1
EXHIBIT 4.2
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
as of March 26, 1999
by and among
RBF FINANCE CO.
R&B FALCON CORPORATION
and
XXXXXXXXX, XXXXXX & XXXXXXXX SECURITIES CORPORATION
2
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT") is made and
entered into as of March 26, 1999, by and among RBF Finance Co., a Delaware
corporation ("XXXXX"), and R&B Falcon Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"COMPANY"), which will guarantee (its guarantees hereinafter, the "GUARANTEES")
the obligations of Xxxxx under the Notes (as defined herein), and Xxxxxxxxx,
Lufkin & Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation ("DLJ" or the INITIAL PURCHASER"), who
has agreed to purchase Xxxxx'x Senior Secured Notes due 2006 and Xxxxx'x Senior
Secured Notes due 2009 (collectively, the "RESTRICTED NOTES") pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement (as defined below).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated
March 19, 1999 (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), by and among Xxxxx, the Company and
the Initial Purchaser. In order to induce the Initial Purchaser to purchase the
Restricted Notes, Xxxxx and the Company have agreed to provide the registration
rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement
is a condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchaser set forth in Section
3 of the Purchase Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise
defined shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Indenture, dated March
26, 1999 among Xxxxx, the Company and United States Trust Company of New York,
as Trustee, relating to the Restricted Notes and the Exchange Notes (the
"INDENTURE").
The parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have
the following meanings:
ACT: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
AFFILIATE: As defined in Rule 144 under the Act.
BROKER-DEALER: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange
Act.
CERTIFICATED SECURITIES: As defined in the Indenture.
CLOSING DATE: The date hereof.
COMMISSION: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONSUMMATE: An Exchange Offer shall be deemed "Consummated" for
purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (a) the filing and
effectiveness under the Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
relating to the Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (b) the
maintenance of such Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective
and the keeping of the Exchange Offer open for a period not less than the period
required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof and (c) the delivery by the Company to
the Registrar under the Indenture of Exchange Notes in the same aggregate
principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of Restricted Notes tendered
by Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
CONSUMMATION DEADLINE: As defined in Section 3(b) hereof.
1
3
EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE: As defined in Section 3(a) or 4(a) hereof, as
applicable.
EXCHANGE ACT: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
EXCHANGE NOTES: Xxxxx'x Senior Secured Notes due 2006 and Senior
Secured Notes due 2009, and unless the context otherwise requires, the
Guarantees thereof, to be issued pursuant to the Indenture: (i) in the Exchange
Offer or (ii) as contemplated by Section 4 hereof.
EXCHANGE OFFER: The exchange and issuance by Xxxxx of a principal
amount of Exchange Notes (which shall be registered pursuant to the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement) equal to the outstanding principal amount of
Restricted Notes that are tendered by such Holders in connection with such
exchange and issuance.
EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT: The Registration Statement
relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.
EXEMPT RESALES: The transactions in which the Initial Purchaser
proposes to sell the Restricted Notes to certain "qualified institutional
buyers," as such term is defined in Rule 144A under the Act and pursuant to
Regulation S under the Act.
FILING DEADLINE: As defined in Sections 3(a) or 4(a) hereof, as
applicable.
HOLDERS: As defined in Section 2 hereof.
NOTES: The Restricted Notes and the Exchange Notes, collectively.
PROSPECTUS: The prospectus included in a Registration Statement at
the time such Registration Statement is declared effective, as amended or
supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments thereto,
including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference
into such Prospectus.
RECOMMENCEMENT DATE: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
REGISTRATION DEFAULT: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
REGISTRATION STATEMENT: Any registration statement of Xxxxx and the
Company relating to (a) an offering of Exchange Notes pursuant to an Exchange
Offer or (b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, (i) that is filed
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) including the Prospectus
included therein, all amendments and supplements thereto (including
post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by
reference therein.
REGULATION S: Regulation S promulgated under the Act.
RULE 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.
SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT: As defined in Section 4 hereof.
SUSPENSION NOTICE: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
2
4
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Section 77aaa-77bbbb)
as in effect on the date of the Indenture.
TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES: Each Restricted Note, until the
earliest to occur of (a) the date on which such Restricted Note is exchanged in
the Exchange Offer for an Exchange Note which is entitled to be resold to the
public by the Holder thereof without complying with the prospectus delivery
requirements of the Act, (b) the date on which such Restricted Note has been
disposed of in accordance with a Shelf Registration Statement (and the
purchasers thereof have been issued Exchange Notes), or (c) the date on which
such Restricted Note is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the
Act (and purchasers thereof have been issued Exchange Notes) and each Exchange
Note until the date on which such Exchange Note is disposed of by a
Broker-Dealer pursuant to the "Plan of Distribution" contemplated by the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement (including the delivery of the Prospectus
contained therein).
TRUSTEE: The United States Trust Company of New York.
SECTION 2. HOLDERS
A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
(each, a "HOLDER") whenever such Person is a beneficial owner of Transfer
Restricted Securities in the security register of the Trustee.
SECTION 3. REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER
(a) Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permitted by applicable
federal law (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below have been
complied with), Xxxxx and the Company shall (i) cause the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement to be filed with the Commission as soon as practicable
after the Closing Date, but in no event later than 60 days after the Closing
Date (such 60th day being the "FILING DEADLINE"), (ii) use their respective best
efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective
at the earliest possible time, but in no event later than 150 days after the
Closing Date (such 150th day being the "EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE"), (iii) in
connection with the foregoing, (A) file all pre-effective amendments to such
Exchange Offer Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to cause it
to become effective, (B) file, if applicable, a post-effective amendment to such
Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act and
(C) cause all necessary filings, if any, in connection with the registration and
qualification of the Exchange Notes to be made under the Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions as are necessary to permit Consummation of the Exchange Offer, and
(iv) upon the effectiveness of such Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
commence and Consummate the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall be on the
appropriate form permitting (i) registration of the Exchange Notes to be offered
in exchange for the Restricted Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities and
(ii) resales of Exchange Notes by Broker-Dealers that tendered into the Exchange
Offer Restricted Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a
result of market making activities or other trading activities (other than
Restricted Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates) as
contemplated by Section 3(c) below.
(b) Xxxxx and the Company shall use their respective best efforts to
cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be effective continuously,
and shall keep the Exchange Offer open for a period of not less than the minimum
period required under applicable federal and state securities laws to Consummate
the Exchange Offer; provided, however, that in no event shall such period be
less than 30 days (or longer if required by applicable law). Xxxxx and the
Company shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply with all applicable federal and
state securities laws. No securities other than the Exchange Notes and
Guarantees shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. Xxxxx
and the Company shall use their
3
5
respective best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be Consummated on the
earliest practicable date after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has
become effective, but in no event later than 30 days thereafter (such 30th day
being the "CONSUMMATION DEADLINE").
(c) Xxxxx and the Company shall include a "Plan of Distribution"
section in the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
and indicate therein that any Broker-Dealer who holds Transfer Restricted
Securities that were acquired for the account of such Broker-Dealer as a result
of market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Restricted
Notes acquired directly from the Company or any Affiliate of the Company), may
exchange such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
Such "Plan of Distribution" section shall also contain all other information
with respect to such sales by such Broker-Dealers that the Commission may
require in order to permit such sales pursuant thereto, but such "Plan of
Distribution" shall not name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities held by any such Broker-Dealer, except to the
extent required by the Commission as a result of a change in policy, rules or
regulations after the date of this Agreement. See the Shearman & Sterling
no-action letter (available July 2, 1993).
Because such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an "underwriter"
within the meaning of the Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting
the requirements of the Act in connection with its initial sale of any Exchange
Notes received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, the Company and
Xxxxx shall permit the use of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement by such Broker-Dealer to satisfy such prospectus delivery
requirement. To the extent necessary to ensure that the Prospectus contained in
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is available for sales of Exchange
Notes by Broker-Dealers, the Company and Xxxxx agree to use their respective
best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously
effective, supplemented, amended and current as required by and subject to the
provisions of Section 6(a) and (c) hereof and in conformity with the
requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations
of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of 180 days from
the Consummation Deadline, or such shorter period as will terminate when all
Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been
sold pursuant thereto. The Company and Xxxxx shall provide sufficient copies of
the latest version of such Prospectus to such Broker-Dealers, promptly upon
request, and in no event later than one day after such request, at any time
during such period.
SECTION 4. SHELF REGISTRATION
(a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Exchange Offer is not permitted by
applicable law (after the Company and Xxxxx have complied with the procedures
set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below) or (ii) if any Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities shall notify the Company within 20 Business Days following the
Consummation Deadline that (A) such Holder was prohibited by law or Commission
policy from participating in the Exchange Offer or (B) such Holder may not
resell the Exchange Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public
without delivering a prospectus and the Prospectus contained in the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales by
such Holder or (C) such Holder is a Broker-Dealer and holds Restricted Notes
acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates, then the Company
and Xxxxx shall:
(x) cause to be filed, on or prior to 30 days after the earlier
of (i) the date on which Xxxxx and the Company determine that the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement cannot be filed as a result of clause (a)(i) above and
(ii) the date on which the Company receives the notice specified in clause
(a)(ii) above, (such earlier date, the "FILING DEADLINE"), a shelf registration
statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act (which may be an amendment to the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement (the "SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT")),
relating to all Transfer Restricted Securities, and
4
6
(y) shall use their respective best efforts to cause such Shelf
Registration Statement to become effective on or prior to 90 days after the
Filing Deadline for the Shelf Registration Statement (such 90th day the
"EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE").
If, after Xxxxx and the Company have filed an Exchange Offer
Registration Statement that satisfies the requirements of Section 3(a) above,
Xxxxx and the Company are required to file and make effective a Shelf
Registration Statement solely because the Exchange Offer is not permitted under
applicable federal law (i.e., clause (a)(i) above), then the filing of the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement shall be deemed to satisfy the
requirements of clause (x) above; provided that, in such event, the Company
shall remain obligated to meet the Effectiveness Deadline set forth in clause
(y).
To the extent necessary to ensure that the Shelf Registration
Statement is available for sales of Transfer Restricted Securities by the
Holders thereof entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a) and the other
securities required to be registered therein pursuant to Section 6(b)(ii)
hereof, the Company and Xxxxx shall use their respective best efforts to keep
any Shelf Registration Statement required by this Section 4(a) continuously
effective, supplemented, amended and current as required by and subject to the
provisions of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof and in conformity with the
requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations
of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of at least two
years (as extended pursuant to Section 6(c)(i)) following the Closing Date, or
such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities
covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto.
(b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with
the Shelf Registration Statement. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
may include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration
Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to
the Company in writing, within 20 days after receipt of a request therefor, the
information specified in Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, of
the Act for use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or
Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus included therein. No Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities shall be entitled to liquidated damages pursuant to
Section 5 hereof unless and until such Holder shall have provided all such
information. Each selling Holder agrees to promptly furnish additional
information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously
furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially misleading.
SECTION 5. SPECIAL INTEREST
If (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not
filed with the Commission on or prior to the applicable Filing Deadline, (ii)
any such Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the
Commission on or prior to the applicable Effectiveness Deadline, (iii) the
Exchange Offer has not been Consummated on or prior to the Consummation Deadline
or (iv) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is filed and
declared effective but shall thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be
usable for its intended purpose without being succeeded by a post-effective
amendment to such Registration Statement that cures such failure and that is
itself declared effective (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through
(iv), a "REGISTRATION DEFAULT"), then the Company and Xxxxx hereby jointly and
severally agree to pay to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities affected
thereby additional interest ("SPECIAL INTEREST") in an amount equal to $.05 per
week per $1,000 in principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by
such Holder for each week or portion thereof that the Registration Default
continues for the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of
such Registration Default. The amount of the Special Interest shall increase by
an additional $.05 per week per $1,000 in principal amount of Transfer
Restricted Securities with respect to each subsequent 90-day period until all
5
7
Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum amount of special
interest of $.50 per week per $1,000 in principal amount of Transfer Restricted
Securities; provided that the Company and Xxxxx shall in no event be required to
pay special interest for more than one Registration Default at any given time.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, (1) upon filing of
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf
Registration Statement), in the case of (i) above, (2) upon the effectiveness of
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf
Registration Statement), in the case of (ii) above, (3) upon Consummation of the
Exchange Offer, in the case of (iii) above, or (4) upon the filing of a
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or an additional
Registration Statement that causes the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
(and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement) to again be declared
effective or made usable in the case of (iv) above, the Special Interest payable
with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities as a result of such clause
(i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), as applicable, shall immediately cease.
All accrued Special Interest shall be paid to the Holders entitled
thereto, in the manner provided for the payment of interest in the Indenture, on
each Interest Payment Date, as more fully set forth in the Indenture and the
Notes. Notwithstanding the fact that any securities for which Special Interest
are due cease to be Transfer Restricted Securities, all obligations of the
Company and Xxxxx to pay Special Interest with respect to securities shall
survive until such time as such obligations with respect to such securities
shall have been satisfied in full.
SECTION 6. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. In connection with the
Exchange Offer, Xxxxx and the Company shall (x) comply with all applicable
provisions of Section 6(c) below, (y) use their respective best efforts to
effect such exchange and to permit the resale of Exchange Notes by
Broker-Dealers that tendered in the Exchange Offer Restricted Notes that such
Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of its market making
activities or other trading activities (other than Restricted Notes acquired
directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates) being sold in accordance
with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and (z) comply with
all of the following provisions:
(i) If, following the date hereof there has been announced a
change in Commission policy with respect to exchange offers such as the
Exchange Offer, that in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company
raises a substantial question as to whether the Exchange Offer is
permitted by applicable federal law, the Company and Xxxxx hereby agree to
seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision from the Commission
allowing the Company and Xxxxx to Consummate an Exchange Offer for such
Transfer Restricted Securities. The Company and Xxxxx hereby agree to
pursue the issuance of such a decision to the Commission staff level. In
connection with the foregoing, the Company and Xxxxx hereby agree to take
all such other reasonable actions as may be requested by the Commission or
otherwise required in connection with the issuance of such decision,
including without limitation (A) participating in telephonic conferences
with the Commission, (B) delivering to the Commission staff an analysis
prepared by counsel to the Company setting forth the legal bases, if any,
upon which such counsel has concluded that such an Exchange Offer should
be permitted and (C) diligently pursuing a resolution (which need not be
favorable) by the Commission staff.
(ii) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer,
each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (including, without
limitation, any Holder who is a Broker Dealer) shall furnish, upon the
request of the Company, prior to the Consummation of the Exchange Offer, a
written representation to the Company and Xxxxx (which may be contained in
the letter of transmittal contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement) to the effect that (A) it is not an Affiliate of the Company,
(B) it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, and has no
arrangement or
6
8
understanding with any person to participate in, a distribution of the
Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and (C) it is acquiring
the Exchange Notes in its ordinary course of business. As a condition to
its participation in the Exchange Offer, each Holder using the Exchange
Offer to participate in a distribution of the Exchange Notes shall
acknowledge and agree that, if the resales are of Exchange Notes obtained
by such Holder in exchange for Restricted Notes acquired directly from the
Company or an Affiliate thereof, it (1) could not, under Commission policy
as in effect on the date of this Agreement, rely on the position of the
Commission enunciated in Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx and Co., Inc. (available June 5,
1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as
interpreted in the Commission's letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July
2, 1993, and similar no-action letters (including, if applicable, any
no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above), and (2) must
comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the
Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction and that such a
secondary resale transaction must be covered by an effective registration
statement containing the selling security holder information required by
Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K.
(iii) If required by the Commission, prior to effectiveness of
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, Xxxxx and the Company shall
provide a supplemental letter to the Commission (A) stating that the
Company and Xxxxx are registering the Exchange Offer in reliance on the
position of the Commission enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings
Corporation (available May 13, 1988), Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx and Co., Inc.
(available June 5, 1991) as interpreted in the Commission's letter to
Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and, if applicable, any no-action
letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above, (B) including a
representation that neither Issuer nor the Company has entered into any
arrangement or understanding with any Person to distribute the Exchange
Notes to be received in the Exchange Offer and that, to the best of
Xxxxx'x and the Company's information and belief, each Holder
participating in the Exchange Offer is acquiring the Exchange Notes in its
ordinary course of business and has no arrangement or understanding with
any Person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange Notes
received in the Exchange Offer and (C) any other undertaking or
representation required by the Commission as set forth in any no-action
letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above, if applicable.
(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, Xxxxx and the Company shall (i) comply with all the
provisions of Section 6(c) below and use their respective best efforts to effect
such registration to permit the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities being
sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof
(as indicated in the information furnished to the Company pursuant to Section
4(b) hereof), and pursuant thereto Xxxxx and the Company will prepare and file
with the Commission a Registration Statement relating to the registration on any
appropriate form under the Act, which form shall be available for the sale of
the Transfer Restricted Securities in accordance with the intended method or
methods of distribution thereof within the time periods and otherwise in
accordance with the provisions hereof and (ii) issue, upon the request of any
Holder or purchaser of Restricted Notes covered by any Shelf Registration
Statement contemplated by this Agreement, Exchange Notes having an aggregate
principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Restricted Notes
sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and surrendered to the Company
for cancellation; the Company shall register Exchange Notes on the Shelf
Registration Statement for this purpose and issue the Exchange Notes to the
purchaser(s) of securities subject to the Shelf Registration Statement in the
names as such purchaser(s) shall designate.
(c) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration Statement
and any related Prospectus required by this Agreement, Xxxxx and the Company
agree to:
(i) use their respective best efforts to keep such Registration
Statement continuously
7
9
effective and provide all requisite financial statements for the period
specified in Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement, as applicable. Upon the
occurrence of any event that would cause any such Registration Statement
or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain an untrue statement of
material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading or (B) not to be effective and usable
for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during the period required by
this Agreement, Xxxxx and the Company shall file promptly an appropriate
amendment to such Registration Statement curing such defect, and, if
Commission review is required, use their respective best efforts to cause
such amendment to be declared effective as soon as practicable.
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and
post-effective amendments to the applicable Registration Statement as may
be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the
applicable period set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as the case may be;
cause the Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus
supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under
the Act, and to comply fully with Rules 424, 430A and 462, as applicable,
under the Act in a timely manner; and comply with the provisions of the
Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such
Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the
intended method or methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set
forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;
(iii) advise the Initial Purchaser promptly and, if requested by
the Initial Purchaser, confirm such advice in writing, (A) when the
Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has
been filed, and, with respect to any applicable Registration Statement or
any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective,
(B) of any request by the Commission for amendments to the Registration
Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or for additional
information relating thereto, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of any
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
under the Act or of the suspension by any state securities commission of
the qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities for offering or
sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation of any proceeding for any of
the preceding purposes, (D) of the existence of any fact or the happening
of any event that makes any statement of a material fact made in the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any amendment or supplement
thereto or any document incorporated by reference therein untrue, or that
requires the making of any additions to or changes in the Registration
Statement in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or that
requires the making of any additions to or changes in the Prospectus in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading. If at any time the Commission
shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, or any state securities commission or other
regulatory authority shall issue an order suspending the qualification or
exemption from qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under
state securities or Blue Sky laws, the Company and Xxxxx shall use their
respective best efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order
at the earliest possible time;
(iv) subject to Section 6(c)(i), if any fact or event
contemplated by Section 6(c)(iii)(D) above shall exist or have occurred,
prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by
reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter
delivered to the purchasers of Transfer Restricted Securities, the
Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(v) furnish to the Initial Purchaser (and the Holders, if
requested) in connection with such exchange or sale, if any, before filing
with the Commission, copies of any Registration Statement or
8
10
any Prospectus included therein or any amendments or supplements to any
such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all documents
incorporated by reference after the initial filing of such Registration
Statement), which documents will be subject to the review and comment of
the Initial Purchaser in connection with such sale, if any, for a period
of at least five Business Days, and the Company will not file any such
Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any
such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all such documents
incorporated by reference) to which the Initial Purchaser shall reasonably
object within five Business Days after the receipt thereof. The Initial
Purchaser shall be deemed to have reasonably objected to such filing if
such Registration Statement, amendment, Prospectus or supplement, as
applicable, as proposed to be filed, contains an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading or fails to comply with the applicable
requirements of the Act;
(vi) in case of a Shelf Registration Statement only, make
available, at reasonable times, for inspection by the Initial Purchaser
and any attorney or accountant retained by the Initial Purchaser, all
financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents of Xxxxx and
the Company and cause Xxxxx'x and the Company's officers, directors and
employees to supply all information reasonably requested by the Initial
Purchaser, attorney or accountant in connection with such Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto subsequent to the filing
thereof and prior to its effectiveness; provided, however, that such
persons shall first agree in writing with Xxxxx and the Company that any
information that is reasonably and in good faith designated by Xxxxx or
the Company in writing as confidential by such persons 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 conjunction
with the filing of such Shelf Registration Statement or use of any
Prospectus), (iii) such information becomes generally available to the
public other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to safeguard such
information by such person or (iv) such information becomes available to
such person from a source other than Xxxxx and the Company and its
subsidiaries and such source is not bound by confidentiality agreement;
provided, further, that the foregoing investigation shall be coordinated
on behalf of such Holders by one representative designated by and on
behalf of such Holders and any such confidential information shall be
available from such representative to such Holders so long as any Holder
agrees to be bound by such confidentiality agreement;
(vii) if requested by any Holders in connection with such
exchange or sale, promptly include in any Registration Statement or
Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if
necessary, such information as such Holders may reasonably request to have
included therein, including, without limitation, information relating to
the "Plan of Distribution" of the Transfer Restricted Securities and make
all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment as soon as practicable after Xxxxx and the Company is notified
of the matters to be included in such Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment;
(viii) upon the request of each Holder, furnish to such Holder
in connection with such exchange or sale, without charge, at least one
copy of the Registration Statement, as first filed with the Commission,
and of each amendment thereto, including all documents incorporated by
reference therein and all exhibits (including exhibits incorporated
therein by reference);
(ix) deliver to each Holder without charge, as many copies of
the Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment
or supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may request; Xxxxx and
the Company hereby consent to the use (in accordance with law) of the
Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each selling Holder
in connection with the offering and
9
11
the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus
or any amendment or supplement thereto;
(x) upon the request of any Holder, enter into such agreements
(including underwriting agreements) and make such reasonable
representations and warranties and take all such other reasonable actions
in connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition
of the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement contemplated by this Agreement as may be reasonably requested by
any Holder in connection with any sale or resale pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement. In such connection, Xxxxx and the Company shall:
(A) upon request of any Holder, furnish (or in the case of
paragraphs (2) and (3), use their respective best efforts to cause to
be furnished) to each Holder or upon the effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration Statement, as the case may be:
(1) a certificate, dated such date, signed on behalf of
Xxxxx and the Company by (x) the President or any Vice President
and (y) a principal financial or accounting officer of the
Company and Xxxxx, confirming, as of the date thereof, the
matters set forth in Sections 6(x), 9(a) and 9(b) of the
Purchase Agreement and such other similar matters as such
Holders may reasonably request;
(2) an opinion, dated the date of effectiveness of the
Shelf Registration Statement, of counsel for Xxxxx and the
Company covering matters similar to those set forth in Section
9(e) of the Purchase Agreement and such other matter as such
Holder may reasonably request, and in any event including a
statement to the effect that such counsel has participated in
conferences with officers and other representatives of Xxxxx and
the Company, representatives of the independent public
accountants for Xxxxx and the Company and have considered the
matters required to be stated therein and the statements
contained therein, although such counsel has not independently
verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of such
statements; and that such counsel advises that, on the basis of
the foregoing (relying as to materiality to the extent such
counsel deems appropriate upon the statements of officers and
other representatives of Xxxxx and the Company and without
independent check or verification), no facts came to such
counsel's attention that caused such counsel to believe that the
Shelf Registration Statement, at the time such Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto became
effective contained an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or
that the Prospectus contained in such Registration Statement as
of its date contained an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. Without limiting the
foregoing, such counsel may state further that such counsel
assumes no responsibility for, and has not independently
verified, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the
financial statements, notes and schedules and other financial
data included in the Shelf Registration Statement contemplated
by this Agreement or the related Prospectus; and
(3) a customary comfort letter as of the date of
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement from the
Company's independent accountants, in the customary form and
covering matters of the type customarily covered in comfort
letters to underwriters in connection with underwritten
offerings, and affirming the matters set forth in the comfort
letters delivered pursuant to Section 9(g) of the Purchase
Agreement; and
10
12
(B) deliver such other documents and certificates as may be
reasonably requested by the selling Holders to evidence compliance
with the matters covered in clause (A) above and with any customary
conditions contained in the any agreement entered into by Xxxxx and
the Company pursuant to this clause (xi);
(xi) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted
Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders and their counsel in
connection with the registration and qualification of the Transfer
Restricted Securities under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions as the selling Holders may reasonably request and do any and
all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition
in such jurisdictions of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the
applicable Registration Statement; provided, however, that neither the
Company nor Xxxxx shall be required to register or qualify as a foreign
corporation where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that
would subject it to the service of process in suits or to taxation, other
than as to matters and transactions relating to the Registration
Statement, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject;
(xii) in connection with any sale of Transfer Restricted
Securities that will result in such securities no longer being Transfer
Restricted Securities, cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Transfer Restricted
Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and to
register such Transfer Restricted Securities in such denominations and
such names as the selling Holders may request at least two Business Days
prior to such sale of Transfer Restricted Securities;
(xiii) use their respective best efforts to cause the
disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the
Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other
governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the
seller or sellers thereof to consummate the disposition of such Transfer
Restricted Securities, subject to the proviso contained in clause (xii)
above;
(xiv) provide a CUSIP number for all Transfer Restricted
Securities not later than the effective date of a Registration Statement
covering such Transfer Restricted Securities and provide the Trustee under
the Indenture with printed certificates for the Transfer Restricted
Securities which are in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository
Trust Company;
(xv) otherwise use their respective best efforts to comply with
all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally
available to its security holders with regard to any applicable
Registration Statement, as soon as practicable, a consolidated earnings
statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158 (which need not be audited)
covering a twelve-month period beginning after the effective date of the
Registration Statement (as such term is defined in paragraph (c) of Rule
158 under the Act);
(xvi) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA not
later than the effective date of the first Registration Statement required
by this Agreement and, in connection therewith, cooperate with the Trustee
and the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required
for such Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the
TIA; and execute and use best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all
documents that may be required to effect such changes and all other forms
and documents required to be filed with the Commission to enable such
Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner; and
(xvii) provide promptly to each Holder, upon request, each
document filed with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Section
13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
11
13
(d) Restrictions on Holders. Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a
Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of the notice referred to in
Section 6(c)(iii)(C) or any notice from Xxxxx or the Company of the existence of
any fact of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof (in each case, a
"SUSPENSION NOTICE"), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement
until (i) such Holder has received copies of the supplemented or amended
Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(iv) hereof, or (ii) such Holder is
advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed,
and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus (in each case, the "RECOMMENCEMENT
DATE"). Each Holder receiving a Suspension Notice hereby agrees that it will
either (i) destroy any Prospectuses, other than permanent file copies, then in
such Holder's possession which have been replaced by Xxxxx with more recently
dated Prospectuses or (ii) deliver to Xxxxx (at Xxxxx'x expense) all copies,
other than permanent file copies, then in such Holder's possession of the
Prospectus covering such Transfer Restricted Securities that was current at the
time of receipt of the Suspension Notice. The time period regarding the
effectiveness of such Registration Statement set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof,
as applicable, shall be extended by a number of days equal to the number of days
in the period from and including the date of delivery of the Suspension Notice
to the date of delivery of the Recommencement Date.
SECTION 7. REGISTRATION EXPENSES
(a) All expenses incident to Xxxxx'x and the Company's performance of
or compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company, regardless of
whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including without
limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses; (ii) all fees and
expenses of compliance with federal securities and state Blue Sky or securities
laws; (iii) all expenses of printing (including printing certificates for the
Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of Prospectuses
whether for exchanges, sales, market making or otherwise), messenger and
delivery services and telephone; (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for
Xxxxx and the Company and all reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for
the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; (v) all application and filing
fees, if any, in connection with listing the Exchange Notes on a national
securities exchange or automated quotation system pursuant to the requirements
hereof; and (vi) all fees and disbursements of independent certified public
accountants of Xxxxx and the Company (including the expenses of any special
audit and comfort letters required by or incident to such performance).
The Company will, in any event, bear its and Xxxxx'x internal
expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its
officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), and its external
expenses (including without limitation, legal expenses, the expenses of any
annual audit and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts,
retained by Xxxxx or the Company).
(b) In connection with any Registration Statement required by this
Agreement (including, without limitation, the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement and the Shelf Registration Statement), the Company will reimburse the
Initial Purchaser and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities who are
tendering Restricted Notes in the Exchange Offer and/or selling or reselling
Restricted Notes or Exchange Notes pursuant to the "Plan of Distribution"
contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration
Statement, as applicable, for the reasonable fees and disbursements of not more
than one counsel, who shall be Akin, Gump, Strauss, Xxxxx & Xxxx, L.L.P., unless
another firm shall be chosen by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of
the Transfer Restricted Securities for whose benefit such Registration Statement
is being prepared.
12
14
SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION
(a) Xxxxx and the Company agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify
and hold harmless each Holder, its directors, officers and each Person, if any,
who controls such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section
20 of the Exchange Act), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities, judgments, (including without limitation, any reasonable legal or
other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any
matter, including any action that could give rise to any such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or judgments) caused by any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement,
preliminary prospectus or Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto)
provided by Xxxxx and the Company to any Holder or any prospective purchaser of
Exchange Notes or registered Restricted Notes, 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, except insofar as
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments are caused by an untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission that is based upon
information relating to any of the Holders furnished in writing to the Company
by any of the Holders.
(b) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agrees, severally
and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and Xxxxx, and their
respective directors and officers, and each person, if any, who controls (within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) the
Company or Xxxxx to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company
and Xxxxx set forth in section (a) above, but only with reference to information
relating to such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder
expressly for use in any Registration Statement. In no event shall any Holder,
its directors, officers or any Person who controls such Holder be liable or
responsible for any amount in excess of the amount by which the total amount
received by such Holder with respect to its sale of Transfer Restricted
Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds (i) the amount paid by
such Holder for such Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) the amount of any
damages that such Holder, its directors, officers or any Person who controls
such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
(c) In case any action shall be commenced involving any person in
respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a) or 8(b) (the
"INDEMNIFIED PARTY"), the indemnified party shall promptly notify the person
against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "INDEMNIFYING PERSON") in writing
and the indemnifying party shall assume the defense of such action, including
the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party and
the payment of all fees and expenses of such counsel, as incurred (except that
in the case of any action in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant
to both Sections 8(a) and 8(b), a Holder shall not be required to assume the
defense of such action pursuant to this Section 8(c), but may employ separate
counsel and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of
such counsel, except as provided below, shall be at the expense of the Holder).
Any indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any
such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of
such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnified party unless (i) the
employment of such counsel shall have been specifically authorized in writing by
the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume
the defense of such action or employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
indemnified party or (iii) the named parties to any such action (including any
impleaded parties) include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying
party, and the indemnified party shall have been advised by such counsel that
there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from
or additional to those available to the indemnifying party (in which case the
indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action
on behalf of the indemnified party). In any such case, the indemnifying party
shall not, in connection with any one action or separate but substantially
similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same
general
13
15
allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than
one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) for all
indemnified parties and all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they
are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by a majority of the
Holders, in the case of the parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(a), and by
the Company and Xxxxx, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section
8(b). The indemnifying party shall indemnify and hold harmless the indemnified
party from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and
judgments by reason of any settlement of any action (i) effected with its
written consent or (ii) effected without its written consent if the settlement
is entered into more than twenty business days after the indemnifying party
shall have received a request from the indemnified party for reimbursement for
the fees and expenses of counsel (in any case where such fees and expenses are
at the expense of the indemnifying party) and, prior to the date of such
settlement, the indemnifying party shall have failed to comply with such
reimbursement request. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement or compromise of, or
consent to the entry of judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened
action in respect of which the indemnified party is or could have been a party
and indemnity or contribution may be or could have been sought hereunder by the
indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes
an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability on claims
that are or could have been the subject matter of such action and (ii) does not
include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to
act, by or on behalf of the indemnified party.
(d) To the extent that the indemnification provided for in this
Section 8 is unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to therein, then each
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, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments (i) in such proportion
as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and
Xxxxx, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, from their sale of
Transfer Restricted Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause
8(d)(i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate
to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 8(d)(i) above
but also the relative fault of the Company and Xxxxx, on the one hand, and of
the Holder, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions
which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments, as
well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the
Company and Xxxxx, on the one hand, and of the Holder, 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 Company and/or Xxxxx, on
the one hand, or by the Holder, on the other hand, and the parties' relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of
the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments referred to above shall
be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in the second
paragraph of Section 8(a), any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably
incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action
or claim.
The Company, Xxxxx and each Holder agree that it would not be just
and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) were determined by
pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of 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,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments 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 matter, including any
action that could have given rise to such losses, claims, damages, liabilities
or judgments. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Holder, its
directors, its officers or any Person, if any, who controls such Holder shall be
required to contribute, in the aggregate,
14
16
any amount in excess of the amount by which the total received by such Holder
with respect to the sale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a
Registration Statement exceeds (i) the amount paid by such Holder for such
Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) the amount of any damages which 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 Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The Holders' obligations to contribute pursuant to this
Section 8(d) are several in proportion to the respective principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities held by each Holder hereunder and not joint.
(e) The Company and Xxxxx agree that the indemnity and contribution
provisions of this Section 8 shall apply to any Broker-Dealers who is deemed to
be an Affiliate of the Company or Xxxxx to the same extent, on the same
conditions, as it applies to Holders.
SECTION 9. RULE 144A AND RULE 144
Xxxxx and the Company agree with each Holder, for so long as any
Transfer Restricted Securities remain outstanding and during any period in which
Xxxxx and/or the Company (i) is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act, to make available, upon request of any Holder, to such Holder or
beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with any sale
thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted Securities
designated by such Holder or beneficial owner, the information required by Rule
144A(d)(4) under the Act in order to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted
Securities pursuant to Rule 144A, subject to Section 4.6 of the Indenture, and
(ii) is subject to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Exchange Act, to make all filings
required thereby in a timely manner in order to permit resales of such Transfer
Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144, subject to Section 2.6 of the
Indenture.
SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) Remedies. The Company and Xxxxx acknowledge and agree that any
failure by the Company and/or Xxxxx to comply with their respective obligations
under Sections 3 and 4 hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the
Initial Purchaser or the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law,
that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and
that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial Purchaser or any Holder may
obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the Company's and
Xxxxx'x obligations under Sections 3 and 4 hereof. The Company and Xxxxx further
agree to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy
at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor Xxxxx will,
on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to
its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders 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 Company's or Xxxxx'x
securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.
(c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not
be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures
from the provisions hereof may not be given unless (i) in the case of Section 5
hereof and this Section 10(c)(i), Xxxxx has obtained the written consent of
Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) in the case
of all other provisions hereof, Xxxxx has obtained the written consent of
Holders of a majority of the outstanding
15
17
principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities (excluding Transfer
Restricted Securities held by the Company or its Affiliates). Notwithstanding
the foregoing, a waiver or consent to departure from the provisions hereof that
relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose Transfer Restricted
Securities are being tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer, and that does not
affect directly or indirectly the rights of other Holders whose Transfer
Restricted Securities are not being tendered pursuant to such Exchange Offer,
may be given by the Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities subject to such Exchange Offer.
(d) Third Party Beneficiary. The Holders shall be third party
beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between Xxxxx and the Company, on
the one hand, and the Initial Purchaser, on the other hand, and shall have the
right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent they may deem such
enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of
Holders hereunder.
(e) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail
(registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier, or air
courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(i) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of
the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to the Registrar under the
Indenture; and
(ii) if to Xxxxx:
RBF Finance Co.
000 Xxxxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000-0000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
With a copy to:
Gardere Xxxxx Xxxxxx & Xxxxx, L.L.P.
0000 Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000-0000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
(iii) if to the Company:
R&B Falcon Corporation
000 Xxxxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: General Counsel
With a copy to:
Gardere Xxxxx Xxxxxx & Xxxxx, L.L.P.
0000 Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
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
16
18
prepaid, if mailed; when receipt 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.
(f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the successors and assigns 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 Transfer Restricted Securities in
violation of the terms hereof or of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture. If
any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Transfer Restricted Securities in any
manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Transfer Restricted
Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by
taking and holding such Transfer Restricted 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, including the restrictions on resale set
forth in this Agreement and, if applicable, the Purchase Agreement, and such
Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.
(g) 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.
(h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(i) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE
CONFLICT OF LAW RULES THEREOF.
(j) 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.
(k) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a
final expression of their agreement and 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. There are no restrictions, promises,
warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein
with respect to the registration rights granted with respect to the Transfer
Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
17
19
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of
the date first written above.
RBF FINANCE CO.
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXXX
---------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: President
R&B FALCON CORPORATION
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXXX
---------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: CEO
XXXXXXXXX, XXXXXX & XXXXXXXX
SECURITIES CORPORATION
By: /s/ XXXXX XXXXXXXXXX
---------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Title: Senior Vice President
18
20
EXHIBIT A
NOTICE OF FILING OF
A/B EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT
To: Xxxxxxxxx, Lufkin & Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx (Compliance Department)
Fax: (000) 000-0000
From: RBF Finance Co.
R&B Falcon Corporation
Date: , 1999
---------
For your information only (NO ACTION REQUIRED):
Today, ______, 1999, we filed [AN A/B EXCHANGE REGISTRATION STATEMENT/A
SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT] with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We
currently expect this registration statement to be declared effective within __
business days of the date hereof.
19
