RAYONIER TRS HOLDINGS INC. Unconditionally Guaranteed by Rayonier Inc. REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
EXECUTION COPY
Exhibit 4.2
$172,500,000
RAYONIER TRS HOLDINGS INC.
4.50% Senior Exchangeable Notes due 2015
Unconditionally Guaranteed by Rayonier Inc.
August 12, 2009
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc.
As Representatives of the several Initial Purchasers
| c/o | Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
| Eleven Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
| Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000 |
Dear Sirs:
Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), proposes to issue and sell to Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated and X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc. as Representatives of the initial purchasers set forth on Schedule A hereto (the “Initial Purchasers”), upon the terms set forth in a purchase agreement dated August 6, 2009 (the “Purchase Agreement”), $172,500,000 aggregate principal amount (which principal amount includes the $22,500,000 over-allotment option exercised by the Initial Purchasers in accordance with the Purchase Agreement) of its 4.50% Senior Exchangeable Notes due 2015 (the “Notes”), to be fully and unconditionally guaranteed (the “Guarantee”) by Rayonier Inc., a North Carolina corporation and parent of the Issuer (the “Guarantor”, and together with the Issuer, the “Company”). The Notes and the Guarantee are together referred to as the “Initial Securities”. The Initial Securities will be exchangeable into shares of common stock, no par value, of the Guarantor (the “Common Stock”), at an initial exchange price of approximately $50.24 per share as described in the Offering Circular, dated as of August 6, 2009, and relating to the offering of the Initial Securities (the “Offering Circular”). The Initial Securities will be issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of August 12, 2009, (the “Indenture”) among the Issuer, the Guarantor and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (the “Trustee”). As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers, the Company agrees with the Initial Purchasers, for the benefit of the holders of the Initial Securities (including, without limitation, the Initial Purchasers) and the Common Stock issuable upon exchange of the Initial Securities (collectively, the “Securities”) from time to time until such time as such Securities have been sold pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement (as defined below) (each of the foregoing a “Holder”, and collectively, the “Holders”), as follows:
1. Shelf Registration. (a) The Company shall, at its cost, as promptly as practicable (but in no event more than 90 days after the First Closing Date, as defined in the Purchase Agreement), file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and thereafter shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be declared effective (unless it becomes effective automatically upon filing) a registration statement (the “Shelf Registration Statement”) on an appropriate form under the Securities Act (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) relating to the offer and sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined in Section 5(e) hereof) by the Holders thereof from time to time in
accordance with the methods of distribution set forth in the Shelf Registration Statement and Rule 415 under the Securities Act (hereinafter, the “Shelf Registration”); provided, however, that no Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser) shall be entitled to have the Securities held by it covered by such Shelf Registration Statement unless such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by all the provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder.
(b) The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit the prospectus included therein to be lawfully delivered by the Holders of the relevant Securities, for a period of one year from the date of original issuance of the Initial Securities or such shorter period that will terminate when all the Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement (i) have been sold pursuant thereto or (ii) are no longer Transfer Restricted Securities (such period being referred to as the “Shelf Registration Period”). The Company shall be deemed not to have used its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective during the requisite period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result in Holders of Securities covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such Securities during that period, unless such action is required by applicable law.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall cause the Shelf Registration Statement and the related prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as of the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, amendment or supplement, (i) to comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission and (ii) not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
2. Registration Procedures. In connection with any Shelf Registration contemplated by Section 1 hereof, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) The Company shall (i) furnish to the Initial Purchasers, prior to the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of the Shelf Registration Statement and each amendment thereof and each supplement, if any, to the prospectus included therein and, in the event that an Initial Purchaser (with respect to any portion of an unsold allotment from the original offering) is participating in the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to reflect in each such document, when so filed with the Commission, such comments as such Initial Purchaser reasonably may propose; and (ii) include in the prospectus included in the Shelf Registration Statement (or, if permitted by Commission Rule 430B(b), in a prospectus supplement that becomes a part thereof pursuant to Commission Rule 430B(f)) that is delivered to any Holder pursuant to Section 2(d) and (h), the names of the Holders, who propose to sell Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, as selling securityholders.
(b) The Company shall give written notice to the Initial Purchasers and (in the cases of clauses (ii) through (iv) hereof) the Holders (which notice pursuant to clauses (ii) through (v) hereof shall be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes have been made):
(i) when the Shelf Registration Statement or any amendment thereto has been filed with the Commission and when the Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective;
(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to the Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or for additional information;
2
(iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, of the issuance by the Commission of a notification of objection to the use of the form on which the Shelf Registration Statement has been filed, and of the happening of any event that causes the Company to become an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Commission Rule 405.
(iv) of the receipt by the Company or its legal counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and
(v) of the happening of any event that requires the Company to make changes in the Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus in order that the Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus do not contain an untrue statement of a material fact nor omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.
(c) The Company shall make commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal at the earliest possible time, of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement.
(d) The Company shall make the Shelf Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment or supplement thereto accessible on the Commission’s XXXXX (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) system and, if the Holder so requests in writing, shall furnish to each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge, at least one copy of the Shelf Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment or supplement thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and, if the Holder so further requests in writing, all exhibits thereto (including those, if any, incorporated by reference). The Company shall not, without the prior consent of the Initial Purchasers, make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Commission Rule 405.
(e) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period, deliver to each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge, as many copies of the prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) included in the Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such person may reasonably request. The Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in the Shelf Registration Statement.
(f) Prior to any public offering of the Securities, pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall register or qualify or cooperate with the Holders of the Securities included therein and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of such states of the United States as any Holder reasonably requests in writing and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the offer and sale in such jurisdictions of the Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or (ii) take any action which would subject it to general service of process or to taxation in any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(g) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing the Securities to be sold pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement free of any restrictive legends and in such denominations and registered in such names
3
as the Holders may request a reasonable period of time prior to sales of the Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement.
(h) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 2(b) above during the period for which the Company is required to maintain an effective Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly prepare and file a post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus and any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to Holders or purchasers of Securities, the prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Company notifies the Initial Purchasers and the Holders in accordance with paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 2(b) above to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes to the prospectus have been made (such period, the “Suspension Period”), then the Initial Purchasers and the Holders of the Securities shall suspend use of such prospectus. During the period during which the Company is required to maintain an effective Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement, the Company will, prior to the expiration of the Shelf Registration Period, file, and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be declared effective (unless it becomes effective automatically upon filing) within a period that avoids any interruption in the ability of Holders of Securities covered by the expiring Shelf Registration Statement to make registered dispositions, a new registration statement relating to the Securities, which shall be deemed the “Shelf Registration Statement” for purposes of this Agreement.
(i) Not later than the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company will provide a CUSIP number for the Initial Securities and the Common Stock registered under the Shelf Registration Statement and provide the Trustee with printed certificates for the Initial Securities in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.
(j) The Company will comply with all rules and regulations of the Commission to the extent and so long as they are applicable to the Shelf Registration and will make generally available to its security holders (or otherwise provide in accordance with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act) an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act, no later than 45 days after the end of a 12-month period (or 90 days, if such period is a fiscal year) beginning with the first month of the Company’s first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, which statement shall cover such 12-month period.
(k) The Company shall cause the indenture governing the Notes (the “Indenture”) to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in a timely manner and containing such changes, if any, as shall be necessary for such qualification. In the event that such qualification would require the appointment of a new trustee under the Indenture, the Company shall appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Indenture.
(l) (i) Each Holder agrees that if such Holder wishes to sell Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement and related prospectus, it will do so only in accordance with this Section 2(l). Following the date that the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective (or becomes effective automatically upon filing), each Holder wishing to sell Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement and related prospectus agrees to complete and deliver a Notice and Questionnaire, in substantially the form set forth as Annex A to the Offering Circular, to the Company at least 10 business days prior to any intended distribution of Securities under the Shelf Registration Statement. A Holder delivering such a Notice and Questionnaire is sometimes referred to herein as a “Notice Holder”. Each Holder who elects to sell Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement agrees by submitting a Notice and Questionnaire to the person specified therein, it will be bound by the terms and conditions of the Notice and Questionnaire and this Agreement. The Company may exclude from such registration the Securities of any Holder
4
that fails to furnish such information within such time period, and no such Holders shall be entitled to receive Additional Interest pursuant to Section 5 hereto. Within 10 business days after the later of receipt of a completed Notice and Questionnaire or the expiration of any Suspension Period in effect when such questionnaire is delivered, the Company will file, if required by applicable law, a post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement or a supplement to the prospectus contained in the Shelf Registration Statement. In no event will the Company be required to file more than one post-effective amendment in any calendar quarter or to file a supplement or post-effective amendment during any Suspension Period.
(ii) Each Holder agrees, by acquisition of the Securities, that no Holder shall be entitled to sell any of such Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement or to receive a prospectus relating thereto, unless such Holder has furnished the Company with a Notice and Questionnaire as required pursuant to this Section 2(l) (including the information required to be included in such Notice and Questionnaire) and the information set forth in the next sentence. Each Notice Holder agrees promptly to furnish to the Company all information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the Company by such Notice Holder not misleading and any other information regarding such Notice Holder and the distribution of such Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request. Any sale of any Securities by any Holder shall constitute a representation and warranty by such Holder that the information relating to such Holder and its plan of distribution is as set forth in the prospectus delivered to such Holder in connection with such disposition, that such prospectus does not as of the time of such sale contain any untrue statement of a material fact relating to or provided by such Holder or its plan of distribution and that such prospectus does not as of the time of such sale omit to state any material fact relating to or provided by such Holder or its plan of distribution necessary to make the statements in such prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(iii) Each Holder agrees by acquisition of its Securities that upon actual receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Sections 2(b)(ii)-(v) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement or prospectus until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 2(h) hereof, or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the applicable prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any amendments or supplements thereto.
(m) The Company shall enter into such customary agreements (including, if requested, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take all such other action, if any, as any Holder of the Securities shall reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Securities pursuant to any Shelf Registration.
(n) The Company shall (i) make available for inspection by not more than one representative appointed by a majority in principal amount of Notes outstanding held by selling Holders of such Securities being sold and one firm of attorneys and one accounting firm (collectively, the “Inspectors”), at the offices where normally kept, during reasonable business hours at such time or times as shall be mutually convenient for the Guarantor and the Inspectors as a group, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and instruments of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Records”) and (ii) cause the officers, directors and employees of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector as shall be reasonably necessary to enable Inspectors to exercise any applicable due diligence responsibilities for purposes of Section 11 of the Securities Act. Records that the Guarantor determines, in good faith, to be confidential and any Records that it notifies the Inspectors are confidential shall not be disclosed by any Inspector unless (I) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a material misstatement or material omission in the Shelf Registration Statement if a Shelf Registration Statement is then available, (II) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction,
5
(III) disclosure of such information is, in the opinion of counsel for the Notice Holders, necessary or advisable in connection with any action, claim, suit or proceeding, directly involving or potentially involving such Notice Holder or their Inspectors and arising out of, based upon, relating to, or involving this Agreement or any transactions contemplated hereby or arising hereunder or (IV) the information in such Records has been made generally available to the public other than through the acts of the Inspectors; provided, however, that prior notice shall be provided as soon as practicable to the Company of the potential disclosure of any information by such Inspector pursuant to clauses (II) or (III) of this sentence to permit the Issuer or the Guarantor to obtain a protective order (or waive the provisions of this Section 2(n). Each Inspector shall take such actions as are reasonably necessary to protect the confidentiality of such information to the extent such actions are otherwise not inconsistent with, an impairment of or in derogation of the rights and interests of the Holder or any Inspector, unless and until such information in such Records has been made generally available to the public other than as a result of a breach of this Agreement.
(o) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company, if requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount outstanding of Securities covered thereby, shall cause (i) one counsel designated by such Holders to deliver an opinion in customary form addressed to such Holders and the managing underwriters, if any, thereof and dated, in the case of the initial opinion, the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement (it being agreed that the matters to be covered by such opinion shall include matters customarily covered in opinions requested in sales of securities in underwritten offerings); (ii) its officers to execute and deliver all customary documents and certificates and updates thereof requested by any underwriters of the applicable Securities and (iii) its independent public accountants to provide to the selling Holders of the applicable Securities and any underwriter therefor a comfort letter in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, subject to receipt of appropriate documentation as contemplated, and only if permitted, by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72.
(p) The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to (a) if the Initial Securities have been rated prior to the initial sale of such Initial Securities, confirm such ratings will apply to the Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement or (b) if the Initial Securities were not previously rated, cause the Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement to be rated with the appropriate rating agencies, if so requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement, or by the managing underwriters, if any.
(q) In the event that any broker-dealer registered under the Exchange Act (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) shall underwrite any Securities or participate as a member of an underwriting syndicate or selling group or “assist in the distribution” (within the meaning of the Conduct Rules (the “Rules”) of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”)) thereof, whether as a Holder of such Securities or as an underwriter, a placement or sales agent or a broker or dealer in respect thereof, or otherwise, the Company will assist such broker-dealer in complying with the requirements of such Rules, including, without limitation, by (i) if such Rules, including Rule 2720, shall so require, engaging a “qualified independent underwriter” (as defined in Rule 2720) to participate in the preparation of the Shelf Registration Statement relating to such Securities, to exercise usual standards of due diligence in respect thereto and, if any portion of the offering contemplated by such Shelf Registration Statement is an underwritten offering or is made through a placement or sales agent, to recommend the yield of such Securities, (ii) indemnifying any such qualified independent underwriter to the extent of the indemnification of underwriters provided in Section 4 hereof and (iii) providing such information to such broker-dealer as may be required in order for such broker-dealer to comply with the requirements of the Rules.
6
(r) The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to take all other steps necessary to effect the registration of the Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement contemplated hereby.
3. Registration Expenses. The Company shall bear all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under Sections 1 and 2 hereof, whether or not a Shelf Registration Statement is filed or becomes effective and shall bear or reimburse the Holders of the Securities covered thereby for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm only of counsel designated by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes covered thereby to act as counsel for the Holders of the Securities in connection therewith.
4. Indemnification. (a) Each of the Issuer and the Guarantor, severally and jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder and each person, if any, who controls such Holder within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each Holder and such controlling persons are referred to collectively as the “Indemnified Parties”) from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, or any actions in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions relating to purchases and sales of the Securities) to which each Indemnified Party may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Shelf Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus or “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Commission Rule 433 (“Issuer FWP”), relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out of, or are based upon, the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and shall reimburse, as incurred, the Indemnified Parties for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof; provided, however, that (i) the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Shelf Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus or Issuer FWP relating to a Shelf Registration in reliance upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein and (ii) with respect to any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration Statement, the indemnity agreement contained in this subsection (a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased the Securities concerned, to the extent that a prospectus relating to such Securities was required to be delivered (including through satisfaction of the conditions of Commission Rule 172) by such Holder by the Securities Act in connection with such purchase and any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such Holder results from the fact that there was not conveyed to such person, at or prior to the time of the sale of such Securities to such person, (x) an amended or supplemented prospectus or, (y) if permitted by Section 2(d), an Issuer FWP, in each case, correcting such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission if the Company had previously furnished copies thereof to such Holder; provided further, however, that this indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to such Indemnified Party. Each of the Issuer and the Guarantor, severally and jointly, shall also indemnify underwriters, their officers and directors and each person who controls such underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders if requested by such Holders.
(b) Each Holder, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities or any actions in respect thereof, to which the Company or any such controlling person may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Shelf Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus or Issuer FWP
7
relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein; and, subject to the limitation set forth immediately preceding this clause, shall reimburse, as incurred, the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or any such controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Holder may otherwise have to the Company or any of its controlling persons.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 4 of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including a governmental investigation), 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 of the commencement thereof; provided that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability that it may have under subsection (a) or (b) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; provided further that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under subsection (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 4 for any legal or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of investigation, subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof. In any such proceeding, an indemnified party 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 party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the contrary or (ii) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include an indemnifying party and an indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood that an 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 firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all indemnified parties, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for the Indemnified Parties shall be designated in writing by the Holders of the majority in principal amount of Securities, and any such separate firm for the Issuer, its directors, respective officers and such control persons of the Issuer shall be designated in writing by the Issuer, and any such separate firm for the Guarantor, its directors, respective officers and such control persons of the Guarantor shall be designated in writing by the Guarantor. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 4 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsections (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) as well as any other relevant equitable
8
considerations. The relative fault of the parties shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or such Holder or such other indemnified party, as the case may be, on the other, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4(d), Holders shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds received by such Holders from the sale of the Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement exceeds the amount of damages which such Holders have 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. For purposes of this paragraph (d), each person, if any, who controls such indemnified party within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such indemnified party, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.
(e) The agreements contained in this Section 4 shall survive the sale of the Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement 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.
5. Additional Interest Under Certain Circumstances. (a) Additional interest (the “Additional Interest”) with respect to the Initial Securities shall be assessed as follows if any of the following events occur (each such event in clauses (i) through (iii) below a “Registration Default”:
(i) If by November 4, 2009, a Shelf Registration Statement has not been filed with the Commission;
(ii) If by February 2, 2010, the Shelf Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the Commission; or
(iii) If after the Shelf Registration Statement has become effective such Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective (without being succeeded immediately by an effective replacement Shelf Registration Statement) or the Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus ceases to be usable in connection with the resales of Securities, in accordance with and during the periods specified herein for a period of time (including any Suspension Period) which exceeds 90 days in the aggregate in any consecutive 12-month period because either (A) any event occurs as a result of which the related prospectus forming part of such Shelf Registration Statement would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading, (B) it shall be necessary to amend such Shelf Registration Statement or supplement the related prospectus, to comply with the Securities Act or Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder or (C) the occurrence or existence of any pending corporate development or other similar event with respect to the Company or a public filing with the Commission that, in the reasonable discretion of the Issuer, makes it appropriate to suspend the availability of a Shelf Registration Statement and the related prospectus.
Additional Interest shall accrue on the Initial Securities over and above the interest set forth in the title of the Initial Securities from and including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to, but excluding, the date on which all such Registration Defaults have been cured, at a rate of 0.25% per annum.
9
(b) A Registration Default referred to in Section 5(a)(iii) hereof shall be deemed not to have occurred and be continuing in relation to a Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus if (i) such Registration Default has occurred solely as a result of (x) the filing of a post-effective amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement to incorporate annual audited financial information with respect to the Company where such post-effective amendment is not yet effective and needs to be declared effective to permit Holders to use the related prospectus or (y) other material events with respect to the Company that would need to be described in such Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus and (ii) in the case of clause (y), the Company is proceeding promptly and in good faith to amend or supplement such Shelf Registration Statement and related prospectus to describe such events; provided, however, that in any case if such Registration Default occurs for a continuous period in excess of 90 days in any consecutive 12-month period, Additional Interest shall be payable in accordance with the above paragraph from the day such Registration Default occurs until such Registration Default is cured.
(c) Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of Section 5(a) above will be payable in cash on the regular interest payment dates with respect to the Initial Securities. The amount of Additional Interest will be determined by multiplying the applicable Additional Interest rate by the principal amount of the Initial Securities, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days such Additional Interest rate was applicable during such period (determined on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months), and the denominator of which is 360.
(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Holder that does not comply with Section 2(l) shall be eligible to receive Additional Interest.
(e) “Transfer Restricted Securities” means each Security until (i) the date on which such Security has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement, (ii) the date on which such Initial Securities is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or is saleable by non-affiliates pursuant to Rule 144(d) under the Securities Act, (iii) the date on which such Security shall have been otherwise transferred by the Holder thereof and a new Security not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Issuer and subsequent disposition of such Security shall not require registration or qualification under the Securities Act or any similar state law then in force or (iv) such Security ceases to be outstanding.
6. Rules 144 and 144A. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act in a timely manner and, if at any time the Company is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder, make publicly available other information so long as necessary to permit sales of its Securities pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A. The Company covenants that it will take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Initial Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rules 144 and 144A (including the requirements of Rule 144A(d)(4)). The Company will provide a copy of this Agreement to prospective purchasers of Initial Securities identified to the Company by the Initial Purchasers upon request. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 6 shall be deemed to require the Company to register any of its securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.
7. Underwritten Registrations. If any of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by any Shelf Registration are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that will administer the offering (“Managing Underwriters”) will be selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Transfer Restricted Securities to be included in such offering.
No person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person’s Transfer Restricted Securities on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii) completes
10
and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
8. Miscellaneous.
(a) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, except by the Company and the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waivers or consents.
(b) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, first-class mail, facsimile transmission, or air courier which guarantees overnight delivery:
(1) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company.
(2) if to the Initial Purchasers:
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
Eleven Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Transactions Advisory Group
Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated
Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000 0000
Attention: Syndicate Department
Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated
Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: ECM Legal
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
with a copy to:
Cravath, Swaine & Xxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, III
(3) if to the Issuer or the Guarantor:
Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc.
c/o Rayonier Inc.
00 X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
11
Attention: Vice President and General Counsel
with a copy to:
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx L.L.P.
First City Tower
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt is acknowledged by recipient’s facsimile machine operator, if sent by facsimile transmission; and on the day delivered, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.
(c) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not, as of the date hereof, entered into, nor shall it, on or after the date hereof, enter into, any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders herein or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.
(d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.
(e) 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.
(f) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(g) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(h) Severability. If 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.
(i) Securities Held by the Company. Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities is required hereunder, Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (other than subsequent Holders if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.
12
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Issuer a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the several Initial Purchasers, the Issuer and the Guarantor in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
RAYONIER TRS HOLDINGS INC.
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Senior Vice President
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Senior Vice President, Finance
13
The foregoing Registration
Rights Agreement is hereby confirmed
and accepted as of the date first
above written.
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc.
Acting on behalf of themselves and as the Representatives of the several Initial Purchasers
by: CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC
By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: Director
by: XXXXXXX LYNCH, PIERCE, XXXXXX & XXXXX INCORPORATED
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx XxXxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxx XxXxxxxxx
Title: Managing Director
by: X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx
Title: Managing Director
14
SCHEDULE A
Initial Purchasers
| Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc. |
