EXHIBIT 4.3
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A/B EXCHANGE
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of January 28, 1998
by and among
Nationwide Credit, Inc.
and
Xxxxxx Brothers Inc.
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This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and entered
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into as of January 28, 1998, by and between Nationwide Credit, Inc., a Georgia
corporation (the "Company"), and Xxxxxx Brothers Inc. (the "Initial Purchaser")
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who has agreed to purchase the Company's 10 1/4% Series A Senior Notes due 2008
(the "Series A Notes") pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).
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This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated January
23, 1998, (the "Purchase Agreement"), by and between the Company and the Initial
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Purchaser. In order to induce the Initial Purchaser 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 Purchaser set forth in Section 3 of the Purchase
Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have
the meaning assigned to them in the Indenture, dated January 28, 1998, between
the Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company, 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.
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Affiliate: As defined in Rule 144 of the Act.
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Broker-Dealer: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.
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Certificated Securities: Definitive Notes, as defined in the Indenture.
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Closing Date: The date of this Agreement.
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Commission: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Consummate: A Registered Exchange Offer shall be deemed "Consummated" for
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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 A Notes tendered by
Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
Effectiveness Deadline: As defined in Section 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.
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Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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Exchange Offer: The exchange and issuance by the Company of a principal
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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
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to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.
Exempt Resales: The transactions in which the Initial Purchaser proposes
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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.
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Holders: As defined in Section 2 hereof.
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Indemnified Holder: As defined in Section 8(a) hereof.
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Prospectus: The prospectus included in a Registration Statement at the
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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.
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Registration Default: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
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Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company relating
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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.
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Restricted Broker-Dealer: Any Broker-Dealer that holds Series B Notes that
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were acquired in the Exchange Offer in exchange for Series A Notes that such
Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of market making
activities or other trading activities (other than Series A Notes acquired
directly from the Company or any of its affiliates).
Rule 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.
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Series B Notes: The Company's 10 1/4% Series B Senior Notes due 2008 to be
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issued pursuant to the Indenture: (i) in the Exchange Offer or (ii) as
contemplated by Section 4 hereof.
Shelf Registration Statement: As defined in Section 4 hereof.
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Suspension Notice: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
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TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Section 77aaa-77bbbb) as
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in effect on the date of the Indenture.
Transfer Restricted Securities: Each Note, until the earliest to occur of
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(a) the date on which such Note is exchanged in the Exchange Offer and entitled
to be resold to the public by the Holder thereof without complying with the
prospectus delivery requirements of the Act, (b) the date on which such Note has
been disposed of in accordance with a Shelf Registration Statement, (c) the date
on which such Note is disposed of by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the "Plan of
Distribution" contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
(including delivery of the Prospectus contained therein) or (d) the date on
which such Note is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Act.
SECTION 2. SECURITIES SUBJECT TO THIS AGREEMENT
(a) Transfer Restricted Securities. The securities entitled to the
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benefits of this Agreement are the Transfer Restricted Securities.
(b) Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities. A Person is deemed to be a
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holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (each, a "Holder") whenever such Person
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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 practicable after the Closing Date (the
"Exchange Offer Filing Date"), but in no event later than 60 days after the
Closing Date (such 60th day being the "Filing Deadline"), (ii) use its best
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efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective
at the earliest possible time, but in no event later than 135 days after the
Closing Date (such 135th day being the "Effectiveness Deadline"), (iii) in
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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 registration of the Series B Notes to be offered in
exchange for the Series A Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities and to
permit resales of Series B Notes by Broker-Dealers that tendered into the
Exchange Offer for Series A Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own
account as a result of market making activities or other trading activities
(other than Series A Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its
Affiliates) as contemplated by Section 3(c) below.
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(b) The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement to be effective continuously, and shall keep the Exchange
Offer open for a period of not less than the minimum period required under
applicable federal and state securities laws to Consummate the Exchange Offer;
provided, however, that in no event shall such period be less than 20 Business
Days. The Company shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply with all applicable
federal and state securities laws. No securities other than the Series B Notes
shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. The Company
shall use its best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be Consummated on the
earliest practicable date after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has
become effective, but in no event later than 30 Business Days thereafter.
(c) The Company shall include a "Plan of Distribution" section in the
Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and indicate
therein that any 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 Transfer Restricted
Securities acquired directly from the Company or any Affiliate of the Company),
may exchange such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Exchange
Offer; however, such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within
the meaning of the Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the
requirements of the Act in connection with its initial sale of any Series B
Notes received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer and that the
Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement may be used to
satisfy such prospectus delivery requirement. 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. See the Shearman & Sterling no-action letter (available July 2,
1993).
To the extent necessary to ensure that 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 and amended as required by the
provisions of Section 6(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 promptly 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
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applicable law (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
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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
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pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act (which may be an amendment to the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement (the "Shelf Registration Statement")), relating to
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all Transfer Restricted Securities, and
(y) shall use its best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement
to become effective on or prior to 90 days after the Filing Deadline (such 90th
day the "Effectiveness Deadline").
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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, 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).
The Company shall use its best efforts to keep any Shelf Registration
Statement required by this Section 4(a) continuously effective, supplemented and
amended as required by and subject to the provisions of Sections 6(b) and (c)
hereof to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for sales of
Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof entitled to the benefit of
this Section 4(a), and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this
Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as
announced from time to time, for a period of at least two years (as extended
pursuant to Section 6(c)(i)) following the date on which such Shelf Registration
Statement first becomes effective under the Act, or such shorter period as will
terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration
Statement have been sold pursuant thereto.
(b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with the
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Shelf Registration Statement. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may
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include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration
Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to
the Company in writing, within 20 days after receipt of a request therefor, such
information as the Company may reasonably request 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 reasonably requested information. Each selling
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.
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SECTION 5. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
If (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not filed
with the Commission on or prior to the 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 within 30 Business Days after the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement is first declared effective by the Commission or (iv) any Registration
Statement required by this Agreement is filed and declared effective but shall
thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be usable for its intended purpose
without being succeeded immediately by a post-effective amendment to such
Registration Statement that cures such failure and that is itself declared
effective immediately (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv),
a "Registration Default"), then the Company hereby agrees to pay to each Holder
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of Transfer Restricted Securities affected thereby liquidated damages 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 liquidated damages 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 liquidated
damages payable with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities as a result
of such clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), as applicable, shall cease.
All accrued liquidated damages shall be paid to the Holders entitled
thereto, in the manner provided for the payment of interest in the Indenture, on
each Interest Payment Date (as defined in the Indenture), as more fully set
forth in the Indenture and the Notes. All obligations of the Company set forth
in the preceding paragraph that are outstanding with respect to any Transfer
Restricted Security at the time such security ceases to be a Transfer Restricted
Security shall survive until such time as all such obligations with respect to
such Security shall have been satisfied in full.
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SECTION 6. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. In connection with the Exchange
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Offer, the Company shall comply with all applicable provisions of Section 6(c)
below, shall use its best efforts to effect such exchange and to permit the
resale of Series B Notes by Broker-Dealers that tendered in the Exchange Offer
Series A Notes 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
shall comply with all of the following provisions:
(i) If in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company there is a
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 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, (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
hereby acknowledges and agrees 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.
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(available June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available
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May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the Commission's letter to Shearman &
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Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and similar no-action letters (including, if
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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.
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(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
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Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx and Co., Inc.
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(available June 5, 1991) as interpreted in the Commission's letter to
Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and, if applicable, any no-action
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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
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Registration Statement, the Company shall comply with all the provisions of
Section 6(c) below and shall use its best efforts to effect such registration to
permit the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in accordance
with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof (as indicated in the
information furnished to the Company pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof), and
pursuant thereto the Company will prepare and file with the Commission a
Registration Statement relating to the registration on any appropriate form
under the Act, which form shall be available for the sale of the Transfer
Restricted Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of
distribution thereof within the time periods and otherwise in accordance with
the provisions hereof.
(c) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration Statement and
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any related Prospectus required by this Agreement, the Company shall:
(i) use its best efforts to keep such Registration Statement
continuously effective and provide all requisite financial statements for
the period specified in Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement, as applicable.
Upon the occurrence of any event that would cause any such Registration
Statement or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain a material
misstatement or omission or (B) not to be effective and usable for resale
of Transfer Restricted Securities during the period required by this
Agreement, the Company shall file promptly an appropriate amendment to such
Registration Statement curing such defect, and, if Commission review is
required, use its best efforts to cause such amendment to be declared
effective as soon as practicable.
(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
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of all securities covered by such Registration Statement during the
applicable period in accordance with the intended method or methods of
distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration
Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;
(iii) advise the selling Holders promptly and, if requested by such
Persons, confirm such advice in writing, (A) when the Prospectus or any
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with
respect to any applicable Registration Statement or any post-effective
amendment thereto, when the same has become effective, (B) of any request
by the Commission for amendments to the Registration Statement or
amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or for additional information
relating thereto, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Act or
of the suspension by any state securities commission of the qualification
of the Transfer Restricted Securities for offering or sale in any
jurisdiction, or the initiation of any proceeding for any of the preceding
purposes, (D) of the existence of any fact or the happening of any event
that makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto or any
document incorporated by reference therein untrue, or that requires the
making of any additions to or changes in the Registration Statement in
order to make the statements therein not misleading, or that requires the
making of any additions to or changes in the Prospectus in order to make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading. If at any time the Commission shall issue any
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or
any state securities commission or other regulatory authority shall issue
an order suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of
the Transfer Restricted Securities under state securities or Blue Sky laws,
the Company shall use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting
of such order at the earliest possible time;
(iv) subject to Section 6(c)(i), if any fact or event contemplated by
Section 6(c)(iii)(D) above shall exist or have occurred, prepare a
supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or
related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or
file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the
purchasers of Transfer Restricted Securities, the Prospectus will not
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(v) furnish to the Initial Purchaser and each selling Holder named in
any Registration Statement or Prospectus in connection with such sale, if
any, before filing with the Commission, copies of any Registration
Statement or any Prospectus included therein or any amendments or
supplements to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all
documents incorporated by reference after the initial filing of such
Registration Statement), which documents will be subject to the review and
comment of such Holders in connection with such sale, if any, for a period
of at three Business Days, and the Company will not file any such
Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any
such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all such documents
incorporated by reference) to which the selling Holders of the Transfer
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Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement in connection
with such sale, if any, shall reasonably object within three Business Days
after the receipt thereof. A selling Holder shall be deemed to have
reasonably objected to such filing if such Registration Statement,
amendment, Prospectus or supplement, as applicable, as proposed to be
filed, contains a material misstatement or omission or fails to comply with
the applicable requirements of the Act;
(vi) promptly prior to the filing of any document that is to be
incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or Prospectus,
provide copies of such document to the selling Holders in connection with
such sale, if any, make the Company's representatives available for
discussion of such document and other customary due diligence matters, and
include such information in such document prior to the filing thereof as
such selling Holders may reasonably request;
(vii) make available at reasonable times for inspection by the
selling Holders participating in any disposition pursuant to such
Registration Statement and any attorney or accountant retained by such
selling 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
selling 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;
(viii) if requested by any selling Holders in connection with such
sale, if any, promptly include in any Registration Statement or Prospectus,
pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if necessary, such
information as such selling Holders 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 practicable after the Company is notified of the matters to be
included in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;
(ix) furnish to each selling Holder upon their reasonable request in
connection with such sale, if any, without charge, at least one copy of the
Registration Statement, as first filed with the Commission, and of each
amendment thereto, including all documents incorporated by reference
therein and all exhibits (including exhibits incorporated therein by
reference);
(x) deliver to each selling Holder, without charge, as many copies of
the Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or
supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may request; the Company
hereby consents to the use (in accordance with law) of the Prospectus and
any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders in
connection with the offering and the sale of the Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto;
(xi) upon the request of any selling Holder, enter into such
reasonable agreements (including underwriting agreements) and make such
representations and warranties and take all such other actions in
connection therewith in order to expedite or
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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 Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
in connection with any sale or resale pursuant to any applicable
Registration Statement and in such connection, the Company shall:
(A) upon request of any selling Holder, furnish (or in the case
of paragraphs (2) and (3), use its best efforts to cause to be
furnished) to each selling Holder, upon the effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration Statement or upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer, as
the case may be:
(1) (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 paragraphs (a) through (e) of
Section 8 of the Purchase Agreement and such other similar matters as
the selling 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 paragraph (f) of Section 7 of
the Purchase Agreement and such other matter as the selling Holders
may reasonably request, and in any event including a statement to the
effect that such counsel has participated in conferences with officers
and other representatives of the Company, representatives of the
independent public accountants for the Company and have considered the
matters required to be stated therein and the statements contained
therein, although such counsel has not independently verified the
accuracy, completeness or fairness of such statements; and that such
counsel advises that, on the basis of the foregoing (relying as to
materiality to the extent such counsel deems appropriate upon the
statements of officers and other representatives of the Company), no
facts came to such counsel's attention that caused such counsel to
believe that the applicable Registration Statement, at the time such
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto became
effective and, in the case of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, as of the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer,
contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus contained in
such Registration Statement as of its date and, in the case of the
opinion dated the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer, as of
the date of Consummation, contained an untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading. 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
12
(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 7(h) of the
Purchase Agreement;
(B) deliver such other documents and certificates as may be reasonably
requested by the selling Holders to evidence compliance with clause
(A) above and with any customary conditions contained in the any
agreement entered into by the Company pursuant to this clause (xi);
and
(C) cause the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the
Registration Statement to be rated with the appropriate rating
agencies, if so requested by the Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of Notes covered thereby or the underwriter(s), if
any.
(xii) 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 reasonably
necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of
the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the applicable Registration
Statement; provided, however, that neither the Company shall 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;
(xiii) issue, upon the request of any Holder of Series A Notes
covered by any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement,
Series B Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate
principal amount of Series A Notes surrendered to the Company by such
Holder in exchange therefor or being sold by such Holder; such Series B
Notes to be registered in the name of such Holder or in the name of the
purchaser(s) of such Series B Notes, as the case may be; in return, the
Series A Notes held by such Holder shall be surrendered to the Company for
cancellation;
(xiv) in connection with any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities
that will result in such securities no longer being Transfer Restricted
Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders 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;
13
(xv) use its reasonable best efforts to cause the disposition of the
Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be
registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or
authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof to
consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities, subject
to the proviso contained in clause (xii) above;
(xvi) provide a CUSIP number for all Transfer Restricted Securities
not later than the effective date of a Registration Statement covering such
Transfer Restricted Securities and provide the Trustee under the Indenture
with printed certificates for the Transfer Restricted Securities which are
in a form eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company;
(xvii) otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all applicable
rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally available to
its security holders with regard to any applicable Registration Statement,
as soon as practicable, a consolidated earnings statement meeting the
requirements of Rule 158 (which need not be audited) covering a twelve-
month period beginning after the effective date of the Registration
Statement (as such term is defined in paragraph (c) of Rule 158 under the
Act);
(xviii) make appropriate officers of the Company available to the
selling Holders for meetings with prospective purchasers of the Transfer
Restricted Securities and prepare and present to potential investors
customary "road show" material in a manner consistent with other new
issuances of other securities similar to the Transfer Restricted
Securities;
(xix) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA not later
than the effective date of the first Registration Statement required by
this Agreement and, in connection therewith, cooperate with the Trustee and
the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for
such Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA;
and execute and use its best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all
documents that may be required to effect such changes and all other forms
and documents required to be filed with the Commission to enable such
Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner; and
(xx) provide promptly to each Holder upon request each document filed
with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or Section
15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(d) Restrictions on Holders. Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a
-----------------------
Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of the notice referred to in
Section 6(c)(i) or any notice from the Company of the existence of any fact of
the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof (in each case, a "Suspension
----------
Notice"), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Transfer
------
Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement until
(i) such Holder's has received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus
contemplated by Section 6(c)(iv) 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 hereby agrees that it will either (i)
destroy any
14
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 printing certificates for the Series B Notes
to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of Prospectuses), messenger and
delivery services and telephone; (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for
the Company, subject to Section 7(b) below, and the Holders of Transfer
Restricted Securities; (v) if the Company elects, in its sole discretion, to so
list the Series B Notes, 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; 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
Purchasers and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities being tendered in
the Exchange Offer and/or resold pursuant to the "Plan of Distribution"
contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or registered pursuant to
the Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable, for the reasonable fees and
disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall be Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx,
unless 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, provided that the fees and expenses of such counsel
shall not exceed $25,000.
SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless (i) each Holder and
(ii) each person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) any Holder (any of the persons referred
to in this clause (ii) being hereinafter referred to as a "controlling person")
------------------
and (iii) the respective officers, directors, partners,
15
employees, representatives and agents of any Holder or any controlling person
(any person referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) may hereinafter be referred
to as an "Indemnified Holder"), from and against any and all losses, claims,
------------------
damages, liabilities and actions, (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 actions), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability
or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus or
Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, provided by the Company to
any holder or any prospective purchaser of Series B Notes, or (ii) the omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except
insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions are caused by an
untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission that is
based upon information relating to any of the Indemnified Holders furnished in
writing to the Company by any of the Indemnified Holders; provided, however,
that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any
such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon,
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
made in any preliminary prospectus or Prospectus or amendment or supplement
thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to
the Company by such Indemnified Holder expressly for use therein; and provided
further that with respect to any such untrue statement or omission made in the
preliminary prospectus, the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 8(a)
shall not inure to the benefit of such Indemnified Holder who sold the Transfer
Restricted Securities to such person asserting any such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action, to the extent that such sale was an initial resale by the
Indemnified Holder and any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action of the
Indemnified Holder is a result of the fact that both (i) a copy of the
Prospectus was not sent or given to such person prior to, concurrently with or
promptly following the sale of such Transfer Restricted Securities to such
person, and (ii) the untrue statement or omission in the preliminary prospectus
was corrected in the Prospectus unless, in either case, such failure to deliver
the Prospectus was a result of non-compliance by the Company with Section 6 of
this Agreement. The foregoing indemnity is in addition to any liability which
the Company may otherwise have to any Indemnified Holder.
(b) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agrees, severally and not
jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its officers and employees,
each of its directors, 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 to each of the
Indemnified Holders, but only with reference to information relating to such
Indemnified Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Indemnified
Holder expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus. In no
event shall any indemnified Holder be liable or responsible for any amount in
excess of the amount by which the total amount received by such Indemnified
Holder with respect to its sale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to
the Prospectus exceeds (i) the amount paid by such Indemnified Holder for such
Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) the amount of any damages that such
Indemnified Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. The
foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability which the Holder
may otherwise have to the Company or any such director, officer, employee or
controlling person.
16
(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
of the claim or the commencement of that action; provided, however, that the
failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability
which it may have under this Section 8 except to the extent it has been
materially prejudiced by such failure and, provided further, that the failure to
notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it
may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 8. If any
such claim or action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall
notify the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled
to participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other
similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense thereof with
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice from the
indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the
defense of such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to
the indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that
the indemnified party shall have the right to employ counsel to represent such
indemnified party if, in the reasonable judgment of the indemnified party, it is
advisable for the indemnified party to be represented by separate counsel, and
in that event the fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be paid by
the indemnifying party. No indemnifying party shall (i) without the prior
written consent of the indemnified parties (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld), settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any
judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or
proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought
hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential
parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent
includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability
arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding, or (ii) be liable for any
settlement of any such action effected without its written consent (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with the consent of
the indemnifying party or if there be a final judgment of the plaintiff in any
such action, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any
indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such
settlement or judgment.
(d) To the extent that the indemnification provided for in this Section 8
shall for any reason be unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an
indemnified party under Section 8(a) or 8(b) in respect of any loss, claim,
damage or liability, or any action in respect thereof, referred to therein, then
each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party,
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result
of such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, (i) in
such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits
received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand,
from their sale of Transfer Restricted Securities 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 Indemnified 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
Indemnified Holder, on the other hand, shall be determined
17
by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material
fact relates to information supplied by the Company, on the one hand, or by the
Indemnified 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 Company and the Holders agree that it would not be
just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 8(d) were to be
determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which
does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The
amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim,
damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this
Section 8 shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 8(d), any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in
connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Holder or its related
Indemnified Holders 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 its Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a
Registration Statement exceeds the sum of (A) the amount paid by such Holder for
such Transfer Restricted Securities plus (B) the amount of any damages which the
Holder has been required to pay by reason of any 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(c) are several in proportion to the respective principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities held by each of the Holders hereunder and not
joint.
18
SECTION 9. RULE 144A
The Company hereby agrees with each Holder, for so long as any Transfer
Restricted Securities remain outstanding and during any period in which the
Company is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act, to
make available, upon request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, to
any Holder or beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted Securities in connection
with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted
Securities designated by such Holder or beneficial owner, the information
required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act in order to permit resales of such
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A.
SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) Remedies. The Company acknowledges and agrees that any failure by the
--------
Company to comply with its obligations under Sections 3 and 4 hereof may result
in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchaser 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 Purchaser 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. 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(d)(i), the Company has obtained the written consent
of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) in the
case of all other provisions hereof, the Company has obtained the written
consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer
Restricted Securities (excluding Transfer Restricted Securities held by the
Company of its Affiliates). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent
to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights
of Holders whose securities are being tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer
and that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights of other Holders
whose securities are not being tendered pursuant to such Exchange Offer may be
given by the Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities subject to such Exchange Offer.
19
(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 Purchaser, 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 its rights or the rights of Holders hereunder.
(e) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
-------
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail
(registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier, or air
courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(i) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of the
Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to the Registrar under the
Indenture; and
(ii) if to the Company:
Nationwide Credit, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
With a copy to:
Weil, Gotshal & Xxxxxx LLP
000 0xx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business
Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt
acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next business day, if timely delivered
to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the
address specified in the Indenture.
Upon the date of filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or a
Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, notice shall be delivered to
the Initial Purchaser (in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A) and shall be
addressed to: Xxxxxx Brothers Inc., 3 World Financial Center, 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, Attention: Syndicate Department. A copy of the notice
shall also be delivered to Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx, 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000, Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Esq.
20
(f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
----------------------
and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including
without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent
Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided, 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 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.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
21
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first written above.
NATIONWIDE CREDIT, INC.,
By: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
-------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: President and Chief Executive
Officer
XXXXXX BROTHERS INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President
22
EXHIBIT A
NOTICE OF FILING OF
A/B EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT
To: Xxxxxx Brothers Inc.
3 World Financial Center
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
From: Nationwide Credit, Inc.
___% Senior Notes
Date: ___, 1998
For your information only (NO ACTION REQUIRED):
Today, ______, 1998, we filed [an A/B Exchange Registration Statement/a
Shelf Registration Statement] with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We
currently expect this registration statement to be declared effective within __
business days of the date hereof.
23
