REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Exhibit 4.3
by and among
United Auto Group, Inc.
and the Guarantors named herein
and
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc.
Banc of America Securities LLC
Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx
Incorporated
Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC
Dated as of December 7, 2006
Registration Rights Agreement
This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of December 7, 2006 by and among United Auto Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the guarantors listed herein (the “Guarantors”), and X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC, Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC (each an “Initial Purchaser” and, collectively, the “Initial Purchasers”), each of whom has agreed to purchase the Company’s 73/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016 (the “Initial Notes”) pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).
This Agreement is made pursuant to (x) the Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 30, 2006 (the “$325 Million Purchase Agreement”) and (y) the Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 4, 2006 (the “$50 Million Purchase Agreement” and, together with the $325 Million Purchase Agreement, the “Purchase Agreement”), in each case, by and among the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers (i) for your benefit and for the benefit of each other Initial Purchaser and (ii) for the benefit of the holders from time to time of the Notes (including you and each other Initial Purchaser). In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to purchase the Initial Notes, the Company has 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 Purchasers set forth in Section 5(h) of the Purchase Agreement.
| The parties hereby agree as follows: | ||
Section 1.
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Definitions |
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:
Additional Interest Payment Date: With respect to the Initial Notes, each Interest Payment Date.
Broker-Dealer: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.
Broker-Dealer Period: As defined in Section 3 hereof.
Closing Date: The date of this Agreement.
Commission: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
Consummate: A registered Exchange Offer shall be deemed “Consummated” for purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (i) the filing and effectiveness under the Securities Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (ii) the maintenance of such Registration Statement continuously effective and the keeping of the Exchange Offer open, in each case, for a period not less than the minimum period required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof, and (iii) 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 Initial Notes that were tendered by Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Exchange Notes: The 73/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016 of the same series under the Indenture as the Initial Notes, to be issued to Holders in exchange for Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to this Agreement.
Exchange Offer: The registration by the Company under the Securities Act of the Exchange Notes pursuant to a Registration Statement pursuant to which the Company offers the Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities the opportunity to exchange all such outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holders for Exchange Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities tendered in such exchange offer by such Holders.
Exchange Offer Registration Statement: The Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.
Exempt Resales: The transactions in which the Initial Purchasers propose to sell the Initial Notes to certain “qualified institutional buyers,” as such term is defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and to certain non-U.S. persons pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.
Free Writing Prospectus. Each free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) prepared by or on behalf of the Company and the Guarantors or used or referred to by the Company and the Guarantors in connection with the resales of the Notes or the offering of the Exchange Notes.
Holders: As defined in Section 2(b) hereof.
Indemnified Holder: As defined in Section 8(a) hereof.
Indenture: The Indenture, dated as of December 7, 2006, among the Company, the Guarantors and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. as trustee (the “Trustee”), pursuant to which the Notes are to be issued, as such Indenture is amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
Initial Notes: The 73/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016 of the same series under the Indenture as the Exchange Notes, for so long as such securities constitute Transfer Restricted Securities.
Initial Placement: The issuance and sale by the Company of the Initial Notes to the Initial Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
Initial Purchaser: As defined in the preamble hereto.
Interest Payment Date: As defined in the Indenture and the Notes.
NASD: National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Notes: The Initial Notes and the Exchange Notes.
Person: An individual, partnership, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
Prospectus: The prospectus included in a Registration Statement, 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.
Registration Default: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
Registration Statement: Any registration statement of 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, which is filed pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, in each case, including the Prospectus included therein, all amendments and supplements thereto (including post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by reference therein.
Securities Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Shelf Effectiveness Period: As defined in Section 4 hereof.
Shelf Filing Deadline: As defined in Section 4 hereof.
Shelf Registration Statement: As defined in Section 4 hereof.
Suspension Period: As defined in Section 6 hereof.
Trust Indenture Act: 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 Initial Note, until the earliest to occur of (a) the date on which such Initial Note is exchanged in the Exchange Offer and entitled to be resold to the public by the Holder thereof without complying with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, (b) the date on which such Initial Note has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with a Shelf Registration Statement, (c) the date on which such Initial Note is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the “Plan of Distribution” contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (including delivery of the Prospectus contained therein), (d) such Initial Note is eligible to be sold pursuant to paragraph (k) of Rule 144, and (e) such Initial Note shall cease to be outstanding.
Underwritten Registration or Underwritten Offering: A registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the public.
Section 2. Securities Subject To This Agreement
(a) Transfer Restricted Securities. The securities entitled to the benefits of this Agreement are the Transfer Restricted Securities.
(b) Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities. A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (each, a “Holder”) whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities.
Section 3. Registered Exchange Offer
(a) Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permissible under applicable law or Commission policy (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a) below have been complied with), the Company and the Guarantors shall (i) cause to be filed with the Commission as soon as practicable after the Closing Date an Exchange Offer Registration Statement under the Securities Act relating to the Exchange Notes and the Exchange Offer, (ii) use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective at the earliest possible time, (iii) in connection with the foregoing, file (A) all pre-effective amendments to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective, (B) if applicable, a post-effective amendment to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act and (C) use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause all necessary filings 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 an Exchange Offer Registration Statement, commence the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall be on the appropriate form permitting registration of the Exchange Notes to be offered in exchange for the Transfer Restricted Securities and to permit resales of Notes held by Broker-Dealers as contemplated by Section 3(c) below.
(b) The Company shall use its commercially reasonable 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 20 business days after the date notice of the Exchange Offer is mailed, or otherwise delivered, to the Holders. The Company shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws. No securities other than the Notes shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be Consummated no later than 240 days after the Closing Date.
(c) The Company shall indicate in a “Plan of Distribution” section contained in the Prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement that any Broker-Dealer who holds Initial Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities and that were acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Transfer Restricted Securities acquired directly from the Company), may exchange such Initial Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer; however, such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resales of the Exchange Notes received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, which prospectus delivery requirement may be satisfied by the delivery by such Broker-Dealer of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. Such “Plan of Distribution” section shall also contain all other information with respect to such resales by Broker-Dealers that the Commission may require in order to permit such resales pursuant thereto, but such “Plan of Distribution” shall not name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Notes held by any such Broker-Dealer except to the extent required by applicable law, regulation or the Commission as a result of a change in policy after the date of this Agreement.
The Company and the Guarantors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by the provisions of Section 6(d) below to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for resales of Notes acquired by Broker-Dealers for their own accounts as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Securities Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period (the “Broker-Dealer Period”) ending on the earlier of (i) 180 days from the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective and (ii) the date on which a Broker-Dealer is no longer required to deliver a prospectus in connection with market-making or other trading activities.
The Company shall provide sufficient copies of the latest version of such Prospectus to Broker-Dealers promptly upon request at any time during the Broker-Dealer Period in order to facilitate such resales.
(d) The Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any conditions, other than that (x) the Exchange Offer does not violate any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Commission and (y) there is no action or proceeding instituted or threatened in any court or by any governmental agency that in the Company’s judgment would reasonably be expected to impair the Company’s ability to proceed with the Exchange Offer. If the Company determines in its reasonable judgment that either of the foregoing conditions is not satisfied, the Company may (a) refuse to accept any Transfer Restricted Securities and return all tendered Transfer Restricted Securities to the tendering Holders, (b) extend the Exchange Offer and retain all Transfer Restricted Securities tendered before the expiration of the Exchange Offer, subject, however, to the rights of holders to withdraw those Transfer Restricted Securities, or (c) waive the unsatisfied conditions with respect to the Exchange Offer and accept all properly tendered Transfer Restricted Securities that have not been withdrawn.
Section 4. Shelf Registration
(a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Company and the Guarantors are not required to file an Exchange Offer Registration Statement or to consummate the Exchange Offer because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or Commission policy (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a) below have been complied with), (ii) for any reason the Exchange Offer is not Consummated within 240 days after the Closing Date as a result of paragraph 3(d) herein, (iii) any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities notifies the Company prior to the 20th day following consummation of the Exchange Offer that (A) such Holder is prohibited by applicable 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 that 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 Initial Notes acquired directly from the Company or one of its affiliates, then, upon such Holder’s request, the Company and the Guarantors shall:
(x) cause to be filed a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, which may be an amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (in either event, the “Shelf Registration Statement”) on or prior to the earliest to occur of (1) the 90th day after the date on which the Company determines that it is not required to file the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (2) 240 days after the Closing Date (in the case of clause (ii) above) and (3) the 90th day after the date on which the Company receives notice from a Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities as contemplated by clause (iii) above (such earliest date being the “Shelf Filing Deadline”), which Shelf Registration Statement shall provide for resales of all Transfer Restricted Securities the Holders of which shall have provided the information required pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof; and
(y) use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission on or before the 180th day after the Shelf Filing Deadline.
The Company and the Guarantors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to keep such Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by the provisions of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for resales of Notes by the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a), and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Securities Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period (the “Shelf Effectiveness Period”) of at least two years following the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement (or shorter period that will terminate when all the Notes covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement). To the extent the Company is required to include any Notes in a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may include such Notes on any other shelf registration statement otherwise being filed by the Company with respect to other of its securities, so long as all of the procedures described herein with respect to the Shelf Registration Statement are adhered to.
(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 business 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. Each Holder 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.
Section 5. Additional Interest
If (i) the Exchange Offer has not been Consummated within 240 days after the Closing Date or (ii) any Shelf Registration Statement required by this Agreement (during the Shelf Effectiveness Period) or any Exchange Offer Registration Statement required by this Agreement (during the Broker-Dealer Period) is filed and declared effective but shall thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be usable for its intended purpose without being succeeded immediately by a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement that cures such failure and that is itself immediately declared effective, and such failure to remain effective exists for more than (a) 15 days with respect to the Broker-Dealer Period and (b) 30 days with respect to the Shelf Effectiveness Period, in any 12-month period (each such event referred to in clauses (i) and (ii), a “Registration Default”), the Company hereby agrees that the interest rate borne by the Notes shall be increased (“Additional Interest”) by one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) per annum for the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of the first Registration Default (which, in the case of clause (ii), shall commence on the 16th or 31st day, as applicable, in any 12-month period), which rate will increase by one quarter of one percent (0.25%) per annum at the beginning of each subsequent 90-day period that such Additional Interest continues to accrue under any such circumstance, provided that the maximum aggregate increase in the interest rate will in no event exceed one percent (1.00%) per annum. Any additional interest payable pursuant to this Section 5 is herein referred to as Additional Interest. Following the cure of all Registration Defaults relating to any particular Notes, the interest rate borne by the relevant Notes will be reduced to the original interest rate borne by such Notes; provided, however, that, if after any such reduction in interest rate, a different Registration Default occurs, the interest rate borne by the relevant Notes shall again be increased pursuant to the foregoing provisions.
All obligations of the Company and the Guarantors set forth in the preceding paragraph that are outstanding with respect to any Transfer Restricted Security at the time such security ceases to be a Transfer Restricted Security shall survive until such time as all such obligations with respect to such Note shall have been satisfied in full.
Section 6. Registration Procedures
(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company and the Guarantors shall comply with all of the provisions of Section 6(d) below, shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to effect such exchange to permit the sale of Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof and shall comply with all of the following provisions.
As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall furnish, upon the request of the Company, prior to the Consummation thereof, a written representation to the Company (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 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. In addition, all such Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities shall otherwise cooperate in the Company’s preparations for the Exchange Offer and shall provide such other information customarily provided by Holders in exchange offers for securities sold pursuant to Rule 144A. Each Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that any Broker-Dealer and any such Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the securities to be acquired in the Exchange Offer (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 (which may include any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above), and (2) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction and that such a secondary resale transaction should 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 if the resales are of Exchange Notes obtained by such Holder in exchange for Initial Notes acquired by such Holder directly from the Company.
(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, if any, the Company and the Guarantors shall comply with all the provisions of Section 6(d) below and shall use their commercially reasonable 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, and pursuant thereto the Company will as expeditiously as possible prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement relating to the registration on any appropriate form under the Securities 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.
(c) Free Writing Prospectuses. To the extent any Free Writing Prospectus is used, the Company and the Guarantors shall file with the Commission any Free Writing Prospectus that is required to be filed by the Company or the Guarantors with the Commission in accordance with the Securities Act and to retain any Free Writing Prospectus not required to be filed.
(d) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration Statement, any Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus required by this Agreement to permit the sale or resale of Transfer Restricted Securities (including, without limitation, any Registration Statement and the related Prospectus required to permit resales of Notes by Broker-Dealers), the Company shall:
(i) use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite financial statements (including, if required by the Securities Act or any regulation thereunder, financial statements of the Guarantors) 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, the Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain a material misstatement or omission or (B) not to be effective and usable for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during the period required by this Agreement, the Company shall file promptly an appropriate amendment to such Registration Statement, in the case of clause (A), correcting any such misstatement or omission, and, in the case of either clause (A) or (B), use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such amendment to be declared effective and such Registration Statement, the related Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus to become usable for their intended purpose(s) as soon as practicable thereafter;
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement effective for the applicable period set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold; cause the Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, and to comply fully with the applicable provisions of Rules 424 and 430A under the Securities Act in a timely manner; and comply with the provisions of the Securities 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 or any Free Writing Prospectus;
(iii) advise the underwriter(s), if any, and selling Holders promptly and, if requested by such Persons, to confirm such advice in writing, (A) when the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to any 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 any Free Writing 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 Securities 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, including the receipt by the Company of any notice of objection of the Commission to the use of a Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act, (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 Free Writing 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, the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus in order to make the statements therein 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 the Guarantors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible time;
(iv) furnish without charge to each of the Initial Purchasers, each selling Holder named in any Shelf Registration Statement who so requests and each of the underwriter(s), if any, before filing with the Commission, copies of any Shelf Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus included therein or any amendments or supplements to any such Registration Statement, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus (excluding all documents incorporated by reference), which documents will be subject to the review of such Holders and underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, for a period of at least three business days, and the Company will not file any such Registration Statement, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any such Registration Statement, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus (excluding all such documents incorporated by reference) to which an Initial Purchaser of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement or the underwriter(s), if any, shall reasonably object in writing within three business days after the receipt thereof (such objection to be deemed timely made upon confirmation of telecopy transmission within such period). The objection of an Initial Purchaser or underwriter, if any, shall be deemed to be reasonable if such Registration Statement, amendment, Prospectus, Free Writing Prospectus or supplement, as applicable, as proposed to be filed, contains a material misstatement or omission;
(v) promptly prior to the filing of any Registration Statement, Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus (excluding any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus) provide copies of such document to the Initial Purchasers, each selling Holder named in any Registration Statement who so requests, and to the underwriter(s), if any, make the Company’s management, officers and other representatives available and management, officers and other representatives of the Guarantors available for discussion of such document and other customary due diligence matters as shall be reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers, each such selling Holder or underwriter(s), if any, and include such information in such document prior to the filing thereof as such selling Holders or underwriter(s), if any, reasonably may request;
(vi) other than in connection with an Exchange Offer Registration Statement, make available at reasonable times for inspection by the Initial Purchasers, any managing underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement and any attorney or accountant retained by such Initial Purchasers or any of the underwriter(s), all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and each of the Guarantors and cause the Company’s and the Guarantors’ officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Holder, underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with such Registration Statement subsequent to the filing thereof and prior to its effectiveness and make available the Company’s management, officers and other representatives for meetings with investors typical for roadshows of underwritten securities to the extent reasonably requested by any Holder, Initial Purchaser or underwriter;
(vii) other than in connection with an Exchange Offer Registration Statement, if requested by any selling Holders or the underwriter(s), if any, promptly incorporate in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if necessary, such information as such selling Holders and underwriter(s), if any, may reasonably request to have included therein, including, without limitation, information relating to the “Plan of Distribution” of the Transfer Restricted Securities, information with respect to the principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities being sold to such underwriter(s), the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold in such offering; and make all required filings of such supplement or post-effective amendment to the Prospectus or the Free Writing Prospectus, as soon as practicable after the Company is notified of the matters to be incorporated in such supplement or post-effective amendment to the Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus;
(viii) furnish to each selling Holder and each of the underwriter(s), if any, without charge, one copy of the Registration Statement, as first filed with the Commission, and of each amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules (excluding all documents incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits);
(ix) deliver to each selling Holder and each of the underwriter(s), if any, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus), any Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may request; the Company and the Guarantors hereby consent to the use of the Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders and each of the underwriter(s), if any, in connection with the offering and the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;
(x) enter into, and cause the Guarantors to enter into, such agreements (including an underwriting agreement), and make, and cause the Guarantors to make, such representations and warranties, and take all such other actions in connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, all to such extent as may be requested by any Initial Purchaser or underwriter in connection with any sale or resale pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement and to the extent customary for such transaction; and if so requested by the Holders of 25% of the principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities for whose benefit such Shelf Registration Statement is being prepared or the underwriter(s), if any, in an Underwritten Registration, the Company and the Guarantors shall:
(A) furnish to each Initial Purchaser, each selling Holder and each underwriter, if any, in such substance and scope as they may request and as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings, upon the date of the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement:
(1) a certificate, dated the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, signed by (y) the President or any Vice President and (z) a principal financial or accounting officer of each of the Company and the Guarantors, confirming, as of the date thereof, the matters set forth in paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) of Section 5(d) of the Purchase Agreement and such other matters as such parties may reasonably request;
(2) an opinion, dated the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, of counsel for the Company and the Guarantors, covering the matters set forth in paragraph (b) of Section 5 of the Purchase Agreement and such other matters as such parties 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 the Company and representatives of the independent public accountants for the Company in connection with the preparation of such Shelf Registration Statement, the related Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus 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 to a large extent upon facts provided to such counsel by officers and other representatives of the Company), no facts came to such counsel’s attention that caused such counsel to believe that the applicable 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, or any Free Writing Prospectus, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in 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 any Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, the related Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus; and
(3) one or more customary comfort letter(s), dated as of the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, from the Company’s independent accountants and the independent accountants for other entities whose financial information is included in the applicable registration statement in the customary form (in the case of UAG UK Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries, a letter from KPMG LLP in the form delivered to the Initial Purchasers in connection with the issuance of the Initial Notes, if applicable) and covering matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters by underwriters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, and affirming the matters set forth in the comfort letters delivered pursuant to Section 5(e) of the Purchase Agreement, without exception;
(B) set forth in full or incorporate by reference in the underwriting agreement, if any, the indemnification provisions and procedures of Section 8 hereof with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to said Section; and
(C) deliver such other documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by such parties to evidence compliance with clause (A) above and with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company or the Guarantors pursuant to this clause (xi), if any.
If at any time the representations and warranties of the Company and the Guarantors contemplated in clause (A)(1) above are determined to have not been true and correct as of the date originally made, the Company or the Guarantor shall so advise the underwriter(s), if any, and each selling Holder promptly and, if requested by such Persons, shall confirm such advice in writing;
(xi) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted Securities, cooperate with, and cause the Guarantors to cooperate with, the selling Holders, the underwriter(s), if any, and their respective 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 or underwriter(s) may 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 Shelf Registration Statement; provided, however, that neither the Company nor the Guarantors shall be required to register or qualify as a foreign corporation where it is not then 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 then so subject;
(xii) shall issue, upon the request of any Holder of Initial Notes covered by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, Exchange Notes, having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Initial Notes surrendered to the Company by such Holder in exchange therefor; such Exchange Notes to be registered in the name of such Holder; in return, the Initial Notes held by such Holder shall be surrendered to the Company for cancellation;
(xiii) cooperate with, and cause the Guarantors to cooperate with, the selling Holders and the underwriter(s), if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and enable such Transfer Restricted Securities to be in such denominations of not less than $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof and registered in such names as the Holders or the underwriter(s), if any, may request at least two business days prior to any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities made by such underwriter(s);
(xiv) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause 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 or the underwriter(s), if any, to consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities;
(xv) if any fact or event contemplated by clause (d)(iii)(D) above shall exist or have occurred, prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, related Prospectus, any Free Writing 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 or Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;
(xvi) provide a CUSIP number for all Notes not later than the effective date of the Registration Statement 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 and take all other action necessary ensure that all Notes are eligible for deposit with the Depositary Trust Company;
(xvii) reasonably cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with the NASD and in the performance of any due diligence investigation by any underwriter (including any “qualified independent underwriter”) that is required to be retained in accordance with the rules and regulations of the NASD, and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and approved by such governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the Holders selling Transfer Restricted Securities to consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities;
(xviii) otherwise use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally available to its security holders, as soon as practicable, a consolidated earnings statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158 (which need not be audited) for the twelve-month period (A) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Transfer Restricted Securities are sold to underwriters in a firm or best efforts Underwritten Offering or (B) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering, beginning with the first month of the Company’s first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of the Registration Statement;
(xix) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act not later than the effective date of the first Registration Statement required by this Agreement, and, in connection therewith, cooperate, and cause the Guarantors to cooperate with, with the Trustee and the Holders of Notes 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 Trust Indenture Act; and to execute, and cause the Guarantors to execute, and use its commercially reasonable 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
(xx) cause all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be listed on each securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed if requested by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Initial Notes or the managing underwriter(s), if any.
Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the existence of any fact of the kind described in Section 6(d)(iii)(D) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(d)(xv) hereof, or until it is advised in writing (the “Advice”) by the Company that the use of the Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated by reference in the Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus. If so directed by the Company, each Holder will deliver to the Company (at the Company’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus covering such Transfer Restricted Securities that was current at the time of receipt of such notice. In the event the Company shall give any such 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 the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to Section 6(d)(iii)(D) hereof to and including the date when each selling Holder covered by such Registration Statement shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(d)(xv) hereof or shall have received the Advice; however, no such extension shall be taken into account in determining whether Additional Interest is due pursuant to Section 5 hereof or the amount of such Additional Interest, it being agreed that the Company’s option to suspend use of a Registration Statement pursuant to this paragraph shall be treated as a Registration Default for purposes of Section 5.
Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the Company and the Guarantors may suspend the use of any Prospectus, without incurring or accruing any obligation to pay Additional Interest pursuant to Section 5 hereof or being deemed in violation of any other provision hereof, for a period not to exceed 45 calendar days in any three-month period, or an aggregate of 90 calendar days in any twelve-month period, (each, a “Suspension Period”) if the Board of Directors of the Company shall have determined in good faith that because of valid business reasons (not including avoidance of the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations hereunder), including without limitation proposed or pending corporate developments and similar events or because of filings with the Commission, it is in the best interests of the Company and the Guarantors to suspend such use, and prior to suspending such use the Company provides the Holders with written notice of such suspension, which notice need not specify the nature of the event giving rise to such suspension. Each Holder shall keep confidential any communications received by it from the Company regarding the suspension of the use of the Prospectus, except as required by applicable law.
Section 7. Registration Expenses
(a) All expenses incident to the Company’s or the Guarantors’ performance of or compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company or the Guarantors, regardless of whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees and reasonable expenses (including filings made by any Initial Purchaser or Holder with the NASD (and, if applicable, the fees and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter” and its counsel that may be required by the rules and regulations of the NASD)); (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 and any Free Writing Prospectuses), messenger and delivery services and telephone; (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, the Guarantors and, subject to Section 7(b) below, the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; (v) all application and filing fees in connection with listing the Exchange Notes on a national securities exchange or automated quotation system pursuant to the requirements thereof; and (vi) all fees and disbursements of independent certified public accountants of the Company and the Guarantors (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 internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts, retained by 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 Purchasers and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities being tendered in the Exchange Offer and/or resold pursuant to the “Plan of Distribution” contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or registered pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable, for the reasonable fees and disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall be Shearman & Sterling LLP or such other counsel as may 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.
Section 8. Indemnification
(a) The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless (i) each Holder and (ii) each person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) any Holder (any of the persons referred to in this clause (ii) being hereinafter referred to as a “controlling person”) and (iii) the respective officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives and agents of any Holder or any controlling person (any person referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) may hereinafter be referred to as an “Indemnified Holder”), to the fullest extent lawful, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, actions and expenses (including without limitation and as incurred, reimbursement of all reasonable costs of investigating, preparing, pursuing, settling, compromising, paying or defending any claim or action, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to any Indemnified Holder), joint or several, directly or indirectly caused by, related to, based upon, arising out of or in connection with (A) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (B) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer information” (“Issuer Information”) filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, or 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 light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are caused by an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission that is made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to a Holder or underwriter in an underwritten offering furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder or underwriter, as applicable, expressly for use therein. This indemnity agreement shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have. In connection with any Underwritten Offering permitted by Section 6, the Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, will also indemnify the Underwriters, if any, selling brokers, dealers and similar securities industry professionals participating in the distribution, their respective affiliates and each controlling person of such Person, to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders, if requested in connection with any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or any Issuer Information.
In case any action or proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation or proceeding) shall be brought or asserted against any of the Indemnified Holders with respect to which indemnity may be sought against the Company or the Guarantors, such Indemnified Holder (or the Indemnified Holder controlled by such controlling person) shall promptly notify the Company and the Guarantors in writing (provided, that the failure to give such notice shall not relieve the Company or the Guarantors of their respective obligations pursuant to this Agreement, to the extent they are not materially prejudiced as a result thereof). Such Indemnified Holder shall have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action and the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel shall be paid, as incurred, by the Company and the Guarantors. The Company and the Guarantors shall not, in connection with any one such action or proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related actions or proceedings 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) at any time for such Indemnified Holders, which firm shall be designated by the Indemnified Holders. The Company shall be liable for any settlement of any such action or proceeding effected with the Company’s prior written consent, which consent shall not be withheld unreasonably, and the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any Indemnified Holder from and against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of any settlement of any action effected with the written consent of the Company. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of each Indemnified Holder, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in or otherwise seek to terminate any pending or threatened action, claim, litigation or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not any Indemnified Holder is a party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise, consent or termination (i) includes an unconditional release of each Indemnified Holder from all liability arising out of such action, claim, litigation or proceeding and (ii) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Holder.
(b) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Guarantors and their respective directors, officers of the Company and the Guarantors who sign a Registration Statement, any person controlling (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) the Company, and the respective offices, directors, partners, employees, representatives and agents of each such person, and the Initial Purchasers, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company and the Guarantors to each of the Indemnified Holders, but only with respect to claims and actions based on information relating to such Holder furnished in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus. In case any action or proceeding shall be brought against the Company, any Guarantor or any of their respective directors or officers or any such controlling person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against a Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, such Holder shall have the rights and duties given the Company and the Guarantors, and the Company, any Guarantor or any of their respective directors or officers or such controlling person shall have the rights and duties given to each Holder by the preceding paragraph. In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation.
(c) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable to an indemnified party under Section 8(a) or Section 8(b) hereof (other than by reason of exceptions provided in those Sections) in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, actions or expenses referred to therein, then each applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, from the Initial Placement (which in the case of the Company and the Guarantors shall be deemed to be equal to the total gross proceeds from the Initial Placement as set forth on the cover page of the Offering Memorandum), the amount of Additional Interest which did not become payable as a result of the filing of the Registration Statement resulting in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, actions or expenses, and such Registration Statement, or if such allocation is not permitted by applicable law, the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand, and of the Indemnified Holder, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and of the Indemnified Holder on the other 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 any of the Guarantors or by the Indemnified Holder 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 expenses 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, the Guarantors and each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(c) 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 expenses 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 Xxxxxxx 0, xxxx of the Holders (and its related Indemnified Holders) shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Notes sold by such Holder exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities 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(c) are several in proportion to the respective principal amount of Initial Notes held by each of the Holders hereunder and not joint.
Section 9. Participation In Underwritten Registrations
No Holder may participate in any Underwritten Registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder’s Transfer Restricted Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all reasonable questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements, lock-up letters and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
Section 10. Selection Of Underwriters
The Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell such Transfer Restricted Securities in an Underwritten Offering. In any such 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 Securities included in such offering; provided, that such investment bankers and managers must be reasonably satisfactory to the Company.
Section 11. Miscellaneous
(a) Remedies. Each of the Company and the Guarantors hereby agrees that monetary damages may not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby agree to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company will not, and will cause the Guarantors not to, 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. Neither the Company nor the Guarantors have entered into any agreement granting any registration rights with respect to its securities to any Person which would allow the registration of such securities on the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or, except to the extent disclosed in the applicable offering memorandum with respect to the sale of the Initial Notes, the Shelf Registration Statement required by this Agreement. 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 securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.
(c) Adjustments Affecting the Notes. Subject to the right of the Company to invoke and maintain a Suspension Period, the Company will not intentionally take any action, or permit any change to occur, with respect to the Notes that would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Holders to Consummate any Exchange Offer.
(d) 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 the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose securities are being tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer and that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights of other Holders whose 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 being tendered or registered; provided, that with respect to any matter that directly or indirectly affects the rights of any Initial Purchaser hereunder, the Company shall obtain the written consent of each such Initial Purchaser with respect to which such amendment, qualification, supplement, waiver, consent or departure is to be effective.
(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 the Company and the Guarantors:
United Auto Group, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: General Counsel
With a copy to:
Fried, Frank, Harris, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
Xxx Xxx Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt 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 of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not inure to the benefit of or be binding upon a successor or assign of a Holder unless and to the extent such successor or assign acquired Transfer Restricted Securities from such Holder.
(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 by the Company and the Guarantors with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
Very truly yours, UNITED AUTO GROUP, INC. By: |
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx |
|
| Title: Executive Vice President — Finance |
| THE GUARANTORS: |
ATLANTIC AUTO FUNDING CORPORATION |
ATLANTIC AUTO SECOND FUNDING CORPORATION |
ATLANTIC AUTO THIRD FUNDING CORPORATION |
AUTO MALL PAYROLL SERVICES, INC. |
XXXXX XXXXXX CHEVROLET-GEO, INC. |
CENTRAL FORD CENTER, INC. |
CJNS, LLC |
CLASSIC AUTO GROUP, INC. |
CLASSIC ENTERPRISES, LLC |
CLASSIC IMPORTS, INC. |
CLASSIC MANAGEMENT COMPANY, INC. |
CLASSIC MOTOR SALES, LLC |
CLASSIC NISSAN OF TURNERSVILLE, LLC |
CLASSIC TURNERSVILLE, INC. |
XXXXXXXXX XXXX DODGE, INC. |
XXX XXXXX CHEVROLET, INC. |
DEALER ACCESSORIES, LLC |
DIFEO PARTNERSHIP, LLC |
EUROPA AUTO IMPORTS, INC. |
FLORIDA CHRYSLER PLYMOUTH, INC. |
FRN OF TULSA, LLC |
XXXX XXXX CHEVROLET, INC. |
GMG MOTORS, INC. |
XXXXXXX NORTH, LLC |
XXXXXXX PONTIAC-GMC, LLC |
XXXXXXX SPRING BRANCH, LLC |
HT AUTOMOTIVE, LTD. |
JS IMPORTS, LLC |
KMPB, LLC |
KMT/UAG, INC. |
XXXXXXX AUTO SALES, LLC |
XXXXXXX BUICK PONTIAC, INC. |
XXXXXXX FORD NORTH, INC. |
XXXXXXX FORD, INC. |
XXXXXXX NISSAN, LLC |
XXXXXXX UNITED AUTO GROUP NO. 2, INC. |
LATE ACQUISITION I, LLC |
LATE ACQUISITION II, LLC |
LMNS, LLC |
LRP, LTD. |
XXXXXXX CHEVROLET-OLDSMOBILE, INC. |
MOTORCARS ACQUISITION II, LLC |
MOTORCARS ACQUISITION III, LLC |
MOTORCARS ACQUISITION IV, LLC |
MOTORCARS ACQUISITION V, LLC |
MOTORCARS ACQUISITION VI, LLC |
MOTORCARS ACQUISITION, LLC |
NATIONAL CITY FORD, INC. |
NISSAN OF NORTH OLMSTED, LLC |
PALM AUTO PLAZA, LLC |
PEACHTREE NISSAN, INC. |
PMRC, LLC |
XXXX-XXXXXXX CHEVROLET, INC. |
RELENTLESS PURSUIT ENTERPRISES, INC. |
SA AUTOMOTIVE, LTD. |
SAU AUTOMOTIVE, LTD. |
SCOTTSDALE FERRARI, LLC |
SCOTTSDALE JAGUAR, LTD. |
SCOTTSDALE MANAGEMENT GROUP, LTD. |
SIGMA MOTORS, INC. |
SK MOTORS, LTD. |
SL AUTOMOTIVE, LTD. |
SOMERSET MOTORS, INC. |
SUN MOTORS, LTD. |
THE NEW GRACELAND DODGE, INC. |
TRI-CITY LEASING, INC. |
UAG XXXXXXX X0, LLC |
UAG ATLANTA IV MOTORS, INC. |
UAG BOSTON FMB, LLC |
UAG CAPITOL, INC. |
UAG CARIBBEAN, INC. |
UAG CAROLINA, INC. |
UAG CENTRAL FLORIDA MOTORS, LLC |
UAG CENTRAL REGION MANAGEMENT, INC. |
UAG CERRITOS, LLC |
UAG CHANTILLY AU, LLC |
UAG CHCC, INC. |
UAG CHEVROLET, INC. |
UAG CITRUS MOTORS, LLC |
UAG CLASSIC, INC. |
UAG CLOVIS, INC. |
UAG CONNECTICUT, LLC |
UAG DULUTH, INC. |
UAG EAST, LLC |
UAG ESCONDIDO A1, INC. |
UAG ESCONDIDO H1, INC. |
UAG ESCONDIDO M1, INC. |
UAG FAYETTEVILLE I, LLC |
UAG FAYETTEVILLE II, LLC |
UAG FAYETTEVILLE III, LLC |
UAG FINANCE COMPANY, INC. |
UAG GRACELAND II, INC. |
UAG XXXXXX, INC. |
UAG XXXXXX CJD, LLC |
UAG INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC. |
UAG KISSIMMEE MOTORS, INC. |
UAG XXXXXXX SPRINGDALE, LLC |
UAG LOS GATOS, INC. |
UAG MARIN, INC. |
UAG MEMPHIS II, INC. |
UAG MEMPHIS IV, INC. |
UAG MEMPHIS MANAGEMENT, INC. |
UAG MICHIGAN CADILLAC, LLC |
UAG MICHIGAN H1, LLC |
UAG MICHIGAN H2, LLC |
UAG MICHIGAN HOLDINGS, INC. |
UAG MICHIGAN PONTIAC-GMC, LLC |
UAG MICHIGAN T1, LLC |
UAG MICHIGAN TMV, LLC |
UAG MINNEAPOLIS B1, LLC |
UAG NANUET I, LLC |
UAG NANUET II, LLC |
UAG NEVADA LAND, LLC |
UAG NORTHEAST BODY SHOP, INC. |
UAG NORTHEAST, LLC |
UAG PHOENIX VC, LLC |
UAG REALTY, LLC |
UAG ROYAL PALM, LLC |
UAG ROYAL PALM M1, LLC |
UAG SAN DIEGO A1, INC. |
UAG SAN DIEGO AU, INC. |
UAG SAN DIEGO H1, INC. |
UAG SAN DIEGO JA, INC. |
UAG SAN DIEGO MANAGEMENT, INC. |
UAG SOUTHEAST, INC. |
UAG SPRING, LLC |
UAG STEVENS CREEK II, INC. |
UAG SUNNYVALE, INC. |
UAG TEXAS II, INC. |
UAG TEXAS, LLC |
UAG TORRANCE, INC. |
UAG TULSA HOLDINGS, LLC |
UAG TULSA JLM, LLC |
UAG TULSA VC, LLC |
UAG TURNERSVILLE MOTORS, LLC |
UAG TURNERSVILLE REALTY, LLC |
UAG XX XX, LLC |
UAG VK, LLC |
UAG WEST BAY AM, LLC |
UAG XXXX XXX XX, XXX |
XXX XXXX XXX XX, LLC |
UAG WEST BAY IAU, LLC |
UAG WEST BAY IB, LLC |
UAG XXXX XXX XX, XXX |
XXX XXXX XXX XX, LLC |
UAG WEST BAY IM, LLC |
UAG WEST BAY IN, LLC |
UAG WEST BAY IP, LLC |
UAG WEST BAY IV, LLC |
UAG WEST BAY IW, LLC |
UAG WEST, LLC |
UAG YOUNG II, INC. |
UAG/PFS, INC. |
UNITED AUTO CARE PRODUCTS, LLC |
UNITED AUTO LICENSING, LLC |
UNITED FORD BROKEN ARROW, LLC |
UNITED FORD NORTH, LLC |
UNITED FORD SOUTH, LLC |
UNITED NISSAN, INC. |
UNITED NISSAN, INC. (A TENNESSEE CORPORATION) |
UNITED RANCH AUTOMOTIVE, LLC |
UNITEDAUTO DODGE OF SHREVEPORT, INC. |
UNITEDAUTO FIFTH FUNDING INC. |
UNITEDAUTO FINANCE, INC. |
UNITEDAUTO FOURTH FUNDING INC. |
UNITEDAUTO SCOTTSDALE PROPERTY HOLDINGS, LLC |
WEST PALM AUTO MALL, INC. |
WEST PALM NISSAN, LLC |
WEST PALM S1, LLC |
WESTBURY SUPERSTORE, LTD. |
YOUNG MANAGEMENT GROUP, INC. |
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Its: President, Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer
smart USA Distributor, LLC
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. X’Xxxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx X. X’Xxxxxxxxxxx
Its: Treasurer
COUNTY AUTO GROUP PARTNERSHIP |
OCT PARTNERSHIP |
XXXXXX MOTORS PARTNERSHIP |
SOMERSET MOTORS PARTNERSHIP |
DANBURY AUTO PARTNERSHIP |
DIFEO HYUNDAI PARTNERSHIP |
DIFEO NISSAN PARTNERSHIP |
DIFEO CHRYSLER PLYMOUTH JEEP EAGLE PARTNERSHIP |
DIFEO TENAFLY PARTNERSHIP |
DIFEO LEASING PARTNERSHIP |
By:
|
DIFEO PARTNERSHIP, LLC | |
Its:
|
General Partner | |
By:
|
UNITED AUTO GROUP, INC. | |
Its:
|
Sole Member |
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Its: Executive Vice President — Finance
WTA MOTORS, LTD. |
By:
|
LATE ACQUISITION II, LLC | |
Its:
|
General Partner | |
By:
|
UNITED AUTO GROUP, INC. | |
Its:
|
Sole Member |
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Its: Executive Vice President — Finance
UAG HOUSTON ACQUISITION, LTD. |
XXXXXXX AUTOMOTIVE, LTD. |
By:
|
UAG TEXAS II, INC. | |
Its:
|
General Partner | |
By:
|
UNITED AUTO GROUP, INC. | |
Its:
|
Sole Shareholder | |
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |
Its:
|
Executive Vice President — Finance |
| UAG GD, LTD. | ||
| UAG GN, LTD. | ||
| UAG GP, LTD. | ||
| UAG GW, LTD. |
By:
|
UAG HOUSTON ACQUISITION, LTD. | |
Its:
|
General Partner | |
By:
|
UAG TEXAS II, INC. | |
Its:
|
General Partner | |
By:
|
UNITED AUTO GROUP, INC. | |
Its:
|
Sole Shareholder | |
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |
Its:
|
Executive Vice President — Finance |
The foregoing Registration Rights Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written.
X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES INC.
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC.
XXXXXXX LYNCH, PIERCE, XXXXXX & XXXXX
INCORPORATED
WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
By: X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
| Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx Title: Vice President |
