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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of August 8, 2003
by and among
ACC Escrow Corp.
as Issuer
American Cellular Corporation
the Guarantors listed on Schedule A hereto
and
Bear, Xxxxxxx & Co., Inc. and
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
as Initial Purchasers
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This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and entered
into as of August 8, 2003, by and among ACC Escrow Corp., a Delaware corporation
(the "Issuer"), American Cellular Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("ACC"),
ACC's domestic subsidiaries listed on Schedule A hereto (the "Guarantors"), and
Bear, Xxxxxxx & Co. Inc. and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated (each an "Initial
Purchaser" and, collectively, the "Initial Purchasers"), each of whom has agreed
to purchase the 10% Series A Senior Notes due 2011 (the "Series A Notes")
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated July 25,
2003, (the "Purchase Agreement"), by and among the Issuer, ACC, the Guarantors
and the Initial Purchasers. In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to
purchase the Series A Notes, the Company (as defined below) 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 8 of the Purchase Agreement. Capitalized terms
used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meaning assigned to them in
the Indenture, dated August 8, 2003, between the Issuer and Bank of Oklahoma,
National Association, as Trustee, relating to the Series A Notes and the Series
B Notes (the "Indenture").
The issuance of the Series A Notes is part of a series of transactions
designed to reorganize the ownership and capital structure of ACC. Such
transactions are referred to herein as the "Reorganization." As part of the
consummation of the Reorganization, the Issuer will merge with and into ACC
after which ACC will be the surviving entity (the "Merger"). The word "Company"
as used herein refers only to the Issuer before the Merger and to ACC after the
Merger.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the
following meanings:
Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Affiliate: As defined in Rule 144 of the Act.
Broker-Dealer: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.
Certificated Securities: Definitive Notes, as defined in the Indenture.
Closing Date: The date hereof.
Commission: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
Consummate: An Exchange Offer shall be deemed "Consummated" for purposes of
this Agreement upon the occurrence of (a) the filing and effectiveness under the
Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement relating to the Series B Notes
to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (b) the maintenance of such Exchange Offer
Registration Statement continuously effective and the keeping of the Exchange
Offer open for a period not less than the period required pursuant to Section
3(b) hereof and (c) the delivery by the Company to the Registrar under the
Indenture of Series B Notes in the same aggregate principal amount as the
aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes tendered by Holders thereof
pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
Consummation Deadline: As defined in Section 3(b) hereof.
Effectiveness Deadline: As defined in Section 3(a) and Section 4(a) hereof.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Exchange Offer: The exchange and issuance by the Company of a principal
amount of Series B Notes (which shall be registered pursuant to the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement) equal to the outstanding principal amount of
Series A Notes that are tendered by such Holders in connection with such
exchange and issuance.
Exchange Offer Registration Statement: The Registration Statement relating
to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.
Exempt Resales: The transactions in which the Initial Purchasers propose to
sell the Series A Notes to certain "qualified institutional buyers," as such
term is defined in Rule 144A under the Act and pursuant to Regulation S under
the Act.
Filing Deadline: As defined in Sections 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.
Holders: As defined in Section 2 hereof.
Prospectus: The prospectus included in a Registration Statement at the time
such Registration Statement is declared effective, as amended or supplemented by
any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments thereto, including
post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference into such
Prospectus.
Recommencement Date: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
Registration Default: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company and the
Guarantors relating to (a) an offering of Series B Notes pursuant to an Exchange
Offer or (b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, (i) that is filed
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) including the Prospectus
included therein, all amendments and supplements thereto (including
post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by
reference therein.
Regulation S: Regulation S promulgated under the Act.
Rule 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.
Series B Notes: The Company's 10% Senior Notes due 2011 to be issued
pursuant to the Indenture: (i) in the Exchange Offer or (ii) as contemplated by
Section 4 hereof.
Shelf Registration Statement: As defined in Section 4 hereof.
Suspension Notice: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Section 77aaa-77bbbb) as in
effect on the date of the Indenture.
Transfer Restricted Securities: Each Series A Note, until the earliest to
occur of (i) the date on which such Series A Note has been exchanged by a Person
other than a Broker-Dealer for a Series B Note in the Exchange Offer, (ii)
following the exchange by a Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer of a Series A
for a Series B Note, the date on which Series B Note is sold to a purchaser who
receives from such Broker-Dealer on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of
the Prospectus, (iii) the date on which such Series A Note has been effectively
registered under the Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf
Registration Statement (and the purchasers therof have been issued Series B
Notes) or (iv) the date on which such Series A Note is distributed to the public
pursuant to Rule 144 under the Act.
SECTION 2. HOLDERS
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 permitted by applicable federal
law (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) hereof have been complied
with), the Company and the Guarantors shall (i) cause the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement to be filed with the Commission on or prior to the later
to occur of (A) 90 days after the Closing Date or (B) 30 days after the closing
of the Reorganization (such day being the "Filing Deadline"), (ii) use all
commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration
Statement to be declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the later to
occur of (A) 180 days after the Closing Date or (B) 120 days after the closing
of the Reorganization (such day being the "Effectiveness Deadline"), (iii) in
connection with the foregoing, (A) file all pre-effective amendments to such
Exchange Offer Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to cause it
to become effective, (B) file, if applicable, a post-effective amendment to such
Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act and
(C) cause all necessary filings, if any, in connection with the registration and
qualification of the Series B Notes to be made under the Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions as are necessary to permit Consummation of the Exchange Offer, and
(iv) upon the effectiveness of such Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
commence and Consummate the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall be on the
appropriate form permitting (i) registration of the Series B Notes to be offered
in exchange for the Series A Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities and
(ii) resales of Series B Notes by Broker-Dealers that tendered into the Exchange
Offer Series A Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a
result of market making activities or other trading activities (other than
Series A Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates) as
contemplated by Section 3(c) hereof.
(b) The Company and the Guarantors shall use all 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. The Company and the Guarantors shall
cause the Exchange Offer to comply with all applicable federal and state
securities laws. No securities other than the Series B Notes shall be included
in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. The Company and the Guarantors
shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be
Consummated within 30 Business Days, or longer if required by federal securities
laws, after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become effective (the
"Consummation Deadline").
(c) The Company shall include a "Plan of Distribution" section in the
Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and indicate
therein that any Broker-Dealer who holds Transfer Restricted Securities that
were acquired for the account of such Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities (other than Series A Notes acquired
directly from the Company or any Affiliate of the Company), may exchange such
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer. Such "Plan of
Distribution" section shall also contain all other information with respect to
such sales by such Broker-Dealers that the Commission may require in order to
permit such sales pursuant thereto, but such "Plan of Distribution" shall not
name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Transfer Restricted
Securities held by any such Broker-Dealer, except to the extent required by the
Commission as a result of a change in policy, rules or regulations after the
date of this Agreement. See the Shearman & Sterling no-action letter (available
July 2, 1993).
Because such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the
requirements of the Act in connection with its initial sale of any Series B
Notes received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, the Company and
Guarantors shall permit the use of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement by such Broker-Dealer to satisfy such prospectus
delivery requirement. To the extent necessary to ensure that the prospectus
contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is available for sales of
Series B Notes by Broker-Dealers, the Company and the Guarantors agree to use
their respective best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
continuously effective, supplemented, amended and current as required by and
subject to the provisions of Section 6(a) and Section 6(c) hereof and in
conformity with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies,
rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a
period of one year from the Consummation Deadline or such shorter period as will
terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration
Statement have been sold pursuant thereto. The Company and the Guarantors shall
provide sufficient copies of the latest version of such Prospectus to such
Broker-Dealers, promptly upon request, and in no event later than one day after
such request, at any time during such period.
SECTION 4. SHELF REGISTRATION
(a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Exchange Offer is not permitted by
applicable law (after the Company and the Guarantors have complied with the
procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) hereof) or (ii) if any Holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities shall notify the Company within 20 Business Days
following the Consummation Deadline that (A) such Holder was prohibited by law
or Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer or (B) such Holder
may not resell the Series B Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the
public without delivering a prospectus and the Prospectus contained in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such
resales by such Holder or (C) such Holder is a Broker-Dealer and holds Series A
Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates, then the
Company and the Guarantors shall:
(x) use their respective reasonable best efforts to cause to be filed,
on or prior to 90 days after the earlier of (i) the date on which the
Company determines that the Exchange Offer Registration Statement cannot be
filed as a result of clause (a)(i) of this Section 4 and (ii) the date on
which the Company receives the notice specified in clause (a)(ii) of this
Section 4, (such earlier date, the "Filing Deadline"), a shelf registration
statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act (which may be an amendment to
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (the "Shelf Registration
Statement")), relating to all Transfer Restricted Securities, and
(y) shall use all commercially reasonable best efforts to cause such
Shelf Registration Statement to become effective on or prior to 90 days
after the Filing Deadline for the Shelf Registration Statement (such 90th
day the "Effectiveness Deadline").
If, after the Company has filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement
that satisfies the requirements of Section 3(a) hereof, the Company is required
to file and make effective a Shelf Registration Statement solely because the
Exchange Offer is not permitted under applicable federal law (i.e., clause
(a)(i) of this Section 4), then the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of clause (x) above;
provided that, in such event, the Company shall remain obligated to meet the
Effectiveness Deadline set forth in clause (y) above.
To the extent necessary to ensure that the Shelf Registration Statement is
available for sales of Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof
entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a) and the other securities required
to be registered therein pursuant to Section 6(b)(ii) hereof, the Company and
the Guarantors shall use their respective best efforts to keep any Shelf
Registration Statement required by this Section 4(a) continuously effective,
supplemented, amended and current as required by and subject to the provisions
of Section 6(b) and Section 6(c) hereof and in conformity with the requirements
of this Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the
Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of at least two years
(as extended pursuant to Section 6(c)(i) hereof) following the Closing Date, or
such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities
covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto.
(b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with the
Shelf Registration Statement. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may
include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration
Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to
the Company in writing, within 20 days after receipt of a request therefor, the
information specified in Item 507 or Item 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable,
of the Act for use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or
Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus included therein. No Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities shall be entitled to liquidated damages pursuant to
Section 5 hereof unless and until such Holder shall have provided all such
information. Each selling Holder agrees to promptly furnish additional
information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously
furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially misleading.
SECTION 5. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
If (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not filed
with the Commission on or prior to the applicable Filing Deadline, (ii) any such
Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the Commission on or
prior to the applicable Effectiveness Deadline, (iii) the Exchange Offer has not
been Consummated on or prior to the Consummation Deadline or (iv) any
Registration Statement required by this Agreement is filed and declared
effective but shall thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be usable for
its intended purpose without being succeeded immediately by a post-effective
amendment to such Registration Statement that cures such failure and that is
itself declared effective immediately (each such event referred to in clauses
(i) through (iv) above, a "Registration Default"), then the Company and the
Guarantors hereby jointly and severally agree to pay to each Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities affected thereby liquidated damages in an amount equal to
$.05 per week per $1,000 in principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities
held by such Holder for each week or portion thereof that the Registration
Default continues for the first 90-day period immediately following the
occurrence of such Registration Default. The amount of the liquidated damages
shall increase by an additional $.05 per week per $1,000 in principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities with respect to each subsequent 90-day period
until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum amount of
liquidated damages of $.50 per week per $1,000 in principal amount of Transfer
Restricted Securities; provided that the Company and the Guarantors shall in no
event be required to pay liquidated damages for more than one Registration
Default at any given time. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth
herein, (1) upon filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if
applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of (i) above, (2)
upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if
applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of (ii) above, (3)
upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer, in the case of (iii) above, or (4) upon
the filing of a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or an
additional Registration Statement that causes the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement) to again be
declared effective or made usable in the case of (iv) above, the liquidated
damages payable with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities as a result
of such clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), as applicable, shall cease.
All accrued liquidated damages shall be paid to the Holders entitled
thereto, in the manner provided for the payment of interest in the Indenture, on
each Interest Payment Date, as more fully set forth in the Indenture and the
Notes. Notwithstanding the fact that any securities for which liquidated damages
are due cease to be Transfer Restricted Securities, all obligations of the
Company and the Guarantors to pay liquidated damages with respect to securities
shall survive until such time as such obligations with respect to such
securities shall have been satisfied in full.
SECTION 6. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. In connection with the Exchange
Offer, the Company and the Guarantors shall (x) comply with all applicable
provisions of Section 6(c) hereof, (y) use their respective best efforts to
effect such exchange and to permit the resale of Series B Notes by
Broker-Dealers that tendered in the Exchange Offer Series A Notes that such
Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of its market making
activities or other trading activities (other than Series A Notes acquired
directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates) being sold in accordance
with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and (z) comply with
all of the following provisions:
(i) If, following the date hereof there has been announced a change in
Commission policy with respect to exchange offers such as the Exchange
Offer, that in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company raises a
substantial question as to whether the Exchange Offer is permitted by
applicable federal law, the Company and the Guarantors hereby agree to seek
a no-action letter or other favorable decision from the Commission allowing
the Company and the Guarantors to Consummate an Exchange Offer for such
Transfer Restricted Securities. The Company and the Guarantors hereby agree
to pursue the issuance of such a decision to the Commission staff level. In
connection with the foregoing, the Company and the Guarantors hereby agree
to take all such other actions as may be requested by the Commission or
otherwise required in connection with the issuance of such decision,
including without limitation (A) participating in telephonic conferences
with the Commission, (B) delivering to the Commission staff an analysis
prepared by counsel to the Company setting forth the legal bases, if any,
upon which such counsel has concluded that such an Exchange Offer should be
permitted and (C) diligently pursuing a resolution (which need not be
favorable) by the Commission staff.
(ii) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer, each
Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (including, without limitation,
any Holder who is a Broker Dealer) shall furnish, upon the request of the
Company, prior to the Consummation of the Exchange Offer, a written
representation to the Company and the Guarantors (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 Series B Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and
(C) it is acquiring the Series B Notes in its ordinary course of business.
As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer each Holder using
the Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the Series B Notes
shall acknowledge and agree that, if the resales are of Series B Notes
obtained by such Holder in exchange for Series A Notes acquired directly
from the Company or an Affiliate thereof, it (1) could not, under
Commission policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement, rely on the
position of the Commission enunciated in Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx and Co., Inc.
(available June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available
May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the Commission's letter to Shearman &
Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and similar no-action letters (including, if
applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above),
and (2) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery
requirements of the Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction
and that such a secondary resale transaction must be covered by an
effective registration statement containing the selling security holder
information required by Item 507 or Item 508, as applicable, of Regulation
S-K.
(iii) Prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall provide a supplemental
letter to the Commission (A) stating that the Company and the Guarantors
are registering the Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the
Commission enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May
13, 1988), Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) as
interpreted in the Commission's letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2,
1993, and, if applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause
(i) above, (B) including a representation that neither the Company nor any
Guarantor has entered into any arrangement or understanding with any Person
to distribute the Series B Notes to be received in the Exchange Offer and
that, to the best of the Company's and each Guarantor's information and
belief, each Holder participating in the Exchange Offer is acquiring the
Series B Notes in its ordinary course of business and has no arrangement or
understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution of the
Series B Notes received in the Exchange Offer and (C) any other undertaking
or representation required by the Commission as set forth in any no-action
letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above, if applicable.
(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf Registration
Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall:
(i) comply with all the provisions of Section 6(c) hereof and use all
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 (as indicated in the
information furnished to the Company pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof), and
pursuant thereto the Company and the Guarantors will prepare and file with
the Commission a Registration Statement relating to the registration on any
appropriate form under the Act, which form shall be available for the sale
of the Transfer Restricted Securities in accordance with the intended
method or methods of distribution thereof within the time periods and
otherwise in accordance with the provisions hereof, and
(ii) issue, upon the request of any Holder or purchaser of Series A
Notes covered by any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this
Agreement, Series B Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the
aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes sold pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement and surrendered to the Company for cancellation; the
Company shall register Series B Notes on the Shelf Registration Statement
for this purpose and issue the Series B Notes to the purchasers of
securities subject to the Shelf Registration Statement in the names as such
purchasers shall designate.
(c) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration Statement and
any related Prospectus required by this Agreement, the Company and the
Guarantors shall:
(i) use all commercially reasonable efforts to keep such Registration
Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite financial
statements for the period specified in Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement, as
applicable. Upon the occurrence of any event that would cause any such
Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain
an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (B) not to be
effective and usable for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during
the period required by this Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors shall
file promptly an appropriate amendment to such Registration Statement
curing such defect, and, if Commission review is required, use their
respective best efforts to cause such amendment to be declared effective as
soon as practicable.
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and
post-effective amendments to the applicable Registration Statement as may
be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the
applicable period set forth in Section 3 or Section 4 hereof, as the case
may be; cause the Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus
supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under
the Act, and to comply fully with Rules 424, 430A and 462, as applicable,
under the Act in a timely manner; and comply with the provisions of the Act
with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such
Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the
intended method or methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth
in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;
(iii) advise each Holder promptly and, if requested by such Holder,
confirm such advice in writing, (A) when the Prospectus or any Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to
any applicable Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment
thereto, when the same has become effective, (B) of any request by the
Commission for amendments to the Registration Statement or amendments or
supplements to the Prospectus or for additional information relating
thereto, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Act or of the
suspension by any state securities commission of the qualification of the
Transfer Restricted Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or
the initiation of any proceeding for any of the preceding purposes and (D)
of the existence of any fact or the happening of any event that makes any
statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto or any document
incorporated by reference therein untrue, or that requires the making of
any additions to or changes in the Registration Statement in order to make
the statements therein not misleading, or that requires the making of any
additions to or changes in the Prospectus in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. If at any time the Commission shall issue any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any state
securities commission or other regulatory authority shall issue an order
suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of the
Transfer Restricted Securities under state securities or Blue Sky laws, the
Company and the Guarantors shall use their respective best efforts to
obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible
time;
(iv) subject to Section 6(c)(i) hereof, if any fact or event
contemplated by Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof shall exist or have occurred,
prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by
reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter
delivered to the purchasers of Transfer Restricted Securities, the
Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(v) furnish to each Holder in connection with such exchange or sale,
if any, before filing with the Commission, copies of any Registration
Statement or any Prospectus included therein or any amendments or
supplements to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all
documents incorporated by reference after the initial filing of such
Registration Statement), which documents will be subject to the review and
comment of such Holders in connection with such sale, if any, for a period
of at least five Business Days, and the Company will not file any such
Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any
such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all such documents
incorporated by reference) to which such Holders shall reasonably object
within five Business Days after the receipt thereof. A Holder shall be
deemed to have reasonably objected to such filing if such Registration
Statement, amendment, Prospectus or supplement, as applicable, as proposed
to be filed, contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading or fails to comply with the applicable requirements of the Act;
(vi) promptly prior to the filing of any document that is to be
incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or Prospectus,
provide copies of such document to each Holder in connection with such
exchange or sale, if any, make the Company's and the Guarantors'
representatives available for discussion of such document and other
customary due diligence matters, and include such information in such
document prior to the filing thereof as such Holders may reasonably
request;
(vii) make available, at reasonable times, for inspection by each
Holder and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders, all
financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents of the Company
and the Guarantors and cause the Company's and the Guarantors' officers,
directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by
any such Holder, attorney or accountant in connection with such
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto subsequent
to the filing thereof and prior to its effectiveness;
(viii) if requested by any Holders in connection with such exchange or
sale, promptly include in any Registration Statement or Prospectus,
pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if necessary, such
information as such Holders may reasonably request to have included
therein, including, without limitation, information relating to the "Plan
of Distribution" of the Transfer Restricted Securities; and make all
required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment
as soon as practicable after the Company is notified of the matters to be
included in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;
(ix) furnish to each Holder in connection with such exchange or sale,
without charge, at least one copy of the Registration Statement, as first
filed with the Commission, and of each amendment thereto, including all
documents incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits (including
exhibits incorporated therein by reference);
(x) deliver to each Holder without charge, as many copies of the
Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or
supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may request; the Company and
the Guarantors hereby consent to the use (in accordance with law) of the
Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each selling Holder
in connection with the offering and the sale of the Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto;
(xi) upon the request of any Holder, enter into such agreements
(including underwriting agreements) and 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 applicable Registration Statement contemplated
by this Agreement as may be reasonably requested by any Holder in
connection with any sale or resale pursuant to any applicable Registration
Statement. In such connection, the Company and the Guarantors shall:
(A) upon request of any Holder, furnish (or in the case of
paragraphs (2) and (3) below, use its best efforts to cause to be
furnished) to such Holder, upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer or
upon the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the
case may be:
(1) a certificate, dated such date, signed on behalf of the
Company and each Guarantor by (x) the President or any Vice
President and (y) a principal financial or accounting officer of
the Company and such Guarantor, confirming, as of the date
thereof, the matters set forth in Sections 8(a), 8(b), 8(c) and
8(d) of the Purchase Agreement and such other similar matters as
such Holders may reasonably request;
(2) opinions, dated the date of Consummation of the Exchange
Offer or the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration
Statement, as the case may be, of counsel for the Company and the
Guarantors covering matters similar to those set forth in
Sections 8(g) and 8(h) of the Purchase Agreement and such other
matter as such Holder may reasonably request, and in any event
including a statement to the effect that such counsel has
participated in conferences with officers and other
representatives of the Company and the Guarantors,
representatives of the independent public accountants for the
Company and the Guarantors and have considered the matters
required to be stated therein and the statements contained
therein, although such counsel has not independently verified the
accuracy, completeness or fairness of such statements; and that
such counsel advises that, on the basis of the foregoing (relying
as to materiality to the extent such counsel deems appropriate
upon the statements of officers and other representatives of the
Company and the Guarantors) and without independent check or
verification), 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 and, in the
case of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as of the date
of Consummation of the Exchange Offer, 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 and, in the case of the
opinion dated the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer, as
of the date of Consummation, contained an untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Without
limiting the foregoing, such counsel may state further that such
counsel assumes no responsibility for, and has not independently
verified, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the financial
statements, notes and schedules and other financial data included
in any Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement or
the related Prospectus; and
(3) customary comfort letters, dated the date of
Consummation of the Exchange Offer, or as of the date of
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case
may be, from the Company's independent accountants, in the
customary form and covering matters of the type customarily
covered in comfort letters to underwriters in connection with
underwritten offerings, and affirming the matters set forth in
the comfort letters delivered pursuant to Sections 8(i) and 8(j)
of the Purchase Agreement; and
(B) deliver such other documents and certificates as may be
reasonably requested by the selling Holders to evidence compliance
with the matters covered in clause (A) above and with any customary
conditions contained in the any agreement entered into by the Company
and the Guarantors pursuant to this clause (xi);
(xii) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted Securities,
cooperate with the selling Holders and their counsel in connection with the
registration and qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under
the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the selling
Holders may request and do any and all other acts or things necessary or
advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Transfer
Restricted Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement;
provided, however, that neither the Company nor any Guarantor shall be
required to register or qualify as a foreign corporation where it is not
now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to the service
of process in suits or to taxation, other than as to matters and
transactions relating to the Registration Statement, in any jurisdiction
where it is not now so subject;
(xiii) in connection with any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities
that will result in such securities no longer being Transfer Restricted
Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Transfer Restricted
Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and to
register such Transfer Restricted Securities in such denominations and such
names as the selling Holders may request at least two Business Days prior
to such sale of Transfer Restricted Securities;
(xiv) use their respective best efforts to cause the disposition of
the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Registration Statement to
be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or
authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof to
consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities, subject
to the proviso contained in clause (xii) above;
(xv) provide a CUSIP number for all Transfer Restricted Securities not
later than the effective date of a Registration Statement covering such
Transfer Restricted Securities and provide the Trustee under the Indenture
with printed certificates for the Transfer Restricted Securities which are
in a form eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company;
(xvi) otherwise use their respective best efforts to comply with all
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally
available to its security holders with regard to any applicable
Registration Statement, as soon as practicable, a consolidated earnings
statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158 (which need not be audited)
covering a twelve-month period beginning after the effective date of the
Registration Statement (as such term is defined in paragraph (c) of Rule
158 under the Act);
(xvii) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA not later
than the effective date of the first Registration Statement required by
this Agreement and, in connection therewith, cooperate with the Trustee and
the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for
such Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA;
and execute and use its best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all
documents that may be required to effect such changes and all other forms
and documents required to be filed with the Commission to enable such
Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner; and
(xviii) provide promptly to each Holder, upon request, each document
filed with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or
Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(d) Restrictions on Holders. Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a
Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of the notice referred to in
Section 6(c)(iii)(C) hereof or any notice from the Company of the existence of
any fact of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof (in each case, a
"Suspension Notice"), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement
until (i) such Holder has received copies of the supplemented or amended
Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(iv) hereof, or (ii) such Holder is
advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed,
and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus (in each case, the "Recommencement
Date"). Each Holder receiving a Suspension Notice hereby agrees that it will
either (i) destroy any Prospectuses, other than permanent file copies, then in
such Holder's possession which have been replaced by the Company with more
recently dated Prospectuses or (ii) 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 covering such Transfer Restricted Securities that
was current at the time of receipt of the Suspension Notice. The time period
regarding the effectiveness of such Registration Statement set forth in Section
3 or Section 4 hereof, as applicable, shall be extended by a number of days
equal to the number of days in the period from and including the date of
delivery of the Suspension Notice to the date of delivery of the Recommencement
Date.
SECTION 7. REGISTRATION EXPENSES
(a) All expenses incident to the Company's and the Guarantors' performance
of or compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company, regardless of
whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including without
limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses; (ii) all fees and
expenses of compliance with federal securities and state Blue Sky or securities
laws; (iii) all expenses of printing (including printing certificates for the
Series B Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of Prospectuses),
messenger and delivery services and telephone; (iv) all fees and disbursements
of counsel for the Company, the Guarantors and the Holders of Transfer
Restricted Securities; (v) all application and filing fees in connection with
listing the Series B Notes on a national securities exchange or automated
quotation system pursuant to the requirements hereof; and (vi) all fees and
disbursements of independent certified public accountants of 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 and the Guarantors' 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 or the Guarantors.
(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 and the Guarantors
will reimburse the Initial Purchasers and the Holders of Transfer Restricted
Securities who are tendering Series A Notes in the Exchange Offer and/or selling
or reselling Series A Notes or Series B Notes pursuant to the "Plan of
Distribution" contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the
Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable, for the reasonable fees and
disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall be Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP,
unless another firm shall be chosen by the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities for whose benefit such Registration
Statement is being prepared.
SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION
(a) The Company and the Guarantors agree, jointly and severally, to
indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, its directors, officers and each
Person, if any, who controls such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of
the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act), from and against any and all losses,
claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, (including without limitation, any
legal or other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending
any matter, including any action that could give rise to any such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments) caused by any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration
Statement, preliminary prospectus or Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto) provided by the Company to any Holder or any prospective purchaser of
Series B Notes or registered Series A Notes, or caused by any omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments are caused by an untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission that is based upon
information relating to any of the Holders furnished in writing to the Company
by any of the Holders.
(b) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted agrees, severally and not jointly,
to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Guarantors, and their
respective directors and officers, and each person, if any, who controls (within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) the
Company, or the Guarantors to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from
the Company and the Guarantors set forth in clause (a) above, but only with
reference to information relating to such Holder furnished in writing to the
Company by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement. In no
event shall any Holder, its directors, officers or any Person who controls such
Holder be liable or responsible for any amount in excess of the amount by which
the total amount received by such Holder with respect to its sale of Transfer
Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds (i) the
amount paid by such Holder for such Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) the
amount of any damages that such Holder, its directors, officers or any Person
who controls such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such
untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
(c) In case any action shall be commenced involving any person in respect
of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a) or Section 8(b) hereof
(the "indemnified party"), the indemnified party shall promptly notify the
person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying person") in
writing and the indemnifying party shall assume the defense of such action,
including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified
party and the payment of all fees and expenses of such counsel, as incurred
(except that in the case of any action in respect of which indemnity may be
sought pursuant to both Sections 8(a) and Section 8(b) hereof, a Holder shall
not be required to assume the defense of such action pursuant to this Section
8(c) hereof, but may employ separate counsel and participate in the defense
thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel, except as provided below,
shall be at the expense of the Holder). Any indemnified party shall have the
right to employ separate counsel in any such action and participate in the
defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the
expense of the indemnified party unless (i) the employment of such counsel shall
have been specifically authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (ii) the
indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such action or
employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party or (iii) the
named parties to any such action (including any impleaded parties) include both
the indemnified party and the indemnifying party, and the indemnified party
shall have been advised by such counsel that there may be one or more legal
defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those
available to the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party shall
not have the right to assume the defense of such action on behalf of the
indemnified party). In any such case, the indemnifying party shall not, in
connection with any one action or separate but substantially similar or related
actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or
circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate
firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) for all indemnified parties
and all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such
firm shall be designated in writing by a majority of the Holders, in the case of
the parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(a) hereof, and by the Company and
Guarantors, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(b) hereof.
The indemnifying party shall indemnify and hold harmless the indemnified party
from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments
by reason of any settlement of any action (i) effected with its written consent
or (ii) effected without its written consent if the settlement is entered into
more than twenty business days after the indemnifying party shall have received
a request from the indemnified party for reimbursement for the fees and expenses
of counsel (in any case where such fees and expenses are at the expense of the
indemnifying party) and, prior to the date of such settlement, the indemnifying
party shall have failed to comply with such reimbursement request. No
indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
party, effect any settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of
judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action in respect of which
the indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity or
contribution may be or could have been sought hereunder by the indemnified
party, unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an
unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability on claims that
are or could have been the subject matter of such action and (ii) does not
include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to
act, by or on behalf of the indemnified party.
(d) To the extent that the indemnification provided for in this Section 8
is unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or judgments referred to therein, then each indemnifying
party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the
amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the
Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, from their sale
of Transfer Restricted Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause
8(d)(i) hereof is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause
8(d)(i) hereof but also the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on
the one hand, and of the Holder, on the other hand, in connection with the
statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or judgments, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on the one
hand, and of the Holder, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to,
among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Company or such Guarantor, on the one hand, or by
the Holder, on the other hand, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages, liabilities and judgments referred to above shall be deemed to
include, subject to the limitations set forth in the second paragraph of Section
8(a) hereof, 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 agree that it would not be just
and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) were determined by
pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The
amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to in the immediately
preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set
forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in connection with investigating or defending any matter, including any
action that could have given rise to such losses, claims, damages, liabilities
or judgments. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Holder, its
directors, its officers or any Person, if any, who controls such Holder shall be
required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by
which the total received by such Holder with respect to the sale of Transfer
Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds (i) the
amount paid by such Holder for such Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) the
amount of any damages which such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by
reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning
of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders'
obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8(d) are several in
proportion to the respective principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities
held by each Holder hereunder and not joint.
SECTION 9. RULE 144A AND RULE 144
The Company and each Guarantor agrees with each Holder, for so long as any
Transfer Restricted Securities remain outstanding and during any period in which
the Company or such Guarantor (i) is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act, to make available, upon request of any Holder, to such Holder or
beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with any sale
thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted Securities
designated by such Holder or beneficial owner, the information required by Rule
144A(d)(4) under the Act in order to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted
Securities pursuant to Rule 144A, and (ii) is subject to Section 13 or 15 (d) of
the Exchange Act, to make all filings required thereby in a timely manner in
order to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule
144.
SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) Remedies. The Company and the Guarantors acknowledge and agree that any
failure by the Company and/or the Guarantors to comply with their respective
obligations under Section 3 and Section 4 hereof may result in material
irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holder for which there is no
adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such
injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial
Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to
specifically enforce the Company's and the Guarantor's obligations under Section
3 and Section 4 hereof. The Company and the Guarantors further agree to waive
the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be
adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor will,
on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to
its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in
this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. Neither the
Company nor any Guarantor has previously entered into any agreement granting any
registration rights with respect to its securities to any Person. 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 and the
Guarantors' securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.
(c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be
amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures from
the provisions hereof may not be given unless (i) in the case of Section 5
hereof and this Section 10(c)(i), the Company has obtained the written consent
of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) in the
case of all other provisions hereof, the Company has obtained the written
consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer
Restricted Securities (excluding Transfer Restricted Securities held by the
Company or its Affiliates). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent
to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights
of Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities are being tendered pursuant to
the Exchange Offer, and that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights
of other Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities are not being tendered
pursuant to such Exchange Offer, may be given by the Holders of a majority of
the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities subject to
such Exchange Offer.
(d) Third Party Beneficiary. The Holders shall be third party beneficiaries
to the agreements made hereunder between the Company and the Guarantors, on the
one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the
right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent they may deem such
enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of
Holders hereunder.
(e) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted
hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail
(registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier, or air
courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(i) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of the
Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to the Registrar under the
Indenture; and
(ii) if to the Company or the Guarantors:
American Cellular Corporation
00000 Xxxxxxxx Xxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
With a copy to:
McAfee & Xxxx
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx
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 receipt
acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next business day, if timely delivered
to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the
address specified in the Indenture.
(f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including
without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent
Holders; provided, that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment,
transfer or other disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities in violation of
the terms hereof or of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture. If any
transferee of any Holder shall acquire Transfer Restricted Securities in any
manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Transfer Restricted
Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by
taking and holding such Transfer Restricted Securities such Person shall be
conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the
terms and provisions of this Agreement, including the restrictions on resale set
forth in this Agreement and, if applicable, the Purchase Agreement, and such
Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.
(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(i) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE
CONFLICT OF LAW RULES THEREOF.
(j) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions
contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions
contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
(k) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final
expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive
statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of
the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises,
warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein
with respect to the registration rights granted with respect to the Transfer
Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
[Signatures on following page]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first written above.
By: XXXXX X. XXXXXXXXXXX
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx
as Vice President of:
ACC ESCROW CORP.;
AMERICAN CELLULAR CORPORATION;
ACC LEASE CO., INC.;
AMERICAN CELLULAR WIRELESS LLC;
ALEXANDRA CELLULAR CORPORATION;
ACC OF WEST VIRGINIA CORPORATION;
ACC OF PENNSYLVANIA LLC;
ACC OF MICHIGAN CORPORATION;
ACC OF MINNESOTA CORPORATION;
ACC OF OHIO CORPORATION;
ACC OF WISCONSIN LLC; and
ACC OF KENTUCKY LLC
BEAR, XXXXXXX & CO. INC.
By: XXXXXX X. XXXXXXX
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Senior Managing Director
XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED
By: COSTA DAMIS
Name: Costa Damis
Title: Vice President
SCHEDULE A
GUARANTORS
ACC Lease Co., Inc.
American Cellular Wireless LLC
Alexandra Cellular Corporation
ACC of West Virginia Corporation
ACC of Pennsylvania LLC
ACC of Minnesota Corporation
ACC of Michigan Corporation
ACC of Ohio Corporation
ACC of Wisconsin LLC
ACC of Kentucky LLC
