EXHIBIT 10.2
A/B EXCHANGE
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of January 29, 1999 by and among
Pac-West Telecomm, Inc.
and
Nationsbanc Xxxxxxxxxx Securities, LLC
CIBC Xxxxxxxxxxx Corp.
First Union Capital Markets
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made
and entered into as of "Agreement") January 29, 1999, by and among Pac-West
Telecomm, Inc., a California corporation (the "Company"), and Nationsbanc
Xxxxxxxxxx Securities LLC, CIBC Xxxxxxxxxxx Corp. and First Union Capital
Markets, a division of Wheat First Securities, Inc. (each an "Initial Purchaser"
and, collectively, the "Initial Purchasers"), each of whom has agreed to
purchase the Company's 13.5% Senior Notes due 2009 (the "Series A Notes")
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement,
dated January 27, 1999 (the "Purchase Agreement"), by and among the Company and
the Initial Purchasers. In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to purchase
the Series A Notes, the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights
set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a
condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchasers set forth in Section 5 of
the Purchase Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined
shall have the meaning assigned to them the Indenture, dated the date hereof
among the Company and Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Assocation, as Trustee,
relating to the Series A Notes and the Series B Notes (the "Indenture").
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.
Affiliate: As defined in Rule 144 of the Act.
Broker-Dealer: Any broker or dealer registered under the
Exchange Act.
Certificated Securities: Definitive Notes, as defined in the
Indenture.
Closing Date: The date hereof.
Commission: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
Consummate: An Exchange Offer shall be deemed "Consummated"
for purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (a) the filing and
effectiveness under the Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
relating to the Series B Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (b) the
maintenance of such Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective
and the keeping of the Exchange Offer open for a period not less than the 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
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A Notes tendered by Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
Consummation Deadline: As defined in Section 3(b) hereof.
Effectiveness Deadline: As defined in Section 3(a) and 4(a)
hereof.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
Exchange Offer: The exchange and issuance by the Company of a
principal amount of Series B Notes (which shall be registered pursuant to the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement) equal to the outstanding principal amount
of Series A Notes that are tendered by such Holders in connection with such
exchange and issuance.
Exchange Offer Registration Statement: The Registration
Statement relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.
Exempt Resales: The transactions in which the Initial
Purchasers propose to sell the Series A Notes to certain "qualified
institutional buyers," as such term is defined in Rule 144A under the Act, and
pursuant to Regulation S under the Act.
Filing Deadline: As defined in Sections 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.
Holders: As defined in Section 2 hereof.
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.
Recommencement Date: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
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) that 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.
Regulation S: Regulation S promulgated under the Act.
Rule 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.
Series B Notes: The Company's 13.5% Series B Senior Notes due
2009 to be issued pursuant to the Indenture: (i) in the Exchange Offer or (ii)
as contemplated by Section 4 hereof.
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Shelf Registration Statement: As defined in Section 4 hereof.
Suspension Notice: As defined in Section 6(d) 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: (i) Each Series A Note, until
the earliest to occur of (a) the date on which such Series A Note is exchanged
in the Exchange Offer for a Series B Note which is 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 Series A Note has been
disposed of in accordance with a Shelf Registration Statement, or (c) the date
on which such Series A Note is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144
under the Act and (ii) each Series B Note acquired by a Broker-Dealer in
exchange for a Series A Note acquired for its own account as a result of market
making activities or other trading activities until the date on which such
Series B Note is disposed of by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the "Plan of
Distribution" contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
(including the delivery of the Prospectus contained therein).
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 the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement to be filed with the Commission as soon as reasonably
practicable after the Closing Date, but in no event later 90 days after the
Closing Date (such 90th day being the "Filing Deadline"), (ii) use its
reasonable best efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to
become effective at the earliest possible time, but in no event later than 180
days after the Closing Date (such 180th day being the "Effectiveness Deadline"),
(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
it 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 (i) registration of the Series B Notes to
be offered in exchange for the Series A Notes that are Transfer Restricted
Securities and (ii) resales of Series B Notes by Broker-Dealers that tendered
into the Exchange Offer 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) as contemplated by Section 3(c) below.
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(b) The Company shall use its reasonable 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 Series B Notes shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement. The Company shall use its reasonable 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 (such 30th business day being the
"Consummation Deadline").
(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 Broker-Dealer who holds Transfer Restricted
Securities that were acquired for the account of such Broker-Dealer as a result
of market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Series A
Notes acquired directly from the Company or any Affiliate of the Company), may
exchange such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
Such "Plan of Distribution" section shall also contain all other information
with respect to such sales by such 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
Transfer Restricted Securities held by any such Broker-Dealer, except to the
extent required by the Commission as a result of a change in policy, rules or
regulations after the date of this Agreement.
Because 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 any Series B Notes received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer,
the Company shall permit the use of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement by such Broker-Dealer to satisfy such prospectus
delivery requirement. To the extent necessary to ensure that the Prospectus
contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is available for sales of
Series B Notes by Broker-Dealers, the Company agrees to use its best efforts to
keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective,
supplemented, amended and current as required by and subject to the provisions
of Section 6(a) and (c) hereof and in conformity with the requirements of this
Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as
announced from time to time, for a period of one year from the date on which the
Exchange Offer is Consummated or such shorter period as will terminate when all
Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been
sold pursuant thereto. The Company shall provide sufficient copies of the latest
version of such Prospectus to such Broker-Dealers, promptly upon request, and in
no event later than one day after such request, at any time during such period.
SECTION 4. SHELF REGISTRATION
(a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Exchange Offer is not
permitted by applicable law
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(after the Company has complied with the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i)
below) or (ii) if any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall notify the
Company within 20 business days following the Consummation of the Exchange Offer
that (A) such Holder was prohibited by law or Commission policy from
participating in the Exchange Offer or (B) such Holder may not resell the Series
B Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a
prospectus and the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales by such Holder or (C)
such Holder is a Broker-Dealer and holds Series A Notes acquired directly from
the Company or any of its Affiliates, then the Company shall:
(x) cause to be filed, on or prior to 30 days after the
earlier of (i) the date on which the Company determines that the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement cannot be filed as a result of clause (a)(i) above and
(ii) the date on which the Company receives the notice specified in clause
(a)(ii) above (such earlier date, the "Filing Deadline"), a shelf registration
statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act (which may be an amendment to the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement (the "Shelf Registration Statement")),
relating to all Transfer Restricted Securities (provided, that nothing in this
Section 4(a)(x) shall be interpreted as requiring the filing of the Shelf
Registration Statement prior to the Filing Deadline for the Exchange Offer
Regulation Statement), and
(y) shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Shelf
Registration Statement to become effective on or prior to 90 days after the
Filing Deadline for the Shelf Registration Statement (such 90th day the
"Effectiveness Deadline").
If, after the Company has filed an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement that 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 is not permitted under applicable federal law (i.e.,
clause (a)(i) above), then the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of clause (x) above;
provided that, in such event, the Company shall remain obligated to meet the
Effectiveness Deadline set forth in clause (y).
To the extent necessary to ensure that the Shelf Registration
Statement is available for sales of Transfer Restricted Securities by the
Holders thereof entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a) and the other
securities required to be registered therein pursuant to Section 6(b)(ii)
hereof, the Company shall use its best efforts to keep any Shelf Registration
Statement required by this Section 4(a) continuously effective, supplemented,
amended and current as required by and subject to the provisions of Sections
6(b) and (c) hereof and in conformity with the requirements of this Agreement,
the Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced
from time to time, for a period of at least two years (as extended pursuant to
Section 6(c)(i)) following the Closing Date, or such shorter period as will
terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Shelf
Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto.
(b). Provision by Holders of Certain Information in
Connection with the Shelf Registration Statement. No Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities may include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in
any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until
such Holder furnishes to the Company in writing, within 20 days after receipt of
a request therefor,
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the information specified in Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable,
of 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. By its acceptance of Transfer Restricted Securities, each Holder
agrees to promptly furnish additional information required to be disclosed in
order to make the information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder
not materially misleading. The Company shall not be obligated to supplement such
Shelf Registration Statement after it has been declared effectively by the
Commission more than one time per quarterly period to reflect additional
Holders.
SECTION 5. ADDITIONAL INTEREST
If (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement
is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the applicable Filing Deadline,
(ii) any such Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the
Commission on or prior to the applicable Effectiveness Deadline, (iii) the
Exchange Offer has not been Consummated on or prior to the Consummation Deadline
or (iv) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is filed and
declared effective but shall thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be
usable for its intended purpose without being succeeded within five business
days by a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement that cures
such failure and that is itself declared effective within ten business days of
filing such post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement (each such
event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a "Registration Default"), then
the Company hereby agrees to pay to each Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities affected thereby (subject to Section 4(b)) additional interest in an
amount equal to $.05 per week per $1,000 in principal amount of Transfer
Restricted Securities held by such Holder for each week or portion thereof that
the Registration Default continues for the first 90-day period immediately
following the occurrence of such Registration Default. The amount of the
liquidated damages shall increase by an additional $.05 per week per $1,000 in
principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities with respect to each
subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to
a maximum amount of additional interest of $.50 per week per $1,000 in principal
amount of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided that the Company shall in no
event be required to pay liquidated damages for more than one Registration
Default at any given time. 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 additional
interest 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 additional interest shall be paid to the Holders
entitled thereto, in the manner provided for the payment of interest in the
Indenture, on each Interest Payment Date, as more
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fully set forth in the Indenture and the Notes. Notwithstanding the fact that
any securities for which additional interest is due cease to be Transfer
Restricted Securities, all obligations of the Company to pay additional interest
with respect to securities shall survive until such time as such obligations
with respect to such securities shall have been satisfied in full.
SECTION 6. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. In connection with
the Exchange Offer, the Company shall (x) comply with all applicable provisions
of Section 6(c) below, (y) use its reasonable best efforts to effect such
exchange and to permit the resale of Series B Notes by any Broker-Dealer that
tendered Series A Notes in the Exchange Offer that such Broker-Dealer acquired
for its own account as a result of its market making activities or other trading
activities (other than Series A Notes acquired directly from the Company or any
of its Affiliates) being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods
of distribution thereof, and (z) comply with all of the following provisions:
(i) If, following the date hereof there has been announced a
change in Commission policy with respect to exchange offers such as the
Exchange Offer, that in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company
raises 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 Transfer
Restricted Securities. 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 reasonable
actions as may be 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 staff, (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.
(ii) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange
Offer, each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (including, without
limitation, any Holder who is a Broker Dealer) 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 using the Exchange Offer to participate in a
distribution of the Series B Notes will be required to acknowledge and
agree that, if the resales are of Series B Notes obtained by such Holder
in exchange for Series A Notes acquired directly from the Company or an
Affiliate thereof, it (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
8
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.
(iii) Prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the Company shall provide a supplemental letter
to the Commission (A) stating that the Company is registering the
Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the Commission enunciated
in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) as interpreted in the
Commission's letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, 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, if applicable.
(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the
Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall:
(i) comply with all the provisions of Section 6(c) and 6(d)
below and use its reasonable 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; and
(ii) issue, upon the request of any Holder or purchaser 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 sold pursuant
to the Shelf Registration Statement and surrendered to the Company for
cancellation; the Company shall register Series B Notes on the Shelf
Registration Statement for this purpose and issue the Series B Notes to
the purchaser(s) of securities subject to the Shelf Registration
Statement in the names as such purchaser(s) shall designate.
(c) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration
Statement and any
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related Prospectus required by this Agreement, the Company shall:
(i) use its reasonable 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 an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading 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 curing such defect, and, if Commission review is required, use
its reasonable best efforts to cause such amendment to be declared
effective as soon as reasonably practicable; if at any time the
Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of
any 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
reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such
order at the earliest possible time;
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and
post-effective amendments to the applicable Registration Statement as
may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the
applicable period set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as the case may
be; cause the Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus
supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424
under the Act, and to comply fully with Rules 424, 430A and 462, as
applicable, under the Act in a timely manner; and comply with the
provisions of the Act with respect to the disposition of all securities
covered by such Registration Statement during the applicable period in
accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by the
sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement
to the Prospectus;
(iii) in connection with any sale of Transfer Restricted
Securities that will result in such securities no longer being Transfer
Restricted Securities, cooperate with the Holders 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 selling Holders may request at least
two business days prior to such sale of Transfer Restricted Securities
(provided that such Holders give the Company notice of such sale at
least 5 business days prior to such sale);
(iv) use its reasonable best efforts after receipt of
appropriate notice from a seller or sellers 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
to consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities;
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
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than as to matters and transactions relating to the Registration
Statement, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject;
(v) 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 certificates for the Transfer Restricted
Securities which are in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository
Trust Company and Euroclear and Cedel;
(vi) otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with
all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make
generally available to its security holders with regard to any
applicable Registration Statement, as soon as reasonably 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); and
(vii) 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 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 reasonable best efforts to
cause the Trustee to execute, all documents that may be required to
effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be
filed with the Commission to enable such Indenture to be so qualified in
a timely manner.
(d) Additional provisions applicable to Shelf Registration
Statements and Certain Exchange Offer Prospectuses. In connection with each
Shelf Registration Statement, and each Exchange Offer Registration Statement if
and to the extent that an Initial Purchaser has notified the Company that it is
a holder of Series B Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities (for so long
as such Series B Notes are Transfer Restricted Securities or for the period
provided in Section 3, whichever is shorter), the Company shall:
(i) advise each Holder known to the Company promptly and, if
requested by such Holder, confirm such advice in writing, (A) when the
applicable Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment
thereto, has become effective under the Act, (B) 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, (C) 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
11
were made, not misleading;
(ii) if any fact or event contemplated by Section 6(d)(i)(C)
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;
(iii) furnish to each Holder known to the Company in
connection with such exchange or sale, if any, before filing with the
Commission, copies of any Registration Statement or any Prospectus
included therein (except the Prospectus included in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement at the time it was declared effective) as is
proposed to be filed with the Commission, which documents will be
subject to the review and comment of such Holders 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 to
which such Holders shall reasonably object within five business days
after the receipt thereof, A Holder shall be deemed to have reasonably
objected to such filing if such Registration Statement, or Prospectus as
applicable, as proposed to be filed, contains an untrue statement of a
material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading or fails to comply with the applicable
requirements of the Act;
(iv) make available, at reasonable times, for inspection by
each Holder and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders, all
financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents of the
Company and cause the Company's officers, directors and employees to
supply all information reasonably requested by any such Holder, 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 (subject to the execution by such Holder of a
confidentiality agreement);
(v) if requested by any Holders in writing in connection with
such exchange or sale, promptly include in any Registration Statement or
Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if
necessary, such information as such Holders may reasonably request to
have included therein, including, without limitation, information
relating to the "Plan of Distribution" of the Transfer Restricted
Securities; and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement
or post-effective amendment as soon as reasonably practicable after the
Company is notified of the matters to be included in such Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment (provided that nothing in this
Section 6(d)(v) shall be interpreted to acquire the Company to file a
supplement or post-effective amendment more than one time per quarter);
(vi) furnish to each Holder known to the Company in
connection with such exchange or sale 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
12
by reference therein and all exhibits (including exhibits incorporated
therein by reference);
(vii) deliver to each Holder known to the Company without
charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary
prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Holder
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 selling Holder in connection with the offering and the
sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or
any amendment or supplement thereto;
(viii) upon the written request of any Holder or Holders who
collectively hold an aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes in
excess of $15.0 million (the "Requesting Holders") (on one occasion),
enter into 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 applicable Registration Statement
contemplated by this Agreement as may be reasonably requested by any
Requesting Holder in connection with any sale or resale pursuant to any
applicable Registration Statement and as are reasonably customary in
underwritten offerings. In such connection, the Company shall:
(A) upon request of the Requesting Holders, furnish (or
in the case of paragraphs (2) and (3), use its reasonable best
efforts to cause to be furnished) to each Requesting Holder,
upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer or upon the
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case
may be in connection with any underwriting agreement:
(1) a certificate, dated such date, 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 Sections 1(d) and
5(e) of the Purchase Agreement and such other similar
matters as such Requesting Holders 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 Section 5(c) of the Purchase
Agreement and such other matters as such Holder may
reasonably request, and in any event including a
statement to the effect that such counsel has
participated in conferences with officers and other
representatives of the Company, representatives of the
independent public accountants for the Company and has
considered the matters required to be stated therein
and the statements contained therein, although such
counsel has not independently verified the accuracy,
completeness or fairness of such statements; and that
such counsel advises that, on the basis of the
foregoing, 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
13
or any post-effective amendment thereto became
effective and, in the case of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, as of the date of Consummation
of the Exchange Offer, contained an untrue statement of
a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, or that the
Prospectus contained in such Registration Statement as
of its date and, in the case of the opinion dated the
date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer, as of the
date of Consummation, contained an untrue statement of
a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. Without limiting the foregoing,
such counsel may state further that such counsel
assumes no responsibility for, and has not
independently verified, the accuracy, completeness or
fairness of the financial statements, notes and
schedules and other financial data included in any
Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement
or the related Prospectus; and
(3) a customary comfort letter, dated the date of
Consummation of the Exchange Offer, or as of the date
of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement,
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 underwritten offerings,
and affirming the matters set forth in the comfort
letters delivered pursuant to Section 5(a) of the
Purchase Agreement; and
(B) deliver such other documents and certificates as
may be reasonably requested by the selling Holders to evidence
compliance with the matters covered in clause (A) above and
with any customary conditions contained in any agreement
entered into by the Company pursuant to this clause (ix);
(ix) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted
Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders and their 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 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; and
(e) Restrictions on Holders. Each Holder's acquisition of a
Transfer Restricted Security constitutes such Holder's agreement that, upon
receipt of the notice referred to in Section 6(d)(i)(B) or any notice from the
Company of the existence of any fact of the kind described in Section 6(d)(i)(C)
hereof (in each case, a "Suspension Notice"), such Holder will forthwith
discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the
applicable Registration
14
Statement until (i) such Holder has received copies of the supplemented or
amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(d)(ii) hereof, or (ii) such Holder
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 (in each case, the
"Recommencement Date"). Each Holder receiving a Suspension Notice shall be
required to either (i) destroy any Prospectuses, other than permanent file
copies, then in such Holder's possession which have been replaced by the Company
with more recently dated Prospectuses or (ii) 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 the Suspension 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 a number of days
equal to the number of days in the period from and including the date of
delivery of the Suspension Notice to the date of delivery of the Recommencement
Date.
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; (ii) all fees and
expenses of compliance with federal securities and state Blue Sky or securities
laws; (iii) all expenses of printing (including 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 one counsel for the Holders of Transfer Restricted
Securities in connection with an underwritten offering which shall be Xxxxxx &
Xxxxxxx or such other counsel as may be selected by a majority of such Holders;
(v) all application and filing fees in connection with listing the Series B
Notes on a national securities exchange or automated quotation system pursuant
to the requirements hereof (provided that this clause (v) shall in no event be
interpreted as requiring such listing of the Series B Notes); and (vi) all fees
and disbursements of independent certified public accountants of the Company
(including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters required by or
incident to such performance).
The Company will, in any event, bear its internal expenses
(including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and
employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual
audit and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts,
retained by the Company.
(b). In connection with 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 Initial Purchasers and the Holders of Transfer Restricted
Securities who are tendering Series A Notes into in the Exchange Offer and/or
selling or reselling Series A Notes or Series B Notes pursuant to the "Plan of
Distribution" contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the
Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable, for the reasonable fees and
disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall be Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx unless
15
another firm 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.
SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION
(a). The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Holder, its directors, officers and each Person, if any, who controls such
Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities, judgments, (including without limitation, any legal or other
expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any matter,
including any action that could give rise to any such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or judgments) caused by 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)
provided by the Company to any Holder for use in connection with the resale of
Series B Notes or registered Series A Notes, or caused by 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 judgments are caused by an untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission that is based upon
information relating to any of the Holders furnished in writing to the Company
by any of the Holders.
(b). By its acquisition of Transfer Restricted Securities,
each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless the Company and its directors and officers, and each person, if any,
who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act) the Company to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the
Company set forth in section (a) above, but only with reference to information
relating to such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder
expressly for use in any Registration Statement. In no event shall any Holder,
its directors, officers or any Person who controls such Holder be liable or
responsible for any amount in excess of the amount by which the total amount
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 that such Holder, its directors, officers or any Person who controls
such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
(c). In case any action shall be commenced involving any
person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a) or
8(b) (the "indemnified party"), the indemnified party shall promptly notify the
person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying person") in
writing and the indemnifying party shall assume the defense of such action,
including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified
party and the payment of all reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel, as
incurred (except that in the case of any action in respect of which indemnity
may be sought pursuant to both Sections 8(a) and 8(b), a Holder shall not be
required to assume the defense of such action pursuant to this Section 8(c), but
may employ separate counsel and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees
and expenses of
16
such counsel, except as provided below, shall be at the expense of the Holder).
Any failure to promptly notify the indemnifying person will not relieve the
indemnifying person from any liability it may have to any indemnified party
under this Section 8, except to the extent such failure prejudices the
indemnifying person. Any indemnified party shall have the right to employ
separate counsel in any such action and participate in the defense thereof, but
the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnified
party unless (i) the employment of such counsel shall have been specifically
authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnifying party
shall have failed to assume the defense of such action or employ counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party within a reasonable period of
time after notification by the indemnified party or (iii) the named parties to
any such action (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified
party and the indemnifying party, and the indemnified party shall have been
advised by such counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available
to it which are different from or additional to those available to the
indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party shall not have the
right to assume the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party).
In any such case, the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one
action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same
jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be
liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in
addition to any local counsel) for all indemnified parties and all such fees and
expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated
in writing by a majority of the Holders, in the case of the parties indemnified
pursuant to Section 8(a), and by the Company, in the case of parties indemnified
pursuant to Section 8(b). The indemnifying party shall indemnify and hold
harmless the indemnified party from and against any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities and judgments by reason of any settlement of any action (i)
effected with its written consent or (ii) effected without its written consent
if the settlement is entered into more than twenty business days after the
indemnifying party shall have received a request from the indemnified party for
reimbursement for the fees and expenses of counsel (in any case where such fees
and expenses are at the expense of the indemnifying party) and, prior to the
date of such settlement, the indemnifying party shall have failed to comply with
such reimbursement request or given if good faith objection to such
indemnification request. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement or compromise of, or
consent to the entry of judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened
action in respect of which the indemnified party is or could have been a party
and indemnity or contribution may be or could have been sought hereunder by the
indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes
an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability on claims
that are or could have been the subject matter of such action 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 the Indemnified party.
(d). To the extent that the indemnification provided for in
this Section 8 is unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to therein, then each
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 judgments (i) in such proportion
as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on
the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, from their initial sale of
Transfer Restricted Securities (or in the case of Series B Notes that are
Transfer Restricted Securities, the sale of the Series A Notes for which such
Series B Notes
17
were exchanged) or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 8(d)(i) is not
permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not
only the relative benefits referred to in clause 8(d)(i) above but also the
relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and of the Holder, on the other
hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand,
and of the Holder, 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 the Holder, on the
other hand, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount
paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and judgments referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject
to the limitations set forth in the second paragraph of Section 8(a), any legal
or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with
investigating or defending any action or claim.
The Company and, by its acquisition of Transfer Restricted
Securities, each Holder agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) 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 judgments 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 matter, including any action
that could have given rise to such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
judgments. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Holder, its
directors, its officers or any Person, if any, who controls such Holder shall 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 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. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning
of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders'
obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8(d) are several in
proportion to the respective principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities
held by each Holder hereunder and not joint.
SECTION 9. RULE 144A and RULE 144
The Company agrees with each Holder, for so long as any
Transfer Restricted Securities remain outstanding and during any period in which
the Company (i) is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to
make available within a reasonable period of time, upon written request of any
Holder, to such Holder or beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted Securities in
connection with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Transfer
Restricted
18
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, and (ii) is subject to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to make all filings required thereby in
a timely manner in order to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted
Securities pursuant to Rule 144.
SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) Remedies. The Company acknowledges and agrees that any
failure by it to comply with its obligations under Sections 3 and 4 hereof may
result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders
for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to
measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such
failure, the Initial Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be
required to specifically enforce the Company's obligations under Sections 3 and
4 hereof. The Company further agrees to waive the defense in any action for
specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company will not, on or
after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to its
securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this
Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof The Company has not
previously entered into any agreement granting any registration rights with
respect to its securities to any Person that would require such securities to be
included in any Registration Statement filed hereunder. 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) 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 10(c)(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 (excluding Transfer Restricted Securities held by the
Company or its Affiliates). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent
to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights
of Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities are being tendered pursuant to
the Exchange Offer, and that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights
of other Holders whose Transfer Restricted 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.
(d) Third Party Beneficiary. The Holders shall be third party
beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one
hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to
enforce such agreements directly to the extent they may deem such enforcement
necessary or advisable to protect their rights hereunder.
(e) Notices. All notices and other communications provided
for or permitted
19
hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail
(registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier, or air
courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(i) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records
of the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to the Registrar under
the Indenture; and
(ii) if to the Company:
Pac-West Telecomm, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile:
Attention: CFO
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have
been duly given at the time delivered by hand, 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; provided, that nothing herein shall be deemed to
permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Transfer Restricted
Securities in violation of the terms hereof or of the Purchase Agreement or the
Indenture. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Transfer Restricted
Securities in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such
Transfer Restricted Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this
Agreement, and by taking and holding such Transfer Restricted 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, including the restrictions on
resale set forth in this Agreement and, if applicable, the Purchase Agreement,
and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.
(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
20
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 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.
21
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement
as of the date first written above.
PAC-WEST TELECOMM, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Chief Financial Officer
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
-------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: President/CEO
NATIONSBANC XXXXXXXXXX SECURITIES LLC
CIBC XXXXXXXXXXX CORP.
FIRST UNION CAPITAL MARKETS, A DIVISION
OF WHEAT FIRST SECURITIES, INC., as the Initial
Purchasers
By NATIONSBANC XXXXXXXXXX SECURITIES LLC
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Sleigh
-------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Sleigh
Title: Vice President
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]