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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF JANUARY 15, 1998
BETWEEN
CENTURY COMMUNICATIONS CORP.
AND
XXXXXXX LYNCH, PIERCE, XXXXXX & XXXXX
INCORPORATED,
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (the "Agreement") is made and
entered into this fifteenth day of January, 1998, between Century Communications
Corp., a New Jersey corporation (the "Company"), and Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce,
Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated, (the "Initial Purchaser").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated
January 8, 1998, between the Company and the Initial Purchaser (the "Purchase
Agreement"), which provides for the sale by the Company to the Initial Purchaser
of an aggregate of $605 million principal amount at maturity of the Company's
Senior Discount Notes due 2008, Series A (the "Securities"). In order to induce
the Initial Purchaser to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company has
agreed to provide to the Initial Purchaser and its direct and indirect
transferees the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution
of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Purchase Agreement.
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized
defined terms shall have the following meanings:
"1933 Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time
to time.
"1934 Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
from time to time.
"Closing Date" shall mean the Closing Date as defined in the Purchase
Agreement.
"Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall
also include the Company's successors.
"Depositary" shall mean The Depository Trust Company, or any other
depository appointed by the Company, provided, however, that such
depositary must have an address in the Borough of Manhattan, in the City of
New York.
"Exchange Offer" shall mean the exchange offer by the Company of
Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.1
hereof.
"Exchange Offer Registration" shall mean a registration under the 1933
Act effected pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof.
"Exchange Offer Registration Statement" shall mean an exchange offer
registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another
appropriate form), and all amendments and supplements to such registration
statement, including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto
and all documents incorporated by reference therein.
"Exchange Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1
hereof.
"Exchange Securities" shall mean the Senior Discount Notes due 2008,
Series B issued by the Company under the Indenture containing terms
identical to the Securities in all material respects (except for references
to certain interest rate provisions, restrictions on transfers and
restrictive legends), to be offered to Holders of Securities in exchange
for Registrable Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
"Holder" shall mean the Initial Purchaser, for so long as it owns any
Registrable Securities, and each of its successors, assigns and direct and
indirect transferees who become registered owners of Registrable Securities
under the Indenture and each Participating Broker-Dealer that holds
Exchange Securities for so long as such Participating Broker-Dealer is
required to deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act
in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
"Indenture" shall mean the Indenture relating to the Securities, dated
as of January 15, 1998, between the Company and First Trust of California,
National Association, as trustee, as the same may be amended, supplemented,
waived or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms
thereof.
"Initial Purchaser" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
"Majority Holders" shall mean the Holders of a majority of the
aggregate principal amount of Outstanding (as defined in the Indenture)
Registrable Securities; provided that whenever the consent or approval of
Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required
hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company and other obligors on
the Securities or any Affiliate (as defined in the Indenture) of the
Company shall be disregarded in determining whether such consent or
approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage amount.
"Participating Broker-Dealer" shall mean any of Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce,
Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated and any other broker-dealer which makes a
market in the Securities and exchanges Registrable Securities in the
Exchange Offer for Exchange Securities.
"Person" shall mean an individual, partnership (general or limited),
corporation, limited liability company, trust or unincorporated
organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
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"Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus included in a Registration
Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as
amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including any such
prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any
portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration
Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to a prospectus,
including post-effective amendments, and in each case including all
material incorporated by reference therein.
"Purchase Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
"Registrable Securities" shall mean the Securities; provided, however,
that Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (i) a
Registration Statement with respect to such Securities shall have been
declared effective under the 1933 Act and such Securities shall have been
disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) such Securities
have been sold to the public pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar provision
then in force, but not Rule 144A) under the 1933 Act, (iii) such Securities
shall have ceased to be outstanding or (iv) the Exchange Offer is
consummated (except in the case of Securities purchased from the Company
and continued to be held by the Initial Purchaser).
"Registration Expenses" shall mean any and all expenses incident to
performance of or compliance by the Company with this Agreement, including
without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange or National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") registration and filing fees, including,
if applicable, the fees and expenses of any "qualified independent
underwriter" (and its counsel) that is required to be retained by any
holder of Registrable Securities in accordance with the rules and
regulations of the NASD, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection
with compliance with state securities or blue sky laws and compliance with
the rules of the NASD (including reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel for any underwriters or Holders in connection with blue sky
qualification of any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities
and any filings with the NASD), (iii) all expenses of any Persons in
preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing, printing and
distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any amendments or
supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements, securities sales
agreements and other documents relating to the performance of and
compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all fees and expenses incurred in
connection with the listing, if any, of any of the Registrable Securities
on any securities exchange or exchanges, (v) all rating agency fees, (vi)
the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and of the
independent public accountants for the Company, including the expenses of
any special audits or "cold comfort" letters required by or incident to
such performance and compliance, (vii) the fees and expenses of the
Trustee, and any escrow agent or custodian, (viii) the reasonable fees and
expenses of the Initial Purchaser in connection with the Exchange Offer,
including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Initial
Purchaser in connection therewith, (ix) the reasonable fees and
disbursements of
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Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx, special counsel representing the Holders of
Registrable Securities and (x) any fees and disbursements of the
underwriters customarily required to be paid by issuers or sellers of
securities and the fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the
Company in connection with any Registration Statement, but excluding
underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating
to the sale or disposition of Registrable Securities by a Holder.
"Registration Statement" shall mean any registration statement of the
Company which covers any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable
Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, and all amendments
and supplements to any such Registration Statement, including
post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained
therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference
therein.
"SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
successor agency or government body performing the functions currently
performed by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Shelf Registration" shall mean a registration effected pursuant to
Section 2.2 hereof.
"Shelf Registration Statement" shall mean a "shelf" registration
statement of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.2 of this
Agreement which covers all of the Registrable Securities on an appropriate
form under Rule 415 under the 1933 Act, or any similar rule that may be
adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such registration
statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the
Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material
incorporated by reference therein.
"Trustee" shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities under
the Indenture.
2. Registration Under the 0000 Xxx.
2.1 Exchange Offer. The Company shall, for the benefit of the Holders,
at the Company's cost, (A) prepare and, as soon as practicable but not later
than 90 days following the Closing Date, file with the SEC an Exchange Offer
Registration Statement on an appropriate form under the 1933 Act with respect to
a proposed Exchange Offer and the issuance and delivery to the Holders, in
exchange for the Registrable Securities, of a like principal amount of Exchange
Securities, (B) use its best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement to be declared effective under the 1933 Act within 180 days of the
Closing Date, (C) use its best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement effective until the closing of the Exchange Offer and (D) use its best
efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be consummated not later than 210 days
following the Closing Date. The Exchange Securities will be issued under the
Indenture. Upon the effectiveness of the
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Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly commence the
Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Exchange Offer to enable each
Holder eligible and electing to exchange Registrable Securities for Exchange
Securities (assuming that such Holder (a) is not an affiliate of the Company
within the meaning of Rule 405 under the 1933 Act, (b) is not a broker-dealer
tendering Registrable Securities acquired directly from the Company for its own
account, (c) acquired the Exchange Securities in the ordinary course of such
Holder's business and (d) has no arrangements or understandings with any Person
to participate in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of distributing the
Exchange Securities) to transfer such Exchange Securities from and after their
receipt without any limitations or restrictions under the 1933 Act and under
state securities or blue sky laws.
In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(a) mail as promptly as practicable to each Holder a copy of the
Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together
with an appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;
(b) keep the Exchange Offer open for acceptance for a period of not
less than 30 calendar days after the date notice thereof is mailed to the
Holders (or longer if required by applicable law) (such period referred to
herein as the "Exchange Period");
(c) utilize the services of the Depositary for the Exchange Offer;
(d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Registrable Securities at any
time prior to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), on the last business day of the Exchange
Period, by sending to the institution specified in the notice, a telegram,
telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of such Holder,
the principal amount of Registrable Securities delivered for exchange, and a
statement that such Holder is withdrawing such Holder's election to have such
Securities exchanged;
(e) notify each Holder that any Registrable Security not tendered will
remain outstanding and continue to accrue original issue discount, but will not
retain any rights under this Agreement (except in the case of the Initial
Purchaser and Participating Broker-Dealers as provided herein); and
(f) otherwise comply in all respects with all applicable laws relating
to the Exchange Offer.
The Exchange Securities shall be issued under (i) the Indenture or
(ii) an indenture identical in all material respects to the Indenture and which,
in either case, has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended (the "TIA"), or is exempt from such qualification and shall provide that
the Exchange Securities shall not be subject to the transfer restrictions set
forth in the Indenture. The Indenture or such indenture shall provide that the
Exchange Securities and the Securities shall vote and consent together on all
matters
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as one class and that none of the Exchange Securities or the Securities
will have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer, the
Company shall:
(i) accept for exchange all Registrable Securities duly tendered and
not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the
terms of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and the letter of
transmittal which shall be an exhibit thereto;
(ii) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable
Securities so accepted for exchange; and
(iii) cause the Trustee promptly to authenticate and deliver Exchange
Securities to each Holder of Registrable Securities so accepted for
exchange in a principal amount equal to the principal amount of the
Registrable Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.
Original issue discount on each Exchange Security will continue to
accrue from the date of original issuance. The Exchange Offer shall not be
subject to any conditions, other than (i) that the Exchange Offer, or the making
of any exchange by a Holder, does not violate applicable law or any applicable
interpretation of the staff of the SEC, (ii) the due tendering of Registrable
Securities in accordance with the Exchange Offer, (iii) that each Holder of
Registrable Securities exchanged in the Exchange Offer shall have represented
that all Exchange Securities to be received by it shall be acquired in the
ordinary course of its business and that at the time of the consummation of the
Exchange Offer it shall have no arrangement or understanding with any person to
participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the 0000 Xxx) of the
Exchange Securities and shall have made such other representations as may be
reasonably necessary under applicable SEC rules, regulations or interpretations
to render the use of Form S-4 or other appropriate form under the 1933 Act
available and (iv) that no action or proceeding shall have been instituted or
threatened in any court or by or before any governmental agency with respect to
the Exchange Offer which, in the Company's judgment, would reasonably be
expected to impair the ability of the Company to proceed with the Exchange
Offer. The Company shall inform the Initial Purchaser of the names and addresses
of the Holders to whom the Exchange Offer is made, and the Initial Purchaser
shall have the right to contact such Holders and otherwise facilitate the tender
of Registrable Securities in the Exchange Offer.
2.2 Shelf Registration. (i) If, because of any changes in law, SEC
rules or regulations or applicable interpretations thereof by the staff of the
SEC, the Company is not permitted to effect the Exchange Offer as contemplated
by Section 2.1 hereof, (ii) if for any other reason the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement is not declared effective within 180 days following the
original issue of the Registrable Securities or the Exchange Offer is not
consummated within 210 days after the original issue of the Registrable
Securities, (iii) upon
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the request of Initial Purchaser or (iv) if a Holder is not permitted to
participate in the Exchange Offer or does not receive fully traceable Exchange
Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer, then in case of each of clauses (i)
through (iv) the Company shall, at its cost:
(a) As promptly as practicable, but not later than the later of (a) 60
days after the Closing Date or (b) 30 days after such filing obligation
arises, file with the SEC, and thereafter shall use its best efforts to
cause to be declared effective as promptly as practicable but no later than
60 days after such obligation arises, a Shelf Registration Statement
relating to the offer and sale of the Registrable Securities by the Holders
from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution elected by
the Majority Holders participating in the Shelf Registration and set forth
in such Shelf Registration Statement.
(b) Use its best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement
continuously effective in order to permit the Prospectus forming part
thereof to be usable by Holders for a period of two years from the date the
Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, or for such
shorter period that will terminate when all Registrable Securities covered
by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement or cease to be outstanding or otherwise to be
Registrable Securities (the "Effectiveness Period"); provided, however,
that the Effectiveness Period in respect of the Shelf Registration
Statement shall be extended to the extent required to permit dealers to
comply with the applicable prospectus delivery requirements of Rule 174
under the 1933 Act and as otherwise provided herein.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, use its best efforts
to ensure that (i) any Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment
thereto and any Prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto
complies in all material respects with the 1933 Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder, (ii) any Shelf Registration Statement and any
amendment thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading and (iii) any Prospectus forming part of any Shelf Registration
Statement, and any supplement to such Prospectus (as amended or
supplemented from time to time), does not include an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make
the statements, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.
The Company shall not permit any securities other than Registrable
Securities to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement. The Company
further agrees, if necessary, to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration
Statement, as required by Section 3(b) below, and to furnish to the Holders of
Registrable Securities copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly after
its being used or filed with the SEC.
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2.3 Expenses. The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in
connection with the registration pursuant to Section 2.1 or 2.2. Each Holder
shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any,
relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder's Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.
2.4 Effectiveness. (a) The Company will be deemed not have used its
best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf
Registration Statement, as the case may be, to become, or to remain, effective
during the requisite period if the Company voluntarily takes any action that
would, or omits to take any action which omission would, result in any such
Registration Statement not being declared effective or in the Holders of
Registrable Securities covered thereby not being able to exchange or offer and
sell such Registrable Securities during that period as and to the extent
contemplated hereby, unless such action is required by applicable law.
(b) An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.1
hereof or a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof will not
be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the
SEC; provided, however, that if, after it has been declared effective, the
offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or a Shelf Registration Statement is interfered with by any stop
order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or any other
governmental agency or court, such Registration Statement will be deemed not to
have become effective during the period of such interference, until the offering
of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement may legally
resume.
2.5 Liquidated Damages. The Indenture executed in connection with the
Securities will provide that in the event that either (a) the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the 90th
calendar day following the date of original issue of the Securities, (b) the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement has not been declared effective on or
prior to the 180th calendar day following the date of original issue of the
Securities, (c) the Exchange Offer is not consummated on or prior to the 210th
calendar day following the date of original issue of the Securities or a Shelf
Registration Statement is not declared effective within 60 days after the
obligation to file such registration arose, (d) the Exchange Offer is required
to be consummated and the Company fails to issue Exchange Securities in exchange
for all Securities properly tendered and not withdrawn in the Exchange Offer
within 45 days of the date specified for the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, or
(e) the Shelf Registration Statement or the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement is declared effective but thereafter cease to be effective or usable
in connection with the Exchange Offer or resale of Registrable Securities, as
the case may be, during the periods specified herein (each such event referred
to in clauses (a) through (e) above, a "Registration Default"), the Company
shall pay as liquidated damages ("Liquidated Damages") on the Registrable
Securities at a rate of one-quarter of one percent per annum (the "Rate")
multiplied by the accreted value thereof upon the occurrence of each
Registration Default, the Rate will increase by one quarter of one percent each
90-day period (or portion thereof) that such Liquidated
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Damages continue to accrue under any such circumstance, provided that the
maximum aggregate increase in the interest rate will in no event exceed one
percent (1%) per annum. Following the cure of all Registration Defaults the
accrual of Liquidated Damages will cease and the interest rate will revert to
zero.
If the Shelf Registration Statement is unusable by the Holders for any
reason, and the aggregate number of days in any consecutive twelve-month period
for which the Shelf Registration Statement shall not be usable exceeds 30 days
in the aggregate, then the Company shall pay Liquidated Damages at a rate of
0.25% per annum of the accreted value of the Securities as of the date such
payment is required to be made for the first 90-day period (or portion thereof)
beginning on the 31st such date that such Shelf Registration Statement ceases to
be usable, which rate shall be increased by an additional 0.25% per annum of the
accreted value of the Securities at the beginning of each subsequent 90-day
period, provided that the maximum aggregate increase in the interest rate will
in no event exceed one percent (1%) per annum. Any amounts payable under this
paragraph shall also be deemed "Liquidated Damages" for purposes of this
Agreement. Upon the Shelf Registration Statement once again becoming usable, the
interest rate borne by the Securities will revert to zero if the Company is
otherwise in compliance with this Agreement at such time. Liquidated Damages
shall be computed based on the actual number of days elapsed in each 90-day
period in which the Shelf Registration Statement is unusable.
The Company shall notify the Trustee within three business days after
each and every date on which an event occurs in respect of which Liquidated
Damages are required to be paid (an "Event Date"). Liquidated Damages shall be
paid by depositing with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of
Registrable Securities, semiannually on each June 1 and December 1, commencing
with the first such date occurring after any such Liquidated Damages commence to
accrue in immediately available funds in sums sufficient to pay the Liquidated
Damages then due. The Liquidated Damages due shall be payable on each June 1 and
December 1 to the record Holder of Securities on May 15 and November 15,
respectively. Each obligation to pay Liquidated Damages shall be deemed to
accrue from and including the day following the applicable Event Date.
3. Registration Procedures.
In connection with the obligations of the Company with respect to
Registration Statements pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereof, the Company
shall:
(a) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement, within the
relevant time period specified in Section 2, on the appropriate form under the
1933 Act, which form (i) shall be selected by the Company, (ii) shall, in the
case of a Shelf Registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable
Securities by the selling Holders thereof, (iii) shall comply as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and include or
incorporate by reference all financial statements required by the SEC to be
filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein, and (iv) shall comply in
all respects with the requirements of Regulation S-T under the 1933 Act, and use
its best efforts
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to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective in
accordance with Section 2 hereof;
(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective
amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary under applicable
law to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period; and
cause each Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement,
and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar
provision then in force) under the 1933 Act and comply with the provisions of
the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable
to them with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by each
Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the
intended method or methods of distribution by the selling Holders thereof
(including sales by any Participating Broker-Dealer);
(c) in the case of a Shelf Registration, (i) notify each Holder of
Registrable Securities, at least five business days prior to filing, that a
Shelf Registration Statement with respect to the Registrable Securities is being
filed and advising such Holders that the distribution of Registrable Securities
will be made in accordance with the method selected by the Majority Holders
participating in the Shelf Registration; (ii) furnish to each Holder of
Registrable Securities and to each underwriter of an underwritten offering of
Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies of each
Prospectus, including each preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment or
supplement thereto and such other documents as such Holder or underwriter may
reasonably request, including financial statements and schedules and, if the
Holder so requests, all exhibits in order to facilitate the public sale or other
disposition of the Registrable Securities; and (iii) hereby consent to the use
of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling
Holders of Registrable Securities in connection with the offering and sale of
the Registrable Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto;
(d) use its best efforts to register or qualify the Registrable
Securities under all applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws of such
jurisdictions as any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a Registration
Statement and each underwriter of an underwritten offering of Registrable
Securities shall reasonably request by the time the applicable Registration
Statement is declared effective by the SEC, and do any and all other acts and
things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each such Holder
and underwriter to consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction of such
Registrable Securities owned by such Holder; provided, however, that the Company
shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in
securities in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to
qualify but for this Section 3(d), or (ii) take any action which would subject
it to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it
is not then so subject;
(e) notify promptly each Holder of Registrable Securities under a
Shelf Registration or any Participating Broker-Dealer who has notified the
Company that it is utilizing the Exchange Offer Registration Statement as
provided in paragraph (f) below and, if
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requested by such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, confirm such advice in
writing promptly (i) when a Registration Statement has become effective and when
any post-effective amendments and supplements thereto become effective, (ii) of
any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for post-effective
amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement and Prospectus or for
additional information after the Registration Statement has become effective,
(iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation
of any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) in the case of a Shelf Registration,
if, between the effective date of a Registration Statement and the closing of
any sale of Registrable Securities covered thereby, the representations and
warranties of the Company contained in any underwriting agreement, securities
sales agreement or other similar agreement, if any, relating to the offering
cease to be true and correct in all material respects, (v) of the happening of
any event or the discovery of any facts during the period a Shelf Registration
Statement is effective which makes any statement made in such Registration
Statement or the related Prospectus untrue in any material respect or which
requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement or Prospectus
in order to make the statements therein not misleading, (vi) of the receipt by
the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the
qualification of the Registrable Securities or the Exchange Securities, as the
case may be, for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of
any proceeding for such purpose and (vii) of any determination by the Company
that a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement would be
appropriate;
(f) (A) in the case of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (i)
include in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a section entitled "Plan of
Distribution" which section shall be reasonably acceptable to the Initial
Purchaser on behalf of the Participating Broker-Dealers, and which shall contain
a summary statement of the positions taken or policies made by the staff of the
SEC with respect to the potential "underwriter" status of any broker-dealer that
holds Registrable Securities acquired for its own account as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities and that will be the
beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of Exchange
Securities to be received by such broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer, whether
such positions or policies have been publicly disseminated by the staff of the
SEC or such positions or policies, in the reasonable judgment of the Initial
Purchaser on behalf of the Participating Broker-Dealers and its counsel,
represent the prevailing views of the staff of the SEC, including a statement
that any such broker-dealer who receives Exchange Securities for Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be deemed a statutory underwriter
and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act in
connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities, (ii) furnish to each
Participating Broker-Dealer who has delivered to the Company the notice referred
to in Section 3(e), without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus included
in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, including any preliminary
prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, as such Participating
Broker-Dealer may reasonably request, (iii) hereby consent to the use of the
Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or any
amendment or supplement thereto, by any Person subject to the prospectus
delivery requirements of the SEC, including all Participating Broker-Dealers, in
connection with the sale or transfer of the Exchange Securities covered by the
Prospectus or
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any amendment or supplement thereto, and (iv) include in the transmittal letter
or similar documentation to be executed by an exchange offeree in order to
participate in the Exchange Offer (x) the following provision:
"If the exchange offeree is a broker-dealer holding Registrable
Securities acquired for its own account as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities, it will deliver a prospectus
meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with any resale
of Exchange Securities received in respect of such Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer;" and
(y) a statement to the effect that by a broker-dealer making the acknowledgment
described in clause (x) and by delivering a Prospectus in connection with the
exchange of Registrable Securities, the broker-dealer will not be deemed to
admit that it is an underwriter within the meaning of the 1933 Act; and
(B) in the case of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the
Company agrees to deliver to the Initial Purchaser on behalf of the
Participating Broker-Dealers upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement (i) an opinion of counsel or opinions of counsel
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, (ii) officers'
certificates substantially in the form delivered in connection with the initial
sale of the Securities to the Initial Purchaser and (iii) a comfort letter or
comfort letters substantially in the form delivered in connection with the
initial sale of the Securities to the Initial Purchaser, with such modifications
necessary to reflect a registered offering, and consistent with Statement on
Auditing Standards No. 72 of the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants (or if such a comfort letter is not permitted, an agreed upon
procedures letter in customary form) from the Company's independent certified
public accountants (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public
accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the
Company for which financial statements are, or are required to be, included in
the Registration Statement) at least as broad in scope and coverage as the
comfort letter or comfort letters delivered to the Initial Purchaser in
connection with the initial sale of the Securities to the Initial Purchaser,
with such modifications necessary to reflect a registered offering;
(g) (i) in the case of an Exchange Offer, furnish counsel for the
Initial Purchaser and (ii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish counsel
for the Holders of Registrable Securities copies of any comment letters received
from the SEC or any other request by the SEC or any state securities authority
for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement and Prospectus or for
additional information;
(h) make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of any order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement at the earliest
possible moment;
(i) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of
Registrable Securities, and each underwriter, if any, without charge, at least
one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and any post-effective
amendment thereto, including financial
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statements and schedules (without documents incorporated therein by reference
and all exhibits thereto, unless requested);
(j) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the selling
Holders of Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and
delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not
bearing any restrictive legends; and enable such Registrable Securities to be in
such denominations (consistent with the provisions of the Indenture) and
registered in such names as the selling Holders or the underwriters, if any, may
reasonably request at least three business days prior to the closing of any sale
of Registrable Securities;
(k) in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon the occurrence of any
event or the discovery of any facts, each as contemplated by Sections 3(e)(v)
and 3(e)(vi) hereof, as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an
event, use its best efforts to prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment
to the Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any document
incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that,
as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities or
Participating Broker-Dealers, such Prospectus will not contain at the time of
such delivery any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or will remain so
qualified. At such time as such public disclosure is otherwise made or the
Company determines that such disclosure is not necessary, in each case to
correct any misstatement of a material fact or to include any omitted material
fact, the Company agrees promptly to notify each Holder of such determination
and to furnish each Holder such number of copies of the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented, as such Holder may reasonably request;
(l) in the case of a Shelf Registration, a reasonable time prior to
the filing of any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any amendment to a
Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to a Prospectus or any
document which is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement
or a Prospectus after the initial filing of a Registration Statement, provide
copies of such document to the Initial Purchaser on behalf of such Holders; and
make representatives of the Company as shall be reasonably requested by the
Holders of Registrable Securities, or the Initial Purchaser on behalf of such
Holders, available for discussion of such document;
(m) obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities or Registrable
Securities, as the case may be, not later than the effective date of a
Registration Statement, and provide the Trustee with global notes for the
Exchange Securities or the Registrable Securities, as the case may be, in a form
eligible for deposit with the Depositary;
(n) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA in connection
with the registration of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as
the case may be, (ii) cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders to effect such
changes to the Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to be so qualified
in accordance with the terms of the TIA and (iii)
-13-
execute, and use its best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents
as may be required to effect such changes, and all other forms and documents
required to be filed with the SEC to enable the Indenture to be so qualified in
a timely manner;
(o) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into agreements
(including underwriting agreements) and take all other customary and appropriate
actions in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable
Securities and in such connection whether or not an underwriting agreement is
entered into and whether or not the registration is an underwritten
registration:
(i) make such representations and warranties to the Holders of such
Registrable Securities and the underwriters, if any, in substantially the
same form, substance and scope as were made in connection with the initial
sale of the securities to the Initial Purchaser, with such modifications
necessary to reflect a registered offering;
(ii) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and updates thereof
(which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be
reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriters, if any, and the
holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities
being sold) addressed to each selling Holder and the underwriters, if any,
covering the matters covered in the opinions delivered in connection with
the initial sale of the Securities to the Initial Purchaser, with such
modifications necessary to reflect a registered offering;
(iii) obtain "cold comfort" letters and updates thereof from the
Company's independent certified public accountants (and, if necessary, any
other independent certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the
Company or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial
statements are, or are required to be, included in the Registration
Statement) addressed to the underwriters, if any, and use reasonable
efforts to have such letter addressed to the selling Holders of Registrable
Securities (to the extent consistent with Statement on Auditing Standards
No. 72 of the American Institute of Certified Public Accounts), such
letters to be substantially in the form and covering matters covered in
"cold comfort" letters delivered in connection with the initial sale of the
Securities to the Initial Purchaser, with such modifications necessary to
reflect a public offering;
(iv) enter into a securities sales agreement with the Holders and an
agent of the Holders providing for, among other things, the appointment of
such agent for the selling Holders for the purpose of soliciting purchases
of Registrable Securities, which agreement shall be in form, substance and
scope customary for similar offerings, but in any event consistent with the
Underwriting Agreement Basic Provisions dated March 8, 1990;
(v) if an underwriting agreement is entered into, cause the same to
set forth indemnification provisions and procedures substantially
equivalent to the
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indemnification provisions and procedures set forth in Section 4 hereof
with respect to the underwriters and all other parties to be indemnified
pursuant to said Section or, at the request of any underwriters, in the
form customarily provided to such underwriters in similar types of
transactions, but in any event consistent with the Underwriting Agreement
Basic Provisions dated March 8, 1990; and
(vi) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably
requested and as are customarily delivered in similar offerings to the
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities
being sold and the managing underwriters, if any.
The above shall be done at (i) the effectiveness of such Registration Statement
(and each post-effective amendment thereto) and (ii) each closing under any
underwriting or similar agreement as and to the extent required thereunder;
(p) in the case of a Shelf Registration or if a Prospectus is required
to be delivered by any Participating Broker-Dealer in the case of an Exchange
Offer, make available for inspection by representatives of the Holders of the
Registrable Securities, any underwriters participating in any disposition
pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement, any Participating Broker-Dealer and
any counsel or accountant retained by any of the foregoing, all financial and
other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company
reasonably requested by any such persons, and cause the respective officers,
directors, employees, and any other agents of the Company to supply all
information reasonably requested by any such representative, underwriter,
special counsel or accountant in connection with a Registration Statement, and
make such representatives of the Company available for discussion of such
documents as shall be reasonably requested by the Initial Purchaser;
(q) (i) in the case of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement, a
reasonable time prior to the filing of any Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, any Prospectus forming a part thereof, any amendment to an Exchange
Offer Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to such Prospectus,
provide copies of such document to the Initial Purchaser and to counsel to the
Holders of Registrable Securities and make such changes in any such document
prior to the filing thereof as the Initial Purchaser or counsel to the Holders
of Registrable Securities may reasonably request and, except as otherwise
required by applicable law, not file any such document in a form to which the
Initial Purchaser on behalf of the Holders of Registrable Securities and counsel
to the Holders of Registrable Securities shall not have previously been advised
and furnished a copy of or to which the Initial Purchaser on behalf of the
Holders of Registrable Securities or counsel to the Holders of Registrable
Securities shall reasonably object, and make the representatives of the Company
available for discussion of such documents as shall be reasonably requested by
the Initial Purchaser; and
(ii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, a reasonable time prior
to filing any Shelf Registration Statement, any Prospectus forming a part
thereof, any amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement or amendment or
supplement to such Prospectus, provide
-15-
copies of such document to the Holders of Registrable Securities, to the Initial
Purchaser, to counsel for the Holders and to the underwriter or underwriters of
an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, if any, make such changes in
any such document prior to the filing thereof as the Initial Purchaser, the
counsel to the Holders or the underwriter or underwriters reasonably request and
not file any such document in a form to which the Majority Holders, the Initial
Purchaser on behalf of the Holders of Registrable Securities, counsel for the
Holders of Registrable Securities or any underwriter shall not have previously
been advised and furnished a copy of or to which the Majority Holders, the
Initial Purchaser on behalf of the Holders of Registrable Securities, counsel to
the Holders of Registrable Securities or any underwriter shall reasonably
object, and make the representatives of the Company available for discussion of
such document as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders of Registrable
Securities, the Initial Purchaser on behalf of such Holders, counsel for the
Holders of Registrable Securities or any underwriter;
(r) in the case of a Shelf Registration, use its best efforts to cause
the Registrable Securities to be rated by the appropriate rating agencies, if so
requested by the Majority Holders, or if requested by the underwriter or
underwriters of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, if any;
(s) otherwise comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
SEC and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably
practicable, an earnings statement covering at least 12 months which shall
satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act and Rule 158 thereunder;
(t) cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with the
NASD and, in the case of a Shelf Registration, in the performance of any due
diligence investigation by any underwriter and its counsel (including any
"qualified independent underwriter" that is required to be retained in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the NASD); and
(u) upon consummation of an Exchange Offer, obtain a customary opinion
of counsel to the Company addressed to the Trustee for the benefit of all
Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Exchange Offer, and which
includes an opinion that (i) the Company has duly authorized, executed and
delivered the Exchange Securities, and the related indenture, and (ii) each of
the Exchange Securities and related indenture constitute a legal, valid and
binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance
with its respective terms (with customary exceptions).
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may (as a
condition to such Holder's participation in the Shelf Registration) require each
Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Company such information
regarding the Holder and the proposed distribution by such Holder of such
Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request
in writing.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder agrees
that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event
or the discovery of
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any facts, each of the kind described in Section 3(e)(v) hereof, such Holder
will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a
Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(k) hereof, and, if
so directed by the Company, such Holder will deliver to the Company (at its
expense) all copies in such Holder's possession, other than permanent file
copies then in such Holder's possession, of the Prospectus covering such
Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.
In the event that the Company fails to effect the Exchange Offer or
file any Shelf Registration Statement and maintain the effectiveness of any
Shelf Registration Statement as provided herein, the Company shall not file any
Registration Statement with respect to any securities (within the meaning of
Section 2(1) of the 0000 Xxx) of the Company other than Registrable Securities.
If any of the Registrable Securities covered by any Shelf Registration
Statement are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the underwriter or
underwriters and manager or managers that will manage such offering will be
selected by the Majority Holders of such Registrable Securities included in such
offering and shall be acceptable to the Company. No Holder of Registrable
Securities may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless
such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder's Registrable Securities on the basis
provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the persons entitled
hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all
questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and
other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
4. Indemnification; Contribution.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Initial
Purchaser, each Holder, each Participating Broker-Dealer, each Person who
participates as an underwriter (any such Person being an "Underwriter") and each
Person, if any, who controls any Holder or Underwriter within the meaning of
Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act as follows:
(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and or
liability, joint or several, and any action in respect thereof, arising out
of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any Registration Statement (or any amendment or
supplement thereto) pursuant to which Exchange Securities or Registrable
Securities were registered under the 1933 Act, including all documents
incorporated therein by reference, or arising out of or based upon the
omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto) or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements
-17-
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; and
(ii) any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in
investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any such loss,
claim. damage, liability or action;
provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss,
liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the
Holder or Underwriter expressly for use in a Registration Statement (or any
amendment thereto) or any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability the
Company may have to each person indemnified pursuant to this paragraph (a).
(b) Each Holder severally, but not jointly, agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, the Initial Purchaser, each Underwriter and the other
selling Holders, and each of their respective directors and officers, and each
Person, if any, who controls the Company, the Initial Purchaser, any Underwriter
or any other selling Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or
Section 20 of the 1934 Act, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage
and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 4(a) hereof, as
incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged
untrue statements or omissions, made in the Shelf Registration Statement (or any
amendment thereto) or any Prospectus included therein (or any amendment or
supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
with respect to such Holder furnished to the Company by such Holder expressly
for use in the Shelf Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or such
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto); provided, however, that no
such Holder shall be liable for any claims hereunder in excess of the amount of
net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities
pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement.
The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability such
Holder may have to each person indemnified pursuant to this paragraph (b).
(c) Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably
practicable to each indemnifying party of any action or proceeding commenced
against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure so
to notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from
any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a
result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it
may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. An indemnifying
party may participate at its own expense in the defense of such action;
provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with
the consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party.
In no event shall the
-18-
indemnifying party or parties be liable for the fees and expenses of more than
one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel
for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but
similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same
general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the
prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or
consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any
investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or
threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or
contribution could be sought under this Section 4 (whether or not the
indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such
settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each
indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation,
investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to
or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any
indemnified party.
(d) If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an
indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of
counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any
settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 4(a)(ii) effected without its
written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after
receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such
indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at
least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such
indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in
accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.
(e) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 4 is for any
reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in
respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to
therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount
of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such
indemnified party, as incurred, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Holders and the
Initial Purchaser on the other hand in connection with the statements or
omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or
expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Holders and
the Initial Purchaser on the other hand shall be determined by reference to,
among other things, whether any such 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, the Holders or the Initial Purchaser and
the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity
to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company, the Holders and the Initial Purchaser agree that it would
not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4 were
determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which
does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this
Section 4. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities,
-19-
claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to
above in this Section 4 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or
defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any
governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever
based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4, the Initial
Purchaser shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount
by which the total price at which the Securities sold by it were offered exceeds
the amount of any damages which the Initial Purchaser 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 0000 Xxx) shall be entitled to contribution from any
Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
For purposes of this Section 4, each Person, if any, who controls the
Initial Purchaser or Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or
Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the
Initial Purchaser or Holder, and each director of the Company, and each Person,
if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933
Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as
the Company.
5. Miscellaneous.
5.1 Rule 144 and Rule 144A. For so long as the Company is subject to
the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15 of the 1934 Act, the Company
covenants that it will file the reports required to be filed by it under the
1933 Act and Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the 1934 Act and the rules and
regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder. If the Company ceases to be so
required to file such reports, the Company covenants that it will upon the
request of any Holder of Registrable Securities (a) make publicly available such
information as is necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144 under the 1933
Act, (b) deliver such information to a prospective purchaser as is necessary to
permit sales pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act and it will take such
further action as any Holder of Registrable Securities may reasonably request,
and (c) take such further action that is reasonable in the circumstances, in
each case, to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to
sell its Registrable Securities without registration under the 1933 Act within
the limitation of the exemptions provided by (i) Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, as
such Rule may be amended from time to time, (ii) Rule 144A under the 1933 Act,
as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or (iii) any similar rules or
regulations hereafter adopted by the SEC. Upon the request of any Holder of
Registrable Securities, the Company will deliver to such Holder a written
statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.
-20-
5.2 No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not entered into and
the Company will not after the date of this Agreement enter into any agreement
which is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable
Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.
The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not and will not for the term of
this Agreement in any way conflict with the rights granted to the holders of the
Company's other issued and outstanding securities under any such agreements.
5.3 Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement,
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof
may not be given unless the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders
of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement,
waiver or departure.
5.4 Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, registered
first-class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight
delivery (a) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to
the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 5.4, which address initially is the address set forth in the Purchase
Agreement with respect to the Initial Purchaser; and (b) if to the Company,
initially at the Company's address set forth in the Purchase Agreement, and
thereafter at such other address of which notice is given in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 5.4.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; two business days
after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered
back, if telexed; when receipt is 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 under the
Indenture, at the address specified in such Indenture.
5.5 Successor and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees 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 Registrable Securities
in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture. If any
transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any manner,
whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be
held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding
such Registrable Securities such person shall be conclusively deemed to have
agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this
Agreement, including the restrictions on resale
-21-
set forth in this Agreement and, if applicable, the Purchase Agreement, and such
person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.
5.6 Third Party Beneficiaries. The Initial Purchaser (even if the
Initial Purchaser is not Holders of Registrable Securities) shall be third party
beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one
hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce
such agreements directly to the extent they deem such enforcement necessary or
advisable to protect their rights or the rights of Holders hereunder. Each
Holder of Registrable Securities shall be a third party beneficiary 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 it deems such enforcement necessary or
advisable to protect its rights hereunder.
5.7 Specific Enforcement. Without limiting the remedies available to
the Initial Purchaser and the Holders, the Company acknowledges that any failure
by the Company to comply with its obligations under Sections 2.1 through 2.4
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 would 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 2.1 through 2.4 hereof.
5.8 Restriction on Resales. Until the expiration of two years after
the original issuance of the Securities, the Company will not, and will cause
their "affiliates" (as such term is defined in Rule 144(a)(1) under the 0000
Xxx) not to, resell any Securities which are "restricted securities" (as such
term is defined under Rule 144(a)(3) under the 0000 Xxx) that have been
reacquired by any of them and shall immediately upon any purchase of any such
Securities submit such Securities to the Trustee for cancellation.
5.9 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.
5.10 Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
5.11 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS THEREOF.
5.12 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
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respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected
or impaired thereby.
-23-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
CENTURY COMMUNICATIONS CORP.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Bail
-------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxxx X. Bail
Title: Vice President-Legal Affairs
and Corporate Counsel
Confirmed and accepted as
of the date first above
written:
XXXXXXX LYNCH, PIERCE, XXXXXX & XXXXX
INCORPORATED
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
-----------------------------------
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Authorized Signatory
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Exhibit A
FORM OF OPINION OF COUNSEL
Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx
Incorporated
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx World Headquarters
Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Century Communications Corp., a New Jersey
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the sale by the Company to the
Initial Purchaser (as defined below) of $605,000,000 aggregate principal amount
at maturity of Senior Discount Notes due 2008 (the "Notes") of the Company
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement dated January 8, 1998 (the "Purchase
Agreement") between the Company and Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx
Incorporated (the "Initial Purchaser") and the filing by the Company of an
Exchange Offer Registration Statement (the "Registration Statement") in
connection with an Exchange Offer to be effected pursuant to the Registration
Rights Agreement (the "Registration Rights Agreement"), dated January 15, 1998,
between the Company and the Initial Purchaser. This opinion is furnished to you
pursuant to Section 3(f)(B) of the Registration Rights Agreement. Unless
otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used in this opinion that are
defined in the Registration Rights Agreement are used herein as so defined.
We have examined such documents, records and matters of law as we have
deemed necessary for purposes of this opinion. In rendering this opinion, as to
all matters of fact relevant to this opinion, we have assumed the completeness
and accuracy of, and are relying solely upon, the representations and warranties
of the Company set forth in the Purchase Agreement and the statements set forth
in certificates of public officials and officers of the Company, without making
any independent investigation or inquiry with respect to the completeness or
accuracy of such representations, warranties or statements, other than a review
of the certificate of incorporation, by-laws and relevant minute books of the
Company.
Based on and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
1. The Exchange Offer Registration Statement and the
Prospectus (other than the financial statements, notes or schedules thereto and
other financial data and supplemental schedules included or incorporated by
reference therein or omitted therefrom and the Form T-1, as to which such
counsel need express no opinion), comply as to form in
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all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the applicable
rules and regulations promulgated under the 1933 Act.
2. We have participated in the preparation of the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus and in the course thereof have had discussions with
representatives of the Underwriters, officers and other representatives of the
Company and [name of accounting firm], the Company's independent public
accountants, during which the contents of the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus were discussed. We have not, however, independently verified and are
not passing upon, and do not assume any responsibility for, the accuracy,
completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus. Based on our participation as described above,
nothing has come to our attention that would lead us to believe that the
Registration Statement (except for financial statements and schedules and other
financial data included therein as to which we make no statement) 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 or any amendment or supplement thereto (except for
financial statements and schedules and other financial data included therein, as
to which such counsel need make no statement), at the time the Prospectus was
issued, at the time any such amended or supplemented Prospectus was issued or at
the Closing Date, included or includes an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted or omits 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.
This opinion is being furnished to you solely for your benefit in
connection with the transactions contemplated by the Registration Rights
Agreement, and may not be used for any other purpose or relied upon by any
person other than you. Except with our prior written consent, the opinions
herein expressed are not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise referred to
in connection with any transactions other than those contemplated by the
Registration Rights Agreement by or to any other person.
Very truly yours,
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