the Securities Act) no later than 45 days after the end of
any twelve-month period (or 90 days after the end of any twelve-month period if such period is a
fiscal year) (i) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Registrable
Securities are sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts underwritten offering and
(ii) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering, commencing on the first day of the first
fiscal quarter of the Company after the Effective Date, which statements shall cover such
twelve-month periods;
(n) cooperate with each seller of Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration
Statement and each underwriter, if any, participating in the disposition of such Registrable
Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with the
NASD;
(o) take all other steps reasonably practicable to effect the registration of the Registrable
Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement contemplated hereby; and
(p) the Company may require each seller of Registrable Securities as to which any
registration is being effected to furnish to it such information regarding such seller as may be
required by the staff of the SEC to be included in a Shelf Registration Statement; the Company may
exclude from such registration the Registrable Securities of any seller who fails to furnish such
information within a reasonable time after receiving such request; and the Company shall have no
obligation to register under the Securities Act the Registrable Securities of a seller who so fails
to furnish such information.
Each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of written notice from the Company of the occurrence of
any event specified in Section 3(e)(ii), 3(e)(iii), 3(e)(v) or 3(e)(vi) hereof, such Holder will
forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration
Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus
contemplated by Section 3(i) hereof or until it is advised in writing (the “Advice”) by the Company
that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, if so directed by the Company, such
Holder will deliver to the Company (at its expense) all copies in such Holder’s possession, other
than permanent file copies then in such Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus covering such
Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice. If the Company shall give any
such notice to suspend the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration
Statement, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to file and have declared effective
(if an amendment) as promptly as reasonably practicable after the resolution of the related matters
an amendment or supplement to the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus.
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4. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company hereby agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless the Initial Purchasers, each Holder, each underwriter who participates in an offering of
the Registrable Securities in accordance with Section 5 hereof, each Person, if any, who controls
any of such parties within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the
Exchange Act and each of their respective directors, officers, employees and agents, as follows:
(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred,
arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a
Shelf Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or the Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto) or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material
fact required to be stated therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading;
(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred,
to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or
proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever
based upon any such untrue statement or omission referred to in Section 4(a)(1) above, or any such
alleged untrue statement or omission, provided that (subject to Section 4(d) hereof) such
settlement is effected with the prior written consent of the Company; and
(iii) against any and all expenses whatsoever, as incurred (including the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel chosen by the Initial Purchasers or such Holder), reasonably incurred in
investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by
any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any
such untrue statement or omission referred to in Section 4(a)(1) above, or any such alleged untrue
statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under subparagraph (i) or
(ii) of this Section 4(a);
provided, however, that this indemnity does not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or
expense to the extent arising out of an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or
omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished in writing to
the Company by any Initial Purchaser through the Representative or such Holder or underwriter for
use in the Shelf Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto).
(b) Each Initial Purchaser and each Holder or underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly,
to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors and officers (including each officer of
the Company who signed the Shelf Registration Statement), and each Person, if any, who controls the
Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act
against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever described in the
indemnity contained in Section 4(a) hereof, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements
or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Shelf Registration Statement
(or any amendment thereto) or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Initial Purchaser,
Holder or underwriter expressly for use in such Shelf Registration Statement (or any amendment
thereto) or such Prospectus (or any amendment or
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supplement thereto); provided, however, that no Initial Purchaser, Holder or underwriter
shall be liable for any claims hereunder in excess of the amount of net proceeds received
by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities.
(c) Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each
indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought
hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party
from any liability which it may have under this Section 4 to the extent that it is not materially
prejudiced by such failure as a result thereof, and in any event shall not relieve it from
liability which it may have otherwise on account of this indemnity agreement. In the case of
parties indemnified pursuant to Section 4(a) or (b) above, counsel to the indemnified parties
shall be selected by such parties (subject to being reasonably acceptable to the indemnifying
party). An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of such action;
provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the
indemnified party, which shall not be unreasonably withheld) also be counsel to the indemnified
party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for the fees and expenses of more than
one counsel (in addition to local counsel), separate from their own counsel, for all indemnified
parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same
jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party
shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, which shall not be
unreasonably withheld, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to
any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or
threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be
sought under this Section 4 (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties
thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional written
release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation,
proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault,
culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) If at any time an indemnified party shall have validly requested an indemnifying party to
reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees
that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 4(a)(ii) effected
without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt
by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have
received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being
entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in
accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.
(e) In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the
indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 4 is for any reason held to be unenforceable by an
indemnified party although applicable in accordance with its terms, the Company, on the one hand,
and the Initial Purchasers, the Holders and any underwriter, on the other hand, shall contribute to
the aggregate losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses of the nature contemplated by such
indemnity agreement incurred by the Company and the Holders, as incurred; provided, however, that
no Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 0000
Xxx) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person that
15
was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. As between the Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, the Holders
and any underwriter, on the other hand, such parties shall contribute to such aggregate losses,
liabilities, claims, damages and expenses of the nature contemplated by such indemnity agreement in
such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Company, on the one
hand, and the Initial Purchasers, the Holders and any underwriter, on the other hand, with respect
to the statements or omissions which resulted in such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense, or
action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative
fault of the Company, on the one hand, and of the Initial Purchasers, the Holders and any
underwriter, 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
the Company, on the one hand, or by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers, the Holders and any
underwriter, on the other, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company, the Initial Purchasers,
the Holders and any underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this Section 4 were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of
allocation that does not take into account the relevant equitable considerations. For purposes of
this Section 4, each Affiliate of a Holder, and each director, officer and employee and Person, if
any, who controls a Holder or such Affiliate within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act
shall have the same rights to contribution as such Holder, and each trustee and officer of the
Company, and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the
Company.
5. Underwritten Registration; Participation in Underwritings. No Holder may participate in
an underwritten registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder’s
Registrable Securities on the basis provided in the underwriting arrangement approved by the
Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all
reasonable questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements, lock-up
letters and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
6. Selection of Underwriters. The Holders of Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf
Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell the Securities covered by such Shelf
Registration in an underwritten offering, subject to the provisions of Sections 3(k) and 5 hereof.
In any such underwritten offering, the underwriter or underwriters and manager or managers that
will administer the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount or number, as the context requires, of the Registrable Securities included in such offering;
provided, however, that such underwriters and managers must be reasonably satisfactory to the
Company.
7. Miscellaneous.
(a) Rule 144 and Rule 144A. If the Company ceases to be required to file reports under the
Securities Act and Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations adopted
by the SEC thereunder and any Registrable Securities remain outstanding, it will, upon
16
the request of any Holder (a) make publicly available such information as is necessary to permit sales of its
securities pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, (b) deliver such information to a
prospective purchaser as is necessary to permit sales of its securities pursuant to Rule 144A under
the Securities Act, and (c) take such further action that is reasonable in the circumstances, in
each case, to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell its Registrable
Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions
provided by (i) Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time,
(ii) Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or (iii)
any similar rules or regulations hereafter adopted by the SEC. Upon the request of any Holder of
Registrable Securities, the Company will deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether
it has complied with such requirements.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not entered into, and will not enter into,
any agreement which conflicts with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in
this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted to the Holders
hereunder do not in any way conflict with the rights granted to the holders of the Company’s other
issued and outstanding securities under any such agreements.
(c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of
this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures
from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the Company has obtained the written consent of
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount or number, as the context requires, of the
outstanding Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or
departure; provided that no amendment, modification or supplement or waiver or consent to the
departure with respect to the provisions of Section 4 hereof shall be effective as against any
Holder of Registrable Securities unless consented to in writing by such Holder of Registrable
Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, (i) this Agreement may be amended, without the
consent of any Holder of Registrable Securities, by written agreement signed by the Company and the
Initial Purchasers, to (x) cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision of this
Agreement that may be inconsistent with any other provision of this Agreement or (y) to make any
other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement which shall not
be inconsistent with other provisions of this Agreement, which in the case of clause (y) does not
materially adversely affect any Holder of Registrable Securities, (ii) this Agreement may be
amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers and consents to departures from the provisions
hereof may be given, by written agreement signed by the Company and the Initial Purchasers to the
extent that any such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent is, in their reasonable
judgment, necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable law (including any interpretation of
the Staff of the SEC) or any change therein and (iii) to the extent any provision of this Agreement
relates to the Initial Purchasers, such provision may be amended, modified or supplemented, and
waivers or consents to departures from such provisions may be given, by written agreement signed by
the Initial Purchasers and the Company.
(d) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall
be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier
guaranteeing overnight delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by
17
such Holder to the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section
7(d), which address initially is, with respect to the Initial Purchasers, the respective addresses
set forth in the Purchase Agreement; and (ii) if to the Company, initially at the Company’s address
set forth in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given
in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7(d).
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 is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next Business
Day, if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
(e) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
the successors, assigns and transferees of the Initial Purchasers, including, without limitation
and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided, however, that
nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of
Registrable Securities in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement, the indenture relating
to the Notes or the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the Company, as amended. If any
transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any manner, whether by operation
of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this
Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities, such Person shall be conclusively
deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this
Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.
(f) Third Party Beneficiaries. Each Holder shall be a third party beneficiary of the
agreements made hereunder between the Company and the Initial Purchasers, and the Initial
Purchasers shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such
enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of Holders hereunder.
(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 DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
THE VALIDITY AND INTERPRETATION OF THIS AGREEMENT, AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH HEREIN,
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT
REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF ANY LAW OTHER
THAN THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES TO SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE
JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT
OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE MATTERS CONTEMPLATED
18
HEREBY, IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY DEFENSE OF LACK OF PERSONAL JURISDICTION AND IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY
SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN ANY SUCH COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES
HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT IT MAY EFFECTIVELY DO SO UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, ANY
OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR
PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT
IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.
(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) Securities Held by the Company or its Affiliates. Whenever the consent or approval of
Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder, Registrable
Securities held by the Company or any Affiliates shall not be counted in determining whether such
consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first
written above.
| Very truly yours, RARE HOSPITALITY INTERNATIONAL, INC. |
||||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxx, Xx. | |||
| Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxx, Xx. | |||
| Title: | President, Chief Operating Officer, and Director | |||
CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED, as of the date first above written:
WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS CORPORATION
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS CORPORATION
| By: | WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC | |||||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||||
| Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||||
| Title: | Vice President and Assistant General Counsel | |||||
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