REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.3
EXECUTION VERSION
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT dated July 19, 2011 (this “Agreement”) is entered into by and among Dynacast International LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), Dynacast Finance Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Finance Co” and together with the Company, the “Issuers”), Dynacast International Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), the guarantors listed in Schedule 1 hereto (together with Parent, the “Initial Guarantors”), and X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC (“X.X. Xxxxxx”), as representative of the several Initial Purchasers listed in Schedule 1 to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below) (the “Initial Purchasers”).
The Issuers, the Parent and the Initial Purchasers are parties to the Purchase Agreement dated July 12, 2011 (the “Purchase Agreement”), which provides for the sale by the Issuers to the Initial Purchasers of $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuers’ 9.25% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2019 (the “Securities”) which will be guaranteed on a senior secured basis by each of the Guarantors. As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Issuers and the Guarantors have agreed to provide to the Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees and the Market Maker (as defined herein) 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 terms shall have the following meanings:
“Additional Guarantor” shall mean any subsidiary of the Parent that executes a Guarantee under the Indenture after the date of this Agreement.
“Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Business Day” shall mean any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed.
“Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include the Company’s successors.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
“Exchange Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(ii) hereof.
“Exchange Offer” shall mean the exchange offer by the Issuers and the Guarantors of Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
“Exchange Offer Registration” shall mean a registration under the Securities Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) 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, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.
“Exchange Securities” shall mean senior secured second lien notes issued by the Issuers and guaranteed by the Guarantors under the Indenture containing terms identical to the Securities (except that the Exchange Securities will have no registration rights, will not be subject to restrictions on transfer or to any increase in annual interest rate for failure to comply with this Agreement) and to be offered to Holders of Securities in exchange for Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
“FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
“Free Writing Prospectus” means each free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) prepared by or on behalf of the Issuers or used or referred to by the Issuers in connection with the sale of the Securities or the Exchange Securities.
“Guarantees” shall mean the guarantees of the Securities and guarantees of the Exchange Securities by the Guarantors under the Indenture.
“Guarantors” shall mean the Initial Guarantors, any Additional Guarantors and any Guarantor’s successor that Guarantees the Securities.
“Holders” shall mean the Initial Purchasers, for so long as they own any Registrable Securities, and each of their successors, assigns and direct and indirect transferees who become owners of Registrable Securities under the Indenture; provided that, for purposes of Section 4 and Section 6 hereof, the term “Holders” shall include Participating Broker-Dealers and, where the context requires, the Market Maker.
“Indemnified Person” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(d) hereof.
“Indemnifying Person” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(d) hereof.
“Indenture” shall mean the Indenture relating to the Securities dated as of July 19, 2011 among the Issuers, the Guarantors and Union Bank, N.A., as trustee, and as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
“Initial Guarantors” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Initial Purchasers” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Inspector” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)(xiv) hereof.
“Issuer Information” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(a) hereof.
“Issuers” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include the Issuers’ successors.
“X.X. Xxxxxx” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Majority Holders” shall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities; provided that whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder, any Registrable Securities owned directly or indirectly by either Issuer or any of its affiliates (other than the Market Maker) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage or
-2-
amount; and provided, further, that if either Issuer shall issue any additional Securities under the Indenture prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer or, if applicable, the effectiveness of any Shelf Registration Statement, such additional Securities and the Registrable Securities to which this Agreement relates shall be treated together as one class for purposes of determining whether the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities has been obtained.
“Market Maker” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) hereof.
“Market Maker’s Information” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(d) hereof.
“Market Making Registration Statement” shall mean the registration statement referred to in Section 5(a)(i) hereof and all amendments and supplements to any such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.
“Notice and Questionnaire” shall mean a notice of registration statement and selling security holder questionnaire distributed to a Holder by the Issuers upon receipt of a Shelf Request from such Holder.
“Participating Broker-Dealers” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.
“Participating Holder” shall mean any Holder of Registrable Securities that has returned a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company in accordance with Section 2(b) hereof.
“Person” shall mean an individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in, or, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities Act, deemed a part of, a Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to such prospectus, and in each case including any document incorporated by reference therein.
“Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Registrable Securities” shall mean the Securities; provided that the Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities (i) when a Registration Statement with respect to such Securities has become effective under the Securities Act and such Securities have been exchanged or disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) when such Securities cease to be outstanding, (iii) except in the case of Securities that otherwise remain Registrable Securities and that are held by a Holder or Initial Purchaser and that are ineligible to be exchanged in the Exchange Offer, when the Exchange Offer is consummated, or (iv) on the second anniversary of this Agreement; provided that such date shall be extended by the number of days of any permitted extension pursuant to Section 3(d) hereof.
“Registration Default” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the Exchange Offer is not consummated on or prior to the Target Registration Date, (ii) the Shelf Registration Statement, if required by this Agreement, has not become effective on or before the Target Registration Date or (iii) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, is declared effective and thereafter ceases to be effective or the Prospectus contained therein ceases to be usable in connection with the Exchange Offer or resales of any notes registered under the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case whether or not permitted by this Agreement, at any time during the Shelf Effectiveness Period, and such failure to remain effective or usable exists for more than 30 days (whether or not consecutive) in any 12-month period.
-3-
“Registration Expenses” shall mean any and all expenses incident to performance of or compliance by the Issuers and the Guarantors with this Agreement, including without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange or FINRA registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities or blue sky laws, (iii) all expenses of any Persons in preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing, printing and distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements or other similar agreements and any other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all fees and disbursements relating to the qualification of the Indenture under applicable securities laws, (v) the fees and disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel, (vi) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Issuers and the Guarantors and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for the Participating Holders (which counsel shall be selected by the Participating Holders holding a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Registrable Securities held by such Participating Holders and which counsel may also be counsel for the Initial Purchasers), (vii) the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Market Maker and (viii) the fees and disbursements of the independent registered public accountants of the Issuers and the Guarantors, including the expenses of any special audits or “comfort” letters required by or incident to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, but excluding fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters (other than fees and expenses set forth in clause (ii) above) or the Holders and also excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, brokerage 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 Issuers and the Guarantors that covers any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Market Making Registration Statement, and all amendments and supplements to any such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.
“SEC” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
“Shelf Effectiveness Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.
“Shelf Registration” shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof.
“Shelf Registration Statement” shall mean a “shelf” registration statement of the Issuers and the Guarantors that covers all or a portion of the Registrable Securities (but no other securities unless approved by a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities held by the Participating Holders) on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.
“Shelf Request” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.
-4-
“Staff” shall mean the staff of the SEC.
“Target Registration Date” shall mean July 13, 2012.
“Trust Indenture Act” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended from time to time.
“Trustee” shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities under the Indenture.
“Underwriter” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(e) hereof.
“Underwritten Offering” shall mean an offering in which Registrable Securities are sold to an Underwriter for reoffering to the public.
2. Registration Under the Securities Act.
(a) To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to (x) cause to be filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement covering an offer to the Holders to exchange all the Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities and (y) have such Registration Statement become and remain effective until the earlier of (i) 180 days after the Exchange Date or (ii) the date when all the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto. The Issuers and the Guarantors shall commence the Exchange Offer promptly after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC and use their commercially reasonable efforts to consummate the Exchange Offer on or prior to the Target Registration Date.
The Issuers and the Guarantors shall commence the Exchange Offer by mailing the related Prospectus, appropriate letters of transmittal, if applicable, and other accompanying documents to each Holder stating, in addition to such other disclosures as are required by applicable law, substantially the following:
(i) that the Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to this Agreement and that all Registrable Securities validly tendered and not properly withdrawn will be accepted for exchange;
(ii) the date of acceptance for exchange (which shall be a period of at least 20 Business Days from the date such notice is mailed) (the “Exchange Date”);
(iii) that any Registrable Security not tendered (or withdrawn) will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest but will not retain any rights under this Agreement, except as otherwise specified herein;
(iv) that any Holder electing to have a Registrable Security exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to (A) surrender such Registrable Security, together, if requested, with the appropriate letters of transmittal, to the institution and at the address and in the manner specified in the notice, or (B) effect such exchange otherwise in compliance with the applicable procedures of the depositary for such Registrable Security, in each case prior to the close of business on the Exchange Date; and
(v) that any Holder will be entitled to withdraw its election, not later than the close of business on the Exchange Date, by (A) sending to the institution and at the address and in the manner specified in the notice, a statement setting forth the name of such Holder, the principal amount of Registrable Securities delivered for exchange and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such Securities exchanged or (B) effecting such withdrawal in compliance with the applicable procedures of the depositary for the Registrable Securities.
-5-
As a condition to participating in the Exchange Offer, a Holder will be required to represent to the Issuers and the Guarantors that (1) any Exchange Securities to be received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of its business, (2) at the time of the commencement of the Exchange Offer it has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Securities in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act, (3) it is not an “affiliate” (within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of either Issuer or any Guarantor and (4) if such Holder is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Registrable Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities, then such Holder will deliver a Prospectus (or, to the extent permitted by law, make available a Prospectus to purchasers) in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
As soon as practicable after the Exchange Date, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall:
(I) accept for exchange Registrable Securities or portions thereof validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer; and
(II) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable Securities or portions thereof so accepted for exchange by the Issuers and issue, and cause the Trustee to promptly authenticate and deliver to each Holder, Exchange Securities equal in principal amount to the principal amount of the Registrable Securities tendered by such Holder.
The Issuers and the Guarantors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to consummate the Exchange Offer as provided above and shall comply with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and other applicable laws and regulations in connection with the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any conditions, other than that the Exchange Offer does not violate any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff.
(b) In the event that (i) the Issuers and the Guarantors are not permitted to file the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or to consummate the Exchange Offer due to a change in law or SEC policy subsequent to the date hereof, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not for any other reason consummated by the Target Registration Date, (iii) any Holder notifies the Issuers following the consummation of the Exchange Offer, that (A) such Holder is not permitted under law or SEC policy to participate in the Exchange Offer, (B) such Holder cannot publicly resell Exchange Securities without delivering a prospectus, and the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for resales by such Holder, or (C) such Holder is a broker-dealer and holds Registrable Securities that have not been exchanged and that such Holder acquired directly from the Issuers or one of their affiliates, or (iv) upon receipt of a written request (a “Shelf Request”) from any Initial Purchaser, following the consummation of the Exchange Offer, representing that it holds Registrable Securities that have not been resold and that such Initial Purchaser acquired directly from the Issuers or one of their affiliates, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be filed as soon as practicable after such determination, date, notice or Shelf Request, as the case may be, a Shelf Registration Statement providing for the sale of all the Registrable Securities by the Holders thereof and to have such Shelf Registration Statement become effective on or before the Target Registration Date; provided that no Holder will be entitled to have any Registrable Securities included in any Shelf Registration Statement, or entitled to use the prospectus forming a part of such Shelf Registration Statement, unless and until such Holder shall have delivered a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire and provided such other information regarding such Holder to the Company as is contemplated by Section 3(b) hereof within 20 Business Days after receipt of the request therefor.
-6-
In the event that the Issuers and the Guarantors are required to file a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to clauses (iii) or (iv) of the preceding sentence, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to file and have become effective both an Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof with respect to all Registrable Securities and a Shelf Registration Statement (which may be a combined Registration Statement with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) with respect to offers and sales of Registrable Securities held by the Holders or Initial Purchasers, as the case may be after completion of the Exchange Offer.
The Issuers and the Guarantors agree to use their commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective until the earlier of the date (i) that is one year from the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement and (ii) the Securities cease to be Registrable Securities (the “Shelf Effectiveness Period”). The Issuers and the Guarantors further agree to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement, the related Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Issuers for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the Securities Act or by any other rules and regulations thereunder or if reasonably requested by a Holder of Registrable Securities with respect to information relating to such Holder, and to use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause any such amendment to become effective, if required, and such Shelf Registration Statement, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, to become usable as soon as thereafter practicable. The Issuers and the Guarantors agree to furnish to the Participating Holders copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the SEC.
(c) The Issuers and the Guarantors shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with any registration pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b) hereof. Each Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions, brokerage commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder’s Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.
(d) An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC. A Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC or is automatically effective upon filing with the SEC as provided by Rule 462 under the Securities Act.
(e) If a Registration Default occurs, the interest rate on the Registrable Securities will be increased by (i) 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period beginning on the day such Registration Default occurs and (ii) an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period, in each case until and including the date such Registration Default ends, up to a maximum increase of 1.00% per annum. A Registration Default ends when the Securities cease to be Registrable Securities or, if earlier, (1) in the case of a Registration Default under clause (i) of the definition thereof, when the Exchange Offer is consummated, (2) in the case of a Registration Default under clause (ii) of the definition thereof, when the Shelf Registration Statement becomes effective or (3) in the case of a Registration Default under clause (iii) of the definition thereof, when the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, again becomes effective and usable. If at any time more than one Registration Default has occurred and is continuing, then, until the next date that there is no Registration Default, the increase in interest rate provided for by this paragraph shall apply as if there occurred a single Registration Default that begins on the date that the earliest such Registration Default occurred and ends on such next date that there is no Registration Default. Following the cure of all Registration Defaults relating to any particular Registrable Securities, the interest rate borne by the relevant Registrable Securities will be reduced to the original interest rate borne by such Registrable Securities; provided, however, that, if after any such reduction in interest rate, a different Registration Default occurs, the interest rate borne by the relevant Registrable Securities shall again be increased pursuant to the foregoing provisions.
-7-
(f) Without limiting the remedies available to the Initial Purchasers and the Holders, the Issuers and the Guarantors acknowledge that any failure by the Issuers or the Guarantors to comply with their obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) 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 Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof.
3. Registration Procedures.
(a) In connection with their obligations pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall as expeditiously as possible:
(i) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act, which form (A) shall be selected by the Issuers and the Guarantors, (B) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the Holders thereof and (C) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and include all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith; and use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof;
(ii) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof 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 Securities Act; and keep each Prospectus current during the period described in Section 4(3) of and Rule 174 under the Securities Act that is applicable to transactions by brokers or dealers with respect to the Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities;
(iii) to the extent any Free Writing Prospectus is used, file with the SEC any Free Writing Prospectus that is required to be filed by the Issuers or the Guarantors with the SEC in accordance with the Securities Act and to retain any Free Writing Prospectus not required to be filed;
(iv) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Participating Holder, to counsel for the Initial Purchasers, to counsel for such Participating Holders and to each Underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, as such Participating Holder, counsel or Underwriter may reasonably request in order to facilitate the sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities thereunder; and, subject to Section 3(c) hereof, the Issuers and the Guarantors consent to the use of such Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or such Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law by each of the Participating Holders and any such Underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by and in the manner described in such Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or such Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law;
-8-
(v) use their commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities under all applicable state securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any Participating Holder shall reasonably request in writing by the time the applicable Registration Statement becomes effective; cooperate with such Participating Holders in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA; and do any and all other acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each Participating Holder to complete the disposition in each such jurisdiction of the Registrable Securities owned by such Participating Holder; provided that neither of the Issuers nor any Guarantor shall be required to (1) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (2) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (3) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not so subject;
(vi) notify counsel for the Initial Purchasers and, in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Participating Holder and counsel for such Participating Holders promptly and, if requested by any such Participating Holder or counsel, confirm such advice in writing (1) when a Registration Statement has become effective, when any post-effective amendment thereto has been filed and becomes effective, when any Free Writing Prospectus has been filed or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus has been filed, (2) of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement, Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information after the Registration Statement has become effective, (3) 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, including the receipt by the Issuers of any notice of objection of the SEC to the use of a Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act, (4) if, between the applicable effective date of a Shelf Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities covered thereby, the representations and warranties of either Issuer or any Guarantor contained in any underwriting agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar agreement, if any, relating to an offering of such Registrable Securities cease to be true and correct in all material respects or if either Issuer or any Guarantor receives any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose, (5) of the happening of any event during the period a Registration Statement is effective that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading and (6) of any determination by either Issuer or any Guarantor that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus would be appropriate;
(vii) use their commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or, in the case of a Shelf Registration, the resolution of any objection of the SEC pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act, including by filing an amendment to such Registration Statement on the proper form, at the earliest possible moment and provide immediate notice to each Holder or Participating Holder of the withdrawal of any such order or such resolution;
(viii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Participating Holder, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto (without any documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested);
-9-
(ix) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the Participating Holders 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 issued in such denominations and registered in such names (consistent with the provisions of the Indenture) as such Participating Holders may reasonably request at least one Business Day prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities;
(x) upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(a)(vi)(5) hereof, use their commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file with the SEC a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or, if applicable, Shelf Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered (or, to the extent permitted by law, made available) to purchasers of the Registrable Securities, such Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and the Issuers and the Guarantors shall notify the Participating Holders (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement) and the Initial Purchasers and any Participating Broker-Dealers known to the Company (in the case of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to suspend use of the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event, and such Participating Holders, such Participating Broker-Dealers and the Initial Purchasers, as applicable, hereby agree to suspend use of the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, until the Issuers and the Guarantors have amended or supplemented the Prospectus or the Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, to correct such misstatement or omission;
(xi) a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus, any amendment to a Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus or of any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement, a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus after initial filing of a Registration Statement, provide copies of such document to the Initial Purchasers and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, to the Participating Holders and their counsel) and make such of the representatives of the Issuers and the Guarantors as shall be reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Participating Holders or their counsel) available for discussion of such document; and the Issuers and the Guarantors shall not, at any time after initial filing of a Registration Statement, use or file any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus, any amendment of or supplement to a Registration Statement or a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus, or any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement, a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus, of which the Initial Purchasers and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Participating Holders and their counsel) shall not have previously been advised and furnished a copy or to which the Initial Purchasers or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Participating Holders or their counsel) shall object;
(xii) obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, not later than the initial effective date of a Registration Statement;
(xiii) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act in connection with the registration of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be; 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 Trust Indenture Act; and execute, and use their commercially reasonable 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;
-10-
(xiv) in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available for inspection by a representative of the Participating Holders (an “Inspector”), any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, any attorneys and accountants designated by a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities held by the Participating Holders and any attorneys and accountants designated by such Underwriter, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, for due diligence purposes, all pertinent financial and other records, documents and properties of Parent and its subsidiaries, and cause the respective officers, directors and employees of the Issuers and the Guarantors to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement; provided, that such Persons shall first agree in writing with the Company that any non-public information shall be used solely for the purposes of satisfying due diligence obligations under the Securities Act and exercising rights under this Agreement and shall be kept confidential for a period of two years by such Persons in a manner in which they ordinarily hold confidential information, unless (i) disclosure of such information is required by court or administrative order or is necessary to respond to inquiries of regulatory authorities, (ii) disclosure of such information is required by law (including any disclosure requirements pursuant to federal securities laws in connection with the filing of any Shelf Registration Statement or the use of any prospectus referred to in this Agreement), (iii) such information becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to safeguard by any such Person, (iv) such information becomes available to any such Person from a source other than the Company and such source is not known to such Person to be bound by a confidentiality agreement, or (v) disclosure of such information is required by such Person in connection with the assertion of a due diligence defense;
(xv) in the case of a Shelf Registration, use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Registrable Securities to be listed on any securities exchange or any automated quotation system on which similar securities issued or guaranteed by either Issuer or any Guarantor are then listed if requested by the Majority Holders, to the extent such Registrable Securities satisfy applicable listing requirements;
(xvi) if reasonably requested by any Participating Holder, promptly include in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information with respect to such Participating Holder as such Participating Holder reasonably requests to be included therein and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as the Issuers have received notification of the matters to be so included in such filing;
(xvii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such customary agreements and take all such other actions in connection therewith (including those requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities including, but not limited to, an Underwritten Offering and in such connection, (1) to the extent possible, make such representations and warranties to the Participating Holders and any Underwriters of such Registrable Securities with respect to the business of Parent and its subsidiaries and the Registration Statement, Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus and documents incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by reference, if any, in each case, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings and confirm the same if and when requested, (2) obtain opinions of counsel to the Issuers and the Guarantors (which counsel and opinions, in form, scope and substance, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Participating Holders and such Underwriters and their respective counsel, it being agreed that Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP shall be deemed reasonably satisfactory to the Participating Holders and such Underwriters and their respective counsel) addressed to each Participating Holder and Underwriter
-11-
of Registrable Securities, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings, (3) obtain “comfort” letters from the independent registered public accountants of the Issuers and the Guarantors (and, if necessary, any other registered public accountant of any subsidiary of either Issuer or any Guarantor, or of any business acquired by either Issuer or any Guarantor for which financial statements and financial data are or are required to be included in the Registration Statement) addressed to each Participating Holder (to the extent permitted by applicable professional standards) and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “comfort” letters in connection with underwritten offerings, including but not limited to financial information contained in any preliminary prospectus, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus and (4) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold or the Underwriters, and which are customarily delivered in underwritten offerings, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties of the Issuers and the Guarantors made pursuant to clause (1) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in an underwriting agreement; and
(xviii) so long as any Registrable Securities remain outstanding, cause each Additional Guarantor upon the creation or acquisition by either Issuer of such Additional Guarantor, to execute a counterpart to this Agreement in the form attached hereto as Annex A and to deliver such counterpart, together with an opinion of counsel as to the enforceability thereof against such entity, to the Initial Purchasers no later than five Business Days following the execution thereof.
(b) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Issuers may require, as a condition to the registration of Registrable Securities, that each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish (within 20 Business Days) to the Issuers a Notice and Questionnaire and such other information regarding such Holder and the proposed disposition by such Holder of such Registrable Securities as the Issuers and the Guarantors may from time to time reasonably request in writing.
(c) Each Participating Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Issuers and the Guarantors of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(a)(vi)(3) or Section 3(a)(vi)(5) hereof, such Participating Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement until such Participating Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(a)(x) hereof and, if so directed by the Issuers and the Guarantors, such Participating Holder will deliver to the Issuers and the Guarantors all copies in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Participating Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities that is current at the time of receipt of such notice.
(d) If the Issuers and the Guarantors shall give any notice to suspend the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall extend the period during which such Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when the Holders of such Registrable Securities shall have received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions. The Issuers and the Guarantors may give any such notice only three times during any 365-day period and any such suspensions shall not exceed 25 days for each suspension and there shall not be more than three suspensions in effect during any 365-day period.
-12-
(e) The Participating Holders who desire to do so may sell such Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment bank or investment banks and manager or managers (each an “Underwriter”) that will administer the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities included in such offering; provided, however, that such investment bank(s) and manager(s) must be reasonably satisfactory to the Company.
4. Participation of Broker-Dealers in Exchange Offer.
(a) The Staff has taken the position that any broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in the Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities that were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities (a “Participating Broker-Dealer”) may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
The Issuers and the Guarantors understand that it is the Staff’s position that if the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement includes a plan of distribution containing a statement to the above effect and the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Securities, without naming the Participating Broker-Dealers or specifying the amount of Exchange Securities owned by them, such Prospectus may be delivered by Participating Broker-Dealers (or, to the extent permitted by law, made available to purchasers) to satisfy their prospectus delivery obligation under the Securities Act in connection with resales of Exchange Securities for their own accounts, so long as the Prospectus otherwise meets the requirements of the Securities Act.
(b) In light of the above, and notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement, the Issuers and the Guarantors agree to amend or supplement the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement for a period of up to 90 (ninety) days after the last Exchange Date (as such period may be extended pursuant to Section 3(d) hereof), in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of any Exchange Securities by Participating Broker-Dealers consistent with the positions of the Staff recited in Section 4(a) above. The Issuers and the Guarantors further agree that Participating Broker-Dealers shall be authorized to deliver such Prospectus (or, to the extent permitted by law, make available) during such period in connection with the resales contemplated by this Section 4.
(c) The Participating Broker-Dealers shall have no liability to either Issuer, any Guarantor or any Holder with respect to any request that they may make pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof.
5. Market Making.
(a) For so long as any of the Securities or Exchange Securities are outstanding and Macquarie Capital (USA) Inc. (in such capacity, the “Market Maker”) or its affiliates (as defined in the rules and regulations of the SEC) owns any equity securities of the Issuers, the Guarantors or any of their affiliates and proposes to make a market in the Securities or Exchange Securities as part of its business in the ordinary course, the following provisions shall apply for the sole benefit of the Market Maker:
(i) The Issuers and the Guarantors shall (A) on the date that the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or, if required hereby, the Shelf Registration Statement is filed with the SEC, file a registration statement (the “Market Making Registration Statement”) (which may be the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement if permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC) and use their best efforts to cause such Market Making Registration Statement to become effective on or prior to the consummation of the Exchange Offer or the initial effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable; (B) periodically amend such Market Making Registration Statement so that the information contained therein complies with the requirements of Section 10(a) under the Securities Act; (C) amend the Market Making
-13-
Registration Statement or amend or supplement the related Prospectus when necessary to reflect any material changes in the information provided therein; and (D) amend the Market Making Registration Statement when required to do so in order to comply with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; provided, however, that (1) prior to filing the Market Making Registration Statement, any amendment thereto, any Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to the related Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, the Issuers will furnish to the Market Maker copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents will be subject to the review of the Market Maker and its counsel (such review to be completed in a reasonably prompt period) and (2) the Issuers and the Guarantors will not file the Market Making Registration Statement, any amendment thereto, any Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to the related Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus to which the Market Maker and its counsel shall reasonably object unless the Issuers are advised by counsel that such Market Making Registration Statement or Free Writing Prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement is required to be filed under applicable securities laws and the Issuers will provide the Market Maker and its counsel with copies of the Market Making Registration Statement and any Free Writing Prospectus and each amendment and supplement filed.
(ii) The Issuers shall notify the Market Maker and, if requested by the Market Maker, confirm such advice in writing, (A) when any Market Making Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment to the Market Making Registration Statement, any Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to the related Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus has been filed, and, with respect to any Market Making Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective; (B) of any request by the SEC for any post-effective amendment to the Market Making Registration Statement, any supplement or amendment to the related Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information; (C) the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Market Making Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, including the receipt by the Issuers of any notice of objection of the SEC to the use of the Market Making Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act; (D) of the receipt by the Issuers of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities or Exchange Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for such purpose; and (E) of the happening of any event that makes any statement made in the Market Making Registration Statement, the related Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto untrue or that requires the making of any changes in the Market Making Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such Free Writing Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto, in order to make the statements therein not misleading.
(iii) If any event contemplated by Section 5(a)(ii)(B) through (E) hereof occurs during the period for which the Issuers and the Guarantors are required to maintain an effective Market Making Registration Statement, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall, subject to Section 5(a)(i) hereof, promptly prepare and file with the SEC a post-effective amendment to the Market Making Registration Statement or an amendment or supplement to the related Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or file any other required document so that the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(iv) In the event of the issuance of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Market Making Registration Statement, any notice of objection pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act or any order suspending the qualification of the Securities or Exchange
-14-
Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall promptly use their commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order or the resolution of such objection, including by filing an amendment to the Market Making Registration Statement on the proper form as necessary.
(v) The Issuers shall furnish to the Market Maker, without charge, (A) at least one conformed copy of the Market Making Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto; and (B) as many copies of the related Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto as the Market Maker may reasonably request.
(vi) The Issuers and the Guarantors shall consent to the use of the Prospectus contained in the Market Making Registration Statement, any Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by the Market Maker in connection its market-making activities.
(vii) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5, the Issuers and the Guarantors may for valid business reasons, including without limitation, a potential material acquisition, divestiture of assets or other material corporate transaction, notify the Market Maker in writing that the Market Making Registration Statement is no longer effective or the Prospectus included therein or any Free Writing Prospectus is no longer usable for offers and sales of Securities or Exchange Securities; provided that the use of the Market Making Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained therein or any Free Writing Prospectus shall not be suspended for more than 25 days for each suspension and there shall not be more than three suspensions in effect during any 365-day period. The Market Maker agrees that upon receipt of any notice from either Issuer pursuant to this Section 5(a)(vii), it will immediately discontinue use of the Prospectus contained in the Market Making Registration Statement and any Free Writing Prospectus until receipt of copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus relating thereto or until advised in writing by either Issuer that the use of the Prospectus contained in the Market Making Registration Statement or the Free Writing Prospectus may be resumed.
(b) In connection with the Market Making Registration Statement, the Issuers shall (i) make available for inspection by a representative of, and counsel acting for, the Market Maker, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all pertinent financial and other records, documents and properties of Parent and its subsidiaries and (ii) cause the respective officers, directors and employees of the Issuers and the Guarantors to supply all information reasonably requested by such representative or counsel or the Market Maker; provided that if any such information is identified by either Issuer or any Guarantor as being confidential or proprietary, each Person receiving such information shall take such actions as are reasonably necessary to protect the confidentiality of such information to the extent such action is otherwise not inconsistent with, an impairment of or in derogation of the rights and interests of any Market Maker.
(c) Prior to the initial effective date of the Market Making Registration Statement, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the Securities or Exchange Securities for offer and sale under all applicable state securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Market Maker reasonably requests in writing, cooperate with the Market Maker in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA and do any and all other acts or things that may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable the offer and sale in such jurisdictions of the Securities or Exchange Securities covered by the Market Making Registration Statement; provided that the Issuers and the Guarantors shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to subject itself to service of process in any such jurisdictions or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it not so subject.
-15-
(d) The Issuers and the Guarantors represent and agree that the Market Making Registration Statement, any post-effective amendments thereto, any Free Writing Prospectus, any amendments or supplements to the related Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus and any documents filed by them under the Exchange Act will, when they become effective or are filed with the SEC, as the case may be, conform in all respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder and will not, as of each effective date of such Market Making Registration Statement or post-effective amendments and as of the filing date of any Free Writing Prospectus or amendments or supplements to such Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus or filings under the Exchange Act, 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 (in the case of the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Market Making Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Issuers by the Market Maker specifically for inclusion therein, which information the parties hereto agree will be limited to the statements concerning the market-making activities of the Market Maker to be set forth on the cover page and in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the Prospectus (the “Market Maker’s Information”).
(e) At the time of initial effectiveness of the Market Making Registration Statement and concurrently with each time any Free Writing Prospectus is first used or the Market Making Registration Statement shall be amended by post-effective amendment, including by the filing of an annual report incorporated by reference into the Market Making Registration Statement, or the related Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented, each Issuer shall (if requested by the Market Maker) furnish the Market Maker and its counsel with a certificate of its chief financial officer and one additional senior executive officer to the effect that:
(i) the Market Making Registration Statement has become effective;
(ii) in the case of an amendment to the Market Making Registration Statement, such amendment has become effective under the Securities Act as of the date and time specified in such certificate, if applicable; and in the case of an amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, such amendment or supplement to the Prospectus was filed with the SEC pursuant to the subparagraph of Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act specified in such certificate on the date specified therein; and in the case of any Free Writing Prospectus or an amendment or supplement to any Free Writing Prospectus, such Free Writing Prospectus or amendment or supplement to the Free Writing Prospectus was filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 433 under the Securities Act on the date specified therein;
(iii) to the knowledge of such officers, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Market Making Registration Statement has been issued, including any notice of objection of the SEC to the use of the Market Making Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act, and no proceeding for that purpose is pending or threatened by the SEC; and
(iv) such officers have carefully examined the Market Making Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus (and, in the case of an amendment or supplement, such amendment or supplement) and as of the applicable effective date of such Market Making Registration Statement, or the date of such Free Writing Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement, as applicable, the Market Making Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact and did not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
-16-
(f) At the time of initial effectiveness of the Market Making Registration Statement and concurrently with each time any Free Writing Prospectus is first used or the Market Making Registration Statement shall be amended by post-effective amendment, including by the filing of an annual report incorporated by reference into the Market Making Registration Statement, or the related Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented, the Issuers shall (if requested by the Market Maker) furnish the Market Maker and its counsel with the written opinion or, in the case of clause (iv) below, negative assurance letter of counsel for the Issuers satisfactory to the Market Maker to the effect that:
(i) the Market Making Registration Statement has become effective;
(ii) in the case of an amendment to the Market Making Registration Statement, such amendment has become effective under the Securities Act as of the date and time specified in such opinion, if applicable; and in the case of an amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, such amendment or supplement to the Prospectus was filed with the SEC pursuant to the subparagraph of Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act specified in such opinion on the date specified therein; and in the case of any Free Writing Prospectus or an amendment or supplement to any Free Writing Prospectus, such Free Writing Prospectus or amendment or supplement to the Free Writing Prospectus was filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 433 under the Securities Act on the date specified therein;
(iii) to the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Market Making Registration Statement has been issued, including any notice of objection of the SEC to the use of the Market Making Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act, and no proceeding for that purpose is pending or threatened by the SEC; and
(iv) such counsel has reviewed the Market Making Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus (and, in the case of an amendment or supplement, such amendment or supplement) and participated with officers of the Issuers and independent registered public accountants for the Issuers in the preparation of such Market Making Registration Statement and Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus (and, in the case of an amendment or supplement, such amendment or supplement) and has no reason to believe that (except for the financial statements and other financial and statistical data contained therein as to which such counsel need express no belief) as of the applicable effective date of such Market Making Registration Statement, or the date of such Free Writing Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement, as applicable, the Market Making Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, contained any 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 (in the case of the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.
(g) [Reserved].
(h) The Issuers and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Market Maker, on the other hand, hereby agree to indemnify each other, and, if applicable, contribute to the other, in accordance with Section 6 of this Agreement.
-17-
(i) The Issuers and the Guarantors will comply with the provisions of this Section 5 at their own expense and will reimburse the Market Maker for its expenses associated with this Section 5 (including reasonable fees of counsel for the Market Maker).
(j) The agreements contained in this Section 5 and the representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement shall survive all offers and sales of the Securities and the Exchange Securities and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination or cancellation of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(k) For purposes of this Section 5, (i) any reference to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Market Making Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained therein or any Free Writing Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing under the Exchange Act of any document deemed to be incorporated therein by reference and (ii) any reference to the terms “Securities” or “Exchange Securities” shall be deemed to refer to and include any securities issued in exchange for or with respect to such Securities or Exchange Securities.
6. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) Each Issuer and each Guarantor, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless (i) each Initial Purchaser, the Market Maker and each Holder, their respective affiliates, directors and officers and each Person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser or any Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (1) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or (2) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer information” (“Issuer Information”) filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Initial Purchaser, information relating to any Holder or the Market Maker Information furnished to the Issuers in writing through X.X. Xxxxxx, any selling Holder or the Market Maker, respectively, expressly for use therein and (ii) the Market Maker from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), that arise out of, or are based upon, any breach by either Issuer of its representations, warranties and agreements contained in Section 5. In connection with any Underwritten Offering permitted by Section 3, the Issuers and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, will also indemnify the Underwriters, if any, selling brokers, dealers and similar securities industry professionals participating in the distribution, their respective affiliates and each Person who controls such Persons (within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders, if requested in connection with any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or any Issuer Information.
(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Issuers, the Guarantors, the Initial Purchasers and the other selling Holders, the directors of the Issuers and the Guarantors, each officer of the Issuers and the Guarantors who signed the Registration Statement and
-18-
each Person, if any, who controls the Issuers, the Guarantors, any Initial Purchaser and any other selling Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Holder furnished to the Issuers in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus.
(c) The Market Maker agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Issuers and the Guarantors, the directors of the Issuers and the Guarantors and each officer of the Issuers and the Guarantors who signed the Market Making Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Issuers or the Guarantors within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any Market Maker’s Information furnished to the Issuers in writing by the Market Maker expressly for use in any Market Making Registration Statement, any Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus.
(d) If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any Person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to paragraph (a), (b) or (c) above, such Person (the “Indemnified Person”) shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “Indemnifying Person”) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under paragraph (a), (b) or (c) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under paragraph (a), (b) or (c) above. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 6 that the Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm (x) for any Initial Purchaser or the Market Maker, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control Persons of such Initial Purchaser or the Market Maker shall be designated in writing by X.X. Xxxxxx, (y) for any Holder, its directors and officers and any control Persons of such Holder shall be designated in writing by the Majority Holders and (z) in all other cases shall be designated in writing by the Issuers. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from
-19-
and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the Indemnified Person for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by the Indemnifying Person of such request and (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (A) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (B) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.
(e) If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Issuers and the Guarantors from the offering of the Securities and the Exchange Securities, on the one hand, and by the Holders from receiving Securities or Exchange Securities registered under the Securities Act or the Market Maker, on the other hand, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Issuers and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Holders or by the Market Maker on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Issuers and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Holders or the Market Maker on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Issuers and the Guarantors or by the Holders or the Market Maker Information, as applicable, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
(f) The Issuers, the Guarantors, the Holders and the Market Maker agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 6 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (e) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (e) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6, in no event shall a Holder or the Market Maker be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities or Exchange Securities sold by such Holder or the Securities sold by the Market Maker exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 6 are several and not joint.
-20-
(g) The remedies provided for in this Section 6 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies that may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.
(h) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 6 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers, the Market Maker or any Holder or any Person controlling any Initial Purchaser, the Market Maker or any Holder, or by or on behalf of the Issuers or the Guarantors or the officers or directors of or any Person controlling the Issuers or the Guarantors, (iii) acceptance of any of the Exchange Securities and (iv) any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement or the Market Making Registration Statement.
7. General.
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Issuers and the Guarantors represent, warrant and agree that (i) the rights granted to the Holders or the Market Maker hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of any other outstanding securities issued or guaranteed by either Issuer or any Guarantor under any other agreement and (ii) neither of the Issuers nor any Guarantor has entered into, or on or after the date of this Agreement will enter into, any agreement that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities or the Market Maker in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.
(b) 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 Issuers and the Guarantors have 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 consent and with respect to the provisions of Section 5, the written consent of the Market Maker; provided that no amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent to any departure from the provisions of Section 6 hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of Registrable Securities or the Market Maker unless consented to in writing by such Holder or the Market Maker, as applicable. Any amendments, modifications, supplements, waivers or consents pursuant to this Section 7(b) shall be by a writing executed by each of the parties hereto.
(c) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Issuers by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7(c), which address initially is, with respect to the Initial Purchasers, the address set forth in the Purchase Agreement; (ii) if to the Issuers and the Guarantors, initially at the Issuers’ address set forth in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7(c); (iii) if to the Market Maker, initially at its address set forth in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7(c); and (iv) to such other persons at their respective addresses as provided in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7(c). All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next Business Day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery. Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee, at the address specified in the Indenture.
-21-
(d) Successors 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 the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof. The Initial Purchasers (in their capacity as Initial Purchasers) shall have no liability or obligation to the Issuers or the Guarantors with respect to any failure by a Holder to comply with, or any breach by any Holder of, any of the obligations of such Holder under this Agreement.
(e) Third Party Beneficiaries. Each Holder shall be a third party beneficiary to the agreements made hereunder (excluding those agreements made in Section 5 hereto) between the Issuers and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers and the Market Maker, 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 other Holders hereunder.
(f) 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.
(g) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, are not a part of this Agreement and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(h) Governing Law. This Agreement, and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
(i) Entire Agreement; Severability. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all oral statements and prior writings with respect thereto. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained in this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable or against public policy, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions contained herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated. The Issuers, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the invalid, void or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, void or unenforceable provisions.
-22-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
| DYNACAST INTERNATIONAL LLC | ||||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
| Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
| Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
| DYNACAST FINANCE INC. | ||||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
| Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
| Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
| DYNACAST INTERNATIONAL INC. | ||||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
| Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
| Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
| The Initial Guarantors listed in Schedule 1 hereto | ||||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
| Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
| Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
Confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written:
| X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES LLC | ||
| For itself and on behalf of the several Initial Purchasers | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx | |
| Authorized Signatory | ||
Schedule 1
Initial Guarantors
KDI Acquisition LLC
Dynacast US 1 LLC
Dynacast US Holdings Inc.
Dynacast MFG. Inc.
Annex A
Counterpart to Registration Rights Agreement
The undersigned hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably agrees as a Guarantor (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement, dated July 19, 2011 by and among Dynacast International LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Dynacast Finance Inc., a Delaware corporation, the guarantors party thereto and X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC, on behalf of itself and the other Initial Purchasers) to be bound by the terms and provisions of such Registration Rights Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this counterpart as of _______________, 201_.
| [GUARANTOR] | ||||
| By: | ||||
| Name: | ||||
| Title: | ||||
