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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
BY AND AMONG
XXXXXX.XXX, INC.
AS ISSUER,
AND
XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED,
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON
AND
XXXXXXXXX, LUFKIN & XXXXXXXX SECURITIES CORPORATION
AS INITIAL PURCHASERS
DATED FEBRUARY 3, 1999
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THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of
February 3, 1999 by and among Xxxxxx.xxx, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated, Credit Suisse First Boston
and Xxxxxxxxx, Lufkin & Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation (the "Initial
Purchasers") pursuant to the Placement Agreement, dated as of January 29, 1999
(the "Placement Agreement"), among the Company and the Initial Purchasers. In
order to induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Placement Agreement,
the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this
Agreement. The execution of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under
the Placement Agreement.
The Company agrees with the Initial Purchasers, (i) for their benefit
as Initial Purchasers and (ii) for the benefit of the beneficial owners
(including the Initial Purchasers) from time to time of the Notes (as defined
herein) and the beneficial owners from time to time of the Underlying Common
Stock (as defined herein) issued upon conversion of the Notes (each of the
foregoing a "Holder" and together the "Holders"), as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. Capitalized terms used herein without
definition shall have their respective meanings set forth in the Placement
Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
AFFILIATE: With respect to any specified person, an "affiliate," as
defined in Rule 144, of such person.
AMENDMENT EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE DATE: See Section 2(d) hereof.
APPLICABLE CONVERSION PRICE: The Applicable Conversion Price as of any
date of determination means the Conversion Price in effect as of such date of
determination or, if no Notes are then outstanding, the Conversion Price that
would be in effect were Notes then outstanding.
BUSINESS DAY: Each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that
is not a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York or Seattle,
Washington are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
COMMON STOCK: The shares of common stock $0.01 par value of the Company
and any other shares of common stock as may constitute "Common Stock" for
purposes of the Indenture, including the Underlying Common Stock.
CONVERSION PRICE: Conversion Price shall have the meaning assigned such
term in the Indenture.
DAMAGES ACCRUAL PERIOD: See Section 2(e) hereof.
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DAMAGES PAYMENT DATE: Each interest payment date under the Indenture in
the case of Notes, and each February 1 and August 1 in the case of the
Underlying Common Stock.
DEFERRAL NOTICE: See Section 3(i) hereof.
DEFERRAL PERIOD: See Section 3(i) hereof.
EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE DATE: See Section 2(a) hereof.
EFFECTIVENESS PERIOD: The period of two years from the later of (a) the
Issue Date (b) the last date of original issuance of the Notes, or such shorter
period ending on the date that all Registrable Securities have ceased to be
Registrable Securities.
EVENT: See Section 2(e) hereof.
EVENT DATE: See Section 2(e) hereof.
EVENT TERMINATION DATE: See Section 2(e) hereof.
EXCHANGE ACT: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the
rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
FILING DEADLINE DATE: See Section 2(a) hereof.
HOLDER: See the second paragraph of this Agreement.
INDENTURE: The Indenture dated as of the date hereof between the
Company and The Bank of New York, as trustee, pursuant to which the Notes are
being issued.
INITIAL PURCHASERS: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated, Credit Suisse
First Boston and Xxxxxxxxx, Lufkin & Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation.
INITIAL SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT: See Section 2(a) hereof.
ISSUE DATE: February 3, 1999.
LIQUIDATED DAMAGES AMOUNT: See Section 2(e) hereof.
LOSSES: See Section 6 hereof.
MATERIAL EVENT: See Section 3(i) hereof.
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NOTES: The 4 3/4% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2009 of the
Company to be purchased pursuant to the Placement Agreement.
NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE: A written notice delivered to the Company
containing substantially the information called for by the Selling
Securityholder Notice and Questionnaire attached as Annex B to the Offering
Memorandum of the Company issued January 29, 1999 relating to the Notes.
NOTICE HOLDER: On any date, any Holder that has delivered a Notice and
Questionnaire to the Company on or prior to such date.
PROSPECTUS: The prospectus included in any Registration Statement
(including, without limitation, a prospectus that discloses information
previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration
statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as
amended or supplemented by any amendment or prospectus supplement, including
post-effective amendments, and all materials incorporated by reference or
explicitly deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
PLACEMENT AGREEMENT: See the first paragraph of this Agreement.
PROVISIONAL REDEMPTION: See Section 3.1(a) of the Indenture.
PROVISIONAL REDEMPTION DATE: See Section 3.1(a) of the Indenture.
RECORD HOLDER: (i) With respect to any Damages Payment Date relating to
any Notes as to which any such Liquidated Damages Amount has accrued, the holder
of record of such Note on the record date with respect to the interest payment
date under the Indenture on which such Damages Payment Date shall occur and (ii)
with respect to any Damages Payment Date relating to the Underlying Common Stock
as to which any such Liquidated Damages Amount has accrued, the registered
holder of such Underlying Common Stock fifteen (15) days prior to the next
succeeding Damages Payment Date.
REGISTRABLE SECURITIES: The Notes until such Notes have been converted
or exchanged into the Underlying Common Stock, and, at all times subsequent to
any such conversion or exchange the Underlying Securities and any securities
into or for which such Underlying Common Stock have been converted or exchanged,
and any security issued with respect thereto upon any stock dividend, split or
similar event until, in the case of any such security, (A) the earliest of (i)
its effective registration under the Securities Act and resale in accordance
with the Registration Statement covering it, (ii) expiration of the holding
period that would be applicable thereto under Rule 144(k) were it not held by an
affiliate of the Company or (iii) its sale to the public pursuant to Rule 144,
and (B) as a result of the event or circumstance described in any of the
foregoing clauses (i) through (iii), the legends with respect to transfer
restrictions required under the Indenture are removed or removable in accordance
with the terms of the Indenture.
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REGISTRATION EXPENSES: See Section 5 hereof.
REGISTRATION STATEMENT: Any registration statement of the Company that
covers any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such
registration statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits, and
all materials incorporated by reference or explicitly deemed to be incorporated
by reference in such registration statement.
RESTRICTED SECURITIES: As this term is defined in Rule 144.
RULE 144: Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be
amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted
by the SEC.
RULE 144A: Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be
amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted
by the SEC.
SEC: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
SECURITIES ACT: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules
and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder.
SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT: See Section 2(a) hereof.
SUBSEQUENT SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT: See Section 2(b) hereof.
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
TRUSTEE: The Bank of New York (or any successor entity), the Trustee
under the Indenture.
UNDERLYING COMMON STOCK: The Common Stock into which the Notes are
convertible or issued upon any such conversion.
SECTION 2. SHELF REGISTRATION. (a) The Company shall prepare and file
or cause to be prepared and filed with the SEC, as soon as practicable but in
any event by the date (the "Filing Deadline Date") ninety (90) days after the
Issue Date, a Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a delayed or
continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act (a "Shelf
Registration Statement") registering the resale from time to time by Holders
thereof of all of the Registrable Securities (the "Initial Shelf Registration
Statement"). The Initial Shelf Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 or
another appropriate form permitting registration of such Registrable Securities
for resale by such Holders in accordance with the methods of distribution
elected by the Holders and set forth in the Initial Shelf Registration
Statement. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause
the Initial Shelf Registration Statement to
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be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is practicable but
in any event by the date (the "Effectiveness Deadline Date") that is one hundred
eighty (180) days after the Issue Date, and to keep the Initial Shelf
Registration Statement (or any Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement)
continuously effective under the Securities Act until the expiration of the
Effectiveness Period. At the time the Initial Shelf Registration Statement is
declared effective, each Holder that became a Notice Holder on or prior to the
date ten (10) Business Days prior to such time of effectiveness shall be named
as a selling securityholder in the Initial Shelf Registration Statement and the
related Prospectus in such a manner as to permit such Holder to deliver such
Prospectus to purchasers of Registrable Securities in accordance with applicable
law. None of the Company's security holders (other than the Holders of
Registrable Securities) shall have the right to include any of the Company's
securities in the Shelf Registration Statement.
(b) If the Initial Shelf Registration Statement or any Subsequent Shelf
Registration Statement ceases to be effective for any reason at any time during
the Effectiveness Period (other than because all Registrable Securities
registered thereunder shall have been resold pursuant thereto or shall have
ceased to be Registrable Securities), the Company shall use its reasonable
efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the
effectiveness thereof, and in any event shall within thirty (30) days of such
cessation of effectiveness amend the Shelf Registration Statement in a manner
reasonably expected to obtain the withdrawal of the order suspending the
effectiveness thereof, or file an additional Shelf Registration Statement
covering all of the securities that as of the date of such filing are
Registrable Securities (a "Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement"). If a
Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement is filed, the Company shall use
reasonable efforts to cause the Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement to
become effective as promptly as is practicable after such filing and to keep
such Registration Statement (or subsequent Shelf Registration Statement)
continuously effective until the end of the Effectiveness Period.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Company has given a notice of
Provisional Redemption it shall use its reasonable efforts to ensure that the
Shelf Registration Statement be effective and available for use at all times
prior to the Provisional Redemption Date.
(c) The Company shall supplement and amend the Shelf Registration
Statement if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to
the registration form used by the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement,
if required by the Securities Act or, to the extent to which the Company does
not reasonably object, as reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers or by
the Trustee on behalf of the registered Holders or by any Managing Underwriter
in the event of an Underwritten Offering.
(d) Each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees that if such Holder
wishes to sell Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement
and related Prospectus, it will do so only in accordance with this Section 2(d)
and Section 3(i). Each Holder of Registrable Securities wishing to sell
Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement and related
Prospectus agrees to deliver a Notice and Questionnaire to the Company at least
three (3)
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Business Days prior to any intended distribution of Registrable Securities under
the Shelf Registration Statement. From and after the date the Initial Shelf
Registration Statement is declared effective, the Company shall, as promptly as
practicable after the date a Notice and Questionnaire is delivered, and in any
event upon the later of (x) five (5) Business Days after such date or (y) five
(5) Business Days after the expiration of any Deferral Period in effect when the
Notice and Questionnaire is delivered or put into effect within five (5)
Business Days of such delivery date, (i) if required by applicable law, file
with the SEC a post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement or
prepare and, if required by applicable law, file a supplement to the related
Prospectus or a supplement or amendment to any document incorporated therein by
reference or file any other required document so that the Holder delivering such
Notice and Questionnaire is named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf
Registration Statement and the related Prospectus in such a manner as to permit
such Holder to deliver such Prospectus to purchasers of the Registrable
Securities in accordance with applicable law and, if the Company shall file a
post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement, use reasonable
efforts to cause such post-effective amendment to be declared effective under
the Securities Act as promptly as is practicable, but in any event by the date
(the "Amendment Effectiveness Deadline Date") that is forty-five (45) days after
the date such post-effective amendment is required by this clause to be filed;
(ii) provide such Holder copies of any documents filed pursuant to Section
2(d)(i); and (iii) notify such Holder as promptly as practicable after the
effectiveness under the Securities Act of any post-effective amendment filed
pursuant to Section 2(d)(i); provided, that if such Notice and Questionnaire is
delivered during a Deferral Period, the Company shall so inform the Holder
delivering such Notice and Questionnaire and shall take the actions set forth in
clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above upon expiration of the Deferral Period in
accordance with Section 3(i). Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the
contrary, (i) the Company shall be under no obligation to name any Holder that
is not a Notice Holder as a selling securityholder in any Registration Statement
or related Prospectus and (ii) the Amendment Effectiveness Deadline Date shall
be extended by up to ten (10) Business Days from the expiration of a Deferral
Period (and the Company shall incur no obligation to pay Liquidated Damages
during such extension) if such Deferral Period shall be in effect on the
Amendment Effectiveness Deadline Date.
(e) The parties hereto agree that the Holders of Registrable Securities
will suffer damages, and that it would not be feasible to ascertain the extent
of such damages with precision, if (i) the Initial Shelf Registration Statement
has not been filed on or prior to the Filing Deadline Date, (ii) the Initial
Shelf Registration Statement has not been declared effective under the
Securities Act on or prior to the Effectiveness Deadline Date, (iii) the Company
has failed to perform its obligations set forth in Section 2(d) within the time
period required therein or (iv) the aggregate duration of Deferral Periods in
any period exceeds the number of days permitted in respect of such period
pursuant to Section 3(i) hereof or (each of the events of a type described in
any of the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv) are individually referred to
herein as an "Event," and the Filing Deadline Date in the case of clause (i),
the Effectiveness Deadline Date in the case of clause (ii), the date by which
the Company is required to perform its obligations set forth in Section 2(d) in
the case of clause (iii) (including the filing of any post-effective amendment
prior to the Amendment Effectiveness Deadline Date) and the date on which the
aggregate duration of
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Deferral Periods in any period exceeds the number of days permitted by Section
3(i) hereof in the case of clause (iv) being referred to herein as an "Event
Date"). Events shall be deemed to continue until the "Event Termination Date,"
which shall be the following dates with respect to the respective types of
Events: the date the Initial Shelf Registration Statement is filed in the case
of an Event of the type described in clause (i), the date the Initial Shelf
Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act in the
case of an Event of the type described in clause (ii), the date the Company
performs its obligations set forth in Section 2(d) in the case of an Event of
the type described in clause (iii) (including, without limitation, the date the
relevant post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement is
declared effective under the Securities Act), and termination of the Deferral
Period that caused the limit on the aggregate duration of Deferral Periods in a
period set forth in Section 3(i) to be exceeded in the case of the commencement
of an Event of the type described in clause (iv).
Accordingly, commencing on (and including) any Event Date and ending on
(but excluding) the next date on which there are no Events that have occurred
and are continuing (a "Damages Accrual Period"), the Company agrees to pay, as
liquidated damages and not as a penalty, an amount (the "Liquidated Damages
Amount"), payable on the Damages Payment Dates to Record Holders of Notes that
are Registrable Securities and of shares of Underlying Common Stock issued upon
conversion of Notes that are Registrable Securities, as the case may be,
accruing, for each portion of such Damages Accrual Period beginning on and
including a Damages Payment Date (or, in respect of the first time that the
Liquidated Damages Amount is to be paid to Holders on a Damages Payment Date as
a result of the occurrence of any particular Event, from the Event Date) and
ending on but excluding the first to occur of (A) the date of the end of the
Damages Accrual Period or (B) the Next Damages Payment Date, at a rate per annum
equal to one-half of one percent (0.5 %) of the aggregate principal amount of
such Notes and the Applicable Conversion Price of such shares of Underlying
Common Stock, as the cast may be, in each case determined as of the Business Day
immediately preceding the next Damages Payment Date; provided, that in the case
of a Damages Accrual Period that is in effect solely as a result of an Event of
the type described in clause (iii) of the immediately preceding paragraph, such
Liquidated Damages Amount shall be paid only to the Holders that have delivered
Notice and Questionnaires that caused the Company to incur the obligations set
forth in Section 2(d) the non-performance of which is the basis of such Event,
provided further, that any Liquidated Damages Amount accrued with respect to any
Note or portion thereof called for redemption on a redemption date or converted
into Underlying Common Stock on a conversion date prior to the Damages Payment
Date, shall, in any such event, be paid instead to the Holder who submitted such
Note or portion thereof for redemption or conversion on the applicable
redemption date or conversion date, as the case may be, on such date (or
promptly following the conversion date, in the case of conversion).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Liquidated Damages Amounts shall accrue as to
any Registrable Security from and after the earlier of (x) the date such
security is no longer a Registrable Security and (y) expiration of the
Effectiveness Period. The rate of accrual of the Liquidated Damages Amount with
respect to any period shall not exceed the rate provided for in this paragraph
notwithstanding the occurrence of multiple concurrent Events. Following the cure
of all Events requiring the payment by the Company of Liquidated Damages Amounts
to
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the Holders of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section, the accrual of
Liquidated Damages Amounts will cease (without in any way limiting the effect of
any subsequent Event requiring the payment of Liquidated Damages Amount by the
Company).
The Trustee shall be entitled, on behalf of Holders of Notes or
Underlying Common Stock, to seek any available remedy for the enforcement of
this Agreement, including for the payment of any Liquidated Damages Amount.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties agree that the sole damages payable
for a violation of the terms of this Agreement with respect to which liquidated
damages are expressly provided shall be such liquidated damages. Nothing shall
preclude a Notice Holder or Holder of Registrable Securities from pursuing or
obtaining specific performance or other equitable relief with respect to this
Agreement.
All of the Company's obligations set forth in this Section 2(e) that
are outstanding with respect to any Registrable Security at the time such
security ceases to be a Registrable Security shall survive until such time as
all such obligations with respect to such security have been satisfied in full
(notwithstanding termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8(k)).
The parties hereto agree that the liquidated damages provided for in
this Section 2(e) constitute a reasonable estimate of the damages that may be
incurred by Holders of Registrable Securities by reason of the failure of the
Shelf Registration Statement to be filed or declared effective or available for
effecting resales of Registrable Securities in accordance with the provisions
hereof.
SECTION 3. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. In connection with the registration
obligations of the Company under Section 2 hereof, the Company shall:
(a) Before filing any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any
amendments or supplements thereto with the SEC, furnish to counsel to the
Initial Purchasers copies of all such documents proposed to be filed and use
reasonable efforts to reflect in each such document when so filed with the SEC
such comments as counsel to the Initial Purchasers reasonably shall propose
within five (5) Business Days of the delivery of such copies to the Initial
Purchasers.
(b) 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 continuously effective for the applicable period
specified in Section 2(a); cause the related Prospectus to be supplemented by
any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant
to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force) under the Securities Act;
and use its reasonable best efforts to comply with the provisions of the
Securities Act applicable to it with respect to the disposition of all
securities covered by such Registration Statement during the Effectiveness
Period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the sellers
thereof set forth in such Registration Statement as so amended or such
Prospectus as so supplemented.
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(c) As promptly as practicable give notice to counsel to the Notice
Holders and the Initial Purchasers (i) when any Prospectus, Prospectus
supplement, Registration Statement or post-effective amendment to a Registration
Statement has been filed with the SEC and, with respect to a Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has been declared
effective, (ii) of any request, following the effectiveness of the Initial Shelf
Registration Statement under the Securities Act, by the SEC or any other federal
or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to any
Registration Statement or related Prospectus or for additional information,
(iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental
authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration
Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for that purpose,
(iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the
suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the
Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or
threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the occurrence of (but
not the nature of or details concerning) a Material Event and (vi) of the
determination by the Company that a post-effective amendment to a Registration
Statement will be filed with the SEC, which notice may, at the discretion of the
Company (or as required pursuant to Section 3 (i)), state that it constitutes a
Deferral Notice, in which event the provisions of Section 3(i) shall apply.
(d) Use reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the lifting of any
suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the
Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction in which they have been
qualified for sale, in either case at the earliest possible moment.
(e) if reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers or any Notice
Holder, as promptly as practicable incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement such information as the
Initial Purchasers or such Notice Holder shall, on the basis of an opinion of
nationally-recognized counsel experienced in such matters, determine to be
required to be included therein by applicable law and make any required filings
of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment; provided, that
the Company shall not be required to take any actions under this Section 3(e)
that are not, in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Company, in
compliance with applicable law.
(f) As promptly as practicable furnish to each Notice Holder and the
Initial Purchasers, without charge, at least one (1) conformed copy of the
Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, including financial statements
but excluding schedules, all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated
therein by reference and all exhibits (unless requested in writing to the
Company by such Notice Holder or the Initial Purchasers, as the case may be).
(g) During the Effectiveness Period, deliver to each Notice Holder in
connection with any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration
Statement, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses
relating to such Registrable Securities (including each preliminary prospectus)
and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Notice Holder may
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reasonably request; and the Company hereby consents (except during such periods
that a Deferral Notice is outstanding and has not been revoked) to the use of
such Prospectus or each amendment or supplement thereto by each Notice Holder in
connection with any offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by
such Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in the manner set forth
therein.
(h) Prior to any public offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant
to the Shelf Registration Statement, register or qualify or cooperate with the
Notice Holders in connection with the registration or qualification (or
exemption from such registration or qualification) of such Registrable
Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions within the United States as any Notice Holder reasonably requests
in writing (which request may be included in the Notice and Questionnaire);
prior to any public offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement, keep each such registration or qualification (or
exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period in connection
with such Notice Holder's offer and sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to
such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) and do any and all
other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such
jurisdictions of such Registrable Securities in the manner set forth in the
relevant Registration Statement and the related Prospectus; provided, that the
Company will not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or as a
dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be
required to qualify but for this Agreement or (ii) take any action that would
subject it to general service of process in suits or to taxation in any such
jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(i) Upon (A) the issuance by the SEC of a stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement or the initiation of
proceedings with respect to the Shelf Registration Statement under Section 8(d)
or 8(e) of the Securities Act, (B) the occurrence of any event or the existence
of any fact (a "Material Event") as a result of which any Registration Statement
shall contain any 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 not misleading, or any Prospectus shall contain any 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 the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading, or (C) the occurrence or existence
of any pending corporate development that, in the reasonable discretion of the
Company, makes it appropriate to suspend the availability of the Shelf
Registration Statement and the related Prospectus, (i) in the case of clause (B)
above, subject to the next sentence, as promptly as practicable prepare and
file, if necessary pursuant to applicable law, a post-effective amendment to
such Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any
document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document
that would be incorporated by reference into such Registration Statement and
Prospectus so that such Registration Statement does not contain any 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 not misleading, and
such Prospectus does not contain any 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 the light of the
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circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, as thereafter
delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities being sold thereunder,
and, in the case of a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement,
subject to the next sentence, use its reasonable efforts to cause it to be
declared effective as promptly as is practicable, and (ii) give notice to the
Notice Holders that the availability of the Shelf Registration Statement is
suspended (a "Deferral Notice") and, upon receipt of any Deferral Notice, each
Notice Holder agrees not to sell any Registrable Securities pursuant to the
Registration Statement until such Notice Holder's receipt of copies of the
supplemented or amended Prospectus provided for in clause (i) above, or until it
is advised in writing by the Company that the Prospectus may be used, and has
received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated
or deemed incorporated by reference in such Prospectus. The Company will use
reasonable best efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed
(x) in the case of clause (A) above, as promptly as is practicable, (y) in the
case of clause (B) above, as soon as, in the sole judgment of the Company,
public disclosure of such Material Event would not be prejudicial to or contrary
to the interests of the Company or, if necessary to avoid unreasonable burden or
expense, as soon as practicable thereafter and (z) in the case of clause (C)
above, as soon as, in the discretion of the Company, such suspension is no
longer appropriate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Company has
given notice of a Provisional Redemption it shall use its reasonable efforts to
ensure the use of the Prospectus may be resumed in the case of clause (A), (B)
or (C) above as promptly as is practicable. The Company shall be entitled to
exercise its right under this Section 3(i) to suspend the availability of the
Shelf Registration Statement or any Prospectus, without incurring or accruing
any obligation to pay liquidated damages pursuant to Section 2(e), for a period
not to exceed 60 days in any three-month period or not to exceed an aggregate 90
days in any 12-month period (such period during which the availability of the
Registration Statement and any Prospectus is suspended being the "Deferral
Period").
(j) If requested in writing in connection with a disposition of
Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, make reasonably
available for inspection during normal business hours by a representative for
the Notice Holders of such Registrable Securities and any broker-dealers,
attorneys and accountants retained by such Notice Holders, all relevant
financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the
Company and its subsidiaries, and cause the appropriate officers, directors and
employees of the Company and its subsidiaries to make reasonably available for
inspection during normal business hours all relevant information reasonably
requested by such representative for the Notice Holders or any such
broker-dealers, attorneys or accountants in connection with such disposition, in
each case as is customary for similar "due diligence" examinations; provided,
however, that such persons shall first agree in writing with the Company that
any information that is reasonably and in good faith designated by the Company
in writing as confidential at the time of delivery of such information shall be
kept confidential by such persons and shall be used solely for the purposes of
exercising rights under this Agreement, 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 Registration
Statement or
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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 or (iv) such information becomes
available to any such person from a source other than the Company and such
source is not bound by a confidentiality agreement, and provided further, that
the foregoing inspection and information gathering shall, to the greatest extent
possible, be coordinated on behalf of all the Notice Holders and the other
parties entitled thereto by the counsel referred to in Section 5.
(k) Use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules
and regulations of the SEC and make generally available to its securityholders
earning statements (which need not be audited) satisfying the provisions of
Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar rule
promulgated under the Securities Act) no later than 45 days after the end of any
3-month period (or 90 days after the end of any 12-month period if such period
is a fiscal year) commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the
Company commencing after the effective date of a Registration Statement, which
statements shall cover said periods.
(l) Cooperate with each Notice Holder to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities
sold or to be sold pursuant to a Registration Statement, which certificates
shall not bear any restrictive legends, and cause such Registrable Securities to
be in such denominations as are permitted by the Indenture and registered in
such names as such Notice Holder may request in writing at least two (2)
Business Days prior to any sale of such Registrable Securities.
(m) Provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable Securities covered by
each Registration Statement not later than the effective date of such
Registration Statement and provide the Trustee and the transfer agent for the
Common Stock with printed certificates for the Registrable Securities that are
in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.
(n) Provide such information as is required for any filings required to
be made with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
(o) Upon (i) the filing of the Initial Registration Statement and (ii)
the effectiveness of the Initial Registration Statement, announce the same, in
each case by release to Reuters Economic Services and Bloomberg Business News.
SECTION 4. HOLDER'S OBLIGATIONS. Each Holder agrees, by acquisition of
the Registrable Securities, that no Holder of Registrable Securities shall be
entitled to sell any of such Registrable Securities pursuant to a 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
Section 2(d) hereof (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
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misleading and any other information regarding such Notice Holder and the
distribution of such Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time
reasonably request. Any sale of any Registrable 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 by 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 the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
SECTION 5. REGISTRATION EXPENSES. The Company shall bear all fees and
expenses incurred in connection with the performance by the Company of its
obligations under Sections 2 and 3 of this Agreement whether or not any of the
Registration Statements are declared effective. Such fees and expenses shall
include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including,
without limitation, fees and expenses (x) with respect to filings required to be
made with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and (y) of
compliance with federal and state securities or Blue Sky laws (including,
without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of the counsel specified
in the next sentence in connection with Blue Sky qualifications of the
Registrable Securities under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Notice
Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold pursuant to a
Registration Statement may designate), (ii) printing expenses (including,
without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities
in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company), (iii)
duplication expenses relating to copies of any Registration Statement or
Prospectus delivered to any Holders hereunder, (iv) fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, (v)
reasonable fees and disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel and of the
registrar and transfer agent for the Common Stock and (vi) Securities Act
liability insurance obtained by the Company in its sole discretion. In addition,
the Company shall bear or reimburse the Notice Holders for the reasonable fees
and disbursements of one firm of legal counsel for the Holders, which shall
initially be Shearman & Sterling, but which may, with the written consent of the
Initial Purchasers (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), be another
nationally recognized law firm experienced in securities law matters designated
by the Company. In addition, the Company shall pay the internal expenses of the
Company (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of officers
and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual
audit, the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the
Registrable Securities on any securities exchange on which similar securities of
the Company are then listed and the fees and expenses of any person, including
special experts, retained by the Company. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Section 5, each seller of Registrable Securities shall pay selling expenses and
all registration expenses to the extent required by applicable law.
SECTION 6. INDEMNIFICATION.
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(a) INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY. The Company shall indemnify and
hold harmless each Notice Holder and each person, if any, who controls any
Notice Holder (within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act) from and against any losses, liabilities,
claims, damages and expenses (including, without limitation, any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any
such action or claim) (collectively, "Losses"), arising out of or based upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or based upon any omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, provided,
however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent
that any such Losses arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement contained in or omission or alleged omission from any
of such documents in reliance upon and conformity with any of the information
relating to the Holders furnished to the Company in writing by a Holder
expressly for use therein; provided further, that the indemnification contained
in this paragraph shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder of Registrable
Securities (or to the benefit of any person controlling such Holder) on account
of any such Losses arising out of or based upon an untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any preliminary
prospectus provided in each case the Company has completed with its several
obligations under Section 3(a) hereof if either (A) (i) such Holder failed to
send or deliver a copy of the Prospectus with or prior to the delivery of
written confirmation of the sale by such Holder to the person asserting the
claim from which such Losses arise and (ii) the Prospectus would have corrected
such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or such omission or alleged
omission, or (B) (x) such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement, omission
or alleged omission is corrected in an amendment or supplement to the Prospectus
and (y) having previously been furnished by or on behalf of the Company with
copies of the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented, such Holder thereafter
fails to deliver such Prospectus as so amended or supplemented, with or prior to
the delivery of written confirmation of the sale of a Registrable Security to
the person asserting the claim from which such Losses arise.
(b) INDEMNIFICATION BY HOLDERS OF REGISTRABLE SECURITIES. Each Holder
agrees severally and not jointly to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and
its respective directors and officers, and each person, if any, who controls the
Company (within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act) or any other Holder, from and against all Losses
arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out
of or based upon any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made
in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company by
such Holder expressly for use in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or
amendment or
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supplement thereto. In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder of
Registrable Securities hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of
the proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Registration Statement giving rise to such indemnification
obligation.
(c) CONDUCT OF INDEMNIFICATION PROCEEDINGS. In case any proceeding
(including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any
person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to either of the two
preceding paragraphs, such person (the "indemnified party") shall promptly
notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying
party") in writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified
party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to
represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may
designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and disbursements
of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any
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 retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such
proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party
and the 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 the indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the
legal expenses of any indemnified party 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. Such separate firm shall be designated in writing by, in
the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(a), the Holders of a
majority (with Holders of Notes deemed to be the Holders, for purposes of
determining such majority, of the number of shares of Underlying Common Stock
into which such Notes are or would be convertible or exchangeable as of the date
on which such designation is made) of the Registrable Securities covered by the
Registration Statement held by Holders that are indemnified parties pursuant to
Section 6(a) and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(b),
the Company. The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of
any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such
consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying
party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or
liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the
foregoing sentence, if it any time an indemnified party shall have requested an
indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of
counsel and the indemnified party would be entitled thereto pursuant to the
second and third sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that
it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its
written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after
receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such
indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance
with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party
shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any
settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any
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indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been
sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims
that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
(d) CONTRIBUTION. To the extent that the indemnification provided for
in this Section 6 is unavailable to an indemnified party under Section 6(a) or
6(b) hereof in respect of any Losses or is insufficient to hold such indemnified
party harmless, then each applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying
such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party as a result of such Losses (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party
or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party or parties on the other
hand or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by
applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the
relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of
the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and of the indemnified party
or parties on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that
resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
Benefits received by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the total net
proceeds from the initial placement pursuant to the Placement Agreement (before
deducting expenses) of the Registrable Securities to which such Losses relate.
Benefits received by any Holder shall be deemed to be equal to the value of
receiving Registrable Securities that are registered under the Securities Act.
The relative fault of the Holders on the one hand and the Company on the other
hand 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 Holders
or by the Company, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Holders' respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this paragraph are
several in proportion to the respective number of Registrable Securities they
have sold pursuant to a Registration Statement, and not joint.
The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 6(d) were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method or allocation that does not take into account
the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.
The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the Losses
referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include,
subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating
or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding this Section 6(d), an
indemnifying party that is a selling Holder of Registrable Securities shall not
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Registrable Securities sold by such indemnifying party and
distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any
damages that such indemnifying party 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.
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(e) The indemnity, contribution and expense reimbursement obligations
of the parties hereunder shall be in addition to any liability any indemnified
party may otherwise have hereunder, under the Placement Agreement or otherwise.
(f) 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
any Holder or any person controlling any Holder, or the Company, or the
Company's officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (iii)
the sale of any Registrable Securities by any Holder.
SECTION 7. INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS. (a) The Company covenants that, if
at any time before the end of the Effectiveness Period the Company is not
subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, it will cooperate
with any Holder of Registrable Securities and take such further reasonable
action as any Holder of Registrable Securities may reasonably request in writing
(including, without limitation, making such reasonable representations as any
such Holder may reasonably request), all to the extent required from time to
time to enable such Holder to sell Registrable Securities without registration
under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by
Rule 144 and Rule 144A under the Securities Act and customarily taken in
connection with sales pursuant to such exemptions. Upon the written request of
any Holder of Registrable Securities, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a
written statement as to whether it has complied with such filing requirements,
unless such a statement has been included in the Company's most recent report
filed pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of Exchange Act. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to require the Company
to register any of its securities (other than the Common Stock) under any
section of the Exchange Act.
SECTION 8. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) NO CONFLICTING AGREEMENTS. The Company is not, as of the date
hereof, a party to, nor shall it, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter
into, any agreement with respect to its securities that conflicts with the
rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement. The
Company represents and warrants that the rights granted to the Holders of
Registrable Securities hereunder do not in any way conflict with the rights
granted to the holders of the Company's securities under any other agreements.
(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 Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of a
majority of the then outstanding Underlying Common Stock constituting
Registrable Securities (with Holders of Notes deemed to be the Holders, for
purposes of this Section, of the number of outstanding shares of Underlying
Common Stock into which such Notes are or would be convertible or exchangeable
as of the date
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on which such consent is requested). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or
consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that
relates exclusively to the rights of Holders of Registrable Securities whose
securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not
directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders of Registrable
Securities may be given by Holders of at least a majority of the Registrable
Securities being sold by such Holders pursuant to such Registration Statement;
provided, that the provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified, or
supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of the immediately
preceding sentence. Each Holder of Registrable Securities outstanding at the
time of any such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent or
thereafter shall be bound by any such amendment, modification, supplement,
waiver or consent effected pursuant to this Section 8(b), whether or not any
notice, writing or marking indicating such amendment, modification, supplement,
waiver or consent appears on the Registrable Securities or is delivered to such
Holder.
(c) NOTICES. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall he made in writing by hand delivery, by telecopier, by
courier guaranteeing overnight delivery or by first-class mail, return receipt
requested, and shall be deemed given (i) when made, if made by hand delivery,
(ii) upon confirmation, if made by telecopier, (iii) one (1) Business Day after
being deposited with such courier, if made by overnight courier or (iv) on the
date indicated on the notice of receipt, if made by first-class mail, to the
parties as follows:
(w) if to a Holder of Registrable Securities, at the most
current address given by such Holder to the Company in a
Notice and Questionnaire or any amendment thereto;
(x) if to the Company, to:
Xxxxxx.Xxx, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Telecopy No.: (000) 000-0000
and
Xxxxxxx Coie
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: L. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Esq.
Telecopy No.: (000) 000-0000
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(y) if to the Initial Purchasers, to:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx
Attention: Equity Capital Markets
Telecopy No.: (000) 000-0000
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and
Shearman & Sterling
0000 Xx Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Telecopy No. (000) 000-0000
or to such other address as such person may have furnished to the other persons
identified in this Section 8(c) in writing in accordance herewith.
(d) APPROVAL OF HOLDERS. Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of
a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder,
Registrable Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (as such term is
defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) (other than the Initial Purchasers
or subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities if such subsequent Holders are
deemed to be such affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such
Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent
or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.
(e) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. Any person who purchases any Registrable
Securities from the Initial Purchasers shall be deemed, for purposes of this
Agreement, to be an assignee of the Initial Purchasers. This Agreement shall
inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each
of the parties and shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon each Holder
of any Registrable Securities.
(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 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 and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(h) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS
OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
(i) SEVERABILITY. If any term provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the
remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein
shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired
or invalidated thereby, and the parties hereto shall use their best efforts to
find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the
same result as that
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contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction, it being intended
that all of the rights and privileges of the parties shall be enforceable to the
fullest extent permitted by law.
(j) ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a
final expression of their agreement and is intended to be a complete and
exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in
respect of the subject matter contained herein and the registration rights
granted by the Company with respect to the Registrable Securities. Except as
provided in the Placement Agreement, there are no restrictions, promises,
warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein,
with respect to the registration rights granted by the Company with respect to
the Registrable Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and
undertakings among the parties with respect to such registration rights. No
party hereto shall have any rights, duties or obligations other than those
specifically set forth in this Agreement. In no event will such method[s] of
distribution take the form of an underwritten offering of the Registrable
Securities without the prior agreement of the Company.
(k) TERMINATION. This Agreement and the obligations of the parties
hereunder shall terminate upon the end of the Effectiveness Period, except for
any liabilities or obligations under Section 4, 5 or 6 hereof and the
obligations to make payments of and provide for liquidated damages under Section
2(e) hereof to the extent such damages accrue prior to the end of the
Effectiveness Period, each of which shall remain in effect in accordance with
its terms.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
XXXXXX.XXX, INC.
By/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
----------------------------------
Name:Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title:Treasurer
Confirmed and accepted as of
the date first above written:
XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON
XXXXXXXXX, LUFKIN & XXXXXXXX
SECURITIES CORPORATION
By: XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO.
INCORPORATED
By/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
----------------------------------
Name:Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Title:Principal
