EXHIBIT 4.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
between
THE XXXXXXXX COMPANIES, INC.,
as Issuer,
and
XXXXXX BROTHERS INC.,
as Initial Purchaser
Dated as of May 28, 2003
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT dated as of May 28, 2003 between The
Xxxxxxxx Companies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), and Xxxxxx
Brothers Inc. (the "INITIAL PURCHASER") pursuant to the Purchase Agreement dated
May 20, 2003 (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), between the Company and the Initial
Purchaser. In order to induce the Initial Purchaser to enter into the Purchase
Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth
in this Agreement.
The Company agrees with the Initial Purchaser, (i) for its benefit as
Initial Purchaser and (ii) for the benefit of the beneficial owners (including
the Initial Purchaser) from time to time of the Debentures (as defined herein)
and the beneficial owners from time to time of the Underlying Common Stock (as
defined herein) issued upon conversion of the Debentures (each of the foregoing
a "HOLDER" and together the "HOLDERS"), as follows:
Section 1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein without
definition shall have their respective meanings set forth in the Purchase
Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
"AFFILIATE" means with respect to any specified person, an "affiliate,"
as defined in Rule 144, of such person.
"AMENDMENT EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE DATE" has the meaning set forth in
Section 2(d) hereof.
"BUSINESS DAY" means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and
Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York
are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
"CLOSING DATE" has the meaning assigned such term in the Purchase
Agreement.
"COMMON STOCK" means the shares of common stock, $1.00 par value per
share, of the Company.
"CONVERSION PRICE" has the meaning assigned such term in the Indenture.
"DAMAGES ACCRUAL PERIOD" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e)
hereof.
"DAMAGES PAYMENT DATE" means each March 1, June 1, September 1 and
December 1, beginning September 1, 2003.
"DEBENTURES" means the 5.50% Junior Subordinated Convertible Debentures
due 2033 of the Company to be purchased pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
"DEFERRAL NOTICE" has the meaning set forth in Section 3(h) hereof.
"DEFERRAL PERIOD" has the meaning set forth in Section 3(h) hereof.
"EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE DATE" has the meaning set forth in Section
2(a) hereof.
"EFFECTIVENESS PERIOD" means the period commencing on the date hereof
and ending on the date that all Registrable Securities have ceased to be
Registrable Securities.
"EVENT" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e) hereof.
"EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
"FILING DEADLINE DATE" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)
hereof.
"HOLDER" has the meaning set forth in the second paragraph of this
Agreement.
"INDENTURE" means the Indenture, dated as of May 28, 2003, between the
Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as trustee, pursuant to which the Debentures
are being issued.
"INITIAL PURCHASER" means Xxxxxx Brothers Inc.
"INITIAL SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT" has the meaning set forth in
Section 2(a) hereof.
"ISSUE DATE" means the Closing Date.
"LIQUIDATED DAMAGES AMOUNT" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e)
hereof.
"MATERIAL EVENT" has the meaning set forth in Section 3(h) hereof.
"NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE" means a written notice delivered to the
Company containing substantially the information called for by the Selling
Securityholder Notice and Questionnaire attached as Annex A to the Offering
Memorandum of the Company dated May 20, 2003 relating to the Debentures.
"NOTICE HOLDER" means, on any date, any Holder that has delivered a
Notice and Questionnaire to the Company on or prior to such date.
"PURCHASE AGREEMENT" has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereof.
"PROSPECTUS" means the prospectus included in any Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that discloses
information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the
Securities Act), as
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amended or supplemented by any amendment or prospectus supplement, including
post-effective amendments, and all materials incorporated by reference or
explicitly deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
"RECORD HOLDER" means with respect to any Damages Payment Date relating
to any Debentures or Underlying Common Stock as to which any Liquidated Damages
Amount has accrued, the registered holder of such Debenture or Underlying Common
Stock on the February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15, as the case may be,
immediately preceding a Damages Payment Date.
"REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" means the Debentures until such Debentures
have been converted into or exchanged for the Underlying Common Stock and, at
all times subsequent to any such conversion, the Underlying Common Stock and any
securities into or for which such Underlying Common Stock has been converted or
exchanged, and any security issued with respect thereto upon any stock dividend,
split or similar event until, in the case of any such security, (A) the earliest
of (i) its effective registration under the Securities Act and resale in
accordance with the Registration Statement covering it, (ii) expiration of the
holding period that would be applicable thereto under Rule 144(k) or (iii) its
sale to the public pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force,
but not Rule 144A) under the Securities Act, and (B) as a result of the event or
circumstance described in any of the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii), the
legend with respect to transfer restrictions required under the Indenture is
removed or removable in accordance with the terms of the Indenture or such
legend, as the case may be.
"REGISTRATION STATEMENT" means any registration statement of the
Company that covers any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions
of this Agreement, including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such
registration statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and
all materials incorporated by reference or explicitly deemed to be incorporated
by reference in such registration statement.
"RESTRICTED SECURITIES" means "Restricted Securities" as defined in
Rule 144.
"RULE 144" means Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be
amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted
by the SEC.
"RULE 144A" means Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as such Rule may
be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter
adopted by the SEC.
"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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"SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder.
"SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT" has the meaning set forth in Section
2(a) hereof.
"SPECIAL COUNSEL" means Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx or one such other
successor counsel as shall be specified by the Holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities, but which may, with the written consent of the Initial
Purchaser (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), be another nationally
recognized law firm experienced in securities law matters designated by the
Company, the reasonable fees and expenses of which will be paid by the Company
pursuant to Section 5 hereof. For purposes of determining the holders of a
majority of the Registrable Securities in this definition, Holders of Debentures
shall be deemed to be the Holders of the number of shares of Underlying Common
Stock into which such Debentures are or would be convertible as of the date the
consent is requested.
"SUBSEQUENT SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT" has the meaning set forth in
Section 2(b) hereof.
"TIA" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
"TRUSTEE" means JPMorgan Chase Bank, the Trustee under the Indenture.
"UNDERLYING COMMON STOCK" means the Common Stock into which the
Debentures are convertible or issued upon any such conversion.
Section 1. Shelf Registration. The Company shall prepare and file or
cause to be prepared and filed with the SEC, not later than the date (the
"FILING DEADLINE DATE") ninety (90) days after the Issue Date, a Registration
Statement for an offering to be made on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant
to Rule 415 of the Securities Act (a "SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT") registering
the resale from time to time by Holders thereof of all of the Registrable
Securities (the "INITIAL SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT"). The Initial Shelf
Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 or another appropriate form
permitting registration of such Registrable Securities for resale by such
Holders in accordance with the methods of distribution elected by the Holders
and set forth in the Initial Shelf Registration Statement. The Company shall use
its reasonable best efforts to cause the Initial Shelf Registration Statement to
be declared effective under the Securities Act by the date (the "EFFECTIVENESS
DEADLINE DATE") that is one hundred eighty (180) days after the Issue Date, and
to keep the Initial Shelf Registration Statement (or any Subsequent Shelf
Registration Statement) continuously effective under the Securities Act until
the expiration of the Effectiveness Period. At the time the Initial Shelf
Registration Statement is declared effective, each Holder that became a Notice
Holder on or prior to the date ten (10) Business Days prior to such time of
effectiveness shall be named as
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a selling securityholder in the Initial Shelf Registration Statement and the
related Prospectus in such a manner as to permit such Holder to deliver such
Prospectus to purchasers of Registrable Securities in accordance with applicable
law. None of the Company's security holders (other than the Holders of
Registrable Securities) shall have the right to include any of the Company's
securities in the Shelf Registration Statement.
(a) If the Initial Shelf Registration Statement or any Subsequent
Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective for any reason at any time
during the Effectiveness Period (other than because all Registrable Securities
registered thereunder shall have been resold pursuant thereto or shall have
otherwise ceased to be Registrable Securities), the Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending
the effectiveness thereof, and in any event shall within thirty (30) days of
such cessation of effectiveness amend the Shelf Registration Statement in a
manner reasonably expected to obtain the withdrawal of the order suspending the
effectiveness thereof, or file an additional Shelf Registration Statement
covering all of the securities that as of the date of such filing are
Registrable Securities (a "SUBSEQUENT SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT"). If a
Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement is filed, the Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to cause the Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement to
become effective as promptly as is reasonably practicable after such filing and
to keep such Registration Statement (or Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement)
continuously effective until the end of the Effectiveness Period.
(b) The Company shall supplement and amend the Shelf Registration
Statement if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to
the registration form used by the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement,
if required by the Securities Act or as necessary to name a Notice Holder as a
selling securityholder pursuant to Section (d) below.
(c) Each Holder agrees that if such Holder wishes to sell
Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement and related
Prospectus, it will do so only in accordance with this Section 2(d) and
Section 3(h) and Section 4 of this Agreement. Following the date that the
Initial Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective, each Holder wishing
to sell Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement and
related Prospectus agrees to deliver a Notice and Questionnaire to the Company
at least ten (10) Business Days prior to any intended distribution of
Registrable Securities under the Shelf Registration Statement. From and after
the date the Initial Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective, the
Company shall, as promptly as practicable after the date a Notice and
Questionnaire is delivered pursuant to Section 8(c) and in any event upon the
later of (x) fifteen (15) Business Days after such date or (y) fifteen (15)
Business Days after the expiration of any Deferral Period in effect when the
Notice and Questionnaire is delivered or put into effect within fifteen (15)
Business Days of such delivery date:
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(i) if required by applicable law, file with the SEC a
post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement or prepare
and, if required by applicable law, file a supplement to the related
Prospectus or a supplement or amendment to any document incorporated
therein by reference or file any other required document so that the
Holder delivering such Notice and Questionnaire is named as a selling
securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and the related
Prospectus in such a manner as to permit such Holder to deliver such
Prospectus to purchasers of the Registrable Securities in accordance
with applicable law and, if the Company shall file a post-effective
amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement, use its reasonable best
efforts to cause such post-effective amendment to be declared effective
under the Securities Act as promptly as is reasonably practicable, but
in any event by the date (the "AMENDMENT EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE DATE")
that is forty-five (45) days after the date such post-effective
amendment is required by this clause to be filed;
(ii) provide such Holder copies of any documents filed
pursuant to Section 2(d)(i); and
(iii) notify such Holder as promptly as practicable after
the effectiveness under the Securities Act of any post-effective
amendment filed pursuant to Section 2(d)(i);
provided, that if such Notice and Questionnaire is delivered during a Deferral
Period, the Company shall so inform the Holder delivering such Notice and
Questionnaire and shall, to the extent required, take the actions set forth in
clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above upon expiration of the Deferral Period in
accordance with Section 3(h). Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the
contrary, (i) the Company shall be under no obligation to name any Holder that
is not a Notice Holder as a selling securityholder in any Registration Statement
or related Prospectus and (ii) the Amendment Effectiveness Deadline Date shall
be extended by up to ten (10) Business Days from the expiration of a Deferral
Period (and the Company shall incur no obligation to pay Liquidated Damages
during such extension) if such Deferral Period shall be in effect on the
Amendment Effectiveness Deadline Date.
(d) The parties hereto agree that the Holders of Registrable
Securities will suffer damages, and that it would not be feasible to ascertain
the extent of such damages with precision, if, other than as permitted
hereunder,
(i) the Initial Shelf Registration Statement has not been
declared effective under the Securities Act on or prior to the
Effectiveness Deadline Date,
(ii) the Company has failed to perform its obligations set
forth in Section 2(d)(i) within the time period required therein,
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(iii) any post-effective amendment to a Shelf Registration
Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(d)(i) has not become effective
under the Securities Act on or prior to the Amendment Effectiveness
Deadline Date,
(iv) the aggregate duration of Deferral Periods in any
period exceeds the number of days permitted in respect of such period
pursuant to Section 3(h) hereof, or
(v) the number of Deferral Periods in any period exceeds
the number permitted in respect of such period pursuant to Section
3(h) hereof.
Each event described in any of the foregoing clauses (i) through (v) is
individually referred to herein as an "EVENT". For purposes of this Agreement,
each Event set forth above shall begin and end on the dates set forth in the
table below:
Type of Event Beginning Ending
by Clause Date Date
---------------------------------- -------------------------------- ---------------------------------
(i) Effectiveness Deadline Date the date the Initial Shelf
Registration Statement becomes
effective under the Securities
Act
(ii) the date by which the Company is the date the Company performs
required to perform its its obligations set forth in
obligations under Section Section 2(c)(i)
2(c)(i)
(iii) the Amendment Effectiveness the date the applicable
Deadline Date post-effective amendment to a
Shelf Registration Statement
becomes effective under the
Securities Act
(iv) the date on which the aggregate termination of the Deferral
duration of Deferral Periods in Period that caused the limit on
any period exceeds the number of the aggregate duration of
days permitted by Section 3(h) Deferral Periods to be exceeded
(v) the date of commencement of a termination of the Deferral
Deferral Period that causes the Period that caused the number of
number of Deferral Periods to Deferral Periods to exceed the
exceed number
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Type of Event Beginning Ending
by Clause Date Date
---------------------------------- -------------------------------- ---------------------------------
the number permitted by permitted by Section 3(h)
Section 3(h)
For purposes of this Agreement, Events shall begin on the dates set forth in the
table above and shall continue until the ending dates set forth in the table
above.
Commencing on (and including) any date that an Event has begun and
ending on (but excluding) the next date on which there are no Events that have
occurred and are continuing (a "DAMAGES ACCRUAL PERIOD"), the Company shall pay,
as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, to Record Holders of Registrable
Securities an amount (the "LIQUIDATED DAMAGES AMOUNT") accruing, for each day in
the Damages Accrual Period, (i) in respect of any Debenture, at a rate per annum
equal to 0.5% of the aggregate principal amount of such Debenture and (ii) in
respect of each share of Underlying Common Stock at a rate per annum equal to
0.5% of the Conversion Price on such date, as the case may be; provided that in
the case of a Damages Accrual Period that is in effect solely as a result of an
Event of the type described in clause (ii) or (iii) of the preceding paragraph,
such Liquidated Damages Amount shall be paid only to the Holders (as set forth
in the succeeding paragraph) that have delivered Notices and Questionnaires that
caused the Company to incur the obligations set forth in Section 2(d) the
non-performance of which is the basis of such Event. In calculating the
Liquidated Damages Amount on any date on which no Debentures are outstanding,
the Conversion Price and the Liquidated Damages Amount payable with respect to
shares of Common Stock which are Registrable Securities shall be calculated as
if the Debentures were still outstanding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no
Liquidated Damages Amount shall accrue as to any Registrable Security from and
after the earlier of (x) the date such security is no longer a Registrable
Security and (y) expiration of the Effectiveness Period. The rate of accrual of
the Liquidated Damages Amount with respect to any period shall not exceed the
rate provided for in this paragraph notwithstanding the occurrence of multiple
concurrent Events.
The Liquidated Damages Amount shall accrue from the first day of the
applicable Damages Accrual Period, and shall be payable on each Damages Payment
Date during the Damages Accrual Period (and on the Damages Payment Date next
succeeding the end of the Damages Accrual Period if the Damage Accrual Period
does not end on a Damages Payment Date) to the Record Holders of the Registrable
Securities entitled thereto; provided that any Liquidated Damages Amount accrued
with respect to any Debenture or portion thereof redeemed by the Company on a
redemption date or converted into Underlying Common Stock on a conversion date
prior to the Damages Payment Date, shall, in any such event, be paid instead to
the Holder who submitted such Debenture or portion thereof for redemption or
conversion on the applicable redemption date or
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conversion date, as the case may be, on such date (or promptly following the
conversion date, in the case of conversion); provided, further, that, in the
case of an Event of the type described in clause (ii) or (iii) of the first
paragraph of this Section 2(e), such Liquidated Damages Amount shall be paid
only to the Holders entitled thereto pursuant to such first paragraph by check
mailed to the address set forth in the Notice and Questionnaire delivered by
such Holder. The Trustee shall be entitled, on behalf of registered holders of
Debentures or Underlying Common Stock, to seek any available remedy for the
enforcement of this Agreement, including for the payment of such Liquidated
Damages Amount. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties agree that the sole
damages payable for a violation of the terms of this Agreement with respect to
which liquidated damages are expressly provided shall be such liquidated
damages. Nothing shall preclude any Holder from pursuing or obtaining specific
performance or other equitable relief with respect to this Agreement.
All of the Company's obligations set forth in this Section 2(e) that
are outstanding with respect to any Registrable Security at the time such
security ceases to be a Registrable Security shall survive until such time as
all such obligations with respect to such security have been satisfied in full
(notwithstanding termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8(k)).
The parties hereto agree that the liquidated damages provided for in
this Section 2(e) constitute a reasonable estimate of the damages that may be
incurred by Holders of Registrable Securities by reason of the failure of the
Shelf Registration Statement to be filed or declared effective or available for
effecting resales of Registrable Securities in accordance with the provisions
hereof.
Section 3. Registration Procedures. In connection with the registration
obligations of the Company under Section 2 hereof, during the Effectiveness
Period, the Company shall:
(a) Prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement or
Registration Statements on Form S-3 or another appropriate form under the
Securities Act available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the
Holders thereof in accordance with the intended method or methods of
distribution thereof, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause each such
Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective as provided
herein; provided that before filing any Registration Statement or Prospectus or
any amendments or supplements thereto with the SEC, furnish to the Initial
Purchaser and the Special Counsel of such offering, if any, copies of all such
documents proposed to be filed at least three (3) Business Days prior to the
filing of such Registration Statement or amendment thereto or Prospectus or
supplement thereto.
(b) Subject to Section 3(h), prepare and file with the SEC such
amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may
be necessary to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective for the
applicable period specified in Section 2(a); cause the related Prospectus to be
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supplemented by any required prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be
filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force) under the
Securities Act; and use its reasonable best efforts to comply with the
provisions of the Securities Act applicable to it with respect to the
disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement during the
Effectiveness Period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by
the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement as so amended or
such Prospectus as so supplemented.
(c) As promptly as practicable give notice to the Notice Holders,
the Initial Purchaser and the Special Counsel, (i) when any Prospectus,
prospectus supplement, Registration Statement or post-effective amendment to a
Registration Statement has been filed with the SEC and, with respect to a
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has been
declared effective, (ii) of any request, following the effectiveness of the
Initial Shelf Registration Statement under the Securities Act, by the SEC or any
other federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to
any Registration Statement or related Prospectus or for additional information,
(iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental
authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration
Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for that purpose,
(iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the
suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the
Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or
threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the occurrence of, but
not the nature of or details concerning, a Material Event and (vi) of the
determination by the Company that a post-effective amendment to a Registration
Statement will be filed with the SEC, which notice may, at the discretion of the
Company (or as required pursuant to Section 3(h)), state that it constitutes a
Deferral Notice, in which event the provisions of Section 3(h) shall apply.
(d) Use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of
any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the
lifting of any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification)
of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction in which they
have been qualified for sale, in either case at the earliest possible moment,
and provide immediate notice to each Notice Holder and the Initial Purchaser of
the withdrawal of any such order.
(e) As promptly as practicable furnish to each Notice Holder, the
Special Counsel and the Initial Purchaser, upon request and without charge, at
least one (1) conformed copy of the Registration Statement and any amendment
thereto, including exhibits and all documents incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference.
(f) During the Effectiveness Period, deliver to each Notice
Holder, the Special Counsel, if any, and the Initial Purchaser, in connection
with any sale of
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Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, without charge, as
many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses relating to such Registrable
Securities (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or
supplement thereto as such Notice Holder may reasonably request; and the Company
hereby consents (except during such periods that a Deferral Notice is
outstanding and has not been revoked) to the use of such Prospectus or each
amendment or supplement thereto by each Notice Holder in connection with any
offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus or
any amendment or supplement thereto in the manner set forth therein.
(g) Prior to any public offering of the Registrable Securities
pursuant to a Registration Statement, use its reasonable best efforts to
register or qualify or cooperate with the Notice Holders and the Special Counsel
in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from such
registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities for offer and sale
under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United
States as any Notice Holder reasonably requests in writing (which request may be
included in the Notice and Questionnaire); prior to any public offering of the
Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, use its
reasonable best efforts to keep each such registration or qualification (or
exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period in connection
with such Notice Holder's offer and sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to
such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) and do any and all
other acts or things reasonably necessary or advisable to enable the disposition
in such jurisdictions of such Registrable Securities in the manner set forth in
the relevant Registration Statement and the related Prospectus; provided that
the Company will not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or as a
dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be
required to qualify but for this Agreement or (ii) take any action that would
subject it to general service of process in suits or to taxation in any such
jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(h) Upon (A) the issuance by the SEC of a stop order suspending
the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement or the initiation of
proceedings with respect to the Shelf Registration Statement under Section 8(d)
or 8(e) of the Securities Act, (B) the occurrence of any event or the existence
of any fact (a "MATERIAL EVENT") as a result of which any Registration Statement
shall contain any 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 not misleading, or any Prospectus shall contain any 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 the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading, or (C) the occurrence or existence
of any pending corporate development that, in the sole judgment of the Company,
makes it appropriate to suspend the availability of the Shelf Registration
Statement and the related Prospectus:
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(i) in the case of clause (B) above, subject to the next
sentence, as promptly as reasonably practicable prepare and file, if
necessary pursuant to applicable law, a post-effective amendment to
such Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus
or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other
required document that would be incorporated by reference into such
Registration Statement and Prospectus so that such Registration
Statement does not contain any 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 not misleading, and such
Prospectus does not contain any 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 the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, as thereafter
delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities being sold
thereunder, and, in the case of a post-effective amendment to a
Registration Statement, subject to the next sentence, use its
reasonable best efforts to cause it to be declared effective as
promptly as is practicable, and
(ii) give notice to the Notice Holders, and the Special
Counsel, if any, that the availability of the Shelf Registration
Statement is suspended (a "DEFERRAL NOTICE") and, upon receipt of any
Deferral Notice, each Notice Holder agrees not to sell any Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement until such Notice
Holder's receipt of copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus
provided for in clause (i) above, or until it is advised in writing by
the Company that the Prospectus may be used, and has received copies of
any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed
incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to ensure that the use of the
Prospectus may be resumed (x) in the case of clause (A) above, as promptly as is
reasonably practicable, (y) in the case of clause (B) above, as soon as, in the
sole judgment of the Company, public disclosure of such Material Event would not
be prejudicial to or contrary to the interests of the Company or, if necessary
to avoid unreasonable burden or expense, as soon as reasonably practicable
thereafter and (z) in the case of clause (C) above, as soon as in the sole
judgment of the Company, such suspension is no longer appropriate. The Company
shall be entitled to exercise its right under this Section 3(h) to suspend the
availability of the Shelf Registration Statement or any Prospectus, without
incurring or accruing any obligation to pay liquidated damages pursuant to
Section 2(e), and any such period during which the availability of the
Registration Statement and any Prospectus is suspended (the "DEFERRAL PERIOD")
shall, without incurring any obligation to pay liquidated damages pursuant to
Section 2(e), not exceed 45 days; provided that the aggregate duration of any
Deferral Periods shall not exceed 45 days in any 90-day period (or 75 days in
any 90-day period in the event of a Material Event pursuant to which the Company
has delivered a second notice
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as permitted below) or 90 days in any 360-day period; provided that in the case
of a Material Event relating to an acquisition or a probable acquisition or
financing, recapitalization, business combination or other similar transaction,
the Company may, without incurring any obligation to pay liquidated damages
pursuant to Section 2(e), deliver to Notice Holders a second notice to the
effect set forth above, which shall have the effect of extending the Deferral
Period by up to an additional 30 days, or such shorter period of time as is
specified in such second notice. Each Notice Holder agrees to hold any notice by
the Company in respect of any Deferral Period or Material Event described in the
last clause of the preceding sentence in confidence.
(i) If requested in writing in connection with an underwritten
disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, make
reasonably available for inspection during normal business hours by a
representative for the underwriters of such Registrable Securities, any
attorneys and accountants retained by such underwriters all relevant financial
and other records and pertinent corporate documents and properties of the
Company and its subsidiaries, and cause the appropriate officers, directors and
employees of the Company and its subsidiaries to make reasonably available for
inspection during normal business hours on reasonable notice all relevant
information reasonably requested by such representative for such underwriters,
or any attorneys or accountants in connection with such disposition, in each
case as is customary for similar "due diligence" examinations; provided that
such persons shall first agree in writing with the Company that any non-public
information shall be kept confidential by such persons and shall be used solely
for the purposes of exercising rights under this Agreement, unless (i)
disclosure of such information is required by court or administrative order or
is necessary to respond to inquiries of regulatory authorities, (ii) disclosure
of such information is required by law (including any disclosure requirements
pursuant to federal securities laws in connection with the filing of any
Registration Statement or the use of any prospectus referred to in this
Agreement), (iii) such information becomes generally available to the public
other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to safeguard by any such
person or (iv) such information becomes available to any such person from a
source other than the Company and such source is not bound by a confidentiality
agreement, and provided further that the foregoing inspection and information
gathering shall, to the greatest extent possible, be coordinated on behalf of
all underwriters and the other parties entitled thereto by Special Counsel. Any
person legally compelled to disclose any such confidential information made
available for inspection shall provide the Company with prompt prior written
notice of such requirement so that the Company may seek a protective order or
other appropriate remedy.
(j) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC
and make generally available to its securityholders earning statements (which
need not be audited) satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the
Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar rule promulgated under
the Securities Act) for a 12-month period commencing on the first day of the
first fiscal quarter of the
13
Company commencing after the effective date of a Registration Statement, which
statements shall be made available no later than 45 days after the end of the
12-month period or 90 days if the 12-month period coincides with the fiscal year
of the Company.
(k) Cooperate with each Notice Holder to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities
sold or to be sold pursuant to a Registration Statement, which certificates
shall not bear any restrictive legends, and cause such Registrable Securities to
be in such denominations as are permitted by the Indenture and registered in
such names as such Notice Holder may request in writing at least one (1)
Business Day prior to any sale of such Registrable Securities.
(l) Provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable Securities covered
by each Registration Statement not later than the effective date of such
Registration Statement and provide the Trustee and the transfer agent for the
Common Stock with printed certificates for the Registrable Securities that are
in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.
(m) Cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
(n) Upon (i) the filing of the Initial Shelf Registration
Statement and (ii) the effectiveness of the Initial Shelf Registration
Statement, announce the same, in each case by release to Reuters Economic
Services and Bloomberg Business News.
Section 4. Holder's Obligations. Each Holder agrees, by acquisition of
the Registrable Securities, that no Holder shall be entitled to sell any of such
Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement or to receive a
Prospectus relating thereto, unless such Holder has furnished the Company with a
Notice and Questionnaire as required pursuant to Section 2(d) hereof (including
the information required to be included in such Notice and Questionnaire and the
information set forth in the next sentence and a sales notice (a "SALES NOTICE")
setting forth the amount of Registrable Securities to be sold and the proposed
sales date not later than three Business Days prior to the proposed sales date).
Each Notice Holder agrees promptly to furnish to the Company all
information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously
furnished to the Company by such Notice Holder not misleading and any other
information regarding such Notice Holder and the distribution of such
Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request.
Any sale of any Registrable Securities by any Holder shall constitute a
representation and warranty by such Holder that the information relating to such
Holder and its plan of distribution is as set forth in the Prospectus delivered
by such Holder in connection with such disposition, that such Prospectus does
not as of the time of such sale contain any untrue statement of a material fact
relating to or provided by
14
such Holder or its plan of distribution and that such Prospectus does not as of
the time of such sale omit to state any material fact relating to or provided by
such Holder or its plan of distribution necessary to make the statements in such
Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
Each Holder acknowledges and agrees that a Sales Notice will only be
valid for a period of five Business Days commencing with the proposed sales date
and that if any of the Registrable Securities to which such Sales Notice relates
are not sold during such period, a new Sales Notice will need to be submitted to
the Company not later than three Business Days prior to the new proposed sales
date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Sales Notice may be submitted, or if
submitted will be of no force and effect, and no Registrable Securities may be
sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement if a Deferral Period is then
in effect.
Section 5. Registration Expenses. The Company shall bear all fees and
expenses incurred in connection with the performance by the Company of its
obligations under Sections y2 and y3 of this Agreement whether or not any
Registration Statement is declared effective. Such fees and expenses shall
include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including,
without limitation, fees and expenses (x) with respect to filings required to be
made with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and (y) of
compliance with federal and state securities or Blue Sky laws (including,
without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of the Special Counsel in
connection with Blue Sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities under the
laws of such jurisdictions as Notice Holders may designate pursuant to Section
3(g) of this Agreement and any filings required to be made with the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.), (ii) printing expenses (including,
without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities
in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company), (iii)
duplication expenses relating to copies of any Registration Statement or
Prospectus delivered to any Holders hereunder, (iv) reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company and of Special Counsel in connection
with the Shelf Registration Statement, (v) reasonable fees and disbursements of
the Trustee and its counsel and of the registrar and transfer agent for the
Common Stock and (vi) any Securities Act liability insurance obtained by the
Company in its sole discretion. In addition, the Company shall pay the internal
expenses of the Company (including, without limitation, all salaries and
expenses of officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the
expense of any annual audit, the fees and expenses incurred in connection with
the listing by the Company of the Registrable Securities on any securities
exchange on which similar securities of the Company are then listed and the fees
and expenses of any person, including special experts, retained by the Company.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5, each seller of Registrable
Securities shall pay selling expenses, including any underwriting discount and
commissions, and all registration expenses to the extent required by applicable
law.
15
Section 6. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, each person, if any, who controls any
Holder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section
20 of the Exchange Act, and each affiliate of any Holder within the meaning of
Rule 405 under the Securities Act from and against any and all losses, claims,
damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any
such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or any amendment
thereof, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (as amended or
supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements
thereto), caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities
are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement
or omission based upon information relating to any Holder furnished to the
Company in writing by such Holder expressly for use therein; provided that the
indemnification contained in this paragraph shall not inure to the benefit of
any Holder (or to the benefit of any person controlling such Holder) on account
of any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities caused by any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in
any preliminary prospectus; provided in each case the Company has performed its
obligations under Section 3(f) hereof if either (A) (x) such Holder failed to
send or deliver a copy of the Prospectus with or prior to the delivery of
written confirmation of the sale by such Holder to the person asserting the
claim from which such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise and (y) the
Prospectus would have corrected such untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or such omission or alleged omission, or (B) (x) such untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement, omission or alleged omission is corrected in an
amendment or supplement to the Prospectus and (y) having previously been
furnished by or on behalf of the Company with copies of the Prospectus as so
amended or supplemented, such Holder thereafter fails to deliver such Prospectus
as so amended or supplemented, with or prior to the delivery of written
confirmation of the sale of a Registrable Security to the person asserting the
claim from which such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise.
(b) Indemnification by Holders. Each Holder agrees severally and
not jointly to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors, its
officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company (within the meaning
of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act)
and each affiliate of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the
Securities Act or any other Holder, to the same extent as the foregoing
indemnity from the Company to such Holder, but only with reference to
information relating to such Holder furnished to the Company in writing by such
Holder expressly for use in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or
amendment or supplement thereto. In no event shall the liability of any Holder
hereunder be greater in amount than
16
the dollar amount of the proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the
Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement giving rise to
such indemnification obligation.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. In case any proceeding
(including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any
person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 6(a) or
y6(b) hereof, such person (the "INDEMNIFIED PARTY") shall promptly notify the
person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "INDEMNIFYING PARTY") in
writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall
retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the
indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such
proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and disbursements of such counsel
related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall
have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such
counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the
retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding
(including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the
indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would
be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It
is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the legal
expenses of any indemnified party in connection with any proceeding or related
proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of
more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all such
indemnified parties and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as
they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by, in the case of
parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(a), the Holders of a majority (with
Holders of Debentures deemed to be the Holders, for purposes of determining such
majority, of the number of shares of Underlying Common Stock into which such
Debentures are or would be convertible as of the date on which such designation
is made) of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement
held by Holders that are indemnified parties pursuant to Section 6(a) and, in
the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(b), the Company. The
indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding
effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if
there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to
indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason
of such settlement or judgment.
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified
party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified
party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third
sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be
liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent
if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such
indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party
shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request
prior
17
to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior
written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending
or threatened proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could
have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such
indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of
such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter
of such proceeding.
(d) Contribution. To the extent that the indemnification provided
for in Section 6(a) or y6(b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or
insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred
to therein, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of
indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount
paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (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 or parties on the other hand or (ii) if the allocation
provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred
to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party or
parties on the one hand and of the indemnified party or parties on the other
hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company shall be deemed to
be equal to the total net proceeds from the initial placement pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement (before deducting expenses) of the Registrable Securities to
which such losses, claims, damages or liabilities relate. The relative benefits
received by any Holder shall be deemed to be equal to the value of receiving
Registrable Securities that are registered under the Securities Act. The
relative fault of the Holders on the one hand and the Company on the other hand
shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission
to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Holders or by
the Company, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Holders'
respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 6 are several in
proportion to the respective number of Registrable Securities they have sold
pursuant to a Registration Statement, and not joint.
The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 6(d) were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account
the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.
The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth
above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party
in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding this Section 6, no
18
indemnifying party that is a selling Holder shall be required to contribute any
amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Registrable
Securities sold by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public
exceeds the amount of any damages that such indemnifying party has otherwise
been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation.
(e) The remedies provided for in this Section 6 are not exclusive
and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to
an indemnified party at law or in equity, hereunder, under the Purchase
Agreement or otherwise.
(f) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this
Section 6 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i)
any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf
of any Holder, any person controlling any Holder or any affiliate of any Holder
or by or on behalf of the Company, its officers or directors or any person
controlling the Company and (iii) the sale of any Registrable Securities by any
Holder.
Section 7. Information Requirements. The Company covenants that, if at
any time before the end of the Effectiveness Period the Company is not subject
to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, it will cooperate with any
Holder and take such further commercially reasonable action as any Holder may
reasonably request in writing (including, without limitation, making such
reasonable representations as any such Holder may reasonably request), all to
the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Registrable
Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation
of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 and Rule 144A under the Securities Act
and customarily taken in connection with sales pursuant to such exemptions. Upon
the written request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a
written statement as to whether it has complied with such filing requirements,
unless such a statement has been included in the Company's most recent report
filed pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of Exchange Act. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to require the Company
to register any of its securities (other than the Common Stock) under any
section of the Exchange Act.
Section 8. Miscellaneous.
(a) No Conflicting Agreements. The Company is not, as of the date
hereof, a party to, nor shall it, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter
into, any agreement with respect to its securities that conflicts with the
rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement. The Company represents and
warrants that the
19
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 other
agreements.
(b) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement,
including the provisions of this sentence, 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 of the then outstanding Underlying Common Stock constituting
Registrable Securities (with Holders of Debentures deemed to be the Holders, for
purposes of this Section, of the number of outstanding shares of Underlying
Common Stock into which such Debentures are or would be convertible as of the
date on which such consent is requested). 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 are being
sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or
indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by Holders of at
least a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold by such Holders
pursuant to such Registration Statement; provided that the provisions of this
sentence may not be amended, modified or supplemented except in accordance with
the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence. Notwithstanding the
foregoing sentence, (i) this Agreement may be amended by written agreement
signed by the Company and the Initial Purchaser, without the consent of the
Holders of Registrable Securities, to cure any ambiguity or to correct or
supplement any provision contained herein that may be defective or inconsistent
with any other provision contained herein, or to make such other provisions in
regard to matters or questions arising under this Agreement that shall not
adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Registrable Securities. Each
Holder of Registrable Securities outstanding at the time of any such amendment,
modification, supplement, waiver or consent or thereafter shall be bound by any
such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent effected pursuant to
this Section 8(b), whether or not any notice, writing or marking indicating
such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent appears on the
Registrable Securities or is delivered to such Holder.
(c) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, by telecopier, by
courier guaranteeing overnight delivery or by first-class mail, return receipt
requested, and shall be deemed given (i) when made, if made by hand delivery,
(ii) upon confirmation, if made by telecopier, (iii) one (1) Business Day after
being deposited with such courier, if made by overnight courier or (iv) on the
date indicated on the notice of receipt, if made by first-class mail, to the
parties as follows:
(i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by
such Holder to the Company in a Notice and Questionnaire or any
amendment thereto;
20
(ii) if to the Company, to:
The Xxxxxxxx Companies, Inc.
Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Treasurer
Telecopy No.: (000) 000-0000
(iii) if to the Initial Purchaser, to:
Xxxxxx Brothers Inc.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Syndicate Department
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
with a copy, in the case of any notice pursuant to Section 6, to the:
Director of Litigation,
Office of the General Counsel,
Xxxxxx Brothers Inc.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
or to such other address as such person may have furnished to the other persons
identified in this Section 8(c) in writing in accordance herewith.
(d) Approval of Holders. Whenever the consent or approval of
Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required
hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (as such
term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) (other than the Initial
Purchaser or subsequent Holders if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be such
affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Registrable Securities)
shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given
by the Holders of such required percentage.
(e) Successors and Assigns. Any person who purchases any
Registrable Securities from the Initial Purchaser shall be deemed, for purposes
of this Agreement, to be an assignee of the Initial Purchaser. This Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of
each of the parties and shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon each
Holder of any Registrable Securities, provided that nothing herein shall be
deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable
Securities in violation of the terms of the Indenture. If any transferee of any
Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any manner, whether by operation
of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all of
the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable
Securities, such person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound
by and to perform all of
21
the terms and provisions of this Agreement and such person shall be entitled to
receive the benefits hereof.
(f) 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 original and all of which taken together
shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(g) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience
of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(h) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AS APPLIED TO
CONTRACTS MADE AND PERFORMED WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES TO SUBMIT TO
THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR
PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.
(i) Severability. If any term provision, covenant or restriction
of this Agreement is held 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 thereby, and the parties hereto shall use their 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 being intended that all of the rights and privileges of the
parties shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
(j) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as
a final expression of their agreement and is intended to be a complete and
exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in
respect of the subject matter contained herein and the registration rights
granted by the Company with respect to the Registrable Securities. Except as
provided in the Purchase Agreement, there are no restrictions, promises,
warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein,
with respect to the registration rights granted by the Company with respect to
the Registrable Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and
undertakings among the parties with respect to such registration rights. No
party hereto shall have any rights, duties or obligations other than those
specifically set forth in this Agreement. In no event will such methods of
distribution take the form of an underwritten offering of the Registrable
Securities without the prior agreement of the Company.
(k) Termination. This Agreement and the obligations of the parties
hereunder shall terminate upon the end of the Effectiveness Period, except for
any
22
liabilities or obligations under Section 4, 5 or 6 hereof and the obligations
to make payments of and provide for liquidated damages under Section 2(e) hereof
to the extent such damages accrue prior to the end of the Effectiveness Period,
each of which shall remain in effect in accordance with its terms.
23
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
THE XXXXXXXX COMPANIES, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxx
-----------------------------
Name:
Title:
Confirmed and accepted as of
the date first above written:
By: XXXXXX BROTHERS INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
-----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
