EXHIBIT 4.4
================================================================================
NOTES REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of February 21, 1997
between
UNIFI COMMUNICATIONS, INC.,
and
XXXXX XXXXXX INC.,
(as Initial Purchaser)
================================================================================
$175,000,000
14% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2004
This Registration Rights Agreement is dated as of February 21, 1997,
between UNIFI Communications, Inc. (formerly Fax International, Inc.), a
Delaware corporation (the "Company") and Xxxxx Xxxxxx Inc. (the "Initial
------- -------
Purchaser").
---------
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated
February 14, 1997, between the Company and the Initial Purchaser (the "Purchase
--------
Agreement"). In order to induce the Initial Purchaser to enter into the
---------
Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights
provided for in this Agreement to the Initial Purchaser and its direct and
indirect transferees and assigns. The execution and delivery of this Agreement
is a condition to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase
Agreement.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions
-----------
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
Additional Interest: As defined in Section 4(a) hereof.
-------------------
Affiliate: With respect to any specified person, "Affiliate" shall
---------
mean any other person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or
under direct or indirect common control with such specified person. For the
purposes of this definition, "control," when used with respect to any person,
means the power to direct the management and policies of such person, directly
or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract
or otherwise and the terms "affiliated," "controlling" and "controlled" have
meanings correlative to the foregoing.
Agreement: This Registration Rights Agreement, as the same may be
---------
amended, supplemented or modified from time to time in accordance with the terms
hereof.
Business Day: Any day except a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which
------------
banking institutions in New York, New York generally are required or authorized
by law or other government action to be closed.
Company: As defined in the preamble hereof.
-------
Company Indemnified Persons: As defined in Section 7(c) hereof.
---------------------------
Consummate or consummate: When used to qualify the term "Exchange
------------------------
Offer", shall mean validly and lawfully to issue and deliver the Exchange Notes
pursuant to the
-2-
Exchange Offer for all Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant
thereto in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
Consummation Date: The date that is 45 days immediately following the
-----------------
date that the Exchange Registration Statement is required to have been declared
effective by the SEC.
Effectiveness Period: As defined in Section 3(a) hereof.
--------------------
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
------------
the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC pursuant thereto.
Exchange Date: As defined in Section 2(d) hereof.
-------------
Exchange Notes: The Series B 14% Senior Notes due 2004 of the
--------------
Company, that are identical to the Notes in all material respects, except that
the provisions regarding restrictions on transfer shall be modified, as provided
in the Indenture (or the indenture pursuant to which the Exchange Notes are
issued), and the issuance thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer shall have been
registered pursuant to an effective Registration Statement in compliance with
the Securities Act.
Exchange Offer: An offer to issue, in exchange for any and all of the
--------------
Notes validly tendered, a like aggregate principal amount of Exchange Notes,
which offer shall be made by the Company pursuant to Section 2 hereof.
Exchange Registration Statement: As defined in Section 2(a) hereof.
-------------------------------
Indemnified Holder: As defined in Section 7(a) hereof.
------------------
Indemnified Person: As defined in Section 7(a) hereof.
------------------
Indenture: The Indenture, dated as of November , 1996, among the
---------
Company and Fleet National Bank, as trustee thereunder, pursuant to which the
Notes are issued, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance
with the terms thereof.
Initial Purchaser: As defined in the preamble hereof.
-----------------
Issue Date: As defined in Section 2(a).
----------
Notes: The Series A 14% Senior Notes due 2004 of the Company, issued
-----
pursuant to the Indenture.
-3-
Participating Broker-Dealer: As defined in Section 2(e) hereof.
---------------------------
Private Exchange: As defined in Section 2(c) hereof.
----------------
Private Exchange Notes: As defined in Section 2(c) hereof.
----------------------
Prospectus: The prospectus included in any Registration Statement
----------
(including, without limitation, a prospectus that discloses information
previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration
statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated pursuant to the Securities
Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to
the terms of the offering of any portion of the Notes, Exchange Notes or Private
Exchange Notes covered by such Registration Statement, and all other amendments
and supplements to any such prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and
all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by
reference, if any, in such prospectus.
Registration Default: As defined in Section 4(a) hereof.
--------------------
Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company
----------------------
that covers any of the Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes pursuant
to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus, amendments and
supplements to such registration statement or Prospectus, including pre- and
post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated
by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference, if any, in such
registration statement.
Requesting Participating Broker-Dealer: As defined in Section 2(e)
--------------------------------------
hereof.
Rule 144(k): Rule 144(k) promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the
-----------
Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar
rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC as a replacement thereto having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
Rule 144A: Rule 144A promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the
---------
Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar
rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC as a replacement thereto having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
Rule 158: Rule 158 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Securities
--------
Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or
regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC as a replacement thereto having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
-4-
Rule 174: Rule 174 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Securities
--------
Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or
regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC as a replacement thereto having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
Rule 415: Rule 415 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Securities
--------
Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or
regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC as a replacement thereto having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
Rule 424: Rule 424 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Securities
--------
Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or
regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC as a replacement thereto having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
SEC: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
---
Securities Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules
--------------
and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder.
Shelf Blackout Period: As defined in Section 3(a) hereof.
---------------------
Shelf Filing Event: As defined in Section 3(a) hereof.
------------------
Shelf Registration: As defined in Section 3(a) hereof.
------------------
Shelf Registration Statement: As defined in Section 3(a) hereof.
----------------------------
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
---
Transfer Restricted Note: Each Note, upon original issuance thereof,
------------------------
and at all times subsequent thereto, each Exchange Note as to which Section
3(a)(ii) hereof is applicable upon original issuance and at all times subsequent
thereto and each Private Exchange Note upon original issuance thereof and at all
times subsequent thereto, until in the case of any such Note, Exchange Note or
Private Exchange Note, as the case may be, the earliest to occur of (i) the date
on which any such Note has been exchanged by a person other than a Participating
Broker-Dealer for an Exchange Note (other than with respect to an Exchange Note
as to which Section 3(a)(ii) hereof applies) pursuant to the Exchange Offer,
(ii) with respect to Exchange Notes received by Participating Broker-Dealers in
the Exchange Offer, the earlier of (x) the date on which such Exchange Note has
been sold by such Participating Broker-Dealer by means of the Prospectus
contained in the Exchange Registration Statement and (y) the date on which the
Exchange Registration Statement has been effective under the Securities Act for
a period of six months after the Consummation Date, (iii) a Shelf Registration
Statement covering such Note,
-5-
Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note has been declared effective by the SEC
and such Note, Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note, as the case may be, has
been disposed of in accordance with such effective Shelf Registration Statement,
(iv) the date on which such Note, Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note, as the
case may be, is eligible for distribution to the public without volume or manner
of sale restrictions pursuant to Rule 144(k) or (v) the date on which such Note,
Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note, as the case may be, ceases to be
outstanding for purposes of the Indenture or any other indenture under which
such Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note was issued.
Trustee: The trustee under the Indenture.
-------
underwritten registration or underwritten offering: A registration in
--------------------------------------------------
connection with which securities are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to
the public pursuant to an effective Registration Statement.
2. Exchange Offer
--------------
(a) To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or applicable
interpretation of the staff of the SEC, the Company shall (A) prepare and, on or
prior to 60 days after the date of original issuance of the Notes (the "Issue
-----
Date"), file with the SEC a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with
----
respect to an offer by the Company to the holders of the Notes to issue and
deliver to such holders, in exchange for Notes, a like principal amount of
Exchange Notes, (B) use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement
relating to the Exchange Offer to be declared effective by the SEC under the
Securities Act on or prior to 150 days after the Issue Date, and (C) promptly
following the declaration of the effectiveness of the Exchange Registration
Statement, commence the Exchange Offer and use its best efforts to issue, on or
prior to the Consummation Date, the Exchange Notes. The offer and sale of the
Exchange Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer shall be registered pursuant to
the Securities Act on an appropriate form (the "Exchange Registration
---------------------
Statement") and duly registered or qualified under all applicable state
securities or Blue Sky laws and will comply with all applicable tender offer
rules and regulations under the Exchange Act and state securities or Blue Sky
laws. The Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any condition, other than that
the Exchange Offer does not violate any applicable law or interpretation of the
staff of the SEC. No securities shall be included in the Exchange Registration
Statement other than the Exchange Notes.
(b) The Company may require each holder of Notes, as a condition to
its participation in the Exchange Offer, to represent to the Company and its
counsel in writing (which may be contained in the applicable letter of
transmittal) that at the time of the consummation of the Exchange Offer (i) any
Exchange Notes received by such holder will be acquired in the ordinary course
of its business, (ii) such holder will have no arrangement or
-6-
understanding with any person to participate in the distribution (within the
meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Notes and (iii) such holder is
not an Affiliate of the Company, or if it is an Affiliate of the Company, it
will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act, to the extent applicable.
(c) If, prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Initial
Purchaser holds any Notes acquired by it and having, or which are reasonably
likely to be determined to have, the status of an unsold allotment in the
initial distribution, or any other holder of Notes is not entitled, as a matter
of law or based on an interpretation or position of the staff of the SEC, to
participate in the Exchange Offer, the Company, upon the request of such Initial
Purchaser or any such holder, shall, simultaneously with the delivery of the
Exchange Notes in the Exchange Offer, issue and deliver to such Initial
Purchaser and any such holder, in exchange (the "Private Exchange") for such
----------------
Notes held by such Initial Purchaser and any such holder, a like principal
amount of debt securities of the Company that are identical in all material
respects to the Exchange Notes (the "Private Exchange Notes") (and which are
----------------------
issued pursuant to the same indenture as the Exchange Notes). The Private
Exchange Notes shall bear the same CUSIP number as the Exchange Notes.
(d) Unless the Exchange Offer would not be permitted by any
applicable law or interpretation thereof of the staff of the SEC, the Company
shall mail the Exchange Offer Prospectus and appropriate accompanying documents,
including appropriate letters of transmittal, to each holder of Notes providing,
in addition to such other disclosures as are required by applicable law:
(i) that the Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to this
Agreement and that all Notes validly tendered will be accepted for
exchange;
(ii) the date of acceptance for exchange (the "Exchange Date"),
-------------
which date shall in no event be later than the Consummation Date (unless
otherwise required by applicable law);
(iii) that a holder of a Note electing to have a Note exchanged
pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to surrender such Note,
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 Exchange
Date; and
(iv) that holders of Notes that do not validly tender all such
securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer may no longer have any
registration rights hereunder with respect to Notes not validly tendered.
-7-
Promptly after the Exchange Date, the Company shall:
(i) accept for exchange all Notes or portions thereof validly
tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer; and
(ii) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for
cancellation all Notes or portions thereof so accepted for exchange by the
Company, and issue, cause the Trustee under the Indenture (or the indenture
pursuant to which the Exchange Notes are issued) to authenticate, and mail
to each holder of Notes, Exchange Notes equal in principal amount to the
principal amount of the Notes surrendered by such holder.
(e) The Company and the Initial Purchaser acknowledge that the staff
of the SEC has taken the position that any broker-dealer that elects to exchange
Notes that were acquired by such broker-dealer for its own account as a result
of market-making or other trading activities for Exchange Notes in the Exchange
Offer (a "Participating Broker-Dealer") may be deemed to be an "underwriter"
---------------------------
within the meaning of the Securities Act and must deliver a prospectus meeting
the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of such
Exchange Notes (other than a resale of an unsold allotment resulting from the
original offering of the Notes).
The Company and the Initial Purchaser also acknowledge that it is the
SEC staff's position that if the Prospectus contained in the Exchange
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 Notes, without naming the Participating Broker-Dealers or
specifying the amount of Exchange Notes owned by them, such Prospectus may be
delivered by Participating Broker-Dealers to satisfy their prospectus delivery
obligations under the Securities Act in connection with resales of Exchange
Notes for their own accounts, so long as the Prospectus otherwise meets the
requirements of the Securities Act.
In light of the foregoing, if requested by a Participating Broker-
Dealer (a "Requesting Participating Broker-Dealer"), the Company agrees (x) to
--------------------------------------
use its best efforts to keep the Exchange Registration Statement continuously
effective for a period of up to six months after the Consummation Date or such
earlier date as each Requesting Participating Broker-Dealer shall have notified
the Company in writing that such Requesting Participating Broker-Dealer has
resold all Exchange Notes acquired in the Exchange Offer and (y) to comply with
the provisions of Section 5 of this Agreement, as they relate to the Exchange
Offer and the Exchange Registration Statement.
(f) The Initial Purchaser shall have no liability to any Requesting
Participating Broker-Dealer with respect to any request made pursuant to Section
2(e).
-8-
(g) Interest on the Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes
will accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on
the Notes surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid on
the Notes, from the Issue Date.
(h) The Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes may be issued
under (i) the Indenture or (ii) an indenture identical in all material respects
to the Indenture, which in either event shall provide that the Exchange Notes
shall not be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture.
The Indenture or such indenture shall provide that the Exchange Notes, the
Private Exchange Notes and the Notes shall vote and consent together on all
matters as one class and that neither the Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange
Notes nor the Notes will have the right to vote or consent as a separate class
on any matter.
3. Shelf Registration
------------------
(a) If (i) the Company is not permitted to file the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement or to consummate the Exchange Offer because the Exchange
Offer is not permitted by any applicable law or applicable interpretation
thereof by the staff of the SEC or (ii) any holder of a Note notifies the
Company on or prior to the Consummation Date that (A) due to a change in law or
applicable interpretation thereof by the staff of the SEC it is not entitled to
participate in the Exchange Offer, (B) due to a change in law or applicable
interpretation thereof by the staff of the SEC it may not resell Exchange Notes
acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a
prospectus and the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Registration Statement
is not appropriate or available for such resales by such holder or (C) it owns
Notes (including the Initial Purchaser with respect to Notes that may be deemed
to be a part of an unsold allotment from the original offering of the Notes)
acquired directly from the Company or an Affiliate of the Company or (iii) any
holder of Private Exchange Notes so requests after the consummation of the
Private Exchange or (iv) the Company has not consummated the Exchange Offer by
the Consummation Date and holders of a majority in principal amount of Notes
outstanding so request (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv),
a "Shelf Filing Event"), the Company shall cause to be filed with the SEC
------------------
pursuant to Rule 415 a shelf registration statement (the "Shelf Registration
------------------
Statement") prior to the later of (x) 60 days after the Issue Date or (y) 30
---------
days after the occurrence of such Shelf Filing Event, relating to all Transfer
Restricted Notes (the "Shelf Registration") the holders of which have provided
------------------
the information required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof, and shall use its best
efforts to have the Shelf Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC
on or prior to 90 days after such Shelf Filing Event. In such circumstances,
the Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement
continuously effective under the Securities Act, until (A) 36 months following
the Issue Date or (B) if sooner, the date immediately following the date that
all Transfer Restricted Notes covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have
been sold pursuant thereto or otherwise cease to be Transfer Restricted Notes
(the "Effectiveness Period");
--------------------
-9-
provided that the Effectiveness Period shall be extended to the extent required
--------
to permit dealers to comply with the applicable prospectus delivery requirements
of Rule 174; provided, further, that the Company may suspend the effectiveness
-----------------
of a Shelf Registration Statement, in the event that, and for a period not to
exceed 45 days in any calendar year (a "Shelf Blackout Period") if, (i) an event
---------------------
occurs and is continuing as a result of which the Shelf Registration Statement
would, in the Company's good faith judgment, contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein not misleading and (ii) if the Company determines in good
faith that the disclosure of such event at such time would have a material
adverse effect on the business, operations or prospects of the Company or (b)
the disclosure otherwise relates to a pending material business transaction
which has not yet been publicly disclosed.
(b) No holder of Transfer Restricted Notes may include any of its
Transfer Restricted Notes in any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to
Section 3(a) of this Agreement unless and until such holder furnishes to the
Company in writing, within 7 days after receipt of a request therefor, such
information as the Company may reasonably request for use in connection with any
Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary prospectus included
therein. No holder of Transfer Restricted Notes shall be entitled to Additional
Interest pursuant to Section 4 hereof unless and until such holder shall have
provided all such reasonably requested information within the time periods set
forth herein. Each holder of Transfer Restricted Notes as to which any Shelf
Registration Statement is being effected agrees to furnish promptly to the
Company all information required to be disclosed in order to make the
information previously furnished to the Company by such holder not materially
misleading.
4. Additional Interest
-------------------
(a) The parties hereto agree that the holders of Transfer Restricted
Notes will suffer damages if the Company fails to fulfill its obligations
pursuant to Section 2 or Section 3, as applicable, and that it would not be
feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages. Accordingly, in the event
that (i) the applicable Registration Statement is not filed with the SEC on or
prior to the date specified herein for such filing, (ii) the applicable
Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the SEC on or prior to
the date specified herein for such effectiveness after such obligation arises,
(iii) if the Exchange Offer is required to be Consummated hereunder, the Company
has not exchanged Exchange Notes for all Notes validly tendered and not validly
withdrawn in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer by the Consummation
Date or (iv) except during a Shelf Blackout Period, the applicable Registration
Statement is filed and declared effective but shall thereafter cease to be
effective or usable in connection with the Exchange Offer or resales of Transfer
Restricted Notes during a period in which it is required to be effective
hereunder without being succeeded immediately by any additional Registration
Statement covering the Notes, the Exchange Notes or the Private
-10-
Exchange Notes, as the case may be, which has been filed and declared effective
(each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a "Registration
------------
Default"), then the interest rate on Transfer Restricted Notes will increase
-------
("Additional Interest"), with respect to the first 90-day period immediately
-------------------
following the occurrence of such Registration Default, by 0.5% per annum and
will increase by an additional 0.5% per annum with respect to each subsequent
90-day period until such Registration Default has been cured, up to a maximum
amount of 2.0% per annum with respect to all Registration Defaults. Following
the cure of a Registration Default, the accrual of Additional Interest with
respect to such Registration Default will cease and upon the cure of all
Registration Defaults the interest rate will revert to the original rate.
(b) The Company shall notify the Trustee and paying agent under the
Indenture (or the trustee and paying agent under such other indenture under
which any Transfer Restricted Notes are issued) immediately upon the happening
of each and every Registration Default. The Company shall pay the Additional
Interest due on the Transfer Restricted Notes by depositing with the paying
agent (which shall not be the Company for these purposes) for the Transfer
Restricted Notes, in trust, for the benefit of the holders thereof, prior to
11:00 A.M. on the next interest payment date specified by the Indenture (or such
other indenture), sums sufficient to pay the Additional Interest then due. The
Additional Interest due shall be payable on each interest payment date specified
by the Indenture (or such other indenture) to the record holders entitled to
receive the interest payment to be made on such date. Each obligation to pay
Additional Interest shall be deemed to accrue from and including the applicable
Registration Default.
(c) The parties hereto agree that the Additional Interest provided
for in this Section 4 constitutes a reasonable estimate of the damages that will
be suffered by holders of Transfer Restricted Notes by reason of the happening
of any Registration Default.
5. Registration Procedures
-----------------------
In connection with the Company's registration obligations hereunder,
the Company shall effect such registrations on the appropriate form available
for the sale of the Notes, the Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes, as
applicable, to (i) in the case of the Exchange Offer, permit the exchange of
Exchange Notes for Notes in the Exchange Offer and, if applicable, resales of
Exchange Notes by Participating Broker-Dealers and (ii) in the case of a Shelf
Registration, permit the sale of the applicable Transfer Restricted Notes in
accordance with the method or methods of disposition thereof specified by the
holders of such Transfer Restricted Notes, and pursuant thereto the Company
shall as expeditiously as reasonably possible:
(a) Furnish to the Initial Purchaser and the holders of the
Transferred Restricted Notes included therein prior to the filing thereof
with the SEC, a copy of the
-11-
Registration Statement and each amendment thereto and each supplement,
if any, to the prospectus included therein and, in the event that the
Initial Purchaser (with respect to any portion of an unsold allotment from
the original offering) is participating in the Exchange Offer or the Shelf
Registration, shall use reasonable efforts to reflect in each such
document, when so filed with the SEC, such comments as the Initial
Purchaser or its counsel reasonably may propose;
(b) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments, including post-
effective amendments, to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to
keep such Registration Statement continuously effective for the applicable
time period required hereunder; cause the related Prospectus to be
supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented
to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; and comply with the provisions of the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the disposition of all
securities covered by such Registration Statement during such period in
accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the sellers thereof
set forth in such Registration Statement as so amended or in such
Prospectus as so supplemented;
(c) Notify the holders of Transfer Restricted Notes to be sold or, in
the case of an Exchange Offer, tendered for, their counsel and the managing
underwriters, if any, promptly, and (if requested by any such person),
confirm such notice in writing, (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment is proposed to be filed, and (B)
with respect to a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment,
when the same has become effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any
other Federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements
to a Registration Statement or related Prospectus or for additional
information, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC, any state securities
commission, any other governmental agency or any court of any stop order or
injunction suspending or enjoining the use of a Prospectus or the
effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any
proceedings for that purpose, (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or
exemption from qualification of any of the Notes, Exchange Notes or Private
Exchange Notes for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or, to the
actual knowledge of the Company, threatening of any proceeding for such
purpose, and (v) of the happening of any event or information becoming
known to the Company that makes any statement made in a Registration
Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that
requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement,
Prospectus or documents so that it will not contain any untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, not misleading, and
that in the case of a Prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement
-12-
of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(d) Use its best efforts to avoid the issuance of or, if issued,
obtain the withdrawal of any order enjoining or suspending the use of a
Prospectus or the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the lifting
of any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of
any of the Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes for sale in any
jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable moment;
(e) If a Shelf Registration Statement is filed pursuant to Section 3
hereof and if requested by the managing underwriters, if any, or the
holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer
Restricted Notes being sold pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement,
(i) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment such information as the managing underwriters, if any, and such
holders reasonably believe should be included therein based on written
advice of counsel to such managing underwriter, if any, and/or counsel to
the holders, and (ii) make all required filings of such Prospectus
supplement or such post-effective amendment under the Securities Act as
soon as practicable after the Company has received notification of the
matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to
-------- -------
take any action pursuant to this Section 5(e) that would, in the opinion of
counsel for the Company, violate applicable law;
(f) Upon written request to the Company by a holder of Notes,
Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes to be exchanged or sold pursuant
to a Registration Statement, their counsel and each managing underwriter,
if any, without charge, furnish at least one conformed copy of such
Registration Statement and each amendment thereto, including financial
statements and schedules, all documents incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference, and all exhibits to the extent requested
(including those previously furnished or incorporated by reference) as soon
as reasonably practicable after the filing of such documents with the SEC;
(g) Deliver to each holder of Notes, Exchange Notes or Private
Exchange Notes to be exchanged or sold pursuant to a Registration
Statement, their counsel, and the underwriters, if any, without charge, as
many copies of the Prospectus (including each form of prospectus) and each
amendment or supplement thereto as such persons reasonably request; and the
Company hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or
supplement thereto by each of the selling holders of Transfer Restricted
Notes and the underwriters, if any, in connection with the offering and
sale
-13-
of the Transfer Restricted Notes covered thereby in accordance with
the terms thereof and with U.S. Federal securities laws and Blue Sky laws
covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto;
(h) Prior to any public offering of Notes, Exchange Notes or Private
Exchange Notes, use its best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate
with the holders of Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes to be
sold or tendered for, the underwriters, if any, and their respective
counsel in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption
from such registration or qualification) of such Notes, Exchange Notes or
Private Exchange Notes for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky
laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any such holder or
underwriter reasonably requests in writing; keep each such registration or
qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the period such
Registration Statement is required to be kept effective hereunder and do
any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the
disposition in such jurisdictions of the Notes, Exchange Notes or Private
Exchange Notes covered by the applicable Registration Statement; provided,
--------
however, that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify generally to
-------
do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or (ii)
take any action which would subject it to general service of process or to
taxation in any jurisdiction where it is not so subject;
(i) In connection with any sale or transfer of Transfer Restricted
Notes that will result in such securities no longer being Transfer
Restricted Notes, cooperate with the holders thereof and the managing
underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates representing Transfer Restricted Notes to be sold, which
certificates shall not bear any restrictive legends and shall be in a form
eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company and to enable such
Transfer Restricted Notes to be in such denominations and registered in
such names as the managing underwriters, if any, or such holders may
request at least two Business Days prior to any sale of Transfer Restricted
Notes;
(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 5(c)(v),
as promptly as practicable, prepare a supplement or amendment, including,
if appropriate, a post-effective amendment, to each Registration Statement
or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required
document so that, as thereafter delivered, such Prospectus will not contain
an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
-14-
(k) Prior to the effective date of the Exchange Registration
Statement, to provide a CUSIP number for the Exchange Notes (and, as
promptly as practicable, the Private Exchange Notes, if applicable);
(l) In connection with a Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant
to Section 3 hereof, use its best efforts to enter into such agreements
(including an underwriting agreement in form, scope and substance as is
customary in underwritten offerings) and take all such other reasonable
actions in connection therewith (including those reasonably requested by
the managing underwriters, if any, or the holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Notes being sold) in
order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted
Notes, and, whether or not an underwriting agreement is entered into and
whether or not the registration is an underwritten registration, (i) make
such representations and warranties to the holders of such Transfer
Restricted Notes and the underwriters, if any, with respect to the business
of the Company and its subsidiaries (including with respect to businesses
or assets acquired or to be acquired by any of them), and the Shelf
Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents, if any, incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, 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 customarily
requested; (ii) use its best efforts to obtain opinions of counsel to the
Company and updates thereof relating to the applicable Registration
Statement and the Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes covered
thereby in customary form (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and
substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriters,
if any, and any counsel to the holders of the Transfer Restricted Notes
being sold), addressed to each selling holder of Transfer Restricted Notes
and each of the underwriters, if any, covering the matters customarily
covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings and such other
matters as may be reasonably requested by such counsel and the managing
underwriters, in any; (iii) use its best efforts to obtain customary "cold
comfort" letters and updates thereof from the independent certified public
accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent
certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any
business acquired by the Company or any such subsidiary for which financial
statements and financial data is, or is required to be, included in the
Shelf Registration Statement), addressed (where reasonably possible) to
each selling holder of Transfer Restricted Notes and each of the
underwriters, if any, such letters to be in customary form and covering
matters of the type customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in
connection with underwritten offerings; (iv) if an underwriting agreement
is entered into, the same shall contain customary indemnification
provisions and procedures (or such other provisions and procedures
acceptable to holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Notes covered by such Shelf Registration
-15-
Statement and the managing underwriters, if any); and (v) deliver such
documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the holders of
a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Notes
being sold, their counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, to
evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties made
pursuant to clause (i) above and to evidence compliance with any customary
conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement
entered into by the Company;
(m) In the case of a Shelf Registration, make available for
inspection by a representative of the holders of Transfer Restricted Notes
being sold, any underwriter participating in any such disposition of
Transfer Restricted Notes, and any attorney, consultant or accountant
acting for the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such
Transfer Restricted Notes or such underwriter, at the offices where
normally kept, during reasonable business hours, all relevant financial and
other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company
and its subsidiaries (including with respect to businesses and assets
acquired or to be acquired to the extent that such information is available
to the Company), and cause the officers, directors, agents and employees of
the Company and its subsidiaries (including with respect to businesses and
assets acquired or to be acquired to the extent that such information is
available to the Company) to supply all information in each case reasonably
requested by any such representative, underwriter, attorney, consultant or
accountant in connection with such Shelf Registration; provided, however,
-------- -------
that such persons shall first agree in writing with the Company that any
information that is reasonably and in good faith designated by the Company
in writing as confidential at the time of delivery of such information
shall be kept confidential by such persons, unless and to the extent that
(i) disclosure of such information is required by court or administrative
order or is necessary to respond to inquiries of regulatory authorities,
(ii) disclosure of such information is required by law (including any
disclosure requirements pursuant to Federal securities laws in connection
with the filing of the Shelf Registration Statement or the 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 the Company and its subsidiaries and
such source is not bound by a confidentiality agreement;
(n) Provide an indenture trustee for the Notes and/or the Exchange
Notes and Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, and cause an
indenture to be qualified under the TIA not later than the effective date
of the first Registration Statement relating to the Notes and/or the
Exchange Notes and Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be; and if such
indenture shall be the Indenture, in connection therewith, cooperate with
the
-16-
Trustee and the holders of the Notes and/or the Exchange Notes and Private
Exchange Notes, to effect such changes to the Indenture, if any, as may be
required for the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms
of the TIA; and execute, and use its reasonable efforts to cause the
Trustee to execute, all customary 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;
(o) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and
make generally available to its securityholders earning statements
satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule
158, no later than 45 days after the end of any 12-month period (or 90 days
after the end of any 12-month period if such period is a fiscal year) (i)
commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Transfer Restricted
Notes are sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or reasonable efforts
underwritten offering and (ii) if not sold to underwriters in such an
offering, commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter after the
effective date of a Registration Statement, which statement shall cover
said period, consistent with the requirements of Rule 158; and
(p) Cooperate with each seller of Transfer Restricted Notes covered
by any Registration Statement and each underwriter, if any, participating
in the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Notes and their respective
counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
The Company may require a holder of Transfer Restricted Notes to be
included in a Registration Statement to furnish to the Company such information
regarding the distribution of such Transfer Restricted Notes as is required by
law to be disclosed in such Registration Statement and the Company may exclude
from such Registration Statement the Transfer Restricted Notes of any holder who
unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after
receiving such request.
If any such Registration Statement refers to any holder by name or
otherwise as the holder of any securities of the Company, then such holder shall
have the right to (i) require the insertion therein of language, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to such holder, to the effect that the holding
by such holder of such securities is not to be construed as a recommendation by
such holder of the investment quality of the Company's securities covered
thereby and that such holding does not imply that such holder will assist in
meeting any future financial requirements of the Company, or (ii) in the event
that such reference to such holder by name or otherwise is not required by the
Securities Act, the deletion of the reference to such holder in any amendment or
supplement to the Registration Statement filed or prepared subsequent to the
time that such reference ceases to be required.
-17-
In the case of a Shelf Registration pursuant to Section 3 hereof, each
holder of Transfer Restricted Notes agrees by acquisition of such Transfer
Restricted Notes that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the
happening of any event of the kind described in Section 5(c)(ii), 5(c)(iii),
5(c)(iv) or 5(c)(v) hereof, such holder will forthwith discontinue disposition
of such Transfer Restricted Notes covered by such Registration Statement or
Prospectus until such holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or
amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(j) hereof, or until it is advised
in writing by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be
resumed, and, in either case, has received copies of any additional or
supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference in such Prospectus.
6. Registration Expenses
---------------------
All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance
with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne by the Company whether or not
any Registration Statement is filed or becomes effective and whether or not any
Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes are issued or sold pursuant to
any Registration Statement. The fees and expenses referred to in the foregoing
sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees
(including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings
required to be made with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
and (B) in compliance with securities or Blue Sky laws), (ii) printing expenses
(including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Notes,
Exchange Notes and Private Exchange Notes in a form eligible for deposit with
The Depository Trust Company and of printing Prospectuses), (iii) reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and the any counsel to the
holders (not to exceed one firm of counsel), (iv) fees and disbursements of all
independent certified public accountants referred to in Section 2(e) and Section
5(l)(iii) hereof (including, without limitation, the expenses of any special
audit and "cold comfort" letters required by or incident to such performance),
(v) if required, the reasonable fees and expenses of any "qualified independent
underwriter" and its counsel as may be required by the rules and regulations of
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., and (vi) fees and expenses
of all other persons retained by the Company. In addition, the Company shall
pay its internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and
expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties)
and the expense of any annual audit. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything
in this Agreement to the contrary, each holder of Transfer Restricted Notes
shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions of any underwriters with
respect to any Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes sold by or on
behalf of it.
7. Indemnification
---------------
-18-
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless (i) the Initial
Purchaser, each holder of Notes, Exchange Notes and Private Exchange Notes and
each Participating Broker-Dealer (each such person, an "Indemnified Holder"),
------------------
(ii) each person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) any of the foregoing (any of the persons
referred to in this clause (ii) being hereinafter referred to as a "controlling
person"), and (iii) the officers, directors, partners, employees,
representatives and agents of the Initial Purchaser, each holder of Notes,
Exchange Notes and Private Exchange Notes, each Participating Broker-Dealer and
any controlling person (any person referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) may
hereinafter be referred to as an "Indemnified Person"), from and against any and
------------------
all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments arising out of or
relating to any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary prospectus or
in any amendment or supplement thereto, or arising out of or relating to any
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any
Prospectus or preliminary prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except insofar as such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments are caused by or arise out of
any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based
upon information relating to any Indemnified Person furnished in writing to the
Company by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person expressly for use therein;
provided that the foregoing indemnity with respect to any preliminary prospectus
--------
shall not inure to the benefit of any Indemnified Person from whom the person
asserting such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments purchased
securities if such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or
omission made in such preliminary prospectus is eliminated or remedied in the
Prospectus and a copy of the Prospectus shall not have been furnished to such
person in a timely manner due to the wrongful action or wrongful inaction of
such Indemnified Person.
(b) In case any action shall be brought against any Indemnified
Person, based upon any Registration Statement or any such Prospectus or
preliminary prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto and with respect
to which indemnity may be sought against the Company hereunder, such Indemnified
Person shall promptly notify the Company in writing and the Company shall assume
the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory
to such Indemnified Person and payment of all fees and expenses incurred by the
Company in the assumption of such defense. Any Indemnified Person 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 such Indemnified Person, unless (i) the employment of such counsel
shall have been specifically authorized in writing by the Company, (ii) the
Company shall have failed to assume the defense and employ counsel or pay all
such fees and expenses of the assumption of such defense or (iii) the named
parties to any such action (including any impleaded parties) include both such
Indemnified Person and the
-19-
Company and such Indemnified Person shall have been advised by counsel that
there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from
or additional to those available to the Company (in which case the Company shall
not have the right to assume the defense of such action on behalf of such
Indemnified Person, it being understood, however, that the Company shall not, in
connection with any one such action or separate but substantially similar or
related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general
allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of
more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) for
all such Indemnified Persons, which firm shall be designated in writing by such
Indemnified Persons, and that all such reasonable fees and expenses shall be
reimbursed as they are incurred upon presentation to the Company of invoices
setting forth and describing such fees and expenses in reasonable detail). The
Company shall not be liable for any settlement of any such action effected
without its written consent but if settled with the written consent of the
Company, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified
Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement. The
Company shall not, without the prior written consent of each Indemnified Person,
effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of
which any Indemnified Person is a party and indemnity could have been sought
hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release of such Indemnified Person from all liability on claims
that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
(c) In connection with any Registration Statement pursuant to which
an Indemnified Holder offers or sells Transfer Restricted Notes, such
Indemnified Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold
harmless (i) the Company, (ii) each of its directors and officers and (iii) any
person controlling the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (the persons referred to in
clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) hereinafter referred to as "Company Indemnified
-------------------
Persons") from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and
-------
judgments arising out of or relating to any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus
or preliminary prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or arising
out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement
therein (in the case of any Prospectus or preliminary prospectus or supplement
thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not
misleading, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged
untrue statements or omissions made in a Registration Statement, Prospectus or
preliminary prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto in reliance on
and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such
Indemnified Holder expressly for use in such Registration Statement, Prospectus
or preliminary prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto. In any
such case in which any action shall be brought against a Company Indemnified
Person based on such Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary
prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto and in respect
-20-
of which indemnity may be sought against an Indemnified Holder, such Indemnified
Holder shall have the rights and duties given to the Company (except that if the
Company shall have assumed the defense thereof, such Indemnified Holder shall
not be required to do so, but may employ separate counsel therein and
participate in the defense thereof but the fees and expenses of such counsel
shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Holder), and the Company Indemnified
Persons shall have the rights and duties given to the Indemnified Persons by
Section 7(b) hereof.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is
unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or judgments referred to herein, 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 and judgments (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect the relative benefits received by each indemnifying party on the one
hand and the indemnified party on the other hand from the offering of the
Notes, the Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be (it
being expressly understood and agreed that the relative benefits received by the
Company from the offering of the Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange
Notes, as the case may be, shall be the amount of the net proceeds received by
the Company from the sale of the Notes to the Initial Purchaser), or (ii) if the
allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits
referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of each indemnifying
party on the one hand and the indemnified party 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 each indemnifying party on the one
hand the indemnified party 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 to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by an indemnifying party or such indemnified party and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission.
The Company and the Initial Purchaser agree that it would not be just
and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7(d) were determined by
pro rata allocation (even if all Indemnified Persons 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 such
action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no
Indemnified Person shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the
amount by which the net proceeds received by it in connection with the sale of
the Notes,
-21-
Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes contemplated by this Agreement (or, in
the case of an underwriter that is an Indemnified Person, the total underwriting
discounts received by such underwriter) exceeds the amount of any damages which
such Indemnified Person has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such
untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person
guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of
the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was
not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Indemnified Person's
obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7(d) are several in
proportion to the respective amount of Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange
Notes included in any such Registration Statement by each Indemnified Person and
not joint.
8. Rule 144A
---------
The Company shall use its best efforts to file the reports required to
be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act in a timely manner
and, if at any time it is not required to file such reports but in the past had
been required to or did file such reports, it will, upon the request of any
holder of Transfer Restricted Notes, make available other information as
required by, and so long as necessary to permit sales of Transfer Restricted
Notes pursuant to Rule 144A. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this
Section 8 shall be deemed to require the Company to register any of its
securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.
9. Underwritten Registrations
--------------------------
If any of the Transfer Restricted Notes covered by any Shelf
Registration are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the investment banker
or investment bankers and manager or managers that will administer the offering
will be selected by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Transfer Restricted Notes included in such offering, subject to the consent
of the Company (which will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
No person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder
unless such person (i) agrees to sell such Transfer Restricted Notes on the
basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the
persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii) completes and
executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting
agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting
arrangements.
-22-
10. Miscellaneous
-------------
(a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by
--------
greement, each holder of Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes and the
Company, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law,
including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its
rights under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4
hereof, the Company and each holder of Notes, Exchange Notes and Private
Exchange Notes agree that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation
for any loss incurred by reason of a breach of any of the provisions of this
Agreement and each hereby further agrees that, in the event of any action for
specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that
a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company will not enter into any
--------------------------
agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights
granted to the holders of Notes, Exchange Notes and Private Exchange Notes and
Indemnified Persons in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions
hereof. Without the written consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding Transfer Restricted Notes, the Company shall
not grant to any person any rights which conflict with or are inconsistent with
the provisions of this Agreement.
(c) No Piggyback on Registrations. The Company shall not grant to
-----------------------------
any of its securityholders (other than the holders of Transfer Restricted Notes
in such capacity) the right to include any of their securities in any
Registration Statement other than Transfer Restricted Notes.
(d) 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, otherwise than with the prior written consent of the holders
of not less than a majority of the then outstanding aggregate principal amount
of Transfer Restricted Notes; provided, however, that, for the purposes of this
-------- -------
Agreement, Transfer Restricted Notes that are owned, directly or indirectly, by
the Company or any of its Affiliates are not deemed outstanding.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions
hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of
holders of Transfer Restricted Notes whose securities are being sold or tendered
pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly
affect the rights of other holders of Transfer Restricted Notes may be given by
holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted
Notes being sold or tendered by such holders pursuant to such Registration
Statement; provided, however, that the provisions of this sentence may not be
-------- -------
amended, modified or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of
the immediately preceding sentence. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no
amendment, modification,
-23-
supplement, waiver or consent with respect to Section 7 shall be made or given
otherwise than with the prior written consent of each Indemnified Person
affected thereby.
(e) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for
-------
herein shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, next-day air courier,
certified first-class mail, return receipt requested, telex or telecopier:
(i) if to the Company, as provided in the Purchase Agreement,
(ii) if to the Initial Purchaser, as provided in the Purchase
Agreement, or
(iii) if to any other person who is then the registered holder of
Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes, to the address of such
holder as it appears in the register therefor of the Company.
Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all such
communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: when delivered by hand,
if personally delivered; one Business Day after being timely delivered to a
next-day air courier; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail,
postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; and when receipt is
acknowledged by the recipient's telecopier machine, if telecopied.
(f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the
----------------------
benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of
the parties and shall inure to the benefit of each holder of Notes, Exchange
Notes and Private Exchange Notes and each Indemnified Person. The Company may
not assign any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written
consent of each holder of Transfer Restricted Notes and each Indemnified Person.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no successor or assignee of the Company shall
have any of the rights granted under this Agreement until such person shall
acknowledge its rights and obligations hereunder by a signed written statement
of such person's acceptance of such rights and obligations.
(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) Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction. 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. THE COMPANY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY
-24-
SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY NEW YORK STATE COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH
OF MANHATTAN IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK OR ANY FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH
OF MANHATTAN IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK IN RESPECT OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR
PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, AND EACH IRREVOCABLY
ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND
UNCONDITIONALLY, JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS.
(i) Severability. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and
------------
not exclusive of any remedies provided by law. If any term, provision, covenant
or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to
be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms,
provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full
force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and
the parties hereto shall use their reasonable efforts to find and employ an
alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that
contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby
stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have
executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without
including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or
unenforceable.
(j) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
--------
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof. All
references made in this Agreement to "Section" and "paragraph" refer to such
Section or paragraph of this Agreement, unless expressly stated otherwise.
(k) This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression
of their agreement and is intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of
the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject
matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or
undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein with respect to
the registration rights granted by the Company with respect to the Notes, the
Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes. This Agreement supersedes all
prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such
subject matter.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Registration Rights
Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
THE COMPANY:
UNIFI COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Sosnanski
----------------------------
Name:
Title:
THE INITIAL PURCHASER:
XXXXX XXXXXX INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxx
---------------------------
Name:
Title: