EXECUTION VERSION
THE BLACK & XXXXXX CORPORATION
$300,000,000
4 3/4% Senior Notes due 2014
EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
October 18, 2004
X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES INC.
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
as Representatives of the Initial
Purchasers named in Schedule 1
to the Purchase Agreement
c/o X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The Black & Xxxxxx Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the "Company"),
proposes to issue and sell to X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc., Banc of America
Securities LLC and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (together, the
"Representatives") and the other Initial Purchasers named on Schedule 1 to the
Purchase Agreement (the "Initial Purchasers"), upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement dated October 13, 2004 (the
"Purchase Agreement") among the Company and the Initial Purchasers, $300,000,000
aggregate principal amount of its 4 3/4% Senior Notes due 2014 (the
"Securities"). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the
meanings given to such terms in the Purchase Agreement.
As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase
Agreement and in satisfaction of a condition to the obligations of the Initial
Purchasers thereunder, the Company agrees with the Initial Purchasers, for the
benefit of the holders (including the Initial Purchasers) of the Securities and
the Exchange Securities (as defined herein) (collectively, the "Holders"), as
follows:
1. Registered Exchange Offer. The Company shall (i) prepare and, not later
than 90 days following the date of original issuance of the Securities (the
"Issue Date"), file with the Commission a registration statement (the "Exchange
Offer Registration Statement") on an appropriate form under the Securities Act
with respect to a proposed offer to the Holders of the Securities (the
"Registered Exchange Offer") to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange
for the Securities, a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities of the
Company (the "Exchange Securities") that are identical in all material respects
to the Securities, except for the transfer restrictions relating to the
Securities, (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act no later
than 180 days after the Issue Date and the Registered Exchange Offer to be
consummated no later
than 210 days after the Issue Date and (iii) keep the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement effective for not less than 20 business days (or longer,
if required by applicable law) after the date on which notice of the Registered
Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holders (such period being called the "Exchange
Offer Registration Period"). The Exchange Securities will be issued under the
Indenture or an indenture (the "Exchange Securities Indenture") between the
Company and the Trustee or such other bank or trust company that is reasonably
satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers, as trustee (the "Exchange Securities
Trustee"), such indenture to be identical in all material respects to the
Indenture, except for the transfer restrictions relating to the Securities (as
described above).
Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the
Company shall promptly commence the Registered Exchange Offer, it being the
objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable each Holder electing to
exchange Securities for Exchange Securities (assuming that such Holder (a) is
not an affiliate of the Company or an Exchanging Dealer (as defined herein) not
complying with the requirements of the next sentence, (b) is not an Initial
Purchaser holding Securities that have, or that are reasonably likely to have,
the status of an unsold allotment in an initial distribution, (c) acquires 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
distribution of the Exchange Securities) and to trade such Exchange Securities
from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions under the
Securities Act and without material restrictions under the securities laws of
the several states of the United States. The Company, the Initial Purchasers and
each Holder that is a broker-dealer electing to exchange Securities acquired for
its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities for Exchange Securities (an "Exchanging Dealer") acknowledge that,
pursuant to current interpretations by the Commission's staff of Section 5 of
the Securities Act, each Exchanging Dealer is required to deliver a prospectus
containing substantially the information set forth (i) in Annex A hereto on the
cover of such prospectus, (ii) in Annex B hereto in the "Exchange Offer
Procedures" and the "Purpose of the Exchange Offer" sections of such prospectus
and (iii) in Annex C hereto in the "Plan of Distribution" section of such
prospectus, in connection with a sale of any such Exchange Securities received
by such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer.
In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(a) mail to each Holder a copy of the prospectus forming part of the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of
transmittal and related documents;
(b) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than 20 business
days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date on which
notice of the Registered Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holders;
(c) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered Exchange Offer
with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York;
(d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities at any time prior to
the close of business, New York City time, on the last business day on which
the Registered Exchange Offer shall remain open; and
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(e) otherwise comply in all respects with all laws that are applicable to
the Registered Exchange Offer.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange Offer the
Company shall:
(a) accept for exchange all Securities tendered and not validly withdrawn
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer;
(b) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities so accepted for
exchange; and
(c) cause the Trustee or the Exchange Securities Trustee, as the case may
be, promptly to authenticate and deliver to each Holder, Exchange Securities
equal in principal amount to the Securities of such Holder so accepted for
exchange.
The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the
prospectus contained therein in order to permit such prospectus to be used by
all persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act for such period of time as such persons must comply with such requirements
in order to resell the Exchange Securities; provided that (i) in the case where
such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto must be delivered by an
Exchanging Dealer, such period shall be the lesser of 90 days and the date on
which all Exchanging Dealers have sold all Exchange Securities held by them and
(ii) the Company shall make such prospectus and any amendment or supplement
thereto available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any resale of
any Exchange Securities for a period of not less than 90 days after the
consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer.
The Indenture or the Exchange Securities Indenture, as the case may be,
shall provide that the Securities and the Exchange Securities shall vote and
consent together on all matters as one class and that none of the Securities or
the Exchange Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a separate
class on any matter.
Interest on each Exchange Security issued pursuant to the Registered
Exchange Offer will accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest
was paid on the Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest
has been paid on the Securities, from the Issue Date.
Each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer shall be
required to represent to the Company that at the time of the consummation of the
Registered Exchange Offer (i) any Exchange Securities received by such Holder
will be acquired in the ordinary course of business, (ii) such Holder will have
no arrangements or understanding with any person to participate in the
distribution of the Securities or the Exchange Securities within the meaning of
the Securities Act and (iii) such Holder is not an affiliate of the Company or,
if it is such an affiliate, such Holder will comply with the registration and
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable.
Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company will ensure that
(i) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and any
prospectus forming
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part thereof and any supplement thereto complies in all material respects with
the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder,
(ii) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement 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 Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and any supplement to such
prospectus, does not, as of the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer,
include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit 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.
2. Shelf Registration. If (i) because of any change in law or applicable
interpretations thereof by the Commission's staff the Company is not permitted
to effect the Registered Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section 1 hereof, or
(ii) for any other reason the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated
within 210 days after the Issue Date, or (iii) any Initial Purchaser so requests
with respect to Securities not eligible to be exchanged for Exchange Securities
in the Registered Exchange Offer and held by it following the consummation of
the Registered Exchange Offer, or (iv) any applicable law or interpretations do
not permit any Holder to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer, then the
following provisions shall apply:
(a) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to file with the
Commission on or before the later of 90 days after the Issue Date or 20 days
after so required or requested (the "Shelf Filing Date"), and thereafter shall
use its reasonable best efforts to cause to be declared effective, a shelf
registration statement on an appropriate form under the Securities Act relating
to the offer and sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined below)
by the Holders thereof from time to time in accordance with the methods of
distribution set forth in such registration statement (hereafter, a "Shelf
Registration Statement" and, together with any Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, a "Registration Statement").
(b) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf
Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit the prospectus
forming part thereof to be used by Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities for
a period ending on the earlier of (i) two years from the Issue Date or such
shorter period that will terminate when all the Transfer Restricted Securities
covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto and
(ii) the date on which the Securities become eligible for resale without volume
restrictions pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (in any such case,
such period being called the "Shelf Registration Period"). The Company shall be
deemed not to have used its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf
Registration Statement effective during the requisite period if the Company
voluntarily takes any action that would result in Holders of Transfer Restricted
Securities covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such Transfer
Restricted Securities during that period, unless such action is required by
applicable law.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company will ensure
that (i) any Shelf Registration Statement 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 of the
Commission thereunder, (ii) any Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment
thereto (in either case, other than with respect to information included therein
in reliance upon or in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by or on behalf of any Holder specifically for use therein (the
"Holders' Information")) does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
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therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (iii) any
prospectus forming part of any Shelf Registration Statement, and any supplement
to such prospectus (in either case, other than with respect to Holders'
Information), does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit 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.
(d) In the absence of the events described in clauses (i) through (v) of
the first paragraph of this Section 2, the Company shall not be permitted to
discharge its obligations hereunder by means of the filing of a Shelf
Registration Statement.
3. Additional Interest. (a) The parties hereto agree that the Holders of
Transfer Restricted Securities will suffer damages if the Company fails to
fulfill its obligations under Section 1 or Section 2, as applicable, and that it
would not be feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages. Accordingly, in
the event that either (i) the Registered Exchange Offer is not completed or the
Shelf Registration Statement, if required hereby, is not declared effective on
or prior to 210 days after the Issue Date or (ii) the Shelf Registration
Statement is filed and declared effective within 210 days after the Issue Date
but shall thereafter cease to be effective (at any time that the Company is
obligated to maintain the effectiveness thereof) without being succeeded within
30 days by an additional Registration Statement filed and declared effective
(each such event referred to in clauses (i) and (ii), a "Registration Default"),
the Company will be obligated to pay, as liquidated damages for such
Registration Default, additional cash interest to each Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities, during the period of one or more such Registration
Defaults, in an amount equal to 0.25% per annum of the principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holder until (i) the Registered
Exchange Offer is consummated or (ii) the Shelf Registration Statement is
declared effective or again becomes effective, as the case may be. Following the
cure of all Registration Defaults, the accrual of additional interest will
cease. As used herein, the term "Transfer Restricted Securities" means (i) each
Security until the date on which such Security has been exchanged for a freely
transferable Exchange Security in the Registered Exchange Offer, (ii) each
Security until the date on which it has been effectively registered under the
Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration
Statement or (iii) each Security until the date on which it is distributed to
the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or is saleable pursuant
to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Section 3(a), the Company shall not be required to pay
additional interest to a Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities if such Holder
failed to comply with its obligations to make the representations set forth in
the second to last paragraph of Section 1 or failed to provide the information
required to be provided by it, if any, pursuant to Section 4(n).
(b) The Company shall notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent under the
Indenture as promptly as practicable upon the happening of each and every
Registration Default. The Company shall pay the additional interest due on the
Transfer Restricted Securities by depositing with the Paying Agent (which may
not be the Company for these purposes), in trust, for the benefit of the Holders
thereof, prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next interest payment
date specified by the Indenture and the Securities, sums sufficient to pay the
additional interest then due. The additional interest due shall be payable on
each interest payment date specified by the Indenture and the Securities to the
record holder entitled to receive the interest payment to be made on such date.
Each obligation to pay additional interest shall be deemed to accrue from and
including the date of the applicable Registration Default.
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(c) The parties hereto agree that the additional interest provided for in
this Section 3 constitute a reasonable estimate of and are intended to
constitute the sole damages that will be suffered by Holders of Transfer
Restricted Securities by reason of the failure of (i) the Shelf Registration
Statement to be declared effective and to remain effective and (ii) the
Registered Exchange Offer to be consummated, in each case to the extent required
by this Agreement.
4. Registration Procedures. In connection with any Registration Statement,
the following provisions shall apply:
(a) The Company shall (i) furnish to each Initial Purchaser, prior to the
filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of the Registration Statement and
each amendment thereof and each supplement, if any, to the prospectus included
therein and shall use its reasonable best efforts to reflect in each such
document, when so filed with the Commission, such comments as any Initial
Purchaser may reasonably propose; (ii) include the information set forth in
Annex A hereto on the cover, in Annex B hereto in the "Exchange Offer
Procedures" section and the "Purpose of the Exchange Offer" section, and in
Annex C hereto in the "Plan of Distribution" section of the prospectus forming a
part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and include the information
set forth in Annex D hereto in the Letter of Transmittal delivered pursuant to
the Registered Exchange Offer and (iii) if requested by any Initial Purchaser,
include the information required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as
applicable, in the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement.
(b) The Company shall advise each Initial Purchaser, each Exchanging Dealer
and the Holders (if applicable) and, if requested by any such person, confirm
such advice in writing (which advice pursuant to clauses (ii)-(v) hereof shall
be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the prospectus until the
requisite changes have been made):
(i) when any Registration Statement and any amendment thereto has
been filed with the Commission and when such Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment thereto has become effective;
(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements
to any Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or for
additional information;
(iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending
the effectiveness of any Registration Statement or the initiation of any
proceedings for that purpose;
(iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect
to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities or the Exchange
Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of
any proceeding for such purpose; and
(v) of the happening of any event that requires the making of any
changes in any Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein in
order that the statements therein are not misleading and do not omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading.
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(c) The Company will make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal
at the earliest possible time of any order suspending the effectiveness of any
Registration Statement.
(d) The Company will furnish to each Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities included within the coverage of any Shelf Registration Statement,
without charge, at least one conformed copy of such Shelf Registration Statement
and any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and
schedules and, if any such Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits thereto
(including those, if any, incorporated by reference).
(e) The Company will, during the Shelf Registration Period, promptly
deliver to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities included within the
coverage of any Shelf Registration Statement, without charge, as many copies of
the prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) included in such Shelf
Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Holder
may reasonably request; and the Company consents to the use of such prospectus
or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of
Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with the offer and sale of the
Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto.
(f) The Company will furnish to each Initial Purchaser and each Exchanging
Dealer, and to any other Holder who so requests, without charge, at least one
conformed copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules
and, if any Initial Purchaser or Exchanging Dealer or any such Holder so
requests in writing, all exhibits thereto (including those, if any, incorporated
by reference).
(g) The Company will, during the Exchange Offer Registration Period or the
Shelf Registration Period, as applicable, promptly deliver to each Initial
Purchaser, each Exchanging Dealer and such other persons that are required to
deliver a prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer, without charge, as
many copies of the final prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement
thereto as such Initial Purchaser, Exchanging Dealer or other persons may
reasonably request; and the Company consents to the use of such prospectus or
any amendment or supplement thereto by any such Initial Purchaser, Exchanging
Dealer or other persons, as applicable, as aforesaid.
(h) Prior to the effective date of any Registration Statement, the Company
will use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify, or cooperate with
the Holders of Securities or Exchange Securities included therein and their
respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of, such
Securities or Exchange Securities for offer and sale under the securities or
blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any such Holder reasonably requests in
writing and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable
the offer and sale in such jurisdictions of the Securities or Exchange
Securities covered by such Registration Statement; provided that the Company
will not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction
where it is not then so qualified or to take any action which would subject it
to general service of process or to taxation in any such jurisdiction where it
is not then so subject.
(i) The Company will cooperate with the Holders of Securities or Exchange
Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates
representing Securities
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or Exchange Securities to be sold pursuant to any Registration Statement free of
any restrictive legends and in such denominations and registered in such names
as the Holders thereof may request in writing prior to sales of Securities or
Exchange Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.
(j) If any event contemplated by Section 4(b)(ii) through (v) occurs during
the period for which the Company is required to maintain an effective
Registration Statement, the Company will promptly prepare and file with the
Commission a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a
supplement to the related prospectus or file any other required document so
that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Securities or Exchange
Securities from a Holder, the prospectus will not include an untrue statement of
a material fact or omit 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.
(k) Not later than the effective date of the applicable Registration
Statement, the Company will provide a CUSIP number for the Securities and the
Exchange Securities, as the case may be, and provide the applicable trustee with
printed certificates for the Securities or Exchange Securities, as the case may
be, in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.
(l) The Company will comply with all applicable rules and regulations of
the Commission and will make generally available to its security holders as soon
as practicable after the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement
an earning statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the
Securities Act; provided that in no event shall such earning statement be
delivered later than 45 days after the end of a 12-month period (or 90 days, if
such period is a fiscal year) beginning with the first month of the Company's
first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of the applicable
Registration Statement, which statement shall cover such 12-month period.
(m) The Company will cause the Indenture or the Exchange Securities
Indenture, as the case may be, to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act as
required by applicable law in a timely manner.
(n) The Company may require each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
to be registered pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the
Company such information concerning the Holder and the distribution of such
Transfer Restricted Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably
require for inclusion in such Shelf Registration Statement, and the Company may
exclude from such registration the Transfer Restricted Securities of any Holder
that fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving
such request.
(o) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities to be registered pursuant thereto agrees by acquisition of
such Transfer Restricted Securities that, upon receipt of any notice from the
Company pursuant to Section 4(b)(ii) through (v), such Holder will discontinue
disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities until such Holder's receipt
of copies of the supplemental or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 4(j)
or until advised in writing (the "Advice") by the Company that the use of the
applicable prospectus may be resumed. If the Company shall give any notice under
Section 4(b)(ii) through (v) during the period that the Company is required to
maintain an
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effective Registration Statement (the "Effectiveness Period"), such
Effectiveness Period shall be extended by the number of days during such period
from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the
date when each seller of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such
Registration Statement shall have received (x) the copies of the supplemental or
amended prospectus contemplated by Section 4(j) (if an amended or supplemental
prospectus is required) or (y) the Advice (if no amended or supplemental
prospectus is required).
(p) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall enter
into such customary agreements (including, if requested, an underwriting
agreement in customary form) and take all such other action, if any, as Holders
of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities being sold or the
managing underwriters (if any) shall reasonably request in order to facilitate
any disposition of Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement.
(q) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall (i)
make reasonably available for inspection by a representative of, and Special
Counsel (as defined below) acting for, Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Securities being sold and any underwriter participating
in any disposition of Securities or Exchange Securities pursuant to such Shelf
Registration Statement, all relevant financial and other records, pertinent
corporate documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries and (ii)
use its reasonable best efforts to have its officers, directors, employees,
accountants and counsel supply all relevant information reasonably requested by
such representative, Special Counsel or any such underwriter (an "Inspector") in
connection with such Shelf Registration Statement.
(r) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall, if
requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities being sold, their Special Counsel or the managing underwriters (if
any) in connection with such Shelf Registration Statement, use its reasonable
best efforts to cause (i) its counsel to deliver an opinion relating to the
Shelf Registration Statement and Securities in customary form, (ii) its officers
to execute and deliver all customary documents and certificates requested by
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities, being
sold, their Special Counsel or the managing underwriters (if any) and (iii) its
independent public accountants to provide a comfort letter or letters in
customary form, subject to receipt of appropriate documentation as contemplated,
and only if permitted, by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72.
5. Participation of Broker-Dealers in Exchange Offer. (a) The Staff has
taken the position that any broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for
its own account in the Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities that were
acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading
activities (a "Participating Broker-Dealer") may be deemed to be an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and must deliver a
prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any
resale of such Exchange Securities.
The Company understands that it is the Staff's position that if the prospectus
contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement includes a plan of
distribution containing a statement to the above effect and the means by which
Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Securities, without naming
the Participating Broker-Dealers or specifying the amount of Exchange Securities
owned by them, such prospectus may be delivered by Participating Broker-Dealers
to satisfy their prospectus delivery obligation under the Securities Act in
connection with
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resales of Exchange Securities for their own accounts, so long as the prospectus
otherwise meets the requirements of the Securities Act.
(b) In light of the above, and notwithstanding the other provisions of this
Agreement, the Company agrees to amend or supplement the prospectus contained in
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement for a period of up to 180 days after
the Exchange Offer Registration Period, if requested by the Initial Purchasers
or by one or more Participating Broker-Dealers, in order to expedite or
facilitate the disposition of any Exchange Securities by Participating
Broker-Dealers consistent with the positions of the Staff recited in Section
5(a) above. The Company further agrees that Participating Broker-Dealers shall
be authorized to deliver such prospectus during such period in connection with
the resales contemplated by this Section 5.
(c) The Initial Purchasers shall have no liability to the Company or any
Holder with respect to any request that they may make pursuant to Section 5(b)
above.
6. Registration Expenses. The Company will bear all expenses incurred in
connection with the performance of its obligations under Sections 1, 2, 3 and 4
and the Company will reimburse the Initial Purchasers and the Holders for the
reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm of attorneys (in addition to any
local counsel) chosen by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the Securities and the Exchange Securities to be sold pursuant to each
Registration Statement (the "Special Counsel") acting for the Initial Purchasers
or Holders in connection therewith.
7. Indemnification. (a) In the event of a Shelf Registration Statement or
in connection with any prospectus delivery pursuant to an Exchange Offer
Registration Statement by an Initial Purchaser or Exchanging Dealer, as
applicable, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Holder
(including, without limitation, any such Initial Purchaser or Exchanging
Dealer), its affiliates, their respective officers, directors, employees,
representatives and agents, and each person, if any, who controls such Holder
within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (collectively
referred to for purposes of this Section 7 and Section 8 as a Holder) from and
against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in
respect thereof (including, without limitation, any loss, claim, damage,
liability or action relating to purchases and sales of Securities or Exchange
Securities), to which that Holder may become subject, whether commenced or
threatened, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any other federal or
state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such
loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i)
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
any such Registration Statement or any prospectus forming part thereof or in any
amendment or supplement thereto or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading, and shall reimburse each Holder promptly
upon demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by that Holder
in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against or
appearing as a third party witness in connection with any such loss, claim,
damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred; provided, however,
that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any
such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon,
an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged
omission from any of such documents in reliance upon and in conformity with any
Holders' Information; and provided, further, that with
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respect to any such untrue statement in or omission from any related preliminary
prospectus, the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 7(a) shall not
inure to the benefit of any Holder from whom the person asserting any such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action received Securities or Exchange Securities to
the extent that such loss, claim, damage, liability or action of or with respect
to such Holder results from the fact that both (A) a copy of the final
prospectus was not sent or given to such person at or prior to the written
confirmation of the sale of such Securities or Exchange Securities to such
person and (B) the untrue statement in or omission from the related preliminary
prospectus was corrected in the final prospectus unless, in either case, such
failure to deliver the final prospectus was a result of non-compliance by the
Company with Section 4(d), 4(e), 4(f) or 4(g).
(b) In the event of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder shall
indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its affiliates, officers, directors,
employees, representatives and agents, and each person, if any, who controls the
Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act
(collectively referred to for purposes of this Section 7(b) and Section 8 as the
Company), from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or
several, or any action in respect thereof, to which the Company may become
subject, whether commenced or threatened, under the Securities Act, the Exchange
Act, any other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or
otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out
of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any such Registration Statement or any prospectus
forming part thereof or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (ii) the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, but in
each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with any Holders' Information furnished to the Company by such
Holder, and shall reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending
or preparing to defend against or appearing as a third party witness in
connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such
expenses are incurred; provided, however, that no such Holder shall be liable
for any indemnity claims hereunder in excess of the amount of net proceeds
received by such Holder from the sale of Securities or Exchange Securities
pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 of
notice of any claim or the commencement of any action, the indemnified party
shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying
party pursuant to Section 7(a) or 7(b), notify the indemnifying party in writing
of the claim or the commencement of that action; provided, however, that the
failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability
which it may have under this Section 7 except to the extent that it has been
materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses)
by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to notify the
indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to
an indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 7. If any such claim or
action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall notify the
indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to
participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other
similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense thereof with
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice from the
indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the
defense of such claim or
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action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the indemnified party
under this Section 7 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by
the indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than the
reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that an indemnified party
shall have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action, but the fees,
expenses and other charges of such counsel for the indemnified party will be at
the expense of such indemnified party unless (1) the employment of counsel by
the indemnified party has been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party,
(2) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based upon advice of counsel
to the indemnified party) that there may be legal defenses available to it or
other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those
available to the indemnifying party, (3) a conflict or potential conflict exists
(based upon advice of counsel to the indemnified party) between the indemnified
party and the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party will not
have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified
party) or (4) the indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the indemnified party to assume the defense of such action
within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the commencement of the
action, in each of which cases the reasonable fees, disbursements and other
charges of counsel will be at the expense of the indemnifying party or parties.
It is understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection
with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable
for the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of more than one
separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) at any one time
for all such indemnified party or parties. Each indemnified party, as a
condition of the indemnity agreements contained in Sections 7(a) and 7(b), shall
use all reasonable efforts to cooperate with the indemnifying party in the
defense of any such action or claim. No indemnifying party shall be liable for
any settlement of any such action effected without its written consent (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with its written
consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action,
the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified
party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or
judgment. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the
indemnified party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), effect any
settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any
indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been
sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement (A) includes
an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims
that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (B) does not include any
statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or
on behalf of any indemnified party.
8. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 7 is
unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section
7(a) or 7(b), then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such
indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified
party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect
thereof, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the Company from the offering and sale of the Securities on
the one hand and a Holder with respect to the sale by such Holder of Securities
or Exchange Securities on the other hand or (ii) if the allocation provided by
clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i)
above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and such Holder
on the other hand with respect to the statements or omissions that resulted in
such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, as well as
any other relevant equitable
-12-
considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand
and a Holder on the other hand with respect to such offering and such sale shall
be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the
offering of the Securities (before deducting expenses) received by or on behalf
of the Company as set forth in the Purchase Agreement on the one hand bear to
the total proceeds received by such Holder with respect to its sale of
Securities or Exchange Securities on the other hand. The relative fault 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 the Company or information supplied by the Company on
the one hand or to any Holders' Information supplied by such Holder on the other
hand, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to
information, and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or
omission. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contributions pursuant to this Section 8 were to be determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account
the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by
an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, damage or liability, or
action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 8 shall be deemed
to include, for purposes of this Section 8, any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating
or defending or preparing to defend any such action or claim. Notwithstanding
the provisions of this Section 8, an indemnifying party that is a Holder of
Securities or Exchange Securities shall not be required to contribute any amount
in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities or
Exchange Securities sold by such indemnifying party to any purchaser exceeds the
amount of any damages which such indemnifying party has otherwise paid or become
liable to pay by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation.
9. Rules 144 and 144A. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to
file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act in a timely manner and, if at any time the Company is not required
to file such reports, it will, upon the written request of any Holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities, make publicly available other information so
long as necessary to permit sales of such Holder's securities pursuant to Rules
144 and 144A. The Company covenants that it will take such further action as any
Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may reasonably request, all to the
extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Transfer
Restricted Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the
limitation of the exemptions provided by Rules 144 and 144A (including, without
limitation, the requirements of Rule 144A(d)(4) in the event that the Company
ceases to be a company subject to or in compliance with Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Exchange Act). Upon the written request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written statement as to
whether it has complied with such requirements. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
nothing in this Section 9 shall be deemed to require the Company to register any
of its securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.
10. Underwritten Registrations. If any of the Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by any Shelf Registration Statement are to be sold in an
underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager
or managers that will administer the offering will be selected by the Holders of
a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Transfer Restricted Securities
included in such offering, subject to the consent of the Company
-13-
(which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), and such Holders shall be
responsible for all underwriting commissions and discounts in connection
therewith.
No person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless
such person (i) agrees to sell such person's Transfer Restricted Securities on
the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the
persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii) completes and
executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting
agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such
underwriting arrangements.
11. Miscellaneous. (a) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this
Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents
to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the Company
has obtained the written consent of Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Securities or Exchange Securities, taken as a single class.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions
hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of
Holders whose Securities or Exchange Securities are being sold pursuant to a
Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect the
rights of other Holders may be given by Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Securities or Exchange Securities being sold by such
Holders pursuant to such Registration Statement.
(b) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted
hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail,
telecopier or air courier guaranteeing next-day delivery:
(1) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to
the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11(b), which
address initially is, with respect to each Holder, the address of such Holder
maintained by the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy in like manner
to X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC and Citigroup
Global Markets Inc.;
(2) if to an Initial Purchaser, initially at its address set forth in the
Purchase Agreement; and
(3) if to the Company, initially at the address of the Company set forth
in the Purchase Agreement.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; one business day after
being delivered to a next-day air courier; five business days after being
deposited in the mail; and when receipt is acknowledged by the recipient's
telecopier machine, if sent by telecopier.
(c) Successors And Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the
Company and its respective successors and assigns.
(d) Third-Party Beneficiaries. Each Holder shall be a third party
beneficiary to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one
hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to
enforce such agreements directly to the
-14-
extent it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or
the rights of other Holders hereunder.
(e) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts (which may be delivered in original form or by telecopier) 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.
(f) Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) the term
"business day" means any day on which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. is open
for trading, (b) the term "subsidiary" has the meaning set forth in Rule 405
under the Securities Act and (c) except where otherwise expressly provided, the
term "affiliate" has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
(g) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(h) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
(i) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by any Holder of
any of their respective obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the
Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all
rights granted by law, including recovery of damages (other than the recovery of
damages for a breach by the Company of its obligations under Sections 1 or 2
hereof for which additional interest has been paid pursuant to Section 3
hereof), will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this
Agreement. The Company and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not be
adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of any
of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agree that, in the event
of any action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive
the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(j) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company represents, warrants and agrees
that (i) it has not entered into, shall not, on or after the date of this
Agreement, enter into any agreement that is inconsistent with the rights granted
to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions
hereof, (ii) it has not previously entered into any agreement which remains in
effect granting any registration rights with respect to any of its debt
securities to any person and (iii) without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, without the written consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the then outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities, it
shall not grant to any person the right to request the Company to register any
debt securities of the Company under the Securities Act unless the rights so
granted are not in conflict or inconsistent with the provisions of this
Agreement.
(k) No Piggyback on Registrations. Neither the Company nor any of its
security holders (other than the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities in
such capacity) shall have the right to include any securities of the Company in
any Shelf Registration or Registered Exchange Offer other than Transfer
Restricted Securities.
(l) Severability. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and not
exclusive of any remedies provided by law. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this
-15-
Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal,
void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and
restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in
no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use
their reasonable best efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve
the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term,
provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be
the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms,
provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be
hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
-16-
Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement among
the Company and the Initial Purchasers.
Very truly yours,
THE BLACK & XXXXXX CORPORATION
By /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx
Title: Vice President - Investor
Relations and Treasurer
-17-
Accepted:
X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES INC.,
for itself and for the several Initial
Purchasers named on Schedule 1 hereto
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx
---------------------
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President
Address for notices pursuant to Section 7(c):
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Transaction Execution Group
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
-----------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Vice President
Address for notices pursuant to Section 7(c):
0 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
XX0-000-0X-00
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Transaction Management
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
-----------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Vice President
Address for notices pursuant to Section 7(c):
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
ANNEX A
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver
a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. The
Letter of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a
prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it
may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer
in connection with resales of Exchange Securities received in exchange for
Securities where such Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result
of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed
that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date (as defined herein), it
will make this Prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection
with any such resale. See "Plan of Distribution".
ANNEX B
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in
exchange for Securities, where such Securities were acquired by such
broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection
with any resale of such Exchange Securities. See "Plan of Distribution".
ANNEX C
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver
a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. This
Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used
by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Securities received in
exchange for Securities where such Securities were acquired as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed
that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date, it will make this
Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use
in connection with any such resale.
The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of Exchange
Securities by broker-dealers. Exchange Securities received by broker-dealers for
their own account pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer may be sold from
time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in
negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the Exchange
Securities or a combination of such methods of resale, at market prices
prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market
prices or at negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made directly to
purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in
the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker-dealer or the
purchasers of any such Exchange Securities. Any broker-dealer that resells
Exchange Securities that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the
Registered Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a
distribution of such Exchange Securities may be deemed to be an "underwriter"
within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit on any such resale of
Exchange Securities and any commission or concessions received by any such
persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act.
The Letter of Transmittal states that, by acknowledging that it will deliver and
by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it
is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.
For a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date the Company will
promptly send additional copies of this Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement to this Prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents
in the Letter of Transmittal. The Company has agreed to pay all expenses
incident to the Registered Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel
for the Holders of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any
broker-dealers and will indemnify the Holders of the Securities (including any
broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act.
ANNEX D
__ CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10
ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY
AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.
Name:
Address:
If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is
not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange
Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange
Securities for its own account in exchange for Securities that were acquired as
a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it
acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such Exchange Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a
prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.
