1
Exhibit 4.4
2
-2-
SOVEREIGN SPECIALTY CHEMICALS, INC.
$125,000,000
9 1/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
August 5, 1997
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
XXXXXXXXX, XXXXXX & XXXXXXXX
SECURITIES CORPORATION
c/o Chase Securities Inc.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Sovereign Specialty Chemicals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), proposes to issue and sell to Chase Securities Inc. ("CSI") and
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation (together with CSI, the
"Initial Purchasers"), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in
a purchase agreement dated July 31, 1997 (the "Purchase Agreement") among the
Company, the Initial Purchasers, and the subsidiaries of the Company party
thereto (the "Guarantors" and, together with the Company, the "Issuers"),
$125,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 9 1/2% Senior Subordinated Notes
due 2007 (the "Notes"). The Notes will be unconditionally guaranteed (the
"Guaranties" and, together with the Notes, the "Securities") by each of the
Guarantors pursuant to the terms of the Indenture. 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 Issuers agree with the Initial Purchasers,
for the benefit of the holders (including the Initial Purchasers) of the
Securities, the Exchange Securities (as defined herein) and the Private Exchange
Securities (as defined herein) (collectively, the "Holders"), as follows:
1. Registered Exchange Offer. The Issuers 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 that are identical in all material respects to the
Securities and are guaranteed by the Guarantors with terms identical in all
material respects with the Guaranties (the "Exchange Securities"), except for
the transfer restrictions relating to the Securities, (ii) use their reason-
3
-3-
able best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become
effective under the Securities Act no later than 270 days after the Is xxx Date
and the Registered Exchange Offer to be consummated no later than 300 days after
the Issue Date and (iii) keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
effective for not less than 30 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 Issuers 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 Issuers 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 with out 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 Issuers, the Initial Purchasers and
each Exchanging Dealer acknowledge that, pursuant to current interpretations by
the Commission's staff of Section 5 of the Securities Act, 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"), is required to deliver a prospectus
containing substantially 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 such prospectus in connection with a sale of any such
Exchange Securities received by such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to the
Registered Ex change Offer.
If, prior to the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, any
Holder holds any Securities acquired by it that have, or that are reasonably
likely to be determined to have, the status of an unsold allotment in an initial
distribution, or any Holder is not entitled to participate in the Registered
Exchange Offer, the Issuers shall, upon the request of any such Holder,
simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Securities in the Registered
Exchange Offer, issue and deliver to any such Holder, in exchange for the
Securities held by such Holder (the "Private Exchange"), a like aggregate
principal amount of debt securities of the Company that are identical in all
material respects to the Exchange Securities and are guaranteed by the
Guarantors with terms identical in all material respects to the Guaranties (the
"Private Exchange Securities"), except for the transfer restrictions relating to
such Private Exchange Securities. The Private Exchange Securities will be issued
under the same inden-
4
-4-
ture as the Exchange Securities, and the Company shall use its reasonable best
efforts to cause the Private Exchange Securities to bear the same CUSIP number
as the Exchange Securities.
In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Issuers shall:
(a) mail to each Holder a copy of the prospectus forming part of the
Ex change 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
(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 and any Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Issuers shall:
(a) accept for exchange all Securities tendered and not validly
withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and the Private
Exchange;
(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 or Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, equal in
principal amount to the Securities of such Holder so accepted for
exchange.
Each of the Issuers 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 per sons 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 180 days and the date on
which all Exchanging Dealers have sold all Exchange Securities held by them and
(ii) the Issuers 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
5
-5-
than 180 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, the Exchange Securities and the Private
Exchange Securities shall vote and consent together on all matters as one class
and that none of the Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private
Exchange Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a separate class
on any matter.
Interest on each Exchange Security and Private Exchange Security
issued pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and in the Private Exchange
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 Ex change 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 Issuers will ensure
that (i) any Exchange Offer 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 Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any
amendment thereto does not, when it be comes 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 Issuers are not
permitted to effect the Registered Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section 1
hereof, or (ii) any Securities validly tendered pursuant to the Registered
Exchange Offer are not exchanged for Exchange Securities within 300 days after
the Issue Date, or (iii) any Initial Purchaser so requests with respect to
Securities or Private Exchange 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, or (v) any Holder that participates in the Registered Exchange
Offer does not receive freely transfer able Exchange Securities in exchange for
tendered Securities (other than due solely to the status of a Holder (other than
an Initial
6
-6-
Purchaser) as an affiliate of any of the Issuers within the meaning of the
Securities Act, and other than any state securities law restrictions which,
individually or in the aggregate, do not materially adversely affect the ability
of any such Holder to resell the securities held by such Holder), or (vi) the
Company so elects, then the following provisions shall apply:
(a) Each of the Issuers shall use its reasonable best efforts to
file as promptly as practicable (but in no event more than 30 days after so
required or requested pursuant to this Section 2) with the Commission, 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) Each of the Issuers 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"). An
Issuer shall be deemed not to have used its reasonable best efforts to keep the
Shelf Registration Statement effective during the requisite period if it
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; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply to actions
taken by the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors in good faith and for valid
business reasons (not including avoidance of their obligations hereunder),
including, without limitation, the acquisition or divestiture of assets, so
long as the Company within 60 days there after complies with the requirements of
Section 4(j) hereof. Any such period during which the Company fails to keep the
registration statement effective and usable for offers and sales of Securities
and Exchange Securities is referred to as a "Suspension Period." A Suspension
Period shall commence on and include the date that the Company gives notice to
the Holders to the effect that, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, the
use of the Shelf Registration Statement would materially interfere with a valid
business purpose of the Company and the Guarantors and that the Shelf
Registration Statement is no longer effective or the prospectus included
therein is no longer usable for offers and sales of Securities and Exchange
Securities and shall end on the date when each Holder of Securities and Ex
change Securities covered by such registration statement either receives the
copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 4(j)
hereof or is advised in writing by the Company that use of the prospectus may be
resumed. If one or more Suspension Periods occur, the two year time period
referenced above shall be extended by the number of days included in each such
Suspension Period; provided that the aggregate number of days of any Suspension
Periods shall not exceed 60 days in any 12-month period.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Issuers will
ensure
7
-7-
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 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.
3. Liquidated Damages. (a) The parties hereto agree that the Holders
of Transfer Restricted Securities will suffer damages if the Issuers fail to
fulfill their obligations under Section 1 or Section 2, as applicable, and that
it would not be feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages. Accordingly,
if (i) the applicable Registration Statement is not filed with the Commission
on or prior to 90 days after the Issue Date, (ii) the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be,
is not declared effective within 270 days after the Issue Date, (iii) the
Registered Ex change Offer is not consummated on or prior to 300 days after the
Issue Date, or (iv) the Shelf Registration Statement is filed and declared
effective within 270 days after the Issue Date but shall thereafter cease to be
effective (at any time that the Issuers are obligated to maintain the
effectiveness thereof) without being succeeded within 60 days by an additional
Registration Statement filed and declared effective (each such event referred to
in clauses (i) through (iv), a "Registration Default"), the Issuers, jointly and
severally, will be obligated to pay liquidated damages to each Holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities, during the period of one or more such
Registration Defaults, in an amount equal to $ 0.192 per week per $1,000
principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holder until (a)
the applicable Registration Statement is filed, (b) the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement is declared effective and the Registered Exchange Offer
is consummated, (c) the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective or
(d) the Shelf Registration Statement again becomes effective, as the case may
be. Following the cure of all Registration Defaults, the accrual of liquidated
damages 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 or Private Exchange 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 or
Private Exchange 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 Issuers shall not be required to pay liquidated
damages 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). Liqui-
8
-8-
dated damages shall not accrue during any Suspension Period permitted pursuant
to Section 2(b).
(b) The Company shall notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent under
the Indenture immediately upon the happening of each and every Registration
Default. The Issuers shall pay the liquidated damages due on the Transfer
Restricted Securities by depositing with the Paying Agent (which may not be an
Issuer 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
liquidated damages then due. The liquidated damages 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 liquidated damages shall be deemed to accrue from and
including the date of the applicable Registration Default.
(c) The parties hereto agree that the liquidated damages 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 or the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be filed, (ii) the
Shelf Registration Statement to remain effective or (iii) the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement to be declared effective and 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 Issuers 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 Ex change 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;
9
-9-
(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 Issuers of any notification with
respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities, the
Exchange Securities or the Private 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.
(c) The Issuers 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 Issuers 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 Issuers 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 each Issuer 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 Issuers 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 Issuers will, during the Exchange Offer Registration Period
or the Shelf Registration Period, as applicable, promptly deliver to each
Initial Purchaser, each Ex-
10
-10-
changing 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 each of the Issuers 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, each
of the Issuers will use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify, or
cooperate with the Holders of Securities, Exchange Securities or Private
Exchange Securities included therein and their respective counsel in connection
with the registration or qualification of, such Securities, Exchange Securities
or Private 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, Exchange Securities or
Private Exchange Securities covered by such Registration Statement; provided
that none of the Issuers will 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 Issuers will cooperate with the Holders of Securities,
Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Securities, Exchange
Securities or Private 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, Exchange Securities or Private 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 Issuers are required to maintain an effective
Registration Statement, the Issuers 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, Exchange
Securities or Private 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 Issuers will provide a CUSIP number for the Securities, the
Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, and
provide the applicable trustee with printed certificates for the Securities, the
Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, in a
form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.
(l) The Issuers will comply with all applicable rules and
regulations of the
11
-11-
Commission and the Company 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 Issuers will cause the Indenture or the Exchange Securities
In denture, as the case may be, to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act as
required by applicable law in a timely manner.
(n) The Issuers 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 Issuers may from time
to time reasonably require for inclusion in such Shelf Registration Statement,
and the Issuers 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 Issuers are required to maintain an 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 Issuers 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, Exchange
Securities and Private Exchange Securities being sold or the managing
underwriters (if any) shall reasonably request in order to facilitate any
disposition of Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities
pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement.
(q) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Issuers 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, Ex-
12
-12-
change Securities and Private Exchange Securities being sold and any underwriter
participating in any disposition of Securities, Exchange Securities or Private
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 Issuers
shall, if requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Securities, Exchange Securities and Private Exchange Securities being sold,
their Special Counsel or the managing underwriters (if any) in connection with
such Shelf Registration Statement, use their reasonable best efforts to cause
(i) their counsel to deliver an opinion relating to the Shelf Registration
Statement and the Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange
Securities, as applicable, in customary form, (ii) their officers to execute and
deliver all customary documents and certificates requested by Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities, Exchange Securities
and Private Exchange Securities being sold, their Special Counsel or the
managing underwriters (if any) and (iii) their independent public accountants
to provide a comfort letter or letters in customary form, in form and sub stance
reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriters subject to receipt of
appropriate documentation as contemplated, and only if permitted, by Statement
of Auditing Standards No. 72.
5. Registration Expenses. The Issuers will bear all expenses
incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under Sections 1,
2, 3 and 4 and the Issuers 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, the Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange
Securities to be sold pursuant to each Registration Statement (the "Special
Counsel") acting for the Initial Purchasers or Holders in connection therewith.
6. 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 Issuers shall jointly and severally, 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 6 and Section 7 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, Exchange Securities or Private 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
13
-13-
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, how ever, that the Issuers 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 respect to any such untrue statement in or omission from any
related preliminary prospectus, the indemnity agreement contained in this
Section 6(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,
Exchange Securities or Private 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, Exchange Securities or Private 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,
severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Issuers, their
affiliates, their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives
and agents, and each person, if any, who controls the Issuers within the meaning
of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (collectively referred to for
purposes of this Section 6(b) and Section 7 as the Issuers), from and against
any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect
thereof, to which the Issuers 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 Issuers by such Holder, and shall reimburse the
Issuers for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Issuers 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, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities pursuant to such
Shelf Registration Statement.
14
-14-
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 6 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 6(a) or 6(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 6 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 6. 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 action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to
the indemnified party under this Section 6 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 6(a) and 6(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
15
-15-
and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless
such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party
from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
7. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 6 is
unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section
6(a) or 6(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, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities, on the other, 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 Issuers on the one hand and such Holder on the other 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
considerations.. The relative benefits received by the Issuers on the one hand
and a Holder on the other 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
Issuers as set forth in the table on the cover of the Offering Memorandum, on
the one hand, bear to the total proceeds received by such Holder with respect to
its sale of Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities, on
the other. 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 Issuers or
information supplied by the Issuers on the one hand or to any Holders'
Information supplied by such Holder on the other, 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 7 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 7 shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 7, 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 7, an
indemnifying party that is a Holder of Securities, Exchange Securities or
Private Exchange Securities shall not be required to contribute any amount in
excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities, Exchange
Securities or Private 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.
16
-16-
8. Rules 144 and 144A. Each of the Issuers 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 Issuers are
not required to file such reports, they shall, upon the written request of any
Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, provide other information so long as
necessary to permit sales of such Holder's securities pursuant to Rules 144 and
144A. Each of the Issuers covenants that it will take such further reasonable
action as any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may reason ably 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)).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 8 shall be deemed to
require the Issuers to register any of their securities pursuant to the Exchange
Act.
9. 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 (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.
10. 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, the Exchange Securities and the Private
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, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities are being sold pursuant to a
Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly materially
affect the rights of other Holders may be given by Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Securities, the Exchange Securities and the
Private 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
17
-17-
Company in accordance with the provisions of this Section 10(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 Chase Securities Inc. and Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx
Securities Corporation;
(2) if to an Initial Purchaser, initially at its address set forth
in the Purchase Agreement; and
(3) if to the Issuers, 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
Issuers and their successors and assigns.
(d) 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.
(e) 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.
(f) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(g) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
(h) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Issuers or by any
Holder of any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the
Issuers, 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 Issuers of their obligations under Sections 1 or
2 hereof for which liquidated damages have been paid pursuant to Section 3
hereof), will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this
Agreement. The Issuers 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.
18
-18-
(i) No Inconsistent Agreements. Each of the Issuers 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 Issuers to register any
debt securities of the Issuers under the Securities Act unless the rights so
granted are not in conflict or inconsistent with the provisions of this
Agreement.
(j) No Piggyback on Registrations. Neither the Issuers nor any of
their security holders (other than the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities
in such capacity) shall have the right to include any securities of the Issuers
in any Shelf Registration or Registered Exchange Offer other than Transfer
Restricted Securities.
(k) Severability. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and
not exclusive of any remedies provided by law. If any term, provision, covenant
or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to
be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms,
provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full
force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and
the parties hereto shall use their reasonable 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.
19
-19-
Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement
among the Issuers and the Initial Purchasers.
Very truly yours,
SOVEREIGN SPECIALTY CHEMICALS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer
XXXXXX & XXXXXXX CORP.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Chairman
SIA ADHESIVES, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Chairman
Accepted:
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
----------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
XXXXXXXXX, LUFKIN & XXXXXXXX
SECURITIES CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, III
----------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
20
-20-
Each of the Subsidiaries specified below agrees to become a party to
this Agreement as a Guarantor as of the date hereof:
XXXXXXX CONSTRUCTION CHEMICALS
NORTH AMERICA, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Chairman
XXXXXX PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Chairman
EVODE-XXXXXX INDUSTRIES, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Chairman
21
-21-
725
