WCI STEEL, INC. REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Exhibit
T3C-5
REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”),
dated
as of May 1, 2006 (the “Effective
Date”),
by
and among WCI Steel, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”),
the
holders (the “Noteholders”)
of the
Company’s 8% Senior Secured Notes due 2016 (the “Securities”)
on the
date hereof (together with the Noteholders and any additional noteholders who
become signatories to this Agreement pursuant to the provisions hereof, the
“Securityholders”
and
each individually a “Securityholder”).
WHEREAS,
pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization (the “Reorganization
Plan”)
confirmed by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of
Ohio (the “Bankruptcy
Court”)
in
Case No 05-81439 entered on March 30, 2006, as modified on April 25, 2006,
relating to WCI Steel, Inc., an Ohio corporation, as a debtor-in-possession
and
all of its direct and indirect subsidiaries and additional
debtors-in-possession, the Company issued $100,000,000 in aggregate principal
amount of Securities pursuant to an Indenture dated as of the date hereof (the
“Indenture”)
between the Company and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee; and
WHEREAS,
the Securityholders (acting for themselves and for all Persons who subsequently
may become Securityholders) believe it is in the best interests of the parties
to define certain rights, duties and obligations between the Company and the
Securityholders;
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and mutual covenants contained
herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
Section
1. Definitions.
As used
in this Agreement, terms defined in the preamble and recitals hereto shall
have
the respective meanings specified therein and the following terms shall have
the
following meanings:
“Affiliate”
shall
mean, with respect to the Company or any Holder, (A) any Person which, directly
or indirectly, is in Control of, is Controlled by or is under common Control
with, the Company or the Holder, as the case may be, and (B) any Person who
is a
director, officer, partner or member of the Company or the Holder, as the case
may be, or of any Person described in clause (A) above. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary provided herein, for purposes of this Agreement, no Holder,
its
affiliates or subsidiaries shall be deemed to be Affiliates of the Company,
other than the Company or its subsidiaries.
“Advice”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 3(c).
“Agreement”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereof.
“Bankruptcy
Code”
means
chapter 11 of title 11, United States Code, 11 U.S.C. §§ 101 et
seq.
“Board”
means
the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Commission”
means
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Company”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereof.
“Company
Indemnified Person”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 3(j)(ii).
“Control”
of
a
Person shall mean the power, directly or indirectly, to vote more than 51%
of
the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of
such Person, or to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies
of such Person whether by voting power, contract or otherwise.
“Demand
Registration”
shall
have the meaning specified in Section 3(b).
“Depositary”
shall
mean The Depository Trust Company, or any other depositary appointed by the
Company, provided, however, that such depositary must have an address in the
Borough of Manhattan, in the City of New York.
“Disposition”
(and
in
the verb form “Dispose”)
shall
mean and include any assignment, transfer, sale, exchange, conveyance,
disposition, pledge, hypothecation, gift, testamentary disposition, or
encumbrance whatsoever, whether voluntary, involuntary or by the operation
of
law.
“Effective
Date”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
“Exchange
Act”
shall
mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Exchange Offer”
shall
mean the exchange offer by the Company of Exchange Securities for Registrable
Securities pursuant to Section (b)(iv) hereof.
“Exchange Offer Registration”
shall
mean a registration under the Securities Act effected pursuant to Section
(b)(iv) hereof.
“Exchange Offer Registration Statement”
shall
mean an exchange offer registration statement on Form S-4 or F-4 (or, if
applicable, on another appropriate form or on any successor form used for
substantially the same transactions), and all amendments and supplements to
such
registration statement, including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits
thereto and all documents incorporated by reference therein.
“Exchange
Period”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section (b)(iv) hereof.
“Exchange Securities”
shall
mean, the securities issued by the Company under the Indenture, containing
terms
identical to the Securities in all material respects (except for references
to
certain interest rate provisions, restrictions on transfers and restrictive
legends), to be offered to Holders of Securities in exchange for Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
“GAAP” shall
mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America
in
effect from time to time.
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“Holder”
shall
mean a Securityholder, for so long as it owns any Registrable Securities, and
each of its successors, assigns and direct and indirect transferees who become
registered owners of Registrable Securities under the Indenture and this
Agreement and each Participating Broker-Dealer that holds Exchange Securities
for so long as such Participating Broker-Dealer is required to deliver a
prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with
any
resale of such Exchange Securities.
“Holder
Indemnified Person”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 3(j)(i).
“Indenture”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
“Initiating
Holders”
shall
mean Holders holding at least 51% of the aggregate principle amount of the
Registrable Securities then outstanding.
“Liabilities”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 3(j)(i).
“Majority Holders”
shall
mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding
Registrable Securities; provided that whenever the consent or approval of
Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required
hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company or any Affiliate of the
Company shall be disregarded in determining whether such consent or approval
was
given by the Holders of such required percentage amount.
“NASD”
means
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
“Noteholder”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereof.
“Participating Broker-Dealer”
shall
mean any broker-dealer which makes a market in the Securities and exchanges
Registrable Securities in the Exchange Offer for Exchange
Securities.
“Person”
shall
mean a natural person, corporation, limited liability company, limited
partnership, general partnership, joint stock company, joint venture,
association, company, trust, bank, trust company, land trust, business trust
or
other organization, whether or not a legal entity, and a government or agency
or
political subdivision thereof.
“pro
rata”
shall
mean the ratio of (a) the principal amount of Securities outstanding then held,
by a Holder as of the date of determination to (b) the sum of the aggregate
principal amount of Securities outstanding then held, by all Holders as of
such
date.
“Prospectus”
shall
mean the prospectus included in a Registration Statement, including any
preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as amended or supplemented
by
any prospectus supplement, including any such prospectus supplement with respect
to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities
covered by a Registration Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements
to a prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and in each case including
all material incorporated by reference therein.
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“Registrable
Securities”
means
all or any portion of (i) the Securities held by a Holder, and (ii) the
Securities which a Holder may purchase, in each case until such time as such
Registrable Security ceases to be a Restricted Security.
“Registration”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 3(c).
“Registration
Statement”
means
any registration statement of the Company, that covers any of the Exchange
Securities or the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement, including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such
registration statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and
all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference
in such Registration Statement.
“Reorganization
Plan”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the first recital clause.
“Restricted
Security”
means
any Security except any Security that (a) has been effectively registered under
the Securities Act, (b) has been distributed to the public pursuant to Rule
144
(or any similar provisions then in force) under the Securities Act, (c) has
ceased to be outstanding, (d) has been exchanged for the Exchange Securities
pursuant to the Exchange Offer or (e) has otherwise been transferred and a
new
certificate or other evidence of ownership for them not bearing a legend set
forth in Section 2 of this Agreement (or other legend of similar import) and
not
subject to any stop transfer order has been delivered by or on behalf of the
Company and no other restriction on transfer exists.
“Restricted
Holder”
means
a
Holder that, in the Company’s reasonable determination, may be an “underwriter”
as that term is used in Section 1145 of the Bankruptcy Code.
“Securities”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereof.
“Securities
Act”
shall
mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Securityholders”
and
“Securityholder”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereof.
“Selected
Broker-Dealer”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 3(c)(xix) hereof.
“TIA”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3(b)(iv) of this Agreement.
“Trustee”
shall
mean the trustee with respect to the Securities under the
Indenture.
Section
2. Securities
Legend.
Each
instrument representing Securities received by a Restricted Holder shall be
stamped with a legend in substantially the form set forth in the
Indenture.
Each
Restricted Holder agrees that he, she or it will deliver all certificates owned
by such Restricted Holder to the Company for the purpose of affixing such
legends thereto to the extent not already affixed thereto.
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Section
3. Registration
Rights.
(a) Piggyback
Registration Rights.
Whenever the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the
Securities Act relating to any of its securities (including all or a portion
of
the Securities), whether or not for its own account (other than a Registration
Statement on Form S-8 or S-4 or successor forms), the Company shall give written
notice thereof to the Holders as soon as practicable (but in any event at least
thirty (30) days before such filing), offering the Holders the opportunity
to
register on such Registration Statement such number of Registrable Securities
as
the Holders may request in writing, subject to the provisions of Section 3(c)
hereof, not later than twenty (20) days after the date of such notice (a
“Piggyback
Registration”).
Upon
receipt by the Company of any such request, the Company shall use its best
efforts to include such Registrable Securities in such Registration Statement
and to cause such Registration Statement to become effective with respect to
such Registrable Securities in accordance with the registration procedures
set
forth in Section 3(c) hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time
after giving written notice of its intention to register securities and before
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed in connection with such
registration, the Company determines for any reason either not to effect such
registration or to delay such registration, the Company may, at its election,
by
delivery of written notice to each Holder (i) in the case of a determination
not
to effect registration, relieve itself of its obligation to register the
Registrable Securities in connection with such registration or (ii) in the
case
of a determination to delay registration, delay the registration of such
Registrable Securities for the same period as the delay in the registration
of
all other securities included in such registration. Each Holder requesting
inclusion in such registration pursuant to this Section 3(a) may, at any time
before the effective date of the Registration Statement relating to such
registration, revoke such request by delivering written notice of such
revocation to the Company.
(b) Required
Registration.
(i) Demand.
If (A)
the Initiating Holders propose to Dispose of Registrable Securities and (B)
such
Disposition may not, in the opinion of such Initiating Holders, be effected
in a
private transaction under the Securities Act without registration of such
Securities under the Securities Act at equally favorable net terms to the
Initiating Holders as would be obtained in a registration of such Securities
under the Securities Act, the Initiating Holders may request the Company in
writing to effect such registration (a “Demand
Registration”),
stating the number of Securities of Registrable Securities to be Disposed of
by
such Initiating Holders and the intended method of Disposition. If the
Initiating Holders intend to distribute the Registrable Securities covered
by
their request by means of an underwriting, they shall so advise the Company
as a
part of their request and the Company shall include such information in the
written notice referred to below. Upon receipt of such request, the Company
will
give prompt written notice thereof to all other Holders whereupon such other
Holders shall give written notice to the Company within twenty (20) days after
the date of the Company’s notice (the “Notice
Period”)
if
they propose to Dispose of any Registrable Securities pursuant to such
registration, stating the number of Registrable Securities to be Disposed of
by
such Holder or Holders and the intended method of Disposition. The Company
will
use its reasonable best efforts to effect promptly after the Notice Period
the
registration under the Securities Act of all of
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the
Registrable Securities specified in the requests of the Initiating Holders
and
the requests of the other Holders, subject, however, to the limitations set
forth in Section 3(b)(ii).
(ii) Limitations
on Required Registrations.
(A) The
Company shall not be required to effect more than two registrations pursuant
to
Section 3(b)(i). The Company shall not be required to cause a registration
requested pursuant to Section 3(b)(i) to become effective prior to 180 days
after the end of the fiscal quarter of the Company in which the Company meets
the requirements necessary to file a Registration Statement other than a
Registration Statement on Form S-8 or S-4 or successor forms.
(B) The
Company shall not register securities for sale for its own account in any
registration requested pursuant to Section 3(b)(i) unless permitted to do so
by
the written consent of Initiating Holders who hold at least 51% of the shares
of
the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested. The
Company may not cause any other registration of securities for sale for its
own
account (other than a registration with respect to an employee benefit plan)
to
be initiated after a registration requested pursuant to Section 3(b)(i) and
to
become effective less than 90 days after the effective date of any registration
requested pursuant to Section 3(b)(i).
(C) The
Company shall not be required to effect a registration pursuant to Section
3(b)(i) unless the proposed disposition of Registrable Securities has an
aggregate expected offering price (before deduction of underwriting discounts
and expenses of sale) of not less than 51%
of
the aggregate principle amount of the Registrable Securities then
outstanding.
(D) If
at the
time of any request to register Registrable Securities pursuant to Section
3(b)(i) hereof, the Company is engaged, or has fixed plans to engage within
120
days of the time of the request, in a registered public offering as to which
the
Holders or Initiating Holders, as applicable, may include such Registrable
Securities pursuant to Section 3(a) hereof or is engaged in any other activity
which, in the good faith determination of the Company’s Board, would be
adversely affected by the requested registration to the material detriment
of
the Company, then the Company may at its option direct that such request be
delayed for a period not in excess of ninety (90) days from the consummation
of
such offering, or the date of commencement of such other material activity,
as
the case may be.
(iii) Exchange
Act Registration and Form S-3.
The
Company shall register the Securities under the Exchange Act as soon as legally
permissible following the effective date of the first Registration Statement
covering any securities of the Company offered to the general public and the
Company shall thereafter take all such other commercially reasonable actions
as
would permit or facilitate the sale and distribution of its stock on Form S-3.
After and for so long as the Company is qualified for the use of Form S-3,
the
Holders shall have the right to request registrations on Form S-3 (such requests
shall be in writing and shall state the number or amount of Registrable
Securities, as applicable, to be disposed of and the intended method of
disposition) subject only to the following:
6
(A) The
Company shall not be required to effect a registration pursuant to this Section
3(b)(iii) unless the Holder or Holders requesting registration propose to
dispose of Registrable Securities having an aggregate expected public offering
price (before deduction of underwriting discounts and expenses of sale) of
at
least 51%
of
the aggregate principle amount of the Registrable Securities then
outstanding.
(B) The
Company shall not be required to effect a registration pursuant to this Section
3(b)(iii) more frequently than twice every twelve months.
The
Company shall give notice to all Holders of the receipt of a request for
registration pursuant to this Section 3(b)(iii) and shall provide a reasonable
opportunity for other Holders to participate in the registration, provided
that
if the registration is for an underwritten offering, the terms of Section 3(e)
shall apply to all participants in such offering. Subject to the foregoing,
the
Company will use its best efforts to effect promptly the registration of all
Registrable Securities on Form S-3 to the extent requested by the Holder or
Holders thereof.
(iv) Exchange
Offer Registration Statement.
To the
extent not prohibited by law, the Company shall, for the benefit of the Holders,
at the Company’s cost, (A) use its reasonable best efforts to prepare and,
as soon as practicable but not later than one calendar year following the
Effective Date, file with the Commission an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement on an appropriate form under the Securities Act with respect to a
proposed Exchange Offer and the issuance and delivery to the Holders, in
exchange for the Registrable Securities, of a like principal amount of Exchange
Securities, (B) use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act within
120 days following the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
(C) use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement effective until the closing of the Exchange Offer, and (D) use
its reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be consummated not
later than 240 days following the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement. The Exchange Securities will be issued under the Indenture. Upon
the
effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company shall
promptly commence the Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Exchange
Offer to enable each Holder eligible and electing to exchange Registrable
Securities for Exchange Securities (assuming that such Holder (a) is not an
affiliate of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities
Act, (b) is not a broker-dealer tendering Registrable Securities acquired
directly from the Company for its own account, (c) acquired or will acquire
the Exchange Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder’s business, and
(d) has no arrangements or understandings with any Person to participate in
the Exchange Offer for the purpose of distributing the Exchange Securities)
to
transfer such Exchange Securities from and after their receipt without any
limitations or restrictions under the Securities Act and under state securities
or blue sky laws in the United States.
In
connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(a) mail
as
promptly as practicable to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part
of
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement;
7
(b) keep
the
Exchange Offer open for acceptance for a period of not less than
30 calendar days after the date notice thereof is mailed to the Holders (or
longer if required by applicable law) (such period referred to herein as the
“Exchange
Period”);
(c) utilize
the services of the Depositary for the Exchange Offer;
(d) permit
Holders to withdraw tendered Registrable Securities at any time prior to 5:00
p.m. (Eastern Time), on the last business day of the Exchange Period, by sending
to the institution specified in the notice, a telegram, telex, facsimile
transmission or letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the principal
amount of Registrable Securities delivered for exchange, and a statement that
such Holder is withdrawing such Holder’s election to have such Securities
exchanged;
(e) notify
each Holder that any Registrable Security not tendered will remain outstanding
and continue to accrue interest, but will not retain any rights under this
Agreement (except in the case of the Secured Noteholders and Participating
Broker-Dealers as provided herein); and
(f) otherwise
comply in all material respects with all applicable laws relating to the
Exchange Offer.
The
Exchange Securities shall be issued under (i) the Indenture or (ii) an
indenture identical in all material respects to the Indenture and which, in
either case, has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended (the “TIA”),
or is
exempt from such qualification and shall provide that the Exchange Securities
shall not be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture.
The Indenture or such indenture shall provide that the Exchange Securities
and
the Securities shall vote and consent together on all matters as one class
and
that neither the Exchange Securities or the Securities will have the right
to
vote or consent as a separate class on any matter.
As
soon
as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer, the Company
shall:
(i) accept
for exchange all Registrable Securities duly tendered and not validly withdrawn
pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the terms of the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement and the letter of transmittal which shall be an
exhibit thereto;
(ii) deliver,
or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable
Securities so accepted for exchange; and
(iii) cause
the
Trustee promptly to authenticate and deliver Exchange Securities, to each Holder
of Registrable Securities so accepted for exchange in a principal amount equal
to the principal amount of the Registrable Securities of such Holder so accepted
for exchange.
8
Interest
on each Exchange Security will accrue from the last date on which interest
was
paid on the Registrable Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if
no
interest has been paid on the Registrable Securities, from the date of original
issuance. The Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any conditions, other
than
(i) that the Exchange Offer, or the making of any exchange by a Holder, does
not
violate applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the
Commission, (ii) the due tendering of Registrable Securities in accordance
with
the Exchange Offer, (iii) that each Holder of Registrable Securities
exchanged in the Exchange Offer shall have represented that all Exchange
Securities to be received by it shall be acquired in the ordinary course of
its
business and that at the time of the consummation of the Exchange Offer it
shall
have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the
distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange
Securities and shall have made such other representations as may be reasonably
necessary under applicable Commission rules, regulations or interpretations
to
render the use of Form S-4 or F-4 or other appropriate form under the Securities
Act available, as well as any other customary representations in connection
therewith, and (iv) that no action or proceeding shall have been instituted
or threatened in any court or by or before any governmental agency with respect
to the Exchange Offer which, in the Company’s judgment, would reasonably be
expected to impair the ability of the Company to proceed with the Exchange
Offer.
(iv) Form
S-3.
(A)
If,
because of any changes in law, Commission rules or regulations or applicable
interpretations thereof by the staff of the Commission or Commission policy,
the
Company is not permitted to effect the Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section
3(b)(iv) hereof, (B) if for any other reason the Exchange Offer is not
completed within two years after the Effective Date, (C) upon the request
of any of the Holders with respect to Securities held by such Holder that are
not eligible to be exchanged for Exchange Securities in the Exchange Offer
or
which are exchanged in the Exchange Offer for Exchange Securities which are
not
freely tradeable or (D) if a Holder is not permitted by applicable law to
participate in the Exchange Offer or elects to participate in the Exchange
Offer
but does not receive freely tradeable Exchange Securities pursuant to the
Exchange Offer, then in case of each of clauses (A) through (D) the Company
shall, at its cost:
(a) As
promptly as practicable, file with the Commission, and thereafter shall use
their reasonable best efforts to cause to be declared effective as promptly
as
practicable but no later than two years after the Effective Date, a Form S-3
relating to the offer and sale of the Registrable Securities by the Holders
from
time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution elected by the
Majority Holders participating in the registration and set forth in the Form
S-3.
(b) Use
their
reasonable best efforts to keep the Form S-3 continuously effective in order
to
permit the Prospectus forming part thereof to be usable by Holders for a period
of two years from the date the Form S-3 is declared effective by the Commission,
or for such shorter period that will terminate when all Registrable Securities
covered by the Form S-3 have been sold pursuant to the Form S-3 or cease to
be
outstanding or otherwise to be Registrable Securities (the “Effectiveness
Period”);
provided, however, that the Effectiveness Period in respect of the Form S-3
shall be extended to the extent required to permit dealers to
9
comply
with the applicable prospectus delivery requirements under the Securities Act
and as otherwise provided herein.
(c) Notwithstanding
any other provisions hereof, use their reasonable best efforts to ensure that
(i) any Form S-3 and any amendment thereto and any Prospectus forming part
thereof and any supplement thereto complies in all material respects with the
Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) any Form S-3
and
any amendment thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and
(iii) any Prospectus forming part of any Form S-3, and any supplement to such
Prospectus (as amended or supplemented from time to time), does not include
an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
in order to make the statements, in light of the circumstances under which
they
were made, not misleading.
The
Company shall not permit any securities other than Registrable Securities to
be
included in the Form S-3. The Company further agrees, if necessary, to
supplement or amend the Form S-3, as required by Section 3(c) below, and to
furnish to the Holders of Registrable Securities copies of any such supplement
or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the
Commission.
(d) Registration
Procedures.
It
shall
be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company and any underwriter
or underwriters to take any action pursuant to this Section 3 with respect
to
the Registrable Securities of any Holder requesting inclusion in any Piggyback
Registration or any Initiating Holder requesting a Demand Registration that
such
Holder or Initiating Holder, as applicable, shall furnish to the Company such
information regarding it, the Registrable Securities held by it, the intended
method of disposition of such Registrable Securities, and such agreements
regarding indemnification, disposition of such securities and the other matters
referred to in this Section 3 as the Company shall reasonably request and as
shall be required in connection with the action to be taken by the Company.
In
connection with the obligations of the Company with respect to the registrations
pursuant to this Section 3 (each, a “Registration,”
and
collectively, the “Registrations”)
and
the Registration Statements, the Company shall, subject to the provisions of
this Section 3, as expeditiously as practicable:
(i) prepare
and file with the Commission a Registration Statement on the appropriate form
prescribed by the Commission, within any relevant time periods specified in
this
Section 3, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration
Statement to become effective;
(ii) immediately
notify each Holder participating in the Registration, any Participating
Broker-Dealer who has notified the Company that it is utilizing the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement and, if applicable, any underwriter or underwriters
of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration of any stop order
threatened or issued by the Commission and take all actions reasonably required
to prevent the entry of a stop order or if entered to have it rescinded or
otherwise removed;
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(iii) prepare
and file with the Commission such amendments, post-effective amendments and
supplements to such Registration Statement, and any documents required to be
incorporated by reference therein, as may be necessary to keep the Registration
Statement effective for the applicable time period in the case of Registrations
pursuant to Section 3(b)(iv) and (v) and, in the case of all other
Registrations, until the distribution of Registrable Securities shall have
been
completed or until the expiration of 180 days (or such longer period as the
Company may agree on) after the effective date, whichever is earlier; cause
each
Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement and, as
so
supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act (or
any
successor rule); and comply in all material respects with the provisions of
the
Securities Act and Exchange Act applicable to it with respect to the disposition
of all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement during
the
applicable period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by
the
sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the
Prospectus (including sales by a Participating Broker-Dealer);
(iv) in
the
case of a Registration Statement other than an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, furnish to the Holders of Registrable Securities participating in
the
Registration and, if applicable, to the underwriter or underwriters of the
Registrable Securities covered by the Registration such number of copies of
the
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, the Prospectus
(including each preliminary prospectus and any amendments or supplements
thereto), any exhibits or documents incorporated by reference in the foregoing
items and such other documents as such Holders or underwriter or underwriters,
if any, may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the
securities being sold by the Holders;
(v) in
the
case of a Registration Statement other than an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, notify each Holder of Registrable Securities, at least five business
days prior to filing, that a Registration Statement with respect to the
Registrable Securities is being filed and advising such Holders that the
distribution of Registrable Securities will be made in accordance with the
method selected by the Majority Holders participating in the Registration;
and
hereby consent to the use of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto by each of the selling Holders of Registrable Securities in connection
with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by the
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;
(vi) on
or
prior to the date on which the Registration Statement is declared effective,
use
its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify, and cooperate with such
Holder, the underwriter or underwriters, if any, and their counsel in connection
with the registration or qualification of the Registrable Securities covered
by
the Registration Statement for offer and sale under the securities or blue
sky
laws of each state and other jurisdiction of the United States as such Holder
or
managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, may reasonably request
(considering the nature or size of the offering and the expense and time
involved in such qualification or registration), and to do any and all other
reasonable acts or things which may be necessary or advisable to enable the
disposition in all such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered
by
the applicable Registration Statement; provided,
however,
that
the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any
jurisdiction where it is
11
not
then
so qualified or to take any action which would subject it to general service
of
process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;
(vii) notify
promptly each Holder participating in the Registration or any Participating
Broker-Dealer who has notified the Company that it is utilizing the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement and, if requested by such Holder or Participating
Broker-Dealer, confirm such advice in writing promptly (a) when a Registration
Statement has become effective and when any post-effective amendments and
supplements thereto become effective, (b) of any request by the Commission
or
any state securities authority for post-effective amendments and supplements
to
a Registration Statement and Prospectus or for additional information after
the
Registration Statement has become effective, (c) in the case of a Registration
Statement other than an Exchange Offer Registration Statement, if, between
the
effective date of a Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of
Registrable Securities covered thereby, the representations and warranties
of
the Company contained in any underwriting agreement, securities sales agreement
or other similar agreement, if any, relating to the offering cease to be true
and correct in all material respects, (d) in the case of a Registration
Statement other than an Exchange Offer Registration Statement, of the happening
of any event or the discovery of any facts during the period the Registration
Statement is effective which makes any statement made in such Registration
Statement or the related Prospectus untrue in any material respect or which
requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement or Prospectus
in order to make the statements therein not misleading, (e) of the receipt
by
the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the
qualification of the Registrable Securities or the Exchange Securities, as
the
case may be, for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening
of
any proceeding for such purpose, and (f) of any determination by the Company
that a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement would be
appropriate;
(viii) in
the
case of a Registration Statement other than an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, promptly upon the occurrence of any event or the discovery of any
facts, each as contemplated by Sections 3(vi)(c) and (d) hereof, as promptly
as
practicable after the occurrence of such an event, use their reasonable efforts
to prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement or the related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by
reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered
to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities or Participating Broker-Dealers,
such Prospectus will not contain at the time of such delivery any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to
make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading or will remain so qualified. At such time as such public
disclosure is otherwise made or the Company determines that such disclosure
is
not necessary, in each case to correct any misstatement of a material fact
or to
include any omitted material fact, the Company agrees promptly to notify each
Holder of such determination and to furnish each Holder such number of copies
of
the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, as such Holder may reasonably
request;
(ix) make
every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawl of any order suspending the
effectiveness of a Registration Statement at the earliest possible moment and
provide immediate notice to each Holder of the withdrawl of such
order;
12
(x) in
the
case of a Registration Statement other than an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Securities to
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing
Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends;
and
enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations (consistent
with
the provisions of the Indenture) and registered in such names as the selling
Holders or the underwriters, if any, may reasonably request at least three
business days prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable
Securities;
(xi) a
reasonable time prior to the filing of any Registration Statement, any
Prospectus, any amendment to a Registration Statement or amendment or supplement
to a Prospectus or any document which is to be incorporated by reference into
a
Registration Statement or a Prospectus after initial filing of a Registration
Statement, provide copies of such document to the Securityholders, to counsel
of
the Holders of Registrable Securities and, if any, to the underwriter or
underwriters of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities; make such
changes in any such document prior to the filing thereof as the Securityholders,
the counsel to the Holders or the underwriter or underwriters, if any,
reasonably request and not file any such document in a form to which the
Majority Holders, the Securityholders, counsel for the Holders of Registrable
Securities or any underwriter shall not have previously been advised and
furnished a copy of or to which the Majority Holders, the Securityholders,
counsel to the Holders of Registrable Securities or any underwriter shall
reasonably object; and make representatives of the Company, as shall be
reasonably requested by the Holders of Registrable Securities, the
Securityholders, counsel for the Holders of Registrable Securities or any
underwriter, available for discussion of such document;
(xii) furnish
counsel for the Holders copies of any comment letters received from the
Commission or any other request from the Commission or any state securities
authority for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement and
Prospectus or for additional information;
(xiii) use
its
reasonable best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered by the
Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other
governmental agencies or authorities within the United States, including,
without limitation, the NASD, as may be necessary to enable the seller or
sellers thereof or the underwriter or underwriters, if any, to consummate the
disposition of such Registrable Securities, including cooperating and assisting
in any filings required to be made with the NASD and in the performance of
any
due diligence investigation by any underwriter and its counsel (including any
qualified independent underwriter” that is required to be retained in accordance
with the rules and regulations of the NASD);
(xiv) in
the
case of a Registration Statement other than an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities
covered by the Registration Statement to be listed or quoted (as the case may
be) on any national securities exchange or automated quotation system on which
any similar debt securities issued by the Company are listed or quoted if
requested by the Majority Holders or if requested by the underwriter or
underwriters of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, and to
provide
13
a
transfer agent and registrar for such securities covered by such Registration
Statement no later than the effective date of such Registration
Statement;
(xv) in
the
case of a Registration Statement other than an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities
to be rated by the appropriate rating agencies, if so requested by the Majority
Holders;
(xvi) in
the
case of a Registration Statement other than an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, enter into such customary agreements (including an underwriting
agreement in customary form) reasonably satisfactory to the Company and take
all
other actions in connection with those agreements as the Holders participating
in the Registration and, if applicable, the underwriter or underwriters of
the
Registrable Securities covered by the Registration, if any, reasonably request
to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Registrable
Securities;
(xvii) give
the
Holders who hold Registrable Securities registered under such Registration
Statement or Participating Broker-Dealers who are required to deliver a
Prospectus in the case of an Exchange Offer, and who have entered into
reasonable and appropriate confidentiality agreements with the Company, the
timely opportunity to review and comment upon such Registration Statement,
each
Prospectus included therein or filed with the Commission and each amendment
or
supplement to the foregoing items, and at their request give each of them such
access to its books and records and such opportunities to discuss the business
of the Company with its officers and the independent public accountants who
have
certified its financial statements as shall be reasonably necessary to conduct
appropriate due diligence required of such Holders and Participating
Broker-Dealers as contemplated by Section 12(a)(2) of the Securities Act;
provided,
however,
such
Holders and Participating Broker-Dealers shall use reasonable efforts to
coordinate any such due diligence so as not to delay the offering contemplated
by such Registration Statement or impose an unreasonable burden or expense
on
the Company;
(xviii) in
the
case of a Registration Statement other than an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, use
its
reasonable best efforts to provide to the Holders and underwriter or
underwriters, if any, with legal opinions and “cold comfort” letters in
customary form and substance as the Holders participating in the Registration
and, if applicable, the underwriter or underwriters of the Registrable
Securities covered by the Registration reasonably request;
(xix) in
the
case of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (a) include in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement a section entitled “Plan of Distribution”
which section shall be reasonably acceptable to a Participating Broker-Dealer
selected by the Majority Holders, if any (the “Selected Broker-Dealer”) on
behalf of the Participating Broker-Dealers, and which shall contain a summary
statement of the positions taken or policies made by the staff of the Commission
with respect to the potential “underwriter” status of any broker-dealer that
holds Registrable Securities acquired for its own account as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities and that will be the
beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of
Exchange Securities to be received by such broker-dealer
14
in
the Exchange Offer, whether such positions or policies have been publicly
disseminated by the staff of the Commission or such positions or policies,
in
the reasonable judgment of the Selected Broker-Dealer on behalf of the
Participating Broker-Dealers and its counsel, represent the prevailing views
of
the staff of the Commission, including a statement that any such broker-dealer
who receives Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to the
Exchange Offer may be deemed a statutory underwriter and must deliver a
prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with
any
resale of such Exchange Securities, (b) furnish to each Participating
Broker-Dealer who has delivered to the Company the notice referred to in Section
3(c)(vi), without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus included in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus,
and
any amendment or supplement thereto, as such Participating Broker-Dealer may
reasonably request, (c) hereby consent to the use of the Prospectus forming
part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement
thereto, by any Person subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the
Commission including all Participating Broker-Dealers, in connection with the
sale or transfer of the Exchange Securities covered by the Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto, and (d) include in the transmittal letter
or
similar documentation to be executed by an exchange offeree in order to
participate in the Exchange Offer (X) the following provision (or any other
provision requested by the Selected Broker-Dealer on behalf of the Participating
Broker-Dealers with respect to similar matters):
“If
the
exchange offeree is a broker dealer holding Registrable Securities acquired
for
its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, it will deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the
Securities Act in connection with any resale of Exchange Securities received
in
respect of such Registrable Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer;
and
(Y)
a
statement to the effect that by a broker-dealer making the acknowledgment
described in clause (X) and by delivering a Prospectus in connection with the
exchange of Registrable Securities, the broker-dealer will not be deemed to
admit that it is an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities
Act;
(xx) obtain
a
CUSIP number (or, if applicable, an ISIN number) for all Exchange Securities
or
Registrable Securities, as the case may be, not later than the effective date
of
a Registration Statement, and provide the Trustee with printed certificates
for
the Exchange Securities or the Registrable Securities, as the case may be,
in a
form eligible for deposit with the Depositary;
(xxi) cause
the
Indentures to be qualified under the TIA in connection with the registration
of
the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be; cooperate
with the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as
may
be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms
of
the TIA; and execute, and use its reasonable efforts to cause the Trustee to
execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes, and all other
forms and documents required to be filed with the Commission to enable the
Indentures to be so qualified in a timely manner;
15
(xxii) upon
consummation of an Exchange Offer, obtain a customary opinion of counsel to
the
Company addressed to the Trustee for the benefit of all Holders of Registrable
Securities participating in the Exchange Offer, and which includes an opinion
that (a) the Company has duly authorized, executed and delivered the
Exchange Securities and the related indenture, and (b) each of the Exchange
Securities and related indenture constitute a legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with
its respective terms (with customary exceptions).
(xxiii) use
its
reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations
of
the Commission, and make available to its security holders, as soon as
reasonably practicable, an earnings statement complying with the provisions
of
Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and covering the period of at least twelve
months, beginning with the first fiscal quarter beginning after the effective
date of the Registration Statement.
The
Holders, upon receipt of any notice from the Company that the Prospectus
prepared pursuant to this Section 3(c) contains an untrue statement of a
material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, will forthwith discontinue disposition of the
Registrable Securities until the Holders of Registrable Securities or any
Participating Broker-dealer requires to deliver a prospectus in an Exchange
Offer receive copies of a supplemented or amended prospectus or until they
are
advised in writing (the “Advice”)
by the
Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed, and have received copies
of any supplemented or amended prospectus, and, if so directed by the Company,
each Holder shall, or shall request the managing underwriter or underwriters,
if
any, to, deliver to the Company all copies, other than permanent file copies
then in such Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable
Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice. In the event the
Company shall give any such notice, the applicable time periods shall be
extended by the number of days during the period from and including any date
of
the giving of such notice to and including the date when each seller of
Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement shall have
received the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated
by
the immediately preceding sentence or the Advice.
If,
following the date hereof, there has been a change in Commission policy with
respect to exchange offers such as the Exchange Offer, such that in the opinion
of counsel to the Company or the Holders there is a substantial question as
to
whether the Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable federal law, the Company
hereby agree to seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision from the
Commission allowing the Company to consummate an Exchange Offer for the
Securities. The Company hereby agrees to pursue the issuance of such a decision
to the Commission staff level. In connection with the foregoing, the Company
hereby agrees to take all such other actions as are requested by the Commission
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 basis, if any, upon which such counsel has concluded that such
an Exchange Offer shall be permitted and (C) diligently pursuing a resolution
(which need not be favorable) by the Commission staff of such
submission.
16
(e) Expenses.
All
expenses incurred in effecting any registration pursuant to this Section 3
including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees, rating agency
fees, fees and expenses of the Trustee and any escrow agent or custodian,
printing expenses, expenses of compliance with blue sky laws, fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company, reasonable legal fees and expenses
of
one counsel designated by the Majority Holders and expenses of any audits
incidental to or required by any such registration, shall be borne by the
Company, except that all expenses, fees and disbursements of any other counsel
retained by the Holders, and all underwriting discounts and commissions and
fees
shall be borne by the Holders pro rata on the basis of the principal amount
of
Registrable Securities so registered on their behalf.
(f) Effectiveness.
A
Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 3 will not be deemed to have
become effective unless it has been declared effective by the Commission;
provided, however, that if, after it has been declared effective, the offering
of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement is interfered
with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the
Commission or any other governmental agency or court, such Registration
Statement will be deemed not to have become effective during the period of
such
interference, until the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to such
Registration Statement may legally resume.
(g) Limitations
on Registration.
If the
registration of which the Company gives notice pursuant to this Section is
for an underwritten offering, only securities that are to be included in the
underwriting may be included in the registration. Notwithstanding any provision
of this Section, if the underwriter determines that marketing factors require
a
limitation of the number of Securities to be underwritten, (i) in the case
of a
registration pursuant to Section 3(a) the underwriter may eliminate or reduce
the number of Registrable Securities of the Holders to be included in the
registration and underwriting, proportionately among the Holders based on the
number of Registrable Securities requested to be included, and (ii) in the
case
of a registration pursuant to Section 3(b)(i), the underwriter shall allocate
the number of shares of Registrable Securities that may be included in the
underwriting among all Holders thereof, including the Initiating Holders, in
proportion to the amount of Registrable Securities owned by each Holder;
provided,
however,
that
the number of shares of Registrable Securities to be included in such
underwriting shall not be reduced unless all other securities are first entirely
excluded from the underwriting. The Company shall so advise the Holders in
writing. No Registrable Securities of the Holders excluded from the underwriting
by reason of the underwriter’s marketing limitation shall be included in such
registration. If any Holder disapproves of any such underwriting, it or he
or
she may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to the Company and the
underwriter. The Registrable Securities of the Holders so withdrawn from such
underwriting shall also be withdrawn from such registration. The registration
rights granted under this Section 3 shall terminate as to a Holder if such
Person (a) holds one percent (1%) or less of the outstanding principal
amount of the Securities and (b) would be permitted to sell all of the
Registrable Securities held by it, him or her within one three month period
pursuant to Rule 144.
(h) Designation
of Underwriter.
The
Company shall have the right to designate the managing underwriter in any
Piggyback Registration; provided,
however,
that
such managing underwriter must be reasonably acceptable to Holders holding
a
majority of the
17
Securities
requesting to be registered in such Piggyback Registration. The Majority Holders
of such Registrable Securities included in any underwritten offering other
than
a Piggyback Registration shall have the right to designate the managing
underwriter in such registration; provided,
however,
that
such managing underwriter must be reasonably acceptable to the Company.
No
Holder
of Registrable Securities may participate in any underwritten registration
hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder’s Registrable
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 questionnaires, powers of attorney,
indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the
terms of such underwriting arrangements.
(i) Cooperation
by the Holders.
The
Holders shall promptly furnish to the Company such information as the Company
may reasonably require from the Holders in connection with the Registration
Statement (and the prospectus included therein).
(j) Registration
Rights Indemnification.
(i) By
the
Company.
In the
event any Registrable Securities of a Holder are included in a Registration
Statement under this Section, to the extent permitted by law, the Company will,
and hereby does, indemnify and hold harmless each such Holder, each
Securityholder, each Participating Broker-Dealer, the agents and attorneys
of
each, each other Person who participates as an underwriter in the offering
or
sale of such securities and each other Person, if any, who controls such Holder
or its agents or any such underwriter within the meaning of the Securities
Act,
and their respective successors (collectively, “Holder
Indemnified Persons”),
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, or actions or proceedings,
whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof (collectively, “Liabilities”),
to
which such Holder Indemnified Person may become subject under the Securities
Act
or otherwise, insofar as such Liabilities arise out of or are based upon any
untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained
in
any Registration Statement under which such securities were registered under
the
Securities Act, any Prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement
thereto, 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, and the Company will reimburse such Holder Indemnified Persons
for
any expenses (including but not limited to reasonable attorneys’ fees)
reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any
such Liability; provided,
that
the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such
Liability or expense arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such
Registration Statement, any such Prospectus, amendment or supplement in reliance
upon and in strict conformity with written information furnished to the Company
by such Holder or its agents expressly for use in the preparation thereof,
and
provided further
that the
Company shall not be liable to any Person who participates as an underwriter
in
the offering or sale of Registrable Securities or any other Person, if any,
who
controls such underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act, in any
such
case to the extent that any such Liability or expense arises out of such
Person’s failure to send or give a copy of the final prospectus, as the same may
be then supplemented or amended, to the Person asserting an untrue statement
or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission at or prior to the
written confirmation of the sale of Registrable Securities to such
18
Person
if
such statement or omission was correct in such final prospectus; provided,
further,
that
this indemnity shall not be deemed to relieve any underwriter of any of its
due
diligence obligations; provided,
further,
that
the indemnity agreement contained in this clause (i) shall not apply to amounts
paid in settlement of any such Liability if such settlement is effected without
the consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of such Holder Indemnified Person and shall
survive the Disposition of such Registrable Securities by such
Holder.
(ii) By
the
Holders.
In the
event any Registrable Securities of a Holder are included in a Registration
Statement under this Section, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder,
severally, but not jointly, agrees to indemnify the Company, the
Securityholders, the other selling Holders, and the officers and directors,
agents and attorneys of each, and each Person who participates as an underwriter
in the offering or sale of such securities, and each Person, if any, who
controls the Company or any such other Persons within the meaning of the
Securities Act, and their respective successors (each, a “Company
Indemnified Person”)
against any Liabilities, to which such Company Indemnified Person may become
subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such Liabilities
arise
out of or are based on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of
a
material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which such
securities were registered under the Securities Act, any preliminary prospectus,
final prospectus or summary prospectus contained therein, or any amendment
or
supplement thereto, 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, and such Holder will reimburse the Company Indemnified
Persons for any expenses (including but not limited to reasonable attorneys’
fees) reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending
any such Liability; provided,
that
such Holder shall not be liable in any such case except to the extent that
any
such Liability or expense arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement
or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such
Registration Statement, any such preliminary prospectus, final prospectus,
summary prospectus, amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in strict
conformity with written information (including, without limitation, written
negative responses to inquiries) furnished to the Company by such Holder or
its
agents expressly for use in the preparation thereof; provided further
that
such Holder shall not be liable to any Company Indemnified Person to the extent
that any such Liability or expense arises out of such Person’s failure to send
or give a copy of the final prospectus, as the same may be then supplemented
or
amended, to the Person asserting an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
or omission or alleged omission at or prior to the written confirmation of
the
sale of Registrable Securities to such Person if such statement or omission
was
correct in such final prospectus; provided,
further,
that
this indemnity shall not be deemed to relieve any underwriter of any of its
due
diligence obligations; provided,
further,
that
the indemnity agreement contained in this clause (ii) shall not apply to amounts
paid in settlement of any such Liability if such settlement is effected without
the consent of such Holder, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld;
provided,
further,
that
the obligations of such Holder shall be limited to an amount equal to the net
proceeds received by such Holder of Registrable Securities sold as contemplated
herein.
19
(iii) Procedure.
Promptly
after receipt by an indemnified party of notice of the commencement of any
action or proceeding involving a claim referred to in this Section, such
indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against
an
indemnifying party, give written notice to the latter of the commencement of
such action; provided that the failure of any indemnified party to give notice
as provided herein shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations
under this Section, except to the extent that the indemnifying party is actually
materially prejudiced by such failure to give notice. In case any such action
is
brought against an indemnified party, unless in such indemnified party’s
reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and
indemnifying parties may exist in respect of such claim, the indemnifying party
shall be entitled to participate in and to assume the defense thereof, jointly
with any other indemnifying party similarly notified to the extent that it
may
wish, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after
notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election
so
to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to
such indemnified party for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred
by
the latter in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs
of
investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the
indemnified party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement
which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the
claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability
in respect to such claim or litigation.
(iv) Other
Laws.
Indemnification similar to that specified in this Section shall be given by
the
Company with respect to any required registration or other qualification of
securities under any federal or state law or regulation of any governmental
authority other than the Securities Act.
(v) Periodic
Payments.
The
indemnification required by this Section shall be made by periodic payments
of
the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, as and
when bills are received or expense, loss, damage or liability is
incurred.
(k) Restrictions
on Sale by Holders of Registrable Securities.
Each
Holder who has rights to participate in an offering of Registrable Securities
agrees, if requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters in an
underwritten offering by the Company of any Registrable Securities in connection
with any public offering by the Company of such Securities, not to effect any
sale or distribution of Registrable Securities, including a private sale or
a
sale pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force) under the
Securities Act (except as part of such underwritten registration), during the
14-day period prior to, and during the 90-day period with respect to any
subsequent offering of Registrable Securities beginning on the effective date
of
such Registration Statement, provided that the Company and each other officer,
director or holder of 1% or more of the outstanding Shares of the Company are
similarly bound.
(l) Rule 144 and Rule 144A.
At any
time when the Company is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act,
the Company covenants that it will upon the request of any Holder of Registrable
Securities, subject to the Company availing itself of applicable exemptions
under law, (a) make publicly available such information as is necessary to
permit sales pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, and (b) deliver
such
information to a prospective purchaser as is necessary to permit sales pursuant
to Rule 144A under the Securities
20
Act.
Upon
the request of any Holder of Registrable Securities, the Company will deliver
to
such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such
requirements. At any time when the Company is subject to Section 13 or 15(d)
of
the Exchange Act, the Company covenants that it will file the reports required
to be filed by it under the Securities Act and Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations adopted by the Commission
thereunder.
(m) Transfer
of Registration Rights.
The
registration rights granted to the Securityholders under this Section 3 may
be
transferred but only in connection with a Disposition of not less than 3% of
the
outstanding Registrable Securities in compliance with the provisions of this
Agreement.
Section
4. Representations
and Warranties.
Each
Securityholder, severally (with respect to himself or itself) represents and
warrants, as of the date hereof (or the date such Securityholder becomes a
party
hereto) to each other party hereto as follows:
(a) This
Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such
Securityholder and, assuming the due authorization, execution, and delivery
by
the Company and the other Securityholders, constitutes his or its valid and
binding obligation, enforceable in accordance with the terms of this Agreement,
subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, and similar laws
affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of
equity.
(b) The
execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Securityholder and the
performance of his or its obligations hereunder will not (i) if such
Securityholder is an entity, violate or conflict with any provision of its
organizational documents, (ii) violate, conflict with, or give rise to any
right
of termination, cancellation, or acceleration under any material agreement
or
instrument to which such Securityholder is a party, or by which he, it, or
any
of his or its assets is bound, (iii) result in the imposition of any lien on
any
Securities held by such Securityholder, (iv) violate or conflict with any
applicable laws, rules, or regulations, or (v) require any consent, approval
or
other action of, notice to, or filing with any entity or Person (governmental
or
private).
Section
5. After-Acquired
Securities.
(a) Disposed
of Securities.
The
provisions of this Agreement shall continue to apply to any Securities Disposed
of (whether or not for consideration) by any Securityholder or Holder and the
Company may require as a condition for such a Disposition that the transferee
execute an Agreement substantially identical in form to this one, to which
all
of the Securities of the transferee will be subject, and which transferee
agreement will be treated as a part of this Agreement.
(b) Additional
Securities.
This
Agreement shall apply equally to any additional Securities of the Company
acquired by the Holders, whether for additional consideration, as a stock
dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, or recapitalization or
reorganization of any type or otherwise. All such Securities shall be issued
bearing the legend
21
referred
to in Section 2 and the definition of Security will be interpreted accordingly
to give effect to this Section 5(b).
Section
6. Termination.
This
Agreement, and the rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall terminate
forthwith, and without further liability on account of such termination, upon
the first to occur of (a) the three year anniversary of the date which is 180
days after the end of the fiscal quarter of the Company in which the Company
meets the requirements necessary to file and cause to become effective a
Registration Statement (other than a Registration Statement of Form S-8 or
S-4
or successor forms), (b) the Disposition of all of the Securities owned by
all
Holders, or (c) on agreement of the parties hereto.
Section
7. Miscellaneous.
(a) Notices.
Any and
all notices, designations, consents, offers, acceptances, or any other
communication provided for herein shall be given in writing by hand delivery
or
registered or certified mail which shall be addressed, (i) in the case of the
Company, to WCI Steel, Inc., 0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, XX, Xxxxxx, Xxxx 00000-0000,
Attention: Chief Financial Officer, with a copy to XxXxxxxxx Will & Xxxxx
LLP, 00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000, Attention: Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxx, Esq., and (ii) in
the
case of any Holder, the address of the party appearing in the Company’s records
(or to such other address as may be designated by such party).
Except
as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each such notice shall be deemed given
at the time it is received, in the case of a personal delivery, or five (5)
days
after mailed, registered or certified, in any post office or branch post office
regularly maintained by the United States government.
(b) Modifications.
Neither
this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be changed, waived, discharged
or
terminated orally or in writing, except that any provision of this Agreement
may
be amended and the observance of any such provision may be waived (either
generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively)
with (but only with) the written consent of (i) the
Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
Registrable Securities affected by such amendment
or waiver and (ii) the Company.
(c) Waiver.
No
failure or delay on the part of the Holders or any of them in exercising any
right, power or privilege hereunder, and no course of dealing between the
Company and the Holders or any of them shall operate as a waiver thereof nor
shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder
preclude the simultaneous or later exercise of any other right, power or
privilege. The rights and remedies herein expressly provided are cumulative
and
not exclusive of any rights or remedies which the Holders or any of them would
otherwise have. No notice to or demand on the Company or any Holder in any
case
shall entitle the Company or such Holder to any other or further notice or
demand in similar or other circumstances or constitute a waiver of the rights
of
the Holders or any of them to take any other or further action in any
circumstances without notice or demand.
(d) Equitable
Relief.
The
parties hereto agree and declare that legal remedies may be inadequate to
enforce the provisions of this Agreement and that equitable relief,
22
including
specific performance and injunctive relief, may be used to enforce the
provisions of this Agreement.
(e) Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall
be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one
and
the same instrument.
(f) Governing
Law.
This
Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of New York without reference to conflicts of laws rules or
principles.
(g) Arbitration.
(i) If
any of
the parties hereto are unable to resolve any controversy, dispute or claim
arising out of, or relating to, this Agreement (any such controversy, claim
or
dispute, a “Dispute”)
on or
before the 30th
day
following the receipt by a party hereto of written notice of such Dispute from
another party or parties, which notice describes in reasonable detail the nature
of the dispute and the facts and circumstance relating thereto, a party, by
delivery of written notice to the other parties, may require that their
representatives meet at a mutually agreeable time and place in an attempt to
resolve such Dispute. Such meeting shall take place on or before the
15th
day
following the date of the notice requiring such meeting, and if the Dispute
has
not been resolved within fifteen (15) days following such meeting, the parties
may cause such Dispute to be settled by final and binding arbitration in New
York, New York before JAMS Inc., or its successor, pursuant to the United States
Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Sec. 1 et seq.,
by
filing a written demand for arbitration with JAMS Inc., with a copy to the
other
party, by submitting such dispute for arbitration within thirty (30) days
following the expiration of such fifteen (15) day period. The arbitration will
be conducted in accordance with the provisions of JAMS Inc. Comprehensive
Arbitration Rules and Procedures in effect at the time of filing of the demand
for arbitration; provided that the parties agree that each party to the Dispute
shall have discovery to the same extent as provided under the Federal Rules
of
Civil Procedure and shall require the arbitrator selected to issue a written
reasoned opinion.
(ii) When
a
Dispute has been submitted for arbitration, within fourteen (14) days of such
submission, the parties will cooperate with one another and with JAMS Inc.
in
(i) selecting one arbitrator from their panel of neutrals, who shall be a former
judge, and (ii) scheduling the arbitration proceedings. In the event the parties
are unable to select such an arbitrator, the arbitrator shall be selected
pursuant to the provisions of JAMS Inc. Comprehensive Arbitration Rules and
Procedures in effect at the time.
(iii) This
agreement to arbitrate shall be specifically enforceable against the parties
by
any court of competent jurisdiction, and may be challenged only upon the grounds
provided in Section 10 to the United States Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Sec.
10.
Application may also be made to such court to confirm any decision or award
of
the arbitrator, for an order of enforcement and for any other remedies which
may
be necessary to effectuate such decision or award. All the parties hereto hereby
consent to the jurisdiction of the arbitrator and of such court and waive any
objection to the jurisdiction of such arbitrator and such court.
23
(iv) One
or
more of the prevailing parties to any arbitration proceeding commenced hereunder
shall be entitled, as a part of the arbitration award, to the costs and expenses
(including reasonable attorneys’ fees and interest on any award) of
investigating, preparing and pursuing an arbitration claim as such costs and
expenses are determined by the arbitrator. In no event shall there be awarded
in
any arbitration proceeding special or consequential damages.
(v) The
parties shall each deposit fifty (50%) percent of all estimated fees and
expenses of the JAMS Inc. arbitration proceeding with JAMS Inc. within fourteen
(14) days after a Dispute has been submitted to arbitration.
(vi) This
agreement to arbitrate shall survive the termination of this
Agreement.
(h) Exclusive
Jurisdiction.
The
parties hereto agree that all disputes arising among them related to this
Agreement and not subject to arbitration shall be resolved only in the United
States federal courts in the Southern District of New York or State courts
located in New York County, New York. Each party hereby submits to the
jurisdiction of such courts and waives any disputes it may have with respect
to
the location of any court.
(i) Waiver
of Jury Trial.
The
parties hereto waive all rights they may have to a jury trial in connection
with
any disputes arising among them related to this Agreement.
(j) Additional
Parties.
Only
Persons (other than the initial signatories hereto) that execute a joinder
agreement in the form reasonably satisfactory to the Company shall be deemed
to
be Securityholders. Except to the extent limited in any joinder agreement,
each
Person that so becomes a Securityholder after the date hereof shall be entitled
to all rights and privileges of a Securityholder as if such Securityholder
had
been an original signatory to this Agreement.
(k) Successors
and Assigns.
The
provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit
of
the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns;
provided, however, that no assignment of rights under this Agreement will be
valid unless made in connection with a contemporaneous Disposition of Securities
and, upon any such assignment, the assignee shall comply with Section 13(j)
and
Section 2 hereof. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable
Securities, in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such
Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this
Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities such person
shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all
of
the terms and provisions of this Agreement, including the restrictions on resale
set forth in this Agreement and such person shall be entitled to receive the
benefits hereof. The Company may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its
rights under this Agreement.
(l) Third Party Beneficiaries.
The
Securityholders (even if the Securityholders are not Holders of Registrable
Securities) shall be third party beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder
between the Company, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the
24
other
hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent
they deem such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect their rights or
the
rights of Holders hereunder. Each Holder of Registrable Securities shall be
a
third party beneficiary to the agreements made hereunder between the Company,
on
the one hand, and the Securityholders, on the other hand, and shall have the
right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such
enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights hereunder.
(m) Severability.
Any
term
or provision of this Agreement which is invalid or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of
such invalidity or unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable
the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement, or affecting the validity
or enforceability of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement in any
other jurisdiction.
(n) Additional
Covenants.
The
parties hereto undertake, generally, to execute all such agreements and other
instruments and to do all such other acts as are necessary or appropriate to
give full effect to the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement
and
to make them binding upon the parties hereto.
(o) Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement,
and is intended to be a complete and exclusive agreement and understanding
of
the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained
herein.
25
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have signed this Agreement as of the day
and
year first above written.
By:
/s/
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx
Title: President
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have signed this Agreement as of the day
and
year first above written.
SECURITYHOLDER:
By:
_____________________________________
Name:
Title:
Address:
Attention:
Facsimile:
with
a
copy to:
Attention:
Facsimile:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
Page
|
Section 1.Definitions | |
Section 2.Securities Legend | 4 |
Section 3.Registration Rights | 5 |
Section 4.Representations and Warranties |
21
|
Section 5.After-Acquired Securities |
21
|
Section 6.Termination |
22
|
Section 7.Miscellaneous |
22
|