REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT Dated October 5, 2005 among Baxter Finco B.V., as Issuer Baxter International Inc., as Guarantor and the Purchasers set forth on Schedule A
Exhibit 4.3
Dated October 5, 2005
among
Xxxxxx Xxxxx B.V.,
as Issuer
as Issuer
Xxxxxx International Inc.,
as Guarantor
as Guarantor
and
the Purchasers set forth on Schedule A
$500,000,000
4.750% Notes Due 2010
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of
October 5, 2005, among Xxxxxx Xxxxx B.V., a private company with limited liability organized under
the laws of The Netherlands (the “Issuer”), Xxxxxx International Inc., the Issuer’s
indirect parent company and a Delaware corporation (the “Guarantor”), and the parties
referred to in Schedule A hereto (the “Purchasers”).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated September 28, 2005, by and
among the Issuer, the Guarantor and the Purchasers (the “Purchase Agreement”), which
provides for the sale by the Issuer, to the Purchasers of $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount
of the Issuer’s 4.750% Notes due 2010 (the “Securities”). The Issuer’s obligations under
the Securities will be unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed (the “Guarantee”) by the
Guarantor as set forth in the Indenture (as defined below). In order to induce the Purchasers to
enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Issuer and the Guarantor have agreed to provide to the
Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees the registration rights set forth in this
Agreement. The execution of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Purchase
Agreement.
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms shall have the following
meanings:
“1933 Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
“1934 Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to
time.
“Business Day” shall have the meaning set forth in the Indenture.
“Closing Date” shall mean the Closing Date as defined in the Purchase Agreement.
“Exchange Guarantee” shall mean the guarantee by the Guarantor of the Issuer’s
obligations under the Exchange Securities containing terms identical in all material respects to
the Guarantee.
“Exchange Offer” shall mean the exchange offer by the Issuer and the Guarantor of
Exchange Securities and the Exchange Guarantee for Registrable Securities and the Registrable
Guarantee.
“Exchange Offer Registration” shall mean a registration under the 1933 Act effected
pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
“Exchange Offer Registration Statement” shall mean an exchange offer registration
statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate form) and all amendments and
supplements to such registration statement, in each case including the Prospectus contained
therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.
“Exchange Securities” shall mean securities issued by the Issuer under the Indenture
containing terms identical to the Securities (except that (i) interest thereon shall accrue from
the last date on which interest was paid on the Securities or, if no such interest has been paid,
from October 5, 2005, and (ii) the Exchange Securities will not contain restrictions on transfer)
and to be offered to Holders of Securities in exchange for Securities pursuant to the Exchange
Offer.
“Guarantee” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Guarantor” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Holder” shall mean each of the Purchasers, for so long as it owns any Registrable
Securities, and each of their successors, assigns and direct and indirect transferees who become
registered owners of Registrable Securities under the Indenture; provided that for purposes of
Sections 4 and 5 of this Agreement, the term “Holder” shall include Participating Broker-Dealers
(as defined in Section 4(a)).
“Indenture” shall mean the Indenture relating to the Securities dated as October 5,
2005 by and among the Issuer, the Guarantor and X.X. Xxxxxx Trust Company, National Association, as
Trustee, as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 5,
2005, among the Issuer, the Guarantor and the Trustee.
“Issuer” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement and shall
also include the Issuer’s successors.
“Majority Holders” shall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal
amount of outstanding Registrable Securities; provided that whenever the consent or approval of
Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder, Registrable
Securities held by the Issuer or the Guarantor or any of their affiliates (as such term is defined
in Rule 405 under the 0000 Xxx) (other than the Purchasers or subsequent Holders of Registrable
Securities if such subsequent holders are deemed to be such affiliates solely by reason of their
holding of such Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or
approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage or amount.
“Person” shall mean an individual, partnership (general or limited), limited liability
company, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political
subdivision thereof.
“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in a Registration Statement, including
any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus
supplement, including a prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any
portion of the Registrable Securities and the Registrable Guarantee covered by a Shelf Registration
Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to such prospectus, and in each case
including all material incorporated by reference therein.
2
“Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this
Agreement.
“Purchasers” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Registrable Guarantee” shall mean the Guarantee in respect of the Registrable
Securities.
“Registrable Securities” shall mean the Securities; provided, however, that the
Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities (i) when a Registration Statement with respect
to such Securities shall have been declared effective under the 1933 Act and such Securities shall
have been disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) when such Securities have been
sold to the public pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any similar provision then in force, but not Rule
144A) under the 1933 Act or (iii) when such Securities shall have ceased to be outstanding.
“Registration Expenses” shall mean any and all expenses incident to performance of or
compliance by the Issuer and the Guarantor with this Agreement, including without limitation: (i)
all SEC, stock exchange or National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. registration and filing
fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities or
blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for any underwriters or
Holders in connection with blue sky qualification of any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable
Securities), (iii) all expenses of any Persons in preparing or assisting in preparing, word
processing, printing and distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any amendments or
supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements and other documents
relating to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all rating agency fees, (v)
all fees and disbursements relating to the qualification of the Indenture under applicable
securities laws, (vi) the fees and disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel, (vii) the
reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Issuer and the Guarantor and, in the case of a
Shelf Registration Statement, the fees and disbursements of one counsel for the Holders (which
counsel shall be selected by the Majority Holders and which counsel may also be counsel for the
Purchasers) and (viii) the fees and disbursements of the independent public accountants of the
Issuer and the Guarantor, including the expenses of any special audits or “cold comfort” letters
required by or incident to such performance and compliance, but excluding fees and expenses of
counsel to the underwriters (other than fees and expenses set forth in clause (ii) above) or the
Holders and underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale
or disposition of Registrable Securities by a Holder.
“Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement of the Issuer and the
Guarantor that covers any of the Exchange Securities and the Exchange Guarantee or any Registrable
Securities and the Registrable Guarantee pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and all
amendments and supplements to any such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments,
in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material
incorporated by reference therein.
“SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency or
governmental body.
3
“Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Shelf Registration” shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section
2(b) hereof.
“Shelf Registration Statement” shall mean a “shelf” registration statement of the
Issuer and Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of Section 2(b) of this Agreement which
covers all of the Registrable Securities and the Registrable Guarantee (but no other securities
unless approved by the Holders whose Registrable Securities are covered by such Shelf Registration
Statement) on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the 1933 Act, or any similar rule that may
be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including
post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits
thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.
“Trustee” shall mean X.X. Xxxxxx Trust Company, National Association or any successor
trustee with respect to the Securities under the Indenture.
“Underwriter” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3 hereof.
“Underwritten Registration” or “Underwritten Offering” shall mean a
registration in which Registrable Securities are sold to an Underwriter for reoffering to the
public.
2. Registration Under the 1933 Act.
(a) To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or applicable interpretation of
the Staff of the SEC, the Issuer and the Guarantor shall use their reasonable best efforts
to cause to be filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement covering the offer by the
Issuer and the Guarantor to the Holders to exchange all of the Registrable Securities
together with the Registrable Guarantee for Exchange Securities together with the Exchange
Guarantee, to have such Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC within 240 days
after the Closing Date, and to have such Registration Statement remain effective until six
months following the closing of the Exchange Offer. The Issuer and the Guarantor shall
commence the Exchange Offer promptly after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has
been declared effective by the SEC and shall use their reasonable best efforts to have the
Exchange Offer consummated within 270 days after the Closing Date. The Issuer and the
Guarantor shall commence the Exchange Offer by mailing the related exchange offer Prospectus
and accompanying documents to each Holder stating, in addition to such other disclosures as
are required by applicable law:
(i) that the Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to this Registration Rights
Agreement and that all Registrable Securities validly tendered will be accepted for
exchange;
(ii) the dates of acceptance for exchange (which shall be a period of at least
20 Business Days, or longer if required by applicable law, after the effective date
of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) (the “Exchange Dates”);
4
(iii) that any Registrable Security not tendered will remain outstanding and
continue to accrue interest, but will not retain any rights under this Registration
Rights Agreement;
(iv) that Holders electing to have a Registrable Security exchanged pursuant to
the Exchange Offer will be required to surrender such Registrable Security, together
with the enclosed letters of transmittal, to the institution and at the address
(located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) specified in the notice
prior to the close of business on the last Exchange Date; and
(v) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election, not later than
the close of business on the last Exchange Date, by sending to the institution and
at the address (located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) specified
in the notice a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the
name of such Holder, the principal amount of Registrable Securities delivered for
exchange and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such
Securities exchanged.
As soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date, the Issuer and the Guarantor shall:
(i) accept for exchange Registrable Securities or portions thereof tendered and
not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer;
(ii) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation all
Registrable Securities or portions thereof so accepted for exchange by the Issuer or
the Guarantor and issue, and cause the Trustee to promptly authenticate and mail to
each Holder, an Exchange Security equal in principal amount to the principal amount
of the Registrable Securities surrendered by such Holder; and
(iii) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee the Exchange Guarantee
duly executed by the Guarantor.
The Issuer and the Guarantor shall use their reasonable best efforts to complete the Exchange
Offer as provided above and shall comply with the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1934
Act and other applicable laws and regulations in connection with the Exchange Offer. The Exchange
Offer shall not be subject to any conditions, other than that the Exchange Offer does not violate
applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the Staff of the SEC. The Issuer and the
Guarantor shall inform the Purchasers of the names and addresses of the Holders to whom the
Exchange Offer is made, and the Purchasers shall have the right, subject to applicable law, to
contact such Holders and otherwise facilitate the tender of Registrable Securities in the Exchange
Offer. Each Holder participating in the Exchange Offer shall be required to represent to the
Issuer and the Guarantor that, at the time of the consummation of the Exchange Offer:
(i) any Exchange Securities received by such Holder will be acquired in the
ordinary course of business;
5
(ii) such Holder will have no arrangement or understanding with any Person to
participate in the distribution of the Securities or the Exchange Securities within
the meaning of the 1933 Act; and
(iii) such Holder is not an affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 under the 0000
Xxx) of the Issuer or the Guarantor.
(b) In the event that (i) the Issuer and the Guarantor reasonably determine that the
Exchange Offer Registration provided for in Section 2(a) above is not available or
may not be consummated as soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date because of any
change in law, SEC rules or regulations or the applicable interpretations of the Staff of
the SEC, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not for any other reason consummated within 270 days
following the Closing Date, (iii) any Purchaser requests registration with respect to
Registrable Securities that are not eligible to be exchanged in the Exchange Offer and that
are held by it following the Exchange Offer, (iv) any Holder of the Registrable Securities
(other than an Purchaser) is not eligible to participate in the Exchange Offer or (v) in the
case of any Purchaser that participates in the Exchange Offer or acquires Exchange
Securities, such Purchaser does not receive freely tradeable Exchange Securities in exchange
for Registrable Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment, then, in the
case of any of clauses (i) through (v) above, the Issuer and the Guarantor shall cause to be
filed as soon as practicable after required or requested, as the case may be, a Shelf
Registration Statement providing for the sale by the Holders of all of the Registrable
Securities together with the Registrable Guarantee (but in no event more than 90 days after
required or requested pursuant to any of the above circumstances) and to use their
reasonable best efforts to have such Shelf Registration Statement declared effective by the
SEC within 240 days after required or requested pursuant to any of the above circumstances.
In the event the Issuer and the Guarantor are required to file a Shelf Registration
Statement solely as a result of the matters referred to in clauses (iii) to (v) of the
preceding sentence, the Issuer and the Guarantor shall use their reasonable best efforts to
file and have declared effective by the SEC both an Exchange Offer Registration Statement
pursuant to Section 2(a) with respect to all Registrable Securities and a Shelf
Registration Statement (which may be a combined Registration Statement with the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement) with respect to offers and sales of Registrable Securities
held by the Purchasers after completion of the Exchange Offer. The Issuer and the Guarantor
agree to use their reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement
continuously effective until the earlier of two years from the date the Shelf Registration
Statement is declared effective and such time as all of the Registrable Securities covered
by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold under the Shelf Registration Statement.
The Issuer and the Guarantor further agree to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration
Statement if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the
registration form used by the Issuer and the Guarantor for such Shelf Registration Statement
or by the 1933 Act or by any other rules and regulations thereunder for shelf registration
or if reasonably requested by a Holder with respect to information relating to such Holder,
and to use their reasonable best efforts to cause any such amendment to become effective and
such Shelf Registration Statement to become usable as soon as thereafter practicable. The
Issuer and the
6
Guarantor agree to furnish to the Holders of Registrable Securities copies of any such
supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the SEC.
(c) The Issuer and the Guarantor shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with
the registration pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b). Each Holder
shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to
the sale or disposition of such Holder’s Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement.
(d) An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a)
hereof or a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof will not be
deemed to have become effective unless it is deemed automatically effective upon filing with
the SEC or it has been declared effective by the SEC; provided, however, that, if, after it
has been declared effective, the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf
Registration Statement is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or
requirement of the SEC or any other governmental agency or court, such Registration
Statement will be deemed not to have become effective during the period of such interference
until the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement may
legally resume.
(e) In the event that:
(i) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not declared effective by the
SEC within 240 days after the Closing Date, or
(ii) the Exchange Offer is not consummated within 270 days after the Closing
Date, or
(iii) a Shelf Registration Statement is automatically effective or declared
effective by the SEC and at any time prior to the earlier of two years from the date
the Shelf Registration Statement is automatically effective or declared effective
and such time as all the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration
Statement have been disposed of under the Shelf Registration Statement, the Shelf
Registration Statement ceases to be effective, or fails to be usable for its
intended purpose without being succeeded within two Business Days by a
post-effective amendment which cures the failure and that is itself immediately
declared effective; (each of the events referred to in clauses (i) through (iii)
above being hereinafter called a “Registration Default”),
then additional interest (“Additional Interest”) will accrue on the Registrable
Securities in addition to the per annum interest rate borne by the Registrable Securities,
from and including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to, but
excluding, the date on which the registration default has been cured, at the rate of
one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) per annum, plus an additional one-quarter of one percent
(0.25%) per annum from and during any period in which the Registration Default has continued
for more than 90 days, up to a maximum rate of one-half of one percent (0.50%) per annum.
7
In no event will the Additional Interest on the Registrable Securities exceed one-half of
one percent (0.50%) per annum.
(f) Without limiting the remedies available to the Purchasers and the Holders, the
Issuer and the Guarantor acknowledge that any failure by the Issuer or the Guarantor to
comply with their obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof may
result in material irreparable injury to the Purchasers or the Holders for which there is no
adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries
precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Purchasers or any Holder may
obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the Issuer and the Guarantor’s
obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof.
3. Registration Procedures.
In connection with the obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantor with respect to the
Registration Statements pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof, the
Issuer and the Guarantor shall as expeditiously as reasonably practicable:
(a) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on the appropriate form
under the 1933 Act, which form (x) shall be selected by the Issuer and the Guarantor, (y)
shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable
Securities by the selling Holders thereof and (z) shall comply as to form in all material
respects with the requirements of the applicable form and include all financial statements
required by the SEC to be filed therewith, and use their reasonable best efforts to cause
such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective in accordance with
Section 2 hereof;
(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each
Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for
the applicable period and cause each Prospectus to be supplemented by any required
prospectus supplement and, as so supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the
1933 Act; to keep each Prospectus current during the period described under Section 4(3) and
Rule 174 under the 1933 Act that is applicable to transactions by brokers or dealers with
respect to the Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities;
(c) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of Registrable
Securities, to counsel for the Purchasers, to counsel for the Holders and to each
Underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities, if any, without charge,
as many copies of each Prospectus, including each preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment
or supplement thereto and such other documents as such Holder or Underwriter may reasonably
request, in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable
Securities; and the Issuer and the Guarantor consent to the use of such Prospectus and any
amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law by each of the selling
Holders of Registrable Securities and any such Underwriters in connection with the offering
and sale of the Registrable Securities
8
covered by and in the manner described in such Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law;
(d) use their reasonable best efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities
under all applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder
of Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement shall reasonably request in
writing by the time the applicable Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC,
to cooperate with such Holders in connection with any filings required to be made with the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and do any and all other acts and things
which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such Holder to consummate the
disposition in each such jurisdiction of such Registrable Securities owned by such Holder;
provided, however, that the Issuer and the Guarantor shall not be required to (i) qualify as
a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where they would not
otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d), (ii) file any general
consent to service of process or (iii) subject themselves to taxation in any such
jurisdiction if they are not so subject;
(e) in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Holder of Registrable Securities,
counsel for the Holders and counsel for the Purchasers promptly and, if requested by any
such Holder or counsel, confirm such advice in writing (i) when a Registration Statement has
become effective and when any post-effective amendment thereto has been filed and becomes
effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments
and supplements to a Registration Statement and Prospectus or for additional information
after the Registration Statement has become effective, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC or
any state securities authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a
Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) if,
between the effective date of a Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of
Registrable Securities covered thereby, the representations and warranties of the Issuer or
the Guarantor contained in any underwriting agreement, securities sales agreement or other
similar agreement, if any, relating to the offering cease to be true and correct in all
material respects or if the Issuer or the Guarantor receives any notification with respect
to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the happening of
any event during the period a Shelf Registration Statement is effective which makes any
statement made in such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus untrue in any
material respect or which requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement
or Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading and (vi) of any
determination by the Issuer or the Guarantor that a post-effective amendment to a
Registration Statement would be appropriate;
(f) make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the
effectiveness of a Registration Statement at the earliest possible moment and provide
immediate notice to each Holder of the withdrawal of any such order;
(g) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of Registrable
Securities, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement
9
and any post-effective amendment thereto (without documents incorporated therein by
reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested);
(h) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the selling Holders of
Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates
representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends and
enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations (consistent with the
provisions of the Indenture) and registered in such names as the selling Holders may
reasonably request at least one Business Day prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable
Securities;
(i) in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon the occurrence of any event contemplated
by Section 3(e)(v) hereof, use their reasonable best efforts to prepare and file
with the SEC a supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or the
related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other
required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable
Securities, such Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Issuer and the Guarantor
agree to notify the Holders to suspend use of the Prospectus as promptly as practicable
after the occurrence of such an event, and the Holders hereby agree to suspend use of the
Prospectus until the Issuer and the Guarantor have amended or supplemented the Prospectus to
correct such misstatement or omission;
(j) a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Registration Statement, any
Prospectus, any amendment to a Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to a
Prospectus or any document which is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration
Statement or a Prospectus after initial filing of a Registration Statement, provide copies
of such document to the Purchasers and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement, the Holders and their counsel) and make such of the representatives
of the Issuer and the Guarantor as shall be reasonably requested by the Purchasers or their
counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders or their counsel)
available for discussion of such document, and shall not at any time file or make any
amendment to the Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any amendment of or supplement to
a Registration Statement or a Prospectus or any document which is to be incorporated by
reference into a Registration Statement or a Prospectus, of which the Purchasers and their
counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders and their counsel)
shall not have previously been advised and furnished a copy or to which the Purchasers or
their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders or their
counsel) shall object;
(k) obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the
case may be, not later than the effective date of a Registration Statement;
(l) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended (the “TIA”), in connection with the registration of the Exchange Securities
or
10
Registrable Securities, as the case may be, cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders
to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to be so
qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA and execute, and use their reasonable best
efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such
changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable the
Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner;
(m) in the case of a Shelf Registration, subject to the execution and delivery to the
Issuer and the Guarantor of any customary confidentiality agreements the Issuer or the
Guarantor may reasonably request, make available for inspection by a representative of the
Holders of the Registrable Securities, any Underwriter participating in any disposition
pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, and attorneys and accountants designated by
the Holders, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all financial and other
records, pertinent documents and properties of the Issuer and the Guarantor, and cause the
respective officers, directors and employees of the Issuer and the Guarantor to supply all
information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, attorney or
accountant in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement;
(n) in the case of a Shelf Registration, use their reasonable best efforts to cause all
Registrable Securities to be listed on any securities exchange or any automated quotation
system on which similar securities issued by the Issuer and the Guarantor are then listed if
requested by the Majority Holders, to the extent such Registrable Securities satisfy
applicable listing requirements;
(o) use their reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Securities or Registrable
Securities, as the case may be, to be rated by two nationally recognized statistical rating
organizations (as such term is defined in Rule 436(g)(2) under the 0000 Xxx);
(p) if reasonably requested by any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a
Registration Statement, (i) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment such information with respect to such Holder as such Holder
reasonably requests to be included therein and (ii) make all required filings of such
Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as the Issuer and the
Guarantor have received notification of the matters to be incorporated in such filing; and
(q) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such customary agreements and take
all such other actions in connection therewith (including those requested by the Holders of
a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold) in order to expedite or facilitate the
disposition of such Registrable Securities including, but not limited to, an Underwritten
Offering and in such connection, to the extent possible, (i) make such representations and
warranties to the Holders and any Underwriters of such Registrable Securities with respect
to the business of the Issuer and the Guarantor and their respective subsidiaries, the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus and documents incorporated by reference or deemed
incorporated by reference therein, if any, in each case, in form, substance and scope as are
customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings and confirm the same
if and when requested, (ii) obtain opinions of counsel to
11
the Issuer and the Guarantor (which counsel and opinions, in form, scope and substance,
shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Holders and such Underwriters and their respective
counsel) addressed to each selling Holder and Underwriter of Registrable Securities,
covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings,
(iii) obtain “cold comfort” letters from the independent certified public accountants of the
Issuer and the Guarantor (and, if necessary, any other certified public accountant of any
subsidiary of the Issuer or the Guarantor, or of any business acquired by the Issuer or the
Guarantor for which financial statements and financial data are or are required to be
included in the Registration Statement) addressed to each selling Holder and Underwriter of
Registrable Securities, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the
type customarily covered in “cold comfort” letters in connection with underwritten
offerings, and (iv) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested
by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold or
the Underwriters, and which are customarily delivered in underwritten offerings, to evidence
the continued validity of the representations and warranties of the Issuer and the Guarantor
made pursuant to clause (i) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions
contained in an underwriting agreement.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Issuer and the Guarantor may require each
Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Issuer and the Guarantor such information
regarding the Holder and the proposed distribution by such Holder of such Registrable Securities as
the Issuer and the Guarantor may from time to time reasonably request in writing.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any
notice from the Issuer and the Guarantor of the happening of any event of the kind described in
Section 3(e)(v) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable
Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(i) hereof, and, if so directed
by the Issuer and the Guarantor, such Holder will deliver to the Issuer and the Guarantor (at their
expense) all copies in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder’s
possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt
of such notice. If the Issuer and the Guarantor shall give any such notice to suspend the
disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, the Issuer and the
Guarantor shall extend the period during which the Registration Statement shall be maintained
effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period from and including the
date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when the Holders shall have received
copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions. The Issuer
and the Guarantor may give any such notice only twice during any 365– day period and any such
suspensions may not exceed 30 days for each suspension and there may not be more than two
suspensions in effect during any 365–day period.
The Holders of Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement who desire to
do so may sell such Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten
Offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers (the
“Underwriters”) that will administer the offering will be selected by the Majority Holders
of the Registrable Securities included in such offering.
12
4. Participation of Broker-Dealers in Exchange Offer.
(a) The Staff of the SEC has taken the position that any broker-dealer that receives
Exchange Securities for its own account in the Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities
that were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading
activities (a “Participating Broker-Dealer”), may be deemed to be an “underwriter”
within the meaning of the 1933 Act and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of
the 1933 Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. The Issuer and the
Guarantor understand that it is the Staff’s position that if the Prospectus contained in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement includes a plan of distribution containing a statement
to the above effect and the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the
Exchange Securities, without naming the Participating Broker-Dealers or specifying the
amount of Exchange Securities owned by them, such Prospectus may be delivered by
Participating Broker-Dealers to satisfy their prospectus delivery obligation under the 1933
Act in connection with resales of Exchange Securities for their own accounts, so long as the
Prospectus otherwise meets the requirements of the 1933 Act.
(b) In light of the above, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement, the
Issuer and the Guarantor agree that the provisions of this Agreement as they relate to a
Shelf Registration shall also apply to an Exchange Offer Registration to the extent, and
with such reasonable modifications thereto as may be, reasonably requested by the Purchasers
or by one or more Participating Broker-Dealers, in each case as provided in clause (ii)
below, in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of any Exchange Securities by
Participating Broker-Dealers consistent with the positions of the Staff recited in
Section 4(a) above; provided that:
(i) the Issuer and the Guarantor shall not be required to amend or supplement
the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as would
otherwise be contemplated by Section 3(i), for a period exceeding 180 days
after the last Exchange Date (as such period may be extended pursuant to the
penultimate paragraph of Section 3 of this Agreement) and Participating
Broker-Dealers shall not be authorized by the Issuer and the Guarantor to deliver
and shall not deliver such Prospectus after such period in connection with the
resales contemplated by this Section 4; and
(ii) the application of the Shelf Registration procedures set forth in
Section 3 of this Agreement to an Exchange Offer Registration, to the extent
not required by the positions of the Staff of the SEC or the 1933 Act and the rules
and regulations thereunder, will be in conformity with the reasonable request to the
Issuer or the Guarantor by the Purchasers or with the reasonable request in writing
to the Issuer and the Guarantor by one or more broker-dealers who certify to the
Purchasers and the Issuer and the Guarantor in writing that they anticipate that
they will be Participating Broker-Dealers; and provided further that, in connection
with such application of the Shelf Registration procedures set forth in Section
3 to an Exchange Offer Registration, the Issuer and the Guarantor shall be
obligated (x) to pay the fees and expenses of only one counsel representing the
Participating
13
Broker-Dealers, which shall be counsel to the Purchasers unless such counsel
elects not to so act and (y) to cause to be delivered only one, if any, “cold
comfort” letter with respect to the Prospectus in the form existing on the last
Exchange Date and with respect to each subsequent amendment or supplement, if any,
effected during the period specified in clause (i) above.
(c) The Purchasers shall have no liability to the Issuer or the Guarantor or any Holder
with respect to any request that it may make pursuant to Section 4(b) above.
5. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The Issuer and the Guarantor, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold
harmless the Purchasers, each Holder and each Person, if any, who controls any Purchaser or
any Holder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934
Act, or is under common control with, or is controlled by, any Purchaser or any Holder, from
and against all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Purchaser, any Holder or any such
controlling or affiliated Person in connection with defending or investigating any such
action or claim) (i) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) pursuant to
which Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities were registered under the 1933 Act,
including all documents incorporated therein by reference, or caused by 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, or (ii) caused by any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus (as amended or
supplemented if the Issuer or the Guarantor shall have furnished any amendments or
supplements thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein in light of the circumstances under
which they were made not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement
or omission based upon information relating to the Purchasers or any Holder furnished to the
Issuer or the Guarantor in writing by the Purchasers or any selling Holder expressly for use
therein, provided, further, that the Issuer or the Guarantor shall not be liable to any such
Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or controlling person, with respect to any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission in any preliminary
Prospectus to the extent that any such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense of any
Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or controlling person results from the fact that such
Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer sold Securities to a person to whom there was not sent
or given, at or prior to the written confirmation of such sale, a copy of the final
Prospectus as then amended or supplemented if the Issuer or the Guarantor had previously
furnished copies thereof to such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer and the loss,
liability, claim, damage or expense of such Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or
controlling person results from an untrue statement or omission of a material fact contained
in the preliminary Prospectus which was corrected in the final Prospectus. Any amounts
advanced by the Issuer or the Guarantor to an indemnified party pursuant to this Section 5
as a result of such losses shall be returned to the Issuer or the Guarantor if it shall be
14
finally determined by such a court in a judgment not subject to appeal or final review
that such indemnified party was not entitled to indemnification by the Issuer or the
Guarantor. In connection with any Underwritten Offering permitted by Section 3, the
Issuer and the Guarantor will also indemnify, jointly and severally, the Underwriters, if
any, selling brokers, dealers and similar securities industry professionals participating in
the distribution, their officers and directors and each Person who controls such Persons
(within the meaning of the 1933 Act and the 0000 Xxx) to the same extent as provided above
with respect to the indemnification of the Holders, if requested in connection with any
Registration Statement.
(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the
Issuer and the Guarantor, the Purchasers and the other selling Holders, and each of their
respective directors, officers who sign the Registration Statement and each Person, if any,
who controls the Issuer or the Guarantor, any Purchaser and any other selling Holder within
the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act to the same
extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Issuer and the Guarantor to the Purchasers and
the Holders, but only with reference to information relating to such Holder furnished to the
Issuer or the Guarantor in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto).
(c) 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 paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) above, such Person (the “indemnified party”)
shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the
“indemnifying party”) in writing; provided, that the failure to notify the
indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under this
Section 5 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the
forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that
the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it
may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 5. 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 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 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 connection with any proceeding or
related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for (A) the fees and expenses of
more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the Purchasers and all
Persons, if any, who control any Purchaser within the meaning of either Section 15 of the
1933 Act or Xxxxxxx 00 xx xxx 0000 Xxx, (X) the fees and expenses of more than one separate
firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the Issuer
15
and the Guarantor, their directors, their officers who sign the Registration Statement
and each Person, if any, who controls the Issuer or the Guarantor within the meaning of
either such Section and (C) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in
addition to any local counsel) for all Holders and all Persons, if any, who control any
Holders within the meaning of either such Section, and that all such fees and expenses shall
be reimbursed as they are incurred. In such case involving the Purchasers and Persons who
control the Purchasers, such firm shall be designated in writing by Deutsche Bank Securities
Inc. In such case involving the Holders and such Persons who control Holders, such firm
shall be designated in writing by the Majority Holders. In all other cases, such firm shall
be designated by the Issuer and the Guarantor. 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 at any time an
indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified
party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by 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 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii)
such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party for such fees and
expenses of counsel 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 such
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) If the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of this
Section 5 is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any
losses, claims, damages or liabilities, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph,
in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount
paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect 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,
claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The
relative fault of the Issuer and the Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders, 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 Issuer and the Guarantor or by the
Holders 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 Section 5(d) are several in proportion to the respective
principal amount of Registrable Securities of such Holder that were registered pursuant to a
Registration Statement.
16
(e) The Issuer and the Guarantor and each Holder agree that it would not be just or
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an
indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in
paragraph (d) above 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 the provisions of this
Section 5, no Holder shall be required to indemnify or contribute any amount in
excess of the amount by which the total price at which Registrable Securities were sold by
such Holder exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required
to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of
the 0000 Xxx) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 5 are not
exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any
indemnified party at law or in equity.
The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 5 shall remain
operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii)
any investigation made by or on behalf of the Purchasers, any Holder or any Person controlling any
Purchaser or any Holder, or by or on behalf of the Issuer and the Guarantor, their officers or
directors or any Person controlling the Issuer or the Guarantor, (iii) acceptance of any of the
Exchange Securities and (iv) any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration
Statement.
6. Miscellaneous.
(a) Rule 144 and Rule 144A. For so long as the Guarantor is subject to the
reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15 of the 1934 Act, the Guarantor covenants that it
will file the reports required to be filed by it under the 1933 Act and Section 13(a) or
15(d) of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder. If the
Guarantor ceases to be so required to file such reports, the Guarantor covenants that it
will upon the request of any Holder of Registrable Securities (a) make publicly available
such information as is necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144 under the 1933 Act,
(b) deliver such information to a prospective purchaser as is necessary to permit sales
pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, and (c) take such further action that is
reasonable in the circumstances, in each case, to the extent required from time to time to
enable such Holder to sell its Registrable Securities without registration under the 1933
Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (i) Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, as
such Rule may be amended from time to time, (ii) Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, as such Rule
may be amended from time to time, or (iii) any similar rules or regulations hereafter
adopted by the SEC. Upon the request of any Holder of Registrable Securities, the Guarantor
will deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such
requirements. The Issuer agrees to comply with the information obligations set forth above
to the extent that it is required by applicable law or regulations.
17
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Issuer nor the Guarantor have
entered into, and on or after the date of this Agreement will enter into, any agreement
which is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in
this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted to the
Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights
granted to the holders of the Issuer or the Guarantor’s other issued and outstanding
securities under any such agreements.
(c) 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 Issuer and the
Guarantor have obtained the written consent of Holders of at least a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities affected by such amendment,
modification, supplement, waiver or consent; provided, however, that no amendment,
modification, supplement, waiver or consent to any departure from the provisions of
Section 5 hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of Registrable Securities
unless consented to in writing by such Holder.
(d) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted
hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, telex,
telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most
current address given by such Holder to the Issuer or the Guarantor by means of a notice
given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(d), which address
initially is, with respect to the Purchasers, the address set forth in the Purchase
Agreement; and (ii) if to the Issuer or the Guarantor, initially at such party’s address set
forth in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is
given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(d). All such notices and
communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if
personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid,
if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and
on the next Business Day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight
delivery. Copies of all such notices, demands, or other communications shall be concurrently
delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee, at the address specified in the
Indenture.
(e) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and
be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of each of the parties, including,
without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders;
provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other
disposition of Registrable Securities in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement.
If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any manner, whether
by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all
of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities such
Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the
terms and provisions of this Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the
benefits hereof. The Purchasers (in their capacity as Purchasers) shall have no liability
or obligation to the Issuer or the Guarantor with respect to any
18
failure by a Holder to comply with, or any breach by any Holder of, any of the
obligations of such Holder under this Agreement.
(f) Purchases and Sales of Securities. The Issuer and the Guarantor shall not,
and shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause their affiliates (as defined in Rule
405 under the 0000 Xxx) not to, purchase and then resell or otherwise transfer any
Securities.
(g) Third Party Beneficiary. The Holders shall be third party beneficiaries to
the agreements made hereunder between the Issuer and the Guarantor, on the one hand, and the
Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly
to the extent it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the
rights of Holders hereunder.
(h) 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.
(i) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference
only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(j) Waiver of Immunities. To the extent that the Issuer or the Guarantor or
any of their respective properties, assets or revenues may have or may hereafter become
entitled to, or have attributed to it, any right of immunity, on the grounds of sovereignty
or otherwise, from any legal action, suit or proceeding, from the giving of any relief in
any thereof, from set-off or counterclaim, from the jurisdiction of any court, from service
of process, from attachment upon or prior to judgment, from attachment in aid of execution
of judgment, or from execution of judgment, or other legal process or proceeding for the
giving of any relief or for the enforcement of any judgment, in any jurisdiction in which
proceedings may at any time be commenced, with respect to its obligations, liabilities or
any other matter under or arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, the Issuer
and the Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waive, and agree not to plead or
claim, any such immunity and consent to such relief and enforcement.
(k) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AS APPLIED TO CONTRACTS MADE AND
PERFORMED WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARDS TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.
(l) Consent to Jurisdiction; Appointment of Agent to Accept Service of Process.
(i) The Issuer and the Guarantor irrevocably consent and agree, for the benefit
of the Holders from time to time of the Securities and the Guarantee, the Purchasers
and the other persons referred to in Section 6(g) that any legal action,
suit or proceeding against it with respect to its obligations, liabilities or
19
any other matter arising out of or in connection with this Agreement may be
brought in the courts of the State of New York located in The City of New York and
the courts of the United States located in The City of New York and, until all
amounts due and to become due in respect of the Securities and the Guarantee have
been paid, or until any such legal action, suit or proceeding commenced prior to
such payment has been concluded, hereby irrevocably consent and submit to the
non-exclusive jurisdiction of each such court in personam, generally and
unconditionally with respect to any action, suit or proceeding for itself and in
respect of its properties, assets and revenues.
(ii) The Issuer and the Guarantor hereby irrevocably designate, appoint, and
empower CT Corporation System, 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, as their
designee, appointee and agent to receive, accept and acknowledge for and on their
behalf service of any and all legal process, summons, notices and documents that may
be served in any action, suit or proceeding brought against the Issuer or the
Guarantor in any such United States federal or state court with respect to its
obligations, liabilities or any other matter arising out of or in connection with
this Agreement and that may be made on such designee, appointee and agent in
accordance with legal procedures prescribed for such courts. If for any reason such
designee, appointee and agent hereunder shall cease to be available to act as such,
the Issuer and the Guarantor agree to designate a new designee, appointee and agent
in The City of New York on the terms and for the purposes of this Section
6(l) reasonably satisfactory to each of the Representatives. The Issuer and the
Guarantor further hereby irrevocably consent and agree to the service of any and all
legal process, summons, notices and documents in any such action, suit or proceeding
against the Issuer and the Guarantor by serving a copy thereof upon the relevant
agent for service of process referred to in this Section 6(l) (whether or
not the appointment of such agent shall for any reason prove to be ineffective or
such agent shall accept or acknowledge such service) or by mailing copies thereof by
registered or certified air mail, postage prepaid, to the Issuer or the Guarantor at
its respective address specified in or designated pursuant to this Agreement. The
Issuer and the Guarantor agree that the failure of any such designee, appointee and
agent to give any notice of such service to them shall not impair or affect in any
way the validity of such service or any judgment rendered in any action or
proceeding based thereon. Nothing herein shall in any way be deemed to limit the
ability of the holders of the Securities and the Guarantee, the Purchasers and the
other persons referred to in Section 6(g) to serve any such legal process,
summons, notices and documents in any other manner permitted by applicable law or to
obtain jurisdiction over the Issuer or the Guarantor or bring actions, suits or
proceedings against the Issuer or the Guarantor in such other jurisdictions, and in
such manner, as may be permitted by applicable law. The Issuer and the Guarantor
hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waive, to the fullest extent permitted by
law, any objection that they may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any
of the aforesaid actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or in connection with
this Agreement brought in the courts of the State of New York located in The City of
New York or the courts of the United States located in The City of New York and
hereby
20
further irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim
in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in any such court
has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
(iii) The provisions of this Section 6(l) shall survive any termination
of this Agreement, in whole or in part.
(m) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions
contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal
or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every
other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or
impaired thereby.
21
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written
above.
XXXXXX XXXXX B.V. |
||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
XXXXXX INTERNATIONAL INC. |
||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
The foregoing Agreement
is hereby confirmed and accepted
as of the date first above written.
is hereby confirmed and accepted
as of the date first above written.
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
ABN AMRO INCORPORATED
BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP.
WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
ABN AMRO INCORPORATED
BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP.
WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
By: Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
By: |
||||
Title: | ||||
By: |
||||
Title: | ||||
XXXXXXX, XXXXX & CO. | ||||
By: |
||||
Title: |
Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement
SCHEDULE A
Purchasers | ||
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
|
||
Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co. |
||
ABN AMRO Incorporated |
||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
||
Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC |