Registration Rights Agreement Dated as of May 12, 2006 between Jersey Central Power & Light Company, as Issuer and UBS Securities LLC and Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc., as Representatives of the Initial Purchasers
EXHIBIT
10.3
EXECUTION
COPY
Dated
as of May 12,
2006
between
Jersey
Central Power
& Light Company,
as
Issuer
and
UBS
Securities LLC
and
Greenwich
Capital
Markets, Inc.,
as
Representatives
of the Initial Purchasers
NY
#709062
v6
This
Registration
Rights Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into this 12th
day
of May, 2006, by
and between Jersey Central Power & Light Company, a New Jersey corporation
(the “Issuer”) and UBS Securities LLC and Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc., as
representatives of the Initial Purchasers (as defined below).
This
Agreement is
made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated May 9, 2006 (the “Purchase
Agreement”), between the Issuer and the Initial Purchasers, which provides for
the sale by the Issuer to the Initial Purchasers of $200,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of the Issuer’s 6.40% Senior Notes due 2036 (the “Notes”).
In order to
induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Issuer
has agreed to provide to the Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect
transferees the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution
and delivery 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 Time as defined in the Purchase Agreement.
“Depositary”
shall
mean The
Depository Trust Company, or any other depositary appointed by the Issuer,
provided,
however, that such
depositary must have an address in the Borough of Manhattan, in The City of
New
York and, provided further,
that if the Notes
are not held in book-entry form, references herein to the Depositary shall
be
deemed to refer to the Holders.
“Exchange
Notes”
shall
mean the
Issuer’s 6.40% Exchange Senior Notes due 2036 containing terms identical the
$200,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuer’s 6.40% Senior Notes due
2036 in all material respects (except in each case for references to certain
interest rate provisions, restrictions on transfers and restrictive legends),
to
be offered to Holders of Notes in exchange for Registrable Notes pursuant to
the
Exchange Offer.
“Exchange
Offer”
shall
mean the
exchange offer by the Issuer of Exchange Notes for Registrable Notes pursuant
to
Section 2.1 hereof.
2
“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.
“Holder”
shall
mean any
beneficial owner from time to time of Registrable Notes (including any of the
Initial Purchasers, for so long as it owns any Registrable Notes).
“Indenture”
shall
mean the
Senior Note Indenture relating to the Notes, dated as of July 1, 1999 among
the
Issuer, and The Bank of New York, successor to United States Trust Company
of
New York, as trustee, as the same may be amended, supplemented, waived or
otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms
thereof.
“Initial
Purchasers”
shall
mean UBS
Securities LLC, Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc., Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.
and
BNY Capital Markets, Inc.
“Issuer”
shall
have the
meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include the Issuer’s
successors.
“Majority
Holders”
shall
mean the
Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Outstanding (as
defined in the Indenture) Registrable Notes of each series; provided that
whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of
Registrable Notes is required hereunder, Registrable Notes held by the Issuer
or
any Affiliate (as defined in the Indenture) of the Issuer shall be disregarded
in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of
such
required percentage amount.
“Notes”
shall
have the
meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Participating
Broker-Dealer”
shall
mean UBS
Securities LLC and Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc. and any other broker-dealer
which makes a market in the Notes and exchanges Registrable Notes in the
Exchange Offer for Exchange Notes.
“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.
“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 Notes covered by a Shelf
Registration Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to a
prospectus, including pre-effective and post-effective amendments, and in each
case including all documents incorporated by reference therein.
3
“Purchase
Agreement”
shall
have the
meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Registrable
Notes”
shall
mean the
Notes of any Holder; provided,
however,
that such Notes
shall cease to be Registrable Notes when (i) a Registration Statement with
respect to such Notes shall have been declared or otherwise become effective
under the 1933 Act and such Notes shall have been disposed of pursuant to such
Registration Statement, (ii) such Notes are eligible for resale to the
public pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force, but not
Rule 144A) under the 1933 Act, (iii) such Notes shall have ceased to be
outstanding or (iv) the Exchange Offer is consummated (except in the case
of Notes purchased from the Issuer and continued to be held by the Initial
Purchasers).
“Registration
Expenses”
shall
mean any and
all expenses incident to performance of or compliance by the Issuer with this
Agreement, regardless of whether a Registration Statement becomes effective,
including without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange or National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “NASD”) registration and filing
fees, including, if applicable, the reasonable fees and expenses of any
“qualified independent underwriter” (and its counsel) that is required to be
retained by any Holder of Registrable Notes in accordance with the rules and
regulations of the NASD, (ii) all reasonable 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 Notes or Registrable Notes 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 Notes on any securities exchange or exchanges, (v) all rating
agency fees, (vi) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Issuer and
of the independent public accountants of the Issuer, 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 Purchasers in connection with the Exchange Offer, including the
reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Initial Purchasers in connection
therewith, and (ix) any reasonable fees and disbursements of the
underwriters customarily required to be paid by issuers or sellers of securities
and the reasonable fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the
Issuer 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 Notes by a Holder, it being understood that in no
event shall the Issuer be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one
counsel (in addition to any local counsel) in connection with registration
pursuant to either Section 2.1 or 2.2.
4
“Registration
Statement”
shall
mean any
registration statement of the Issuer which covers any of the Exchange Notes
or
Registrable Notes pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, and all
amendments and supplements to any such Registration Statement, including
pre-effective and post-effective amendments, in each case including the
Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all documents
incorporated by reference therein.
“SEC”
shall
mean the
United States 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 Issuer pursuant to the provisions of
Section 2.2 of this Agreement which covers all of the Registrable Notes, of
each
series, 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
documents incorporated by reference therein.
“Trustee”
shall
mean the
trustee with respect to the Notes under the Indenture.
2.
Registration
Under the 0000 Xxx.
2.1
Exchange
Offer. The Issuer shall (A) prepare and, as soon as practicable
following the Closing Date, file with the SEC an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement with respect to a proposed Exchange Offer and the issuance and
delivery to the Holders, in exchange for the Registrable Notes of each series,
a
like principal amount of Exchange Notes of such series, (B) use its
reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
to be
declared effective under the 1933 Act not later than 180 calendar days following
the Closing Date, (C) use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement effective until the closing of the Exchange Offer
and (D) use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be
consummated within 210 calendar days following the Closing Date. The Exchange
Notes will be issued under the Indenture. Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement, the Issuer shall promptly commence the Exchange
Offer, it being the objective of such Exchange Offer to enable each Holder
eligible and electing to exchange Registrable Notes for Exchange Notes (assuming
that such Holder (a) is not an affiliate of the Issuer within the meaning
of Rule 405 under the 1933 Act, (b) is not a broker-dealer tendering
Registrable Notes acquired directly from the Issuer for its own account,
(c) acquired the Exchange Notes 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
Notes) to transfer such Exchange Notes from and after their receipt without
any
limitations or restrictions under the 1933 Act and without material restrictions
under the securities laws of a majority of the several states of the United
States.
5
In
connection with
the Exchange Offer, the Issuer shall:
(a) mail
to the
Depositary a copy of the Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement together with an appropriate letter of transmittal and
related documents;
(b) use
its reasonable
best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer open for acceptance for a period of
not
less than 20 business days after the date notice thereof is mailed to the
Depositary (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 Notes 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, the principal
amount of Registrable Notes delivered for exchange, and a statement that such
Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Notes exchanged;
(e) notify
the
Depositary that any Registrable Notes not tendered will remain outstanding
and
continue to accrue interest, but will not retain any rights under this Agreement
(except in the case of the Initial Purchasers and Participating Broker-Dealers
as provided herein); and
(f) otherwise
comply in
all respects with all applicable laws relating to the Exchange
Offer.
As
soon as
practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer, the Issuer
shall:
(i) accept
for exchange
all Registrable Notes 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 Notes so accepted for exchange;
and
(iii) cause
the Trustee
promptly to authenticate and deliver the respective Exchange Notes to each
Holder of Registrable Notes so accepted for exchange in a principal amount
equal
to the principal amount of the Registrable Notes of such Holder so accepted
for
exchange.
The
Issuer shall use
its reasonable best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
effective and to amend and supplement the Prospectus contained therein, in
order
to permit such Prospectus to be lawfully delivered by all Participating
Broker-Dealers subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the 1933
Act
for such period of time as such Participating Broker-Dealers must comply with
such requirements in order to resell the Exchange Notes; provided, however,
that
(i) such period shall be the lesser of 90 days after the consummation of
the Exchange Offer and the date on which all Participating Broker-Dealers have
sold all Exchange Notes held by them (unless such period is extended pursuant
to
Section 3(k) below) and (ii) the Issuer shall make such Prospectus,
and any amendment or supplement thereto, available to any such Participating
Broker-Dealer for use in connection with any resale of any Exchange Notes for
a
period of the lesser of 90 days after the consummation of the Exchange Offer
and
the date on which all Participating Broker-Dealers have sold all Exchange Notes
held by them (unless such period is extended pursuant to Section 3(k)
below).
6
Interest
on the
Exchange Notes of each series will accrue from the most recent interest payment
date to which interest has been paid on the respective Registrable Notes
surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid on such
Registrable Notes, from the Closing Date. 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 Notes in accordance with the Exchange Offer, (iii) that each
Holder of Registrable Notes exchanged in the Exchange Offer shall have
represented (x) that all Exchange Notes to be received by it shall be
acquired in the ordinary course of its business (y) that it is not an
affiliate of the Issuer and (z) 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 Notes 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 judgment of the Issuer, would reasonably
be
expected to impair the ability of the Issuer to proceed with the Exchange Offer.
The Issuer shall inform the Initial Purchasers of the names and addresses of
the
Holders to whom the Exchange Offer is made, and the Initial Purchasers shall
have the right to contact such Holders and otherwise facilitate the tender
of
Registrable Notes in the Exchange Offer. Each Holder of Registrable Notes who
wishes to exchange such Registrable Notes for Exchange Notes in the Exchange
Offer will be required to make certain customary representations in connection
therewith, including representations that (i) that all Exchange Notes to be
received by it were acquired in the ordinary course of its business, (ii)
that it is not an affiliate of the Issuer and (iii) 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 Notes 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. Each Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that any
Participating Broker-Dealer and any such Holder using the Exchange Offer to
participate in a distribution of the Exchange Notes: (1) could not under
SEC policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement rely on the position
of
the SEC enunciated in Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991)
and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as
interpreted in the SEC’s letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2,
1993, and similar no-action letters (including any no-action letter obtained
based on the representation in clause (i) above), and
(2) must
comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the 1933
Act in connection with the secondary resale transaction and that such a
secondary resale transaction should be covered by an effective registration
statement containing the selling security holder information required by Items
507 and 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K, the SEC standard instructions
for
filing forms under the 1933 Act, if the resales are of Exchange Notes obtained
by such Holder in exchange for Notes acquired by such Holder directly from
the
Issuer or an affiliate of the Issuer.
7
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
Issuer is not permitted to effect the Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section
2.1 hereof, (ii) if for any other reason (A) the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement is not declared effective within 180 calendar days
following the Closing Date or (B) the Exchange Offer is not consummated
within 210 calendar days after the Closing Date (provided that the Issuer is
not
then actively pursuing such effectiveness or consummation, as the case may
be),
(iii) upon the written request of the Initial Purchasers with respect to
any Registrable Notes which it acquired directly from the Issuer, (iv) upon
the written request of any Holder that either (A) is not permitted pursuant
to applicable law, SEC rules and regulations or applicable interpretations
thereof by the staff of the SEC to participate in the Exchange Offer or
(B) participates in the Exchange Offer and does not receive fully tradable
Exchange Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer, or (v) if the Issuer so
elects, then in case of each of clauses (i) through (v) the Issuer shall, at
its
cost:
(a) As
promptly as
practicable, file with the SEC, and thereafter shall use its reasonable best
efforts to cause to be declared or otherwise become effective as promptly as
practicable but no later than 180 calendar days after the Closing Date, a Shelf
Registration Statement relating to the offer and sale of the Registrable Notes
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 reasonable
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 ending on the earliest of (i) two years from the Closing Date,
(ii) the date on which the Registrable Notes become eligible for resale
without volume limitations pursuant to Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, or
(iii) for such shorter period that will terminate when all Registrable
Notes of each series 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 Notes.
(c) Notwithstanding
any
other provisions hereof, use its reasonable 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.
8
The
Issuer further
agrees, if necessary, to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement,
as required by Section 3(b) below, and to furnish to the Depositary copies
of
any such supplement or amendment as promptly as reasonably practicable after
its
being used or filed with the SEC.
No
Holder of
Registrable Notes shall be entitled to include any of its Registrable Notes
in
any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until
such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by all of the provisions of this
Agreement applicable to such Holder and furnishes to the Issuer in writing,
within 15 days after receipt of a request therefor, such information as the
Issuer may, after conferring with counsel with regard to information relating
to
Holders that would be required by the SEC to be included in such Shelf
Registration Statement or Prospectus included therein, reasonably request for
inclusion in any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus included therein.
Each Holder as to which any Shelf Registration is being effected agrees promptly
to furnish to the Issuer all information with respect to such Holder necessary
to make the information previously furnished to the Issuer by such Holder not
materially misleading.
2.3
Expenses.
The
Issuer 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 Notes pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement.
2.4
Effectiveness.
(a) The
Issuer will be
deemed not to have used its reasonable 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 Issuer
voluntarily takes any action that would, or omits to take any action which
omission would, result in any such Registration Statement not being declared
or
otherwise becoming effective or in the Holders of Registrable Notes covered
thereby not being able to exchange or offer and sell such Registrable Notes
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 or otherwise become
effective under the 1933 Act; provided, however, that if, after it has been
declared or otherwise become effective, the offering of Registrable Notes
pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement is interfered with by any stop order,
injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or any other governmental
agency or court, such Registration Statement will be deemed not to have become
effective during the period of such interference until the offering of
Registrable Notes pursuant to such Registration Statement may legally
resume.
2.5
Interest.
The
Notes will provide that if the Exchange Offer is not consummated and the Shelf
Registration Statement is not declared or does not otherwise become effective
on
or prior to the date that is 210 days after the Closing Date, the interest
rate
on the Notes will be increased by 0.25% per annum commencing on the date that
is
210 days after the Closing Date, until the Exchange Offer is consummated or
the
Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC or has otherwise
become effective; provided, that in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement,
if the Issuer is unable to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to become
effective because Holders of Registrable Notes have not provided information
with respect to themselves as required by law to be included therein pursuant
to
the Issuer’s request as provided herein, such 0.25% increase in the interest
rate shall be payable only to Holders that have furnished such information
required by law to be included therein to the Issuer pursuant to its request
hereunder from but excluding the date such information is provided to the Issuer
to but excluding the date the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective
by the SEC or otherwise became effective.
9
2.6
Specific
Enforcement. Without limiting the remedies available to the Initial
Purchasers and the Holders, the Issuer acknowledges that any failure by the
Issuer to comply with its obligations under Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereof may
result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders
for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible
to
measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such
failure, the Initial Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may
be
required to specifically enforce the Issuer’s obligations under Sections 2.1 and
2.2 hereof.
3.
Registration
Procedures. In connection with the obligations of the Issuer with respect to
Registration Statements pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereof, the Issuer
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 Issuer, (ii) shall in the case of a Shelf
Registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Notes 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 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 under the 1933 Act and comply with the provisions
of
the 1933 Act 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;
(c) in
the case of a
Shelf Registration, (i) notify the Depositary, at least five (5) business
days prior to filing, that a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to the
Registrable Notes is being filed and advising the Depositary that the
distribution of Registrable Notes will be made in accordance with the method
selected by the Majority Holders participating in the Shelf Registration;
(ii) furnish to the Depositary and to each underwriter of an underwritten
offering of Registrable Notes, 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 the Depositary or underwriter
may
reasonably request, including financial statements and schedules and, if the
Depositary so requests, all exhibits in order to facilitate the public sale
or
other disposition of the Registrable Notes; and (iii) hereby consent to the
use of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the
selling Holders of Registrable Notes in connection with the offering and sale
of
the Registrable Notes covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto;
10
(d) use
its best efforts
to register or qualify the Registrable Notes under all applicable state
securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder of Registrable
Notes covered by a Registration Statement and each underwriter of an
underwritten offering of Registrable Notes shall reasonably request in writing
by the time the applicable Registration Statement is declared effective by
the
SEC or has otherwise become effective under the 1933 Act, 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 Notes owned by such Holder; provided, however,
that the Issuer 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 Notes under a Shelf Registration or any Participating
Broker-Dealer who has notified the Issuer that it is utilizing the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement as provided in paragraph (f) below, and, if
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 Notes covered
thereby, the representations and warranties of the Issuer 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 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, and (vi) of the receipt by the Issuer of any notification with
respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Notes or
the
Exchange Notes, as the case may be, for sale in any jurisdiction or the
initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose;
11
(f) in
the case of the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement (i) include in the Prospectus
contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a section entitled “Plan
of Distribution” which section shall be reasonably acceptable to the Initial
Purchasers or another representative of the Participating Broker-Dealers and
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 Notes 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 Notes 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 Purchasers and their counsel, represent the prevailing views of the
staff of the SEC, including a statement that any such broker-dealer who receives
Exchange Notes for Registrable Notes 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
Notes, (ii) furnish to each Participating Broker-Dealer who has delivered
to the Issuer 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 requirement of the SEC, including all
Participating Broker-Dealers, in connection with the sale or transfer of the
Exchange Notes covered by the Prospectus or 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 Notes 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 Notes received in respect of such Registrable Notes
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 Notes, the broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it
is
an underwriter within the meaning of the 1933 Act;
(g) (i) in
the case
of an Exchange Offer, furnish counsel for the Initial Purchasers and
(ii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish counsel for the Holders
of Registrable Notes, 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;
12
(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 the Depositary, and each underwriter, if any,
without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement
and
any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial 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 Notes
to
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing
Registrable Notes to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and enable
such Registrable Notes 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 (3) business
days prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable Notes;
(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)(ii), 3(e)(iv), 3(e)(v) and 3(e)(vi)
hereof, 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 Notes 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; and notify each Holder
to suspend use of the Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence
of such an event, and each Holder hereby agrees to suspend use of the Prospectus
until such time as such Holder has received from the Issuer an amended or
supplemented Prospectus correcting such misstatement or omission;
(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
initial filing of a Registration Statement, provide copies of such document
to
the Initial Purchasers on behalf of such Holders; and make representatives
of
the Issuer as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders of Registrable Notes,
or the Initial Purchasers on behalf of such Holders, available for discussion
of
such document;
(m) obtain
a CUSIP
number for all Exchange Notes or Registrable Notes, as the case may be, not
later than the effective date of a Registration Statement, and provide the
Trustee with printed certificates for the Exchange Notes or the Registrable
Notes, as the case may be, in a form eligible for deposit with the
Depositary;
(n) (i) cause
the
Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended
(the
“TIA”), in connection with the registration of the Exchange Notes or Registrable
Notes, 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) 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;
13
(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 Notes 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 Notes and
the
underwriters, if any, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made
by
issuers to underwriters in similar underwritten offerings as may be reasonably
requested by them;
(ii) obtain
opinions of
counsel to the Issuer 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 Notes of each series being sold) addressed to each selling Holder
and the underwriters, if any, covering the matters customarily covered in
opinions requested in sales of securities or underwritten offerings and such
other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Holders and
underwriters;
(iii) if
requested by any
selling Holder of Registrable Notes or underwriter, obtain “cold comfort”
letters and updates thereof from the independent registered public accounting
firm of the Company who have certified the financial statements and any other
entity included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement
addressed to the such underwriters, if any, and use reasonable efforts to have
such letter addressed to the selling Holders of Registrable Notes (to the extent
consistent with SAS 72), such letters to be in customary form and covering
matters of the type customarily covered in “cold comfort” letters to
underwriters in connection with similar underwritten offerings;
(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 Notes, which
agreement shall be in form, substances and scope customary for similar
offerings;
(v) if
an underwriting
agreement is entered into, cause the same to set forth indemnification
provisions and procedures substantially equivalent to the indemnification
provisions and procedures set forth in Sections 4 and 5 hereof with respect
to
the underwriters and all other parties to be indemnified pursuant to said
Sections or, at the request of any underwriters, in the form customarily
provided to such underwriters in similar types of transactions; and
14
(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 Notes of each series 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 thereof) 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, make available for inspection by representatives of the
Holders of the Registrable Notes and any underwriters participating in any
disposition pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement and any counsel or
accountant retained by such Holders or underwriters, all financial and other
records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Issuer reasonably
requested by any such persons and use its reasonable best efforts to cause
the
respective officers, directors, employees, and any other agents of the Issuer
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 Issuer available for discussion
of such documents as shall be reasonably requested by the Initial
Purchasers;
(q)
(i) in the case of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement, within 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 Purchasers and make such changes
in any such document prior to the filing thereof as the Initial Purchasers
may
reasonably request and, except as otherwise required by applicable law, not
file
any such document in a form to which the Initial Purchasers on behalf of the
Holders of Registrable Notes shall reasonably object; and
(ii) in
the case of a
Shelf Registration, within 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 copies of such document to the Depositary, to the Initial Purchasers,
to
counsel on behalf of the Holders and to the underwriter or underwriters of
an
underwritten offering of Registrable Notes, if any, make such changes in
any
such document prior to the filing thereof as the Initial Purchasers, 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 or the Initial
Purchasers on behalf of the Holders of Registrable Notes or any underwriter
may
reasonably object and make the representatives of the Issuer available for
discussion of such document as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders
of
Registrable Notes, the Initial Purchasers on behalf of such Holders, or any
underwriter.
15
(r) in
the case of a
Shelf Registration, use its reasonable best efforts to cause all Registrable
Notes to be listed on any securities exchange on which similar debt securities
issued by the Issuer are then listed if requested by the Majority Holders,
or if
requested by the underwriter or underwriters of an underwritten offering of
Registrable Notes, if any;
(s) in
the case of a
Shelf Registration, use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registrable
Notes 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 Notes, if any;
(t) otherwise
comply
with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and make available to
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;
(u) 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
(v) in
the case of any
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, upon consummation of an Exchange Offer,
(A)
obtain a
customary opinion of counsel to the Issuer addressed to the Trustee for the
benefit of all Holders of Registrable Notes participating in the Exchange Offer,
and which includes an opinion that (i) the Issuer has duly authorized,
executed and delivered the Exchange Notes and the Indenture and (ii) each
of the Exchange Notes and the Indenture constitute a legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Issuer, enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with
its
respective terms (with customary exceptions); and
(B)
deliver to the
Initial Purchasers or to another representative of the Participating
Broker-Dealers, if requested by the Initial Purchasers or such other
representative of the Participating Broker-Dealers, on behalf of the
Participating Broker-Dealers (i) an opinion of counsel or opinions of
counsel substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A and (ii) an
officers’ certificate substantially in the form customarily delivered in a
public offering of debt securities.
In
the case of a
Shelf Registration Statement, the Issuer may (as a condition to such Holder’s
participation in the Shelf Registration) require each Holder of Registrable
Notes to furnish to the Issuer such information regarding the Holder and the
proposed distribution by such Holder of such Registrable Notes as the Issuer
may
from time to time reasonably request in writing for use in connection with
any
Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus included therein, including, without
limitation, information specified in Item 507 of Regulation S-K under the 1933
Act. Each Holder as to which any Shelf Registration is being effected agrees
to
furnish promptly to the Issuer all information required to be disclosed with
respect to such Holder in order to make any information with respect to such
Holder previously furnished to the Issuer by such Holder not materially
misleading.
16
In
the case of a
Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any
notice directly or indirectly from the Issuer of the happening of any event
or
the discovery of any facts, each of the kind described in Section 3(e)(v)
hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Notes
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 Issuer, such Holder will deliver to the Issuer (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 Notes current at the time of receipt of such notice.
If
any of the
Registrable Notes 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 Notes included in such offering and shall be acceptable
to
the Issuer. No Holder of Registrable Notes may participate in any underwritten
registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder’s
Registrable Notes 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 agreement.
4.
Indemnification.
4.1
Indemnification
by the Issuer.
The Issuer agrees
to indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser, its directors and
officers, 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 from and against any
and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities that arise out of or are based
upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Registration Statement pursuant to which Exchange Notes or
Registrable Notes were registered under the 1933 Act or any related Prospectus
or any related Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (as that term is defined in Rule
433(h)(1) under the 1933 Act), or any omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the
statements therein not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each Initial
Purchaser and each controlling person, as incurred, for any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage or liability, except insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of or are based upon any such
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
or
are based upon information furnished in writing to the Issuer by any Initial
Purchaser, Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or Underwriter with respect
to
such Initial Purchaser, Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or Underwriter,
as
the case may be, specifically for inclusion therein.
17
4.2
Indemnification
by
the Holders,
Initial Purchasers, Participating Broker-Dealers and Underwriters. Each
Holder, each Initial Purchaser, each Participating Broker-Dealer and each
Underwriter severally, but not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
the Issuer, each other Initial Purchaser, each other Participating
Broker-Dealer, each other Underwriter and each other selling Holder, and each
of
their respective directors and officers, and each Person, if any, who controls
the Issuer, any Initial Purchaser, any Participating Broker-Dealer, any
Underwriter, or any other selling Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of
the
1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act to the same extent as the foregoing
indemnity contained in subsection 4.1 above, but only with reference to written
information relating to such Holder, Initial Purchaser, Participating
Broker-Dealer or Underwriter furnished in writing to the Issuer by such Holder,
Initial Purchaser, Participating Broker-Dealer or Underwriter specifically
for
inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement or such Prospectus; provided,
however, that no such Holder, Initial Purchaser, Participating Broker-Dealer
or
Underwriter shall be liable for any claims hereunder in excess of the amount
of
net proceeds received by such Holder, Initial Purchaser, Participating
Broker-Dealer or Underwriter from the sale of Registrable Notes pursuant to
such
Shelf Registration Statement. This indemnity agreement will be in addition
to
any liability which such Holder, Initial Purchaser, Participating Broker-Dealer
or Underwriter may otherwise have.
4.3
Actions
Against
Parties; Notification.
Promptly after
receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 4 of notice of the
commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 4,
notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the
omission so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from
any liability under subsection 4.1 or 4.2 above unless and to the extent such
failure results in the loss by the indemnifying party of substantial rights
and
defenses and (ii) will not, in any event relieve the indemnifying party
from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification
obligation provided in subsection 4.1 or 4.2 above. In any such proceeding,
any
indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but fees
and
expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party
unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually
agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such
action (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified party
and
the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded
upon advice of counsel that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or
other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those
available to the indemnifying party. It is understood that the indemnifying
party shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in
the
same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate
counsel for all such indemnified parties. Such counsel shall be designated
in
writing by the Representatives in the case of parties indemnified pursuant
to
the second preceding paragraph, and by the Company in the case of parties
indemnified pursuant to the first preceding paragraph.
4.4
Settlement
Without Consent.
The indemnifying
party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without
its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there has been
a
final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify
the
indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such
settlement or judgment. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior
written consent of the indemnified parties, 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 the indemnified parties are actual or potential
parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent
(i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all
liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and
(ii) does not include any statement as to, or any admission of, fault,
culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified
party.
18
5.
Contribution.
In the
event that the indemnity provided for in Section 4 hereof is held by a court
to
be unavailable, in whole or in part, to hold harmless an indemnified party
for
any reason, then each applicable indemnifying party shall have several and
not
joint obligation to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and
liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection
with investigating or defending same) (collectively “Losses”) to which such
indemnified party may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative benefits received by such indemnifying party, on the one hand,
and
such indemnified party, on the other hand, from the offering of the Notes,
the
Exchange Notes or the Registrable Notes and the Registration Statement which
resulted in such Losses. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding
sentence is held by a court to be unavailable for any reason, the indemnifying
party and the indemnified party shall contribute in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative
fault of such indemnifying party on the one hand and of such indemnified party
on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted
in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits
received by the Issuer shall be deemed to be equal to the sum of (x) the
total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) and
(y) the total amount of Interest (as defined in Section 2.5) which the
Issuer was not required to pay as a result of registering the securities covered
by the Registration Statement which resulted in the Losses. Benefits received
by
the Initial Purchasers shall be deemed to be equal to the total discounts and
commissions, and benefits received by any other Holders shall be deemed to
be
equal to the value of receiving Notes, Exchange Notes or Registrable Notes,
as
applicable, registered under the 1933 Act. Benefits received by any
Participating Broker-Dealer shall be deemed to be equal to the total commissions
relating to the market-making and exchange of Registrable Notes for Exchange
Notes. Benefits received by any Underwriter shall be deemed to be equal to
the
total underwriting discounts and commissions, as set forth on the cover page
of
the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement which resulted
in
such Losses. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or
the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
provided by the indemnifying party on the one hand or by the indemnified party
on the other hand, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue
statement or omission. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5, no
Initial Purchaser shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the
amount by which the total price at which the Notes underwritten by it and
distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amounts of
any
damages which such Initial Purchaser has otherwise been required to pay by
reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission; nor shall any Participating Broker-Dealer be required to contribute
any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Notes
exchanged for Exchange Notes by it were offered to the public exceeds the
amounts of any damages which such Participating Broker-Dealer has otherwise
been
required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission
or alleged omission; nor, shall any Underwriter in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement be required to contribute any amount in excess of the
amount by which the total price at which the Notes underwritten by it exceeds
the amounts of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required
to
pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission. The parties agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were
treated as one entity for such purpose) or any other method of allocation that
does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5, 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 5, each person, if any, who controls a Holder, an Initial Purchaser,
a
Participating Broker-Dealer or an Underwriter, in each case, 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 such Holder, Initial Purchaser, Participating
Broker-Dealer or Underwriter, as the case may be, and each officer of the Issuer
who shall have signed the Registration Statement, each director of the Issuer
and each person, if any, who controls the Issuer 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 Issuer.
19
6.
Miscellaneous.
6.1
Rule
144 and Rule
144A. For so long as the Issuer is subject to the reporting requirements of
Section 13 or 15 of the 1934 Act, the Issuer 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 Issuer ceases to be so required to file such reports, the Issuer covenants
that it will upon the request of any Holder of Registrable Notes (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 (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 Notes 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 Notes, the Issuer will deliver to
such
Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.
The Issuer agrees to comply with the information obligations to the extent
that
they are required by applicable law or regulation.
6.2
No
Inconsistent
Agreements. The Issuer has not entered into and the Issuer will not after
the date of this Agreement enter into any agreement which is inconsistent with
the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Notes in this Agreement or
otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted to the
Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with the rights granted to the
Holders of the Issuer’s other issued and outstanding Notes under any such
agreements.
20
6.3
Amendments
and
Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this
sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers of consents
to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Issuer
has
obtained the written consent of (i) Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Notes and
(ii) Participating Broker-Dealers holding a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Exchange Notes held by all Participating Broker-Dealers, in each
case to the extent affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver
or departure.
6.4
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 the
Depositary, at 00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 or if The Depository
Trust Company is no longer the Depositary, at the most current address given
by
the Depositary to the Issuer by means of a notice given in accordance with
the
provisions of this Section 6.4; (b) if to a Holder, at the most current address
given by such Holder to the Issuer by means of a notice given in accordance
with
the provisions of this Section 6.4, which address initially is the address
set
forth in the Purchase Agreement with respect to the Initial Purchasers; and
(c) if to the Issuer initially at the Issuer’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 6.4.
All
such notices and
communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered
by
hand, if personally delivered; two (2) 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.
6.5
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 and Participating Broker-Dealers; provided that nothing herein shall
be
deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable
Notes in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement. If any transferee
of
any Holder shall acquire Registrable Notes, in any manner, whether by operation
of law or otherwise, such Registrable Notes shall be held subject to all of
the
terms of this Agreement, and by taking any holding such Registrable Notes 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.
6.6
Third
Party
Beneficiaries. The Initial Purchasers (even if the Initial Purchasers are
not Holders of Registrable Notes) shall be third party beneficiaries to the
agreements made hereunder between the Issuer, on the one hand, and the Holders,
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 or the rights of Holders hereunder. Each Holder of Registrable Notes
shall be a third party beneficiary to the agreements made hereunder between
the
Issuer, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and
shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems
such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights
hereunder.
21
6.7
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.
6.8
Headings.
The
headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall
not
limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
6.9
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.
6.10
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.
NY
#709062
v6
22
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written
above.
JERSEY
CENTRAL
POWER & LIGHT COMPANY,
as
Issuer
|
By:
__________________
|
Name:
|
Title:
|
Confirmed
and
accepted as
of
the date first above written:
UBS
SECURITIES LLC
By:___________________________________
Name:
Title:
By:___________________________________
Name:
Title:
GREENWICH
CAPITAL
MARKETS, INC.
By:___________________________________
Name:
Title:
Acting
as
representatives of the Initial Purchasers.
S-1
23
Exhibit
A
Form
of Opinion
of Counsel
We
are of the
opinion that 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(s) T-1, as to which we need express no opinion),
comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933
Act
and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the 1933
Act.
In
addition, we have
participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the
Issuer, representatives of the independent public accountants of the Issuer
and
representatives of the Initial Purchasers, at which the contents of the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus and related matters were discussed
and, although we 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 and have not made any independent
check or verification thereof, during the course of such participation, no
facts
came to our attention that caused us to believe that the Registration Statement
or any amendment thereto, at the time the Registration Statement or any such
amendment became effective, 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, 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 light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; it being understood that we express no belief with respect to the
financial statements and schedules and other financial data included in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus.