Exhibit 10.24
EXECUTION COPY
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of December 20, 2002
between
K & F INDUSTRIES, INC.
and
XXXXXX BROTHERS INC.
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This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made
and entered into as of December 20, 2002, between K & F Industries, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company") and Xxxxxx Brothers Inc. (the "Initial
Purchaser"), who has agreed to purchase the Company's 9 5/8% Senior Subordinated
Notes due 2010 (the "Notes") pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined
below).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement,
dated as of December 13, 2002 (the "Purchase Agreement"), between the Company
and the Initial Purchaser. In order to induce the Initial Purchaser to purchase
the Notes, the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth
in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition
to the obligations of the Initial Purchaser set forth in Section 7(n) of the
Purchase Agreement.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms
shall have the following meanings:
"Act": The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Business Day": Any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day
in the City of New York, or in the city of the corporate trust office of the
Trustee, on which banks are authorized to close.
"Broker-Dealer": Any broker or dealer registered under the
Exchange Act.
"Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities": Exchange Notes
that are acquired by a Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer in exchange for Notes
that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of market
making activities or other trading activities (other than Notes acquired
directly from the Company or any of its affiliates).
"Certificated Notes": As defined in the Indenture.
"Closing Date": The date hereof.
"Commission": The Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Consummate": An Exchange Offer shall be deemed "Consummated"
for purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (a) the filing and
effectiveness under the Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
relating to the Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (b) the
maintenance of such Registration Statement continuously effective and the
keeping of the Exchange Offer open for a period not less than the minimum period
required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof and (c) the delivery by the Company to
the Registrar under the Indenture of Exchange Notes in the same aggregate
principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of Notes tendered by Holders
thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
"Damages Payment Date": Each Interest Payment Date.
"Exchange Act": The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"Exchange Offer": The registration by the Company under the
Act of the Exchange Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
pursuant to which the Company shall offer the Holders of all outstanding
Transfer Restricted Securities the opportunity to exchange all such outstanding
Transfer Restricted Securities for Exchange Notes in an aggregate principal
amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted
Securities tendered in such exchange offer by such Holders.
"Exchange Offer Registration Statement": The Registration
Statement relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.
"Exchange Notes": The Company's 9 5/8% Senior Subordinated
Notes due 2010 to be issued pursuant to the Indenture (i) in the Exchange Offer
or (ii) upon the request of any Holder of Notes covered by a Shelf Registration
Statement, in exchange for such Notes.
"Exempt Resales": The transactions in which the Initial
Purchaser proposes to sell the Notes to certain "qualified institutional
buyers," as such term is defined in Rule 144A under the Act.
"Holders": As defined in Section 2 hereof.
"Indemnified Holder": As defined in Section 8(a) hereof.
"Indenture": The Indenture, dated the Closing Date, between
the Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee (the "Trustee"),
pursuant to which the Notes are to be issued, as such Indenture is amended or
supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
"Interest Payment Date": As defined in the Indenture and the
Notes.
"NASD": National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
"Person": An individual, partnership, corporation, trust,
unincorporated organization, or a governmental agency or political subdivision
thereof.
"Prospectus": The prospectus included in a Registration
Statement at the time such Registration Statement is declared effective, as
amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments
thereto, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by
reference into such Prospectus.
"Record Holder": With respect to any Damages Payment Date,
each Person who is a Holder of Notes or Exchange Notes, as the case may be, on
the record date with respect to the Interest Payment Date on which such Damages
Payment Date shall occur.
"Registration Default": As defined in Section 5 hereof.
"Registration Statement": Any registration statement of the
Company relating to (a) an offering of Exchange Notes pursuant to an Exchange
Offer or (b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, (i) which is filed
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) including the Prospectus
included therein, all amendments and supplements thereto (including
post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by
reference therein.
"Regulation S": Regulation S promulgated under the Act.
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"Restricted Broker-Dealer": Any Broker-Dealer which holds
Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities.
"Shelf Registration Statement": As defined in Section 4
hereof.
"TIA": The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Section
77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture.
"Transfer Restricted Securities": Each Note, until (i) the
date on which such Note has been exchanged by a person other than a
broker-dealer for an Exchange Note in the Exchange Offer, (ii) following the
exchange by a broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer of a Note for an Exchange
Note, the date on which such a 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 Note 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 Note is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Act.
"Underwritten Registration" or "Underwritten Offering": A
registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for
reoffering to the public.
SECTION 2. HOLDERS
A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities (each, a "Holder") whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted
Securities.
SECTION 3. REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER
(a) Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permitted by
applicable federal law (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below
have been complied with), the Company shall (i) cause to be filed with the
Commission as soon as practicable after the Closing Date, but in no event later
than 45 days after the Closing Date, the Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
(ii) use its best efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to
become effective at the earliest possible time, but in no event later than 120
days after the Closing Date, (iii) in connection with the foregoing, (A) file
all pre-effective amendments to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement as
may be necessary in order to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to
become effective, (B) file, if applicable, a post-effective amendment to such
Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act and
(C) cause all necessary filings, if any, in connection with the registration and
qualification of the Exchange Notes to be made under the Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions as are necessary to permit Consummation of the Exchange Offer, and
(iv) upon the effectiveness of such Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
commence and Consummate the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall be on the
appropriate form permitting registration of the Exchange Notes to be offered in
exchange for the Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities and to permit
sales of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities by Restricted
Broker-Dealers as contemplated by Section 3(c) below.
(b) The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be effective continuously, and shall
keep the Exchange Offer referred to in the second paragraph of Section 3(c) open
for a period of not less than the minimum period required under applicable
federal and state securities laws to Consummate the Exchange Offer; provided,
however, that in no event shall such period be less than 20 Business Days. The
Company shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply with all applicable federal and
state securities laws. No securities other than the Exchange Notes shall be
included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. The Company shall use its
best efforts to cause
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the Exchange Offer to be Consummated on the earliest practicable date after the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become effective, but in no event
later than 30 Business Days thereafter.
(c) The Company shall include a "Plan of Distribution"
section in the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
and indicate therein that any Restricted Broker-Dealer who holds Notes that are
Transfer Restricted Securities and that were acquired for the account of such
Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, may exchange such Notes (other than Transfer Restricted Securities
acquired directly from the Company or any Affiliate of the Company) pursuant to
the Exchange Offer; however, such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Act and must, therefore, deliver a
prospectus meeting the requirements of the Act in connection with its initial
sale of each Exchange Note received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer,
which prospectus delivery requirement may be satisfied by the delivery by such
Broker-Dealer of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement. Such "Plan of Distribution" section shall also contain all other
information with respect to such sales of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted
Securities by Restricted Broker-Dealers that the Commission may require in order
to permit such sales pursuant thereto, but such "Plan of Distribution" shall not
name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Notes held by any such
Broker-Dealer, except to the extent required by the Commission.
The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as
required by the provisions of Section 6(c) below to the extent necessary to
ensure that it is available for sales of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted
Securities by Restricted Broker-Dealers, and to ensure that such Registration
Statement conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the
policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to
time, for a period of one year from the date on which the Exchange Offer is
Consummated (or such longer period if extended pursuant to Section 6(d) hereof).
The Company shall promptly provide sufficient copies of the
latest version of such Prospectus to such Restricted Broker-Dealers promptly
upon request, and in no event later than one day after such request, at any time
during such one-year period in order to facilitate such sales.
SECTION 4. SHELF REGISTRATION
(a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Company is not
required to file an Exchange Offer Registration Statement with respect to the
Exchange Notes or permitted to Consummate the Exchange Offer because the
Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or Commission policy (after
the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below have been complied with) or
(ii) any Holder shall notify the Company within 20 Business Days following the
Consummation of the Exchange Offer that (A) such Holder was prohibited by law or
Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer or (B) such Holder
may not resell the Exchange Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the
public without delivering a prospectus and the Prospectus contained in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such
resales by such Holder or (C) such Holder is a Broker-Dealer and holds Notes
acquired directly from the Company or one of its affiliates, then the Company
shall (x) cause to be filed, on or prior to 60 days after the date on which the
Company determines that it is not required to file the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement pursuant to clause (i) above or 60 days after the date on
which the Company receives the notice specified in clause (ii) above (and in any
event within 120 days after the Closing Date), a shelf registration statement
pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act (which may be an amendment to the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement (in either event, the "Shelf Registration
Statement")), relating to all Transfer Restricted Securities the Holders of
which shall have provided the information required pursuant to Section 4(b)
hereof, and shall (y) use its best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration
Statement to be declared effective by the Commission as promptly as possible,
but not later
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than 60 days after the date on which the Company becomes obligated to file such
Shelf Registration Statement. If, after the Company has filed an Exchange Offer
Registration Statement which satisfies the requirements of Section 3(a) above,
the Company is required to file and make effective a Shelf Registration
Statement solely because the Exchange Offer shall not be permitted under
applicable federal law, then the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of clause (x) above. Such
an event shall have no effect on the requirements of clause (y) above. The
Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement
discussed in this Section 4(a) continuously effective, supplemented and amended
as required by and subject to the provisions of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof to
the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for sales of Transfer
Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof entitled to the benefit of this
Section 4(a), and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this
Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as
announced from time to time, for a period of at least two years (as extended
pursuant to Section 6(d)) following the date on which such Shelf Registration
Statement first becomes effective under the Act, or such shorter period ending
when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration
Statement cease to be Transfer Restricted Securities.
(b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in
Connection with the Shelf Registration Statement. No Holder may include any of
its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant
to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to the Company in
writing, within 20 days after receipt of a request therefor, such information
specified in item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Act, as applicable, for
use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or
preliminary Prospectus included therein. No Holder shall be entitled to
liquidated damages pursuant to Section 5 hereof unless and until such Holder
shall have used its best efforts to provide all such information. Each Holder as
to which any Shelf Registration Statement is being effected agrees to furnish
promptly to the Company all information required to be disclosed in order to
make the information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder not
materially misleading.
SECTION 5. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
If (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement
is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such
filing in this Agreement, (ii) any such Registration Statement has not been
declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such
effectiveness in this Agreement, (iii) the Exchange Offer has not been
Consummated within 30 Business Days after the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement is first declared effective by the Commission or (iv) any Registration
Statement required by this Agreement is filed and declared effective but shall
thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be usable for its intended purpose
without being succeeded immediately by a post-effective amendment to such
Registration Statement that cures such failure and that is itself declared
effective immediately (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv),
a "Registration Default"), then the Company hereby agrees to pay liquidated
damages to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities that are the subject of
such Registration Default with respect to the first 90-day period immediately
following the occurrence of such Registration Default, in an amount equal to
$.05 per week per $1,000 principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held
by such Holder for each week or portion thereof that the Registration Default
continues. The amount of the liquidated damages shall increase by an additional
$.05 per week per $1,000 in principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities
with respect to each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults
have been cured, up to a maximum amount of liquidated damages of $.50 per week
per $1,000 principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth herein, (1) upon filing of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration
Statement), in the case of (i) above, (2) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration
Statement), in the case of (ii) above, (3) upon Consummation of the Exchange
Offer, in the case of (iii) above, or (4) upon the filing of a post-effective
amendment to the
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Registration Statement or an additional Registration Statement that causes the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf
Registration Statement) to again be declared effective or made usable in the
case of (iv) above, the liquidated damages payable with respect to the Transfer
Restricted Securities as a result of such clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), as
applicable, shall cease.
All accrued liquidated damages shall be paid in cash to the
Holders entitled thereto, in the manner provided for the payment of interest in
the Indenture, on each Interest Payment Date, as more fully set forth in the
Indenture and the Notes. All accrued liquidated damages shall be paid by wire
transfer of immediately available funds or by federal funds check and to Holders
of Certificated Securities by wire transfer to the accounts specified by them or
by mailing checks to their registered addresses (if no such accounts have been
specified) on each Damages Payment Date. All obligations of the Company set
forth in the preceding paragraph that are outstanding with respect to any
Transfer Restricted Security at the time such security ceases to be a Transfer
Restricted Security shall survive until such time as all such obligations with
respect to such security shall have been satisfied in full.
SECTION 6. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. In connection
with the Exchange Offer, the Company shall comply with all applicable provisions
of Section 6(c) below, shall use its best efforts to effect such exchange and to
permit the sale of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in
accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and
shall comply with all of the following provisions:
(i) If, following the date hereof there has been
published a change in Commission policy with respect to exchange offers
such as the Exchange Offer, such that in the reasonable opinion of
counsel to the Company there is a substantial question as to whether
the Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable federal law, the Company
hereby agrees to seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision
from the Commission allowing the Company to Consummate an Exchange
Offer for such Notes. The Company hereby agrees to pursue the issuance
of such a decision to the Commission staff level. In connection with
the foregoing, the Company hereby agrees to take all such other actions
as are requested by the Commission or otherwise required in connection
with the issuance of such decision, including without limitation (A)
participating in telephonic conferences with the Commission, (B)
delivering to the Commission staff an analysis prepared by counsel to
the Company setting forth the legal bases, if any, upon which such
counsel has concluded that such an Exchange Offer should be permitted
and (C) diligently pursuing a resolution (which need not be favorable)
by the Commission staff of such submission.
(ii) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange
Offer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each Holder shall
furnish, upon the request of the Company, prior to the Consummation of
the Exchange Offer, a written representation to the Company (which may
be contained in the letter of transmittal contemplated by the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement) to the effect that (A) it is not an
affiliate of the Company, (B) it is not engaged in, and does not intend
to engage in, and has no arrangement or understanding with any person
to participate in, a distribution of the Exchange Notes to be issued in
the Exchange Offer and (C) it is acquiring the Exchange Notes in its
ordinary course of business. Each Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees
that any Broker-Dealer and any such Holder using the Exchange Offer to
participate in a distribution of the securities to be acquired in the
Exchange Offer (1) could not under Commission policy as in effect on
the date of this Agreement rely on the position of the Commission
enunciated in Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) and
Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as
interpreted in the Commission's letter to Shearman & Sterling dated
July 2, 1993, and similar no-action letters (including, if applicable,
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any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above), and (2)
must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements
of the Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction and that
such a secondary resale transaction must be covered by an effective
registration statement containing the selling security holder
information required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation
S-K if the resales are of Exchange Notes obtained by such Holder in
exchange for Notes acquired by such Holder directly from the Company or
an affiliate thereof.
(iii) Prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the Company shall provide a supplemental letter
to the Commission (A) stating that the Company is registering the
Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the Commission enunciated
in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) as interpreted in the
Commission's letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and, if
applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above,
(B) including a representation that the Company has not entered into
any arrangement or understanding with any Person to distribute the
Exchange Notes to be received in the Exchange Offer and that, to the
best of the Company's information and belief, each Holder participating
in the Exchange Offer is acquiring the Exchange Notes in its ordinary
course of business and has no arrangement or understanding with any
Person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange Notes
received in the Exchange Offer and (C) any other undertaking or
representation required by the Commission as set forth in any no-action
letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above.
(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the
Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall comply with all the provisions
of Section 6(c) below and shall use its best efforts to effect such registration
to permit the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in
accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof (as
indicated in the information furnished to the Company pursuant to Section 4(b)
hereof), and pursuant thereto the Company will prepare and file with the
Commission a Registration Statement relating to the registration on any
appropriate form under the Act, which form shall be available for the sale of
the Transfer Restricted Securities in accordance with the intended method or
methods of distribution thereof within the time periods and otherwise in
accordance with the provisions hereof.
(c) General Provisions. In connection with any
Registration Statement and any related Prospectus required by this Agreement to
permit the sale or resale of Transfer Restricted Securities (including, without
limitation, any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and the related
Prospectus, to the extent that the same are required to be available to permit
sales of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities by Restricted
Broker-Dealers), the Company shall:
(i) use its best efforts to keep such Registration
Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite financial
statements for the period specified in Section 3 or 4 of this
Agreement, as applicable. Upon the occurrence of any event that would
cause any such Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained
therein (A) to contain a material misstatement or omission or (B) not
to be effective and usable for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities
during the period required by this Agreement, the Company shall file
promptly an appropriate amendment to such Registration Statement, (1)
in the case of clause (A), correcting any such misstatement or
omission, and (2) in the case of clauses (A) and (B), use its best
efforts to cause such amendment to be declared effective and such
Registration Statement and the related Prospectus to become usable for
its intended purpose(s) as soon as practicable thereafter;
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments
and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement as may be
necessary to keep the Registration
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Statement effective for the applicable period set forth in Section 3 or
4 hereof, or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer
Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been
sold; cause the Prospectus to be supplemented by any required
Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to
Rule 424 under the Act, and to comply fully with Rules 424, 430A and
462, as applicable, under the Act in a timely manner; and comply with
the provisions of the Act with respect to the disposition of all
securities covered by such Registration Statement during the applicable
period in accordance with the intended method or methods of
distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration
Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;
(iii) advise the underwriter(s), if any, and selling
Holders promptly and, if requested by such Persons, confirm such advice
in writing, (A) when the Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to any
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when
the same has become effective, (B) of any request by the Commission for
amendments to the Registration Statement or amendments or supplements
to the Prospectus or for additional information relating thereto, (C)
of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Act or of the
suspension by any state securities commission of the qualification of
the Transfer Restricted Securities for offering or sale in any
jurisdiction, or the initiation of any proceeding for any of the
preceding purposes, (D) of the existence of any fact or the happening
of any event that makes any statement of a material fact made in the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any amendment or supplement
thereto or any document incorporated by reference therein untrue, or
that requires the making of any additions to or changes in the
Registration Statement in order to make the statements therein not
misleading, or that requires the making of any additions to or changes
in the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If at
any time the Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any state securities
commission or other regulatory authority shall issue an order
suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of the
Transfer Restricted Securities under state securities or Blue Sky laws,
the Company shall use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal or
lifting of such order at the earliest possible time;
(iv) furnish to the Initial Purchaser, each selling Holder
named in any Registration Statement or Prospectus and each of the
underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, before filing with
the Commission, copies of any Registration Statement or any Prospectus
included therein or any amendments or supplements to any such
Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all documents
incorporated by reference after the initial filing of such Registration
Statement), which documents will be subject to the review and comment
of such Holders and underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if
any, for a period of at least five Business Days, and the Company will
not file any such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment
or supplement to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus
(including all such documents incorporated by reference) to which the
selling Holders of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such
Registration Statement or the underwriter(s) in connection with such
sale, if any, shall reasonably object within five Business Days after
the receipt thereof, or if such Registration Statement, amendment,
Prospectus or supplement, as applicable, as proposed to be filed,
contains a material misstatement or omission or fails to comply with
the applicable requirements of the Act;
(v) promptly prior to the filing of any document that is
to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or
Prospectus, provide copies of such document, upon request, to the
selling Holders and to the underwriter(s) in connection with such sale,
if any, make
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the Company's representatives available for discussion of such document
and other customary due diligence matters, and include such information
in such document prior to the filing thereof as such selling Holders or
underwriter(s), if any, reasonably may request;
(vi) make available at reasonable times for inspection by
the selling Holders, any managing underwriter participating in any
disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement and any attorney or
accountant retained by such selling Holders or any of such
underwriter(s), all financial and other records, pertinent corporate
documents and properties of the Company and cause the Company's
officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably
requested by any such Holder, underwriter, attorney or accountant in
connection with such Registration Statement or any post-effective
amendment thereto subsequent to the filing thereof and prior to its
effectiveness;
(vii) if requested by any selling Holders or the
underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, promptly include
in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement
or post-effective amendment if necessary, such information as such
selling Holders and underwriter(s), if any, may reasonably request to
have included therein, including, without limitation, information
relating to the "Plan of Distribution" of the Transfer Restricted
Securities, information with respect to the principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities being sold to such underwriter(s), the
purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering
of the Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold in such offering; and
make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company is
notified of the matters to be included in such Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment;
(viii) furnish to each selling Holder and each of the
underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, without charge, at
least one copy of the Registration Statement, as first filed with the
Commission, and of each amendment thereto, including all documents
incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits (including exhibits
incorporated therein by reference);
(ix) deliver to each selling Holder and each of the
underwriter(s), if any, without charge, as many copies of the
Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or
supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may request; the Company
hereby consents to the use (in accordance with law) of the Prospectus
and any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders
and each of the underwriter(s), if any, in connection with the offering
and the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;
(x) enter into such agreements (including an underwriting
agreement) and make such representations and warranties that are
reasonably acceptable to the Company and take all such other reasonable
actions in connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the
disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to any
Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement as may be
reasonably requested by any Holder or underwriter in connection with
any sale or resale pursuant to any Registration Statement contemplated
by this Agreement, and in such connection, whether or not an
underwriting agreement is entered into and whether or not the
registration is an Underwritten Registration, the Company shall:
(A) furnish (or in the case of paragraphs (2)
and (3), use its best efforts to furnish) to each selling
Holder and each underwriter, if any, upon the effectiveness of
the Shelf Registration Statement and to each Restricted
Broker-Dealer upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer:
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(1) a certificate, dated the date of
Consummation of the Exchange Offer or the date of
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as
the case may be, signed on behalf of the Company by
(x) the President or any Vice President and (y) a
principal financial or accounting officer of the
Company, confirming, as of the date thereof, the type
of matters set forth in paragraphs (b)-(e) of Section
7 of the Purchase Agreement with respect to the
relevant Registration Statement and the securities
registered hereunder, and such other similar matters
as the Holders, underwriter(s) and/or Restricted
Broker Dealers may reasonably request;
(2) an opinion, dated the date of
Consummation of the Exchange Offer or the date of
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as
the case may be, of counsel for the Company covering
matters similar to those set forth in paragraphs (h)
and (i) of Section 7 of the Purchase Agreement and
such other matters as the Holders, underwriters
and/or Restricted Broker Dealers may reasonably
request, and in any event including a statement to
the effect that such counsel has participated in
conferences with officers and other representatives
of the Company, representatives of the independent
public accountants for the Company and have
considered the matters required to be stated therein
and the statements contained therein, although such
counsel has not independently verified the accuracy,
completeness or fairness of such statements; and that
such counsel advises that, on the basis of the
foregoing (relying as to materiality to a large
extent upon facts provided to such counsel by
officers and other representatives of the Company and
without independent check or verification), no facts
came to such counsel's attention that caused such
counsel to believe that the applicable Registration
Statement, at the time such Registration Statement or
any post-effective amendment thereto became effective
and, in the case of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, as of the date of Consummation of the
Exchange Offer, contained an untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, or that the
Prospectus contained in such Registration Statement
as of its date and, in the case of the opinion dated
the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer, as of
the date of Consummation, contained an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading. Without
limiting the foregoing, such counsel may state
further that such counsel assumes no responsibility
for, and has not independently verified, the
accuracy, completeness or fairness of the financial
statements, notes and schedules and other financial
data included in any Registration Statement
contemplated by this Agreement or the related
Prospectus; and
(3) a customary comfort letter, dated
as of the date of effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration Statement or the date of Consummation of
the Exchange Offer, as the case may be, from the
Company's independent accountants, in the customary
form and covering matters of the type customarily
covered in comfort letters to underwriters in
connection with primary underwritten offerings, and
affirming the matters set forth in the comfort
letters delivered pursuant to Section 7 of the
Purchase Agreement, without exception;
10
(B) set forth in full or incorporate by
reference in the underwriting agreement, if any, in connection
with any sale or resale pursuant to any Shelf Registration
Statement the indemnification provisions and procedures of
Section 8 hereof with respect to all parties to be indemnified
pursuant to said Section; and
(C) deliver such other documents and
certificates as may be reasonably requested by the selling
Holders, the underwriter(s), if any, and Restricted Broker
Dealers, if any, to evidence compliance with clause (A) above
and with any customary conditions contained in the
underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the
Company pursuant to this clause (x).
The above shall be done at each closing under such
underwriting or similar agreement, as and to the extent required thereunder, and
if at any time the representations and warranties of the Company contemplated in
(A)(1) above cease to be true and correct, the Company shall so advise the
underwriter(s), if any, the selling Holders and each Restricted Broker-Dealer
promptly and if requested by such Persons, shall confirm such advice in writing;
(xi) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted
Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders, the underwriter(s), if
any, and their respective counsel in connection with the registration
and qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under the
securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the selling
Holders or underwriter(s), if any, may request and do any and all other
acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such
jurisdictions of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the
applicable Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company
shall not be required to register or qualify as a foreign corporation
where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would
subject it to the service of process in suits or to taxation, other
than as to matters and transactions relating to the Registration
Statement, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject;
(xii) issue, upon the request of any Holder of Notes
covered by any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this
Agreement, Exchange Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to
the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered to the Company by
such Holder in exchange therefor or being sold by such Holder; such
Exchange Notes to be registered in the name of such Holder or in the
name of the purchaser(s) of such Notes, as the case may be; in return,
the Notes held by such Holder shall be surrendered to the Company for
cancellation;
(xiii) in connection with any sale of Transfer Restricted
Securities that will result in such securities no longer being Transfer
Restricted Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders and the
underwriter(s), if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and
delivery of certificates representing Transfer Restricted Securities to
be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and to register such
Transfer Restricted Securities in such denominations and such names as
the Holders or the underwriter(s), if any, may request at least two
Business Days prior to such sale of Transfer Restricted Securities;
(xiv) use its best efforts to cause the disposition of the
Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Registration Statement to
be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or
authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof
or the underwriter(s), if any, to consummate the disposition of such
Transfer Restricted Securities, subject to the proviso contained in
clause (xi) above;
(xv) subject to Section 6(c)(i), if any fact or event
contemplated by Section 6(c)(iii)(D) above shall exist or have
occurred, prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment
11
to the Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document
incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document
so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of Transfer
Restricted Securities, the Prospectus will not contain an 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;
(xvi) provide a CUSIP number for all Transfer Restricted
Securities not later than the effective date of a Registration
Statement covering such Transfer Restricted Securities and provide the
Trustee under the Indenture with printed certificates for the Transfer
Restricted Securities which are in a form eligible for deposit with the
Depository Trust Company;
(xvii) cooperate and assist in any filings required to be
made with the NASD and in the performance of any due diligence
investigation by any underwriter (including any "qualified independent
underwriter") that is required to be retained in accordance with the
rules and regulations of the NASD, and use its best efforts to cause
such Registration Statement to become effective and approved by such
governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the
Holders selling Transfer Restricted Securities to consummate the
disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities;
(xviii) otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally
available to its security holders with regard to any applicable
Registration Statement, as soon as practicable, a consolidated earnings
statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158 (which need not be
audited) covering a twelve-month period beginning after the effective
date of the Registration Statement (as such term is defined in
paragraph (c) of Rule 158 under the Act);
(xix) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA
not later than the effective date of the first Registration Statement
required by this Agreement and, in connection therewith, cooperate with
the Trustee and the Holders of Notes to effect such changes to the
Indenture as may be required for such Indenture to be so qualified in
accordance with the terms of the TIA; and execute and use its best
efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents that may be
required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents
required to be filed with the Commission to enable such Indenture to be
so qualified in a timely manner; and
(xx) provide promptly to each Holder upon request each
document filed with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(d) Restrictions on Holders. Each Holder agrees by
acquisition of a Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of the notice
referred to in Section 6(c)(i) or any notice from the Company of the existence
of any fact of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(C) or (D) hereof, such
Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities
pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of
the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section
6(c)(xv) hereof, or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use
of the Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or
supplemental filings that are incorporated by reference in the Prospectus (the
"Advice"). If so directed by the Company, each Holder will deliver to the
Company (at the Company's expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies
then in such Holder's possession, of the Prospectus covering such Transfer
Restricted Securities that was current at the time of receipt of either such
notice. In the event the Company shall give any such notice, the time period
regarding the effectiveness of such Registration Statement set forth in Section
3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, shall be extended by the number of days during the
period from and including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to
Section 6(c)(i) or Section
12
6(c)(iii)(D) hereof to and including the date when each selling
Holder covered by such Registration Statement shall have received the copies of
the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xv) hereof
or shall have received the Advice.
SECTION 7. REGISTRATION EXPENSES
(a) All expenses incident to the Company's performance of
or compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company, regardless of
whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including without
limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses (including filings
made by the Initial Purchaser or any Holder with the NASD and, if applicable,
the fees and expenses of any "qualified independent underwriter" and its counsel
that may be required by the rules and regulations of the NASD); (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 Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of
Prospectuses), messenger and delivery services and telephone; (iv) all
reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and the Holders
(subject to the provisions of Section 7(b) below); (v) all application and
filing fees in connection with listing the Notes 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, in any event, 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 (including, without limitation, the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement and the Shelf Registration Statement), the Company will
reimburse the Initial Purchaser and the Holders being tendered in the Exchange
Offer and/or resold pursuant to the "Plan of Distribution" contained in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement or registered pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement, as applicable, for the reasonable fees and disbursements
of not more than one counsel, who shall be chosen by the Holders of a majority
in principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities for whose benefit such
Registration Statement is being prepared.
SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless (i)
each Holder and (ii) each Person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) any Holder (any of the
Persons referred to in this clause (ii) being hereinafter referred to as a
"controlling person") and (iii) the respective officers, directors, partners,
employees, representatives and agents of any Holder or any controlling person
(any Person referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) may hereinafter be referred
to as an "Indemnified Holder"), to the fullest extent lawful, from and against
any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, actions and
expenses (including without limitation and as incurred, reimbursement of all
reasonable costs of investigating, preparing, pursuing or defending any claim or
action, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body,
commenced or threatened, including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel
to any Indemnified Holder) directly or indirectly caused by, related to, based
upon, arising out of or in connection with any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement,
preliminary prospectus or Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto),
or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
13
misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses are caused by an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue
statement or omission that is made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information relating to any of the Holders furnished in writing to the Company
by any of the Holders expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be required to indemnify any such Person if such untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission was contained or
made in any preliminary prospectus and corrected in the Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto and the Prospectus does not contain any other
untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission of a
material fact that was the subject matter of the related proceeding and any such
loss, liability, claim, damage or expense suffered or incurred by the
Indemnified Holder resulted from any action, claim or suit by any Person who
purchased Transfer Restricted Securities or Exchange Notes which are the subject
thereof from such Indemnified Holder and it is established in the related
proceeding that such Indemnified Holder failed to deliver or provide a copy of
the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) to such Person with or prior to the
confirmation of the sale of such Transfer Restricted Securities or Exchange
Notes sold to such Person if required by applicable law, unless such failure to
deliver or provide a copy of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) was a
result of noncompliance by the Company with Section 6 of this Agreement.
In case any action or proceeding (including any governmental
or regulatory investigation or proceeding) shall be brought or asserted against
any of the Indemnified Holders with respect to which indemnity may be sought
against the Company, such Indemnified Holder (or the Indemnified Holder
controlled by such controlling person) shall promptly notify the Company in
writing (provided, that the failure to give such notice shall not relieve the
Company of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement, unless and only to the
extent that such failure directly results in the loss or compromise of any
material rights or defenses by the Company and the Company was not otherwise
aware of such action or claim). In such event, the Company shall retain counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Holders to represent the Indemnified
Holders and any others the Company may reasonably designate in such proceeding
and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses actually incurred by such counsel
related to such proceeding. The Company shall not, in connection with any one
such action or proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related
actions or proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general
allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of
more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) at
any time for such Indemnified Holders, which firm shall be designated by the
Holders. The Company shall be liable for any settlement of any such action or
proceeding effected with the Company's prior written consent, which consent
shall not be withheld unreasonably, and the Company agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless each Indemnified Holder from and against any loss, claim, damage,
liability or expense by reason of any settlement of any action effected with the
written consent of the Company. The Company shall not, without the prior written
consent of each Indemnified Holder, which shall not be unreasonably withheld,
settle or compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in or otherwise seek to
terminate any pending or threatened action, claim, litigation or proceeding in
respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder
(whether or not any Indemnified Holder is a party thereto), unless such
settlement, compromise, consent or termination includes an unconditional release
of each Indemnified Holder from all liability arising out of such action, claim,
litigation or proceeding.
(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, and its directors, officers, and any
Person controlling (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of
the Exchange Act) the Company, and the respective officers, directors, partners,
employees, representatives and agents of each such Person, to the same extent as
the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each of the Indemnified Holders, but
only with respect to claims and actions based on information relating to such
Holder furnished in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration
Statement, preliminary prospectus or Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto). In case any action or proceeding shall be brought against the Company
or its directors or officers or any
14
such controlling person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against a
Holder, such Holder shall have the rights and duties given the Company, and the
Company, such directors or officers or such controlling person shall have the
rights and duties given to each Holder by the preceding paragraph. The liability
of any Holder under this paragraph shall in no event exceed the proceeds
received by such Holder from sales of Transfer Restricted Securities or Exchange
Notes giving rise to such obligations.
(c) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8
is unavailable to an indemnified party under Section 8(a) or Section 8(b) hereof
(other than by reason of exceptions provided in those Sections) in respect of
any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then
each applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified
party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party
as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the
Company, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, from their sale of
Transfer Restricted Securities or if such allocation is not permitted by
applicable law, the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and of the
Indemnified Holder, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or
omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative
benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Indemnified Holders on
the other hand shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total
proceeds from the offering (net of discounts and commissions but before
deducting expenses) of the Notes received by the Company bears to the total
proceeds received by such Indemnified Holder from the sale of Transfer
Restricted Securities or Exchange Notes, as the case may be. The relative fault
of the Company, on the one hand, and of the Indemnified Holder, 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 Company
or by the Indemnified Holder and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access
to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission
and any other equitable consideration appropriate in the circumstances. The
amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject
to the limitations set forth in the second paragraph of Section 8(a), any legal
or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with
investigating or defending any action or claim.
The Company and each Holder agree that it would not be just
and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(c) were determined by
pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of 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, liabilities or expenses 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 the provisions of this Section 8, no Holder or its related
Indemnified Holders shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any
amount in excess of the amount by which the total received by such Holder with
respect to the sale of its Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a
Registration Statement exceeds the amount of any damages which such Holder 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 Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The Holders' obligations to contribute pursuant to this
Section 8(c) are several in proportion to the respective principal amount of
Notes held by each of the Holders hereunder and not joint.
15
SECTION 9. RULE 144A
The Company hereby agrees with each Holder, for so long as any
Transfer Restricted Securities remain outstanding and during any period in which
the Company is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act, to make available, upon request of any Holder, to any Holder or beneficial
owner of Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with any sale thereof and
any prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted Securities designated by
such Holder or beneficial owner, the information required by Rule l44A(d)(4)
under the Act in order to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted Securities
pursuant to Rule 144A.
SECTION 10. UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATIONS
No Holder may participate in any Underwritten Registration
hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder's Transfer
Restricted Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements
approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b)
completes and executes all reasonable questionnaires, powers of attorney,
indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the
terms of such underwriting arrangements.
SECTION 11. SELECTION OF UNDERWRITERS
For any Underwritten Offering, the investment banker or
investment bankers and manager or managers for any Underwritten Offering that
will administer such offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities included in
such offering and reasonably acceptable to the Company. Such investment bankers
and managers are referred to herein as the "underwriters."
SECTION 12. MARKET-MAKING PROSPECTUSES
(a) Following the consummation of any Exchange Offer or
the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement and for so long as the Notes
are outstanding if, in the reasonable judgment of the Initial Purchaser, the
Initial Purchaser or any of its affiliates (as such term is defined in the rules
and regulations under the Act) are required to deliver a prospectus in
connection with sales of, or market-making activities with respect to, such
securities, the Company agrees (A) to periodically amend the applicable
Registration Statement so that the information contained therein complies with
the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Act, (B) to amend the applicable
Registration Statement or supplement the related prospectus or the documents
incorporated therein when necessary to reflect any material changes in the
information provided therein so that the Registration Statement and the
prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances existing as of the date the prospectus is so
delivered, not misleading and (C) to provide the Initial Purchaser with copies
of each such amendment or supplement as the Initial Purchaser may reasonably
request.
SECTION 13. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) Remedies. Each Holder, in addition to being entitled
to exercise all rights provided herein, in the Indenture, the Purchase Agreement
or granted by law, including recovery of liquidated or other damages, will be
entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company
agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss
incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Agreement and
hereby agrees to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a
remedy at law would be adequate.
16
(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 is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in
this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The Company
hereby represents and warrants that the rights granted to the Holders hereunder
do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted
to the holders of the Company's securities under any agreement in effect on the
date hereof.
(c) Adjustments Affecting the Notes. The Company will not
take any action, or voluntarily permit any change to occur, with respect to the
Notes or Exchange Notes that would materially and adversely affect the ability
of the Holders to Consummate any Exchange Offer.
(d) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this
Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents
to or departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless (i) the
consent of the Company is obtained, which shall not be unreasonably withheld,
(ii) in the case of Section 5 hereof and this Section 13(d)(i), the Company has
obtained the written consent of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted
Securities and (iii) in the case of all other provisions hereof, the Company has
obtained the written consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding
principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, a waiver or consent to departure from the provisions hereof that
relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose securities are being tendered
pursuant to the Exchange Offer and that does not affect directly or indirectly
the rights of other Holders whose securities are not being tendered pursuant to
such Exchange Offer may be given by the Holders of a majority of the outstanding
principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities subject to such Exchange
Offer.
(e) Notices. All notices and other communications
provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery,
first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex,
telecopier, or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(i) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the
records of the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to the
Registrar under the Indenture; and
(ii) if to the Company:
K & F Industries, Inc.
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
With a copy to:
Xxxxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxxx
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have
been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five
Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed;
when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next Business Day, if
timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
17
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications
shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at
the address specified in the Indenture.
(f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to
the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the
parties, including without limitation and without the need for an express
assignment, subsequent Holders; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not
inure to the benefit of or be binding upon a successor or assign of a Holder
unless and to the extent such successor or assign acquired Transfer Restricted
Securities directly from such Holder.
(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, WITHOUT
REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW RULES THEREOF.
(j) Severability. In the event that 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) Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the other
agreements referenced herein are intended by the parties as a final expression
of their agreement and 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. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or
undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein with respect to
the registration rights granted with respect to the Transfer Restricted
Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings
between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
(l) Underwriting Agreement. Notwithstanding the
provisions of Section 6 hereof, in the event of a Shelf Registration pursuant to
Section 4 hereof, to the extent that the Holders shall enter into an
underwriting or similar agreement, which agreement contains provisions covering
one or more issues addressed in such Section 4 with substantially similar
effect, the provisions contained in such Sections addressing such issue or
issues shall be of no force or effect with respect to the registration of
securities being effected in connection with such underwriting or similar
agreement.
(m) Termination. This Agreement shall terminate and be of
no further force or effect when there shall not be any Transfer Restricted
Securities, except that the provisions of Section 5, 7, 8, 12, and 13 shall
survive any such termination.
[Signature Page Follows]
18
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this
Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.
K & F INDUSTRIES, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
----------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: President and Chief Operating Officer
XXXXXX BROTHERS INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
-----------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Title: Managing Director
