Exhibit 4.4
$250,000,000
Compass Minerals Group, Inc.
10% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2011
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
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November 28, 2001
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc.
Deutsche Banc Alex. Xxxxx Inc.
Credit Lyonnais Securities (USA) Inc.
c/o Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
Eleven Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Compass Minerals Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Issuer"),
proposes to issue and sell to Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation, X.X.
Xxxxxx Securities Inc., Deutsche Banc Alex. Xxxxx Inc. and Credit Lyonnais
Securities (USA) Inc. (collectively, the "Initial Purchasers"), upon the terms
set forth in a purchase agreement dated November 15, 2001 (the "Purchase
Agreement"), $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 10% Senior
Subordinated Notes Due 2011 (the "Initial Securities") to be guaranteed (the
"Guaranties") by Xxxxx Salt Company, Great Salt Lake Minerals Corporation, GSL
Corporation, NAMSCO Inc. and North American Salt Company, each a Delaware
Corporation, (the "Guarantors" and, collectively with the Issuer, the
"Company"). The Initial Securities will be issued pursuant to an Indenture,
dated as of November 28, 2001 (the "Indenture"), among the Issuer, the
Guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the "Trustee").
As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement,
the Company agrees with the Initial Purchasers, for the benefit of the Initial
Purchasers and the holders of the Securities (as defined below) (collectively
the "Holders"), as follows:
1. Registered Exchange Offer. Unless not permitted by applicable law
(after the Company has complied with the ultimate paragraph of this Section 1),
the Company shall prepare and, not later than 120 days (such 120th day being an
"Exchange Filing Deadline") after the date on which the Initial Purchasers
purchasers purchase the Initial Securities pursuant to the Pur-
chase Agreement (the "Closing Date"), file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement (the "Exchange Offer
Registration Statement") on an appropriate form under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to a proposed offer (the
"Registered Exchange Offer") to the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities
(as defined in Section 6 hereof), who are not prohibited by any law or policy of
the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer, to issue and
deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Initial Securities, a like
aggregate principal amount of debt securities of the Company issued under the
Indenture, identical in all material respects to the Initial Securities and
registered under the Securities Act (the "Exchange Securities"). The Company
shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) cause such Exchange Offer
Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act within 180
days after the Closing Date (such 180th day being an "Exchange Effectiveness
Deadline") and (ii) keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective for
not less than 20 business days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after
the date notice of the Registered Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holders (such
period being called the "Exchange Offer Registration Period").
If the Company commences the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company will be
required to consummate the Registered Exchange Offer no later than 210 days
after the Closing Date (such 210th day being the "Consummation Deadline").
Following the declaration of 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 of Transfer Restricted Securities electing to exchange the
Initial Securities for Exchange Securities (assuming that such Holder is not an
affiliate of the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, acquires the
Exchange Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder's business and has no
arrangements with any person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange
Securities and is not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from
participating in the Registered Exchange Offer) 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 acknowledges that, pursuant to current interpretations by the
Commission's staff of Section 5 of the Securities Act, in the absence of an
applicable exemption therefrom, (i) each Holder which is a broker-dealer
electing to exchange Initial 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 the information set forth in (a) Annex A hereto on the cover, (b)
Annex B hereto in the "Exchange Offer Procedures" section and the "Purpose of
the Exchange Offer" section, and (c) Annex C hereto in the "Plan of
Distribution" section of such prospectus in connection with a
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sale of any such Exchange Securities received by such Exchanging Dealer pursuant
to the Reistered Exchange Offer and (ii) an Initial Purchaser that elects to
sell Securities (as defined below) acquired in exchange for Initial Securities
constituting any portion of an unsold allotment, is required to deliver a
prospectus containing the information required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation
S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in connection with such sale.
The Company shall use its 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 lawfully delivered
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, however, that (i) in the
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case where such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto must be
delivered by an Exchanging Dealer or an Initial Purchaser, such period shall be
the lesser of 180 days and the date on which all Exchanging Dealers and the
Initial Purchasers have sold all Exchange Securities held by them (unless such
period is extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) 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 180 days after the consummation of the Registered
Exchange Offer.
If, upon consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, any Initial
Purchaser holds Initial Securities acquired by it as part of its initial
distribution, the Company, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange
Securities pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, shall issue and deliver to
such Initial Purchaser upon the written request of such Initial Purchaser, in
exchange (the "Private Exchange") for the Initial Securities held by such
Initial Purchaser, a like principal amount of debt securities of the Company
issued under the Indenture and identical in all material respects to the Initial
Securities (the "Private Exchange Securities"). The Initial Securities, the
Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities are herein collectively
called the "Securities".
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
notice thereof is mailed to the Holders;
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(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,
which may be the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee;
(d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities at any time prior
to the close of business, New York time, on the last business day on which
the Registered Exchange Offer shall remain open; and
(e) otherwise comply with all applicable laws.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange Offer or
the Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:
(x) accept for exchange all the Securities validly tendered and not
withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and the Private
Exchange;
(y) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all the Initial Securities
so accepted for exchange; and
(z) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to each
Holder of the Initial Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange
Securities, as the case may be, equal in principal amount to the Initial
Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.
The Indenture will provide that the Exchange Securities will not be subject
to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture and that all the
Securities will vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that
none of the Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a class
separate from one another 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
Initial Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been
paid on the Initial Securities, from the date of original issue of the Initial
Securities.
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, (iii) such Holder is not an "affiliate," as defined in Rule
405 of the Securities Act, of the Company or if it is an affiliate, such Holder
will comply with the registration
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and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the extent
applicable, (iv) if such Holder is not a broker-dealer, that it is not engaged
in, and does not intend to engage in, the distribution of the Exchange
Securities and (v) if such Holder is a broker-dealer, that it will receive
Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities that
were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities and that it will be required to acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company 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
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 include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state 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.
If following the date hereof there has been announced a change in
Commission policy with respect to exchange offers that in the reasonable opinion
of counsel to the Company raises a substantial question as to whether the
Registered Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable federal law, the Company
will seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision from the Commission
allowing the Company to consummate the Registered Exchange Offer. The Company
will pursue the issuance of such a decision to the Commission staff level. In
connection with the foregoing, the Company will take all such other actions as
may be requested by the Commission or otherwise required in connection with the
issuance of such decision, including without limitation (i) participating in
telephonic conferences with the Commission, (ii) delivering to the Commission
staff an analysis prepared by counsel to the Company setting forth the legal
bases, if any, upon which such counsel has concluded that the Registered
Exchange Offer should be permitted and (iii) diligently pursuing a resolution
(which need not be favorable) by the Commission staff.
2. Shelf Registration. If, (i) because of any change in law or in
applicable interpretations thereof by the staff of the Commission, the Company
is not permitted to effect a Registered Exchange Offer, as contemplated by
Section 1 hereof, (ii) the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated by the
210th day after the Closing Date, (iii) any Initial Purchaser so requests with
respect to the Initial Securities (or the Private Exchange Securities) not
eligible to be exchanged for Exchange Securities in the Registered Exchange
Offer and held by it following consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer or
(iv) any Holder (other than an
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Exchanging Dealer) is not eligible to participate in the Registered Exchange
Offer or, in the case of any Holder (other than an Exchanging Dealer) that
participates in the Registered Exchange Offer, such Holder does not receive
freely tradeable Exchange Securities on the date of the exchange and any such
Holder so requests, the Company shall take the following actions (the date on
which any of the conditions described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv)
occur, including in the case of clauses (iii) or (iv) the receipt of the
required notice, being a "Trigger Date"):
(a) The Company shall promptly (but in no event more than 120 days
after the Trigger Date (such 120th day being a "Shelf Filing Deadline,"
each of the Exchange Filing Deadline and the Shelf Filing Deadline, a
"Filing Deadline") file with the Commission and thereafter use commercially
reasonable efforts to cause to be declared effective no later than 180 days
after the Trigger Date (such 180th day being a "Shelf Effectiveness
Deadline," each of the Exchange Effectiveness Deadline and the Shelf
Effectiveness Deadline, an "Effectiveness Deadline") a registration
statement (the "Shelf Registration Statement" and, together with the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, a "Registration Statement") on an
appropriate form under the Securities Act relating to the offer and sale of
the Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof from time to time
in accordance with the methods of distribution set forth in the Shelf
Registration Statement and Rule 415 under the Securities Act (hereinafter,
the "Shelf Registration"); provided, however, that no Holder (other than an
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Initial Purchaser) shall be entitled to have the Securities held by it
covered by such Shelf Registration Statement unless such Holder agrees in
writing to be bound by all the provisions of this Agreement applicable to
such Holder.
(b) The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Shelf
Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit the
prospectus included therein to be lawfully delivered by the Holders of the
relevant Securities, for a period of two years (or for such longer period
if extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) from the date of its
effectiveness or such shorter period that will terminate when all the
Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement (i) have been sold
pursuant thereto or (ii) are no longer restricted securities (as defined in
Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or any successor rule thereof). The
Company shall be deemed not to have used its 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 Securities
covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such Securities during
that period, unless such action is required by applicable law.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the
contrary, the Company shall cause the Shelf Registration Statement and the
related prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as of the
effective date of the Shelf Regis-
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tration Statement, amendment or supplement, (i) to comply in all material
respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the
rules and regulations of the Commission and (ii) not to contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
3. Registration Procedures. In connection with any Shelf Registration
contemplated by Section 2 hereof and, to the extent applicable, any Registered
Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 1 hereof, 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, in the event that an Initial Purchaser
(with respect to any portion of an unsold allotment from the original
offering) is participating in the Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf
Registration Statement, the Company shall use its best efforts to reflect
in each such document, when so filed with the Commission, such comments as
such Initial Purchaser reasonably may 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; (iii) if
requested by an Initial Purchaser, include the information required by
Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable,
in the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement; (iv) include within the prospectus contained in the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement a section entitled "Plan of Distribution,"
reasonably acceptable to the Initial Purchasers, which shall contain a
summary statement of the positions taken or policies made by the staff of
the Commission with respect to the potential "underwriter" status of any
broker-dealer that is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) of
Exchange Securities received by such broker-dealer in the Registered
Exchange Offer (a "Participating Broker-Dealer"), whether such positions or
policies have been publicly disseminated by the staff of the Commission or
such positions or policies, in the reasonable judgment of the Initial
Purchasers based upon advice of counsel (which may be in-house counsel),
represent the prevailing views of the staff of the Commission; and (v) in
the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, include the names of the
Holders who propose to sell Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement as selling securityholders.
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(b) The Company shall give written notice to the Initial Purchasers,
the Holders of the Securities and any Participating Broker-Dealer from whom
the Company has received prior written notice that it will be a
Participating Broker-Dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer (which notice
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 the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto
has been filed with the Commission and when the Registration Statement
or any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective;
(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or
supplements to the 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 the Registration Statement or the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;
(iv) of the receipt by the Company or its legal counsel of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of
the 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 Company to
make changes in the Registration Statement or the prospectus in order
that the Registration Statement or the prospectus do not contain an
untrue statement of a material fact nor omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein (in the case of the prospectus, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made) not misleading.
(c) The Company shall make every reasonable effort to obtain the
withdrawal at the earliest possible time, of any order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement.
(d) The Company shall furnish to each Holder of Securities included
within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge, at least one
copy of the Shelf Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment
thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and, if the Holder
so requests in writing, all exhibits thereto (including those, if any,
incorporated by reference).
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(e) The Company shall deliver to each Exchanging Dealer and each
Initial Purchaser, and to any other Holder who so requests, without charge,
at least one copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and
schedules, and, if any Initial Purchaser or any such Holder requests, all
exhibits thereto (including those incorporated by reference).
(f) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period, deliver
to each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf
Registration, without charge, as many copies of the prospectus (including
each preliminary prospectus) included in the Shelf Registration Statement
and any amendment or supplement thereto as such person may reasonably
request. The Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement,
to the use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each
of the selling Holders of the Securities in connection with the offering
and sale of the Securities covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, included in the Shelf Registration Statement.
(g) The Company shall deliver to each Initial Purchaser, any
Exchanging Dealer, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other persons
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 and any amendment or supplement
thereto as such persons may reasonably request. The Company consents,
subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the prospectus
or any amendment or supplement thereto by any Initial Purchaser, if
necessary, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other persons required
to deliver a prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer in
connection with the offering and sale of the Exchange Securities covered by
the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in such
Exchange Offer Registration Statement.
(h) Prior to any public offering of the Securities pursuant to any
Registration Statement the Company shall register or qualify or cooperate
with the Holders of the Securities included therein and their respective
counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of the
Securities for offer and sale under the securities or "blue sky" laws of
such states of the United States as any Holder of the Securities 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 covered by such Registration Statement; provided, however, that
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the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify generally to do business
in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or (ii) take any
action which would subject it to general service of process or to taxation
in any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
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(i) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of the Securities
to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates
representing the 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 may request a reason able period of
time prior to sales of the Securities pursuant to such Registration
Statement.
(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by paragraphs (ii)
through (v) of Section 3(b) above during the period for which the Company
is required to maintain an effective Registration Statement, the Company
shall promptly prepare and file a post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus and any
other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to Holders of the
Securities or purchasers of Securities, the prospectus will not contain an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
If the Company notifies the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the
Securities and any known Participating Broker-Dealer in accordance with
paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above to suspend the use of the
prospectus until the requisite changes to the prospectus have been made,
then the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any such
Participating Broker-Dealers shall suspend use of such prospectus, and the
period of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement provided for in
Section 2(b) above and the Exchange Offer Registration Statement provided
for in Section 1 above shall each be extended by the number of days from
and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the
date when the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any
known Participating Broker-Dealer shall have received such amended or
supplemented prospectus pursuant to this Section 3(j). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Company may suspend the offering and sales under the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement subsequent to the consummation of the
Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration Statement for up to 90
days in each year during which such Exchange Offer Registration Statement
is required to be effective and usable hereunder subsequent to the
consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer or such Shelf Registration
Statement is required to be effective and usable hereunder (measured from
the date of effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement to
successive anniversaries thereof) if (A) either (x)(I) the Company shall be
engaged in a material acquisition or disposition and (II)(aa) such
acquisition or disposition is required to be disclosed in the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement, the
related prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or the failure
by the Company to disclose such transaction in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement or related
prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, as then amended or
supplemented, would cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement or
Shelf Registration Statement,
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prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto, to contain an untrue statement of
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein not misleading, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, (bb) information regarding the existence of such acquisition or
disposition has not then been publicly disclosed by or on behalf of the Company
and (cc) a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company determines in the
exercise of its good faith judgment that disclosure of such acquisition or
disposition would not be in the best interest of the Company or would have a
material adverse effect on the consummation of such acquisition or disposition
or (y) a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company determines in the
exercise of its good faith judgment that compliance with the disclosure
obligations set forth in this Section 3(j) would otherwise have a material
adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and (B)
the Company notifies the Holders within two business days after such Board of
Directors makes the relevant determination set forth in clause (A); provided,
however, that in each such case the applicable period of effectiveness of the
Shelf Registration Statement provided for in Section 2(b) above and the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement provided for in Section 1 above shall each be
extended by the number of days during which such effectiveness was suspended
pursuant to the foregoing and Additional Interest shall not apply during any
period the Company is permitted to suspend offerings and sales under this
sentence.
(k) Not later than the effective date of the applicable Registration
Statement, the Company will provide a CUSIP number for the Initial Securities,
the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be,
and provide the applicable trustee with printed certificates for the Initial
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 Company will comply with all rules and regulations of the
Commission to the extent and so long as they are applicable to the Registered
Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration and will make generally available to
its security holders (or otherwise provide in accordance with Section 11(a) of
the Securities Act) an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section
11(a) of the Securities Act, no 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 Registration Statement, which statement shall cover such 12-month period.
(m) The Company shall cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in a timely manner and containing such
changes, if any, as shall be necessary for such qualification. In the event that
such qualification
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would require the appointment of a new trustee under the Indenture, the Company
shall appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions of
the Indenture.
(n) The Company may require each Holder of Securities to be sold pursuant
to the Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the Company such information
regarding the Holder and the distribution of the Securities as the Company may
from time to time reasonably require for inclusion in the Shelf Registration
Statement, and the Company may exclude from such registration the Securities of
any Holder that unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a
reasonable time after receiving such request.
(o) The Company shall enter into such customary agreements and take all
such other action, if any, as any Holder of the Securities shall reasonably
request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Securities pursuant to any
Shelf Registration.
(p) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company shall (i) make
reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of the Securities, any
attorney, accountant or other advisor retained by the Holders of the Securities
all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and
properties of the Company and (ii) cause the Company's officers, directors,
employees, accountants and auditors to supply all relevant information
reasonably requested by the Holders of the Securities, attorney, accountant or
advisor in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, as
shall be reasonably necessary to enable such persons, to conduct a reasonable
investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act; provided,
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however, that the foregoing inspection and information gathering shall be
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coordinated on behalf of the Initial Purchasers by you and on behalf of the
other parties, by one counsel designated by and on behalf of such other parties
as described in Section 4 hereof.
(q) the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company, if requested by any
Holder of Securities covered thereby, shall cause (i) its counsel to deliver an
opinion relating to the Securities in customary form addressed to such Holders
and dated the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement (it being
agreed that the matters to be covered by such opinion shall include, without
limitation, the due incorporation and good standing of the Company and its
subsidiaries; the qualification of the Company and its subsidiaries to transact
business as foreign corporations; the due authorization, execution and delivery
of the relevant agreement of the type referred to in Section 3(o) hereof; the
due authorization, execution, authentication and issuance, and the validity and
enforceability, of the applicable Securities; the absence of material legal or
governmental proceedings involving the Company and its subsidiaries; the absence
of
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governmental approvals required to be obtained in connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, the offering and sale of the applicable Securities,
or any agreement of the type referred to in Section 3(o) hereof; the
compliance as to form of such Shelf Registration Statement and any
documents incorporated by reference therein and of the Indenture with the
requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act, re
spectively; and, as of the date of the opinion and as of the effective date
of the Shelf Registration Statement or most recent post-effective amendment
thereto, as the case may be, the absence from such Shelf Registration
Statement and the prospectus included therein, as then amended or
supplemented, and from any documents incorporated by reference therein of
an untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading (in the case of any such documents, in
the light of the circumstances existing at the time that such documents
were filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act), all in the manner
covered by the opinion of Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx delivered to the Purchasers on
the date hereof and (ii) its independent public accountants to provide to
the selling Holders of the applicable Securities a comfort letter in
customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in
comfort letters to selling security holders in a shelf registration,
subject to receipt of appropriate documentation as contemplated, and only
if permitted, by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72.
(r) If a Registered Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be
consummated, upon delivery of the Initial Securities by Holders to the
Company (or to such other Person as directed by the Company) in exchange
for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case
may be, the Company shall xxxx, or caused to be marked, on the Initial
Securities so exchanged that such Initial Securities are being canceled in
exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as
the case may be; in no event shall the Initial Securities be marked as paid
or otherwise satisfied.
(s) The Company shall use its reasonable efforts to take all other
steps necessary to effect the registration of the Securities covered by a
Registration Statement contemplated hereby.
4. Registration Expenses. (a) All expenses incident to the Company's
performance of and compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company,
regardless of whether a Registration Statement is ever filed or becomes
effective, including without limitation;
(i) all registration and filing fees and expenses;
13
(ii) all fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities
and state "blue sky" or securities laws;
(iii) all expenses of printing (including printing certificates
for the Securities to be issued in the Registered Exchange Offer and
the Private Exchange and printing of Prospectuses), messenger and
delivery services and telephone;
(iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;
(v) all application and filing fees in connection with listing
the Exchange Securities on a national securities exchange or automated
quotation system pursuant to the requirements hereof; and
(vi) all fees and disbursements of independent certified public
accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any special
audit and comfort letters required by or incident to such
performance).
The Company will bear its internal expenses (including, without limitation, all
salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or
accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the fees and expenses
of any person, including special experts, retained by the Company.
(b) In connection with any Registration Statement required by this
Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Initial Purchasers and the Holders of
Transfer Restricted Securities who are tendering Initial Securities in the
Registered Exchange Offer and/or selling or reselling Securities pursuant to the
"Plan of Distribution" contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or
the Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable, for the reasonable fees and
disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall be Xxxxxx Xxxxxx &
Xxxxxxx.
5. Indemnification. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless each Holder of the Securities, any Participating Broker-Dealer and each
person, if any, who controls such Holder or such Participating Broker-Dealer
within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each Holder, any
Participating Broker-Dealer and such controlling persons are each referred to as
an "Indemnified Party" and, collectively as the "Indemnified Parties") from and
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, or any
actions in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or actions relating to purchases and sales of the
Securities) to which each Indemnified Party may become subject under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a
Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus relat-
14
ing to a Shelf Registration, or arise out of, or are based upon, the omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and shall reimburse,
as incurred, the Indemnified Parties for any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof; provided, however, that
-------- -------
(i) the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that such
loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in a
Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and
furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for
inclusion therein and (ii) with respect to any untrue statement or omission or
alleged untrue statement or omission made in any preliminary prospectus relating
to a Shelf Registration Statement, the indemnity agreement contained in this
subsection (a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder or Participating
Broker-Dealer from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities purchased the Securities concerned, to the extent that a prospectus
relating to such Securities was required to be delivered by such Holder or
Participating Broker-Dealer under the Securities Act in connection with such
purchase and any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such Holder or
Participating Broker-Dealer results from the fact that there was not sent or
given to such person, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of
such Securities to such person, a copy of the final prospectus if the Company
had previously furnished copies thereof to such Holder or Participating
Broker-Dealer; provided further, however, that this indemnity agreement will be
-------- ------- -------
in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to such
Indemnified Party. The Company shall also indemnify underwriters, their officers
and directors and each person who controls such underwriters within the meaning
of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act to the same extent as provided above
with respect to the indemnification of the Holders of the Securities if
requested by such Holders. Any amounts advanced by the Company to an Indemnified
Party pursuant to this Section 5 as a result of any losses described herein
shall be returned to the Company if it shall be finally determined by a court of
competent jurisdiction in a judgment not subject to appeal or further review
that such Indemnified Party was not entitled to such indemnification by the
Company.
(b) Each Holder of the Securities, severally and not jointly, will
indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each person, if any, who controls
the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act from
and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities or any actions in respect
thereof, to which the Company or any such controlling person may become subject
under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a
Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out
of or are based upon the omission or
15
alleged untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity
with written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Company
by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein; and, subject
to the limitation set forth immediately preceding this clause, shall reimburse,
as incurred, the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
the Company or any such controlling person in connection with investigating or
defending any loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof. This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Holder may
otherwise have to the Company or any of its controlling persons.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Party under this Section 5
of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including a
governmental investigation), such Indemnified Party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 5,
notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the omission so
to notify the indemnifying party will not, in any event, relieve the
indemnifying party from any obligations to any Indemnified Party other than the
indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. In case any
such action is brought against any Indemnified Party, and it notifies the
indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be
entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly
with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense
thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party (who
shall not, except with the consent of the Indemnified Party, be counsel to the
indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such
Indemnified Party of its election so to assume the defense thereof the
indemnifying party will not be liable to such Indemnified Party under this
Section 5 for any legal or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of
investigation, subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection
with the defense thereof. In no event shall the indemnifying party be liable for
fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel)
separate from its own counsel for the Indemnified Party in connection with any
one action or separate but related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out
of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall,
without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any
settlement of any pending or threatened action 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 includes an
unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on any claims
that are the subject matter of such action, and does not include a statement as
to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of
any Indemnified Party.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is
unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnified Party under
subsections (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as
16
a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof) referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party
or parties on the one hand and the Indemnified Party on the other from the
exchange of the Securities, pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, or (ii)
if the allocation provided by the foregoing clause (i) 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 indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the Indemnified Party on
the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) as well
as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the
parties shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the
untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged
omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company
on the one hand or such Holder or such other Indemnified Party, as the case may
be, on the other, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The amount paid by an Indemnified Party as a result of the losses, claims,
damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d)
shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any action
or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Section 5(d), the Holders of the Securities shall not be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net
proceeds received by such Holders from the sale of the Securities pursuant to a
Registration Statement exceeds the amount of damages which such Holders have
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this paragraph (d), each person,
if any, who controls such Indemnified Party within the meaning of the Securities
Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such
Indemnified Party and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the
meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to
contribution as the Company.
(e) The agreements contained in this Section 5 shall survive the sale
of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement and shall remain in full
force and effect, regardless of any termination or cancellation of this
Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of any Indemnified Party.
6. Additional Interest Under Certain Circumstances. (a) Additional
interest (the "Additional Interest") with respect to the Securities shall be
assessed as follows if any of the following events occur (each such event in
clauses (i) through (iv) below being herein called a "Registration Default"):
17
(i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is
not filed with the Commission on or prior to the applicable Filing
Deadline;
(ii) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is
not declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the applicable
Effectiveness Deadline;
(iii) the Registered Exchange Offer has not been consummated on
or prior to the Consummation Deadline; or
(iv) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement has
been declared effective by the Commission but (A) such Registration
Statement thereafter ceases to be effective or (B) such Registration
Statement or the related prospectus ceases to be usable in connection
with resales of Transfer Restricted Securities during the periods
specified herein because either (1) any event occurs as a result of
which the related prospectus forming part of such Registration
Statement would include any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements
therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made
not misleading, or (2) it shall be necessary to amend such
Registration Statement or supplement the related prospectus, to comply
with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules
thereunder; provided, however, the Registration Default referred to in
this Section 6(a)(iv) shall be deemed not to have occurred and to be
continuing, and Additional Interest shall not accrue, during any
period the Company is permitted to suspend offerings and sales
pursuant to Section 3(j).
Each of the foregoing will constitute a Registration Default whatever the reason
for any such event and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is beyond the
control of the Company or pursuant to operation of law or as a result of any
action or inaction by the Commission .
Additional Interest shall accrue on the Securities over and above the
interest set forth in the title of the Securities from and including the date on
which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the date on
which all such Registration Defaults have been cured, at a rate of 0.25% per
annum (the "Additional Interest Rate") for the first 90-day period immediately
following the occurrence of such Registration Default. The Additional Interest
Rate shall increase by an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each
subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to
a maximum Additional Interest Rate of 1.0% per annum.
18
(b) A Registration Default referred to in Section 6(a)(iv) hereof shall be
deemed not to have occurred and be continuing in relation to a Shelf
Registration Statement or the related prospectus if (i) such Registration
Default has occurred solely as a result of (x) the filing of a post-effective
amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement to incorporate annual audited
financial information with respect to the Company where such post-effective
amendment is not yet effective and needs to be declared effective to permit
Holders to use the related prospectus or (y) other material events, with respect
to the Company that would need to be described in such Shelf Registration
Statement or the related prospectus and (ii) in the case of clause (y), the
Company is proceeding promptly and in good faith to amend or supplement such
Shelf Registration Statement and related prospectus to describe such events;
provided, however, that in any case if such Registration Default occurs for a
-------- -------
continuous period in excess of 30 days, Additional Interest shall be payable in
accordance with the above paragraph from the day such Registration Default
occurs until such Registration Default is cured.
(c) Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to Section 6(a) will be
payable in cash on the regular interest payment dates with respect to the
Securities. The amount of Additional Interest will be determined by multiplying
the applicable Additional Interest Rate by the principal amount of the
Securities and further multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of days such Additional Interest Rate was applicable during such period
(determined on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months),
and the denominator of which is 360.
(d) "Transfer Restricted Securities" means each Security until (i) the date
on which such Security has been exchanged by a person other than a broker-dealer
for a freely transferable Exchange Security in the Registered Exchange Offer,
(ii) following the exchange by a broker-dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer
of an Initial Security for an Exchange Note, the date on which such Exchange
Note is sold to a purchaser who receives from such broker-dealer on or prior to
the date of such sale a copy of the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, (iii) the date on which such Security has been
effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance
with the Shelf Registration Statement or (iv) the date on which such Security 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.
7. Rules 144 and 144A. The Company shall use its 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 request of any Holder of Securities, make available
other information to the extent necessary to permit sales of their securities
pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A. The Company will provide a copy of this
Agreement to prospective purchasers of Initial Securities identified to the
Company by the Initial Purchasers upon request. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
nothing in this Section 7 shall
19
be deemed to require the Company to register any of its securities pursuant to
the Exchange Act.
8. Miscellaneous.
(a) Remedies. The Company acknowledges and agrees that any failure by the
Company to comply with its obligations under Section 1 and 2 hereof may result
in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders for
which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to
measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such
failure, the Initial Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be
required to specifically enforce the Company's obligations under Sections 1 and
2 hereof. The Company further agrees to waive the defense in any action for
specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company will not on or after the date
of this Agreement enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that
could impair the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise
conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted to the Holders
hereunder do not in any way conflict with the rights granted to the holders of
the Company's securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.
(c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be
amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from
the provisions hereof may not be given, except by the Company and the written
consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities
affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consents.
(d) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, first-class mail,
facsimile transmission, or air courier which guarantees overnight delivery:
(1) if to a Holder of the Securities, at the most current address
given by such Holder to the Company.
(2) if to the Initial Purchasers;
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
Eleven Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Transactions Advisory Group
with a copy to:
20
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Esq.
(3) if to the Company, at its address as follows:
Compass Minerals Group, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
21
with a copy to:
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Esq.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have
been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally
delivered; three business days after being deposited in the mail,
postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt is acknowledged by
recipient's facsimile machine operator, if sent by facsimile
transmission; and on the day delivered, if sent by overnight air
courier guaranteeing next day delivery.
(e) Third Party Beneficiaries. The Holders shall be third party
beneficiaries 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 extent they may deem such enforcement
necessary or advisable to protect their rights or the rights of Holders
hereunder.
(f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the
Company and its successors and assigns. A Holder of Securities takes such
Securities subject to the terms of this Agreement.
(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(i) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(j) Severability. If any one or more of the provisions contained
herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal
or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such
provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained
herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
(k) Securities Held by the Company. Whenever the consent or approval
of Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities is
required hereunder, Securities
22
held by the Company or its affiliates (other than subsequent Holders of
Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be affiliates solely by
reason of their holdings of such Securities) shall not be counted in determining
whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required
percentage.
By the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Issuer and each of
the Guarantors submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal and
state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Issuer a counterpart hereof, whereupon
this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement
among the several Initial Purchasers, the Issuer and the Guarantors in
accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
COMPASS MINERALS GROUP, INC.
by _________________________________
Name:
Title:
XXXXX SALT COMPANY
GREAT SALT LAKE MINERALS
CORPORATION
GSL CORPORATION
NAMSCO INC.
NORTH AMERICAN SALT COMPANY
by __________________________________
Name:
Title:
23
The foregoing Registration
Rights Agreement is hereby confirmed
and accepted as of the date first
above written.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES INC.
DEUTSCHE BANC ALEX. XXXXX INC.
CREDIT LYONNAIS SECURITIES (USA) INC.
By: Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
by _____________________________________________
Name:
Title:
24
ANNEX A
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account
pursuant to the 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 Initial Securities
where such Initial 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."
A-1
ANNEX B
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in
exchange for Initial Securities, where such Initial 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."
B-1
ANNEX C
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account
pursuant to the 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 Initial Securities where such Initial 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. In addition, until , 200[ ], all dealers
effecting transactions in the Exchange Securities may be required to deliver a
prospectus./1/
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 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 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 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
___________________________
1 In addition, the legend required by Item 502(b) of Regulation S-K will
appear on the back cover page of the Exchange Offer prospectus.
C-1
any broker-dealer that requests such documents in the Letter of Transmittal. The
Company has agreed to pay all expenses incident to the Exchange Offer (including
the expenses of one counsel for the Holders of the Securities) other than
commissions or concessions of any brokers or dealers and will indemnify the
Holders of the Securities (including any broker-dealers) against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
C-2
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 Initial 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.
D-1
