EXHIBIT 4.3
-----------
_____________________
Registration Rights Agreement
Dated As of July 7, 1999
among
Liberty Media Corporation
and
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Brothers Inc.,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
Incorporated,
Banc of America Securities LLC,
BNY Capital Markets, Inc.,
Credit Lyonnais Securities (USA) Inc.,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation,
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Barney Inc.,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc.
and
TD Securities (USA) Inc.
_____________________
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (the "Agreement") is made and entered
into this 7th day of July, 1999, among Liberty Media Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Brothers Inc. ("▇▇▇▇▇▇ Brothers"),
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ Incorporated ("▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇"), Banc of
America Securities LLC, BNY Capital Markets, Inc., Credit Lyonnais Securities
(USA) Inc., ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
& Co. Incorporated, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Barney Inc., ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., Inc. and TD
Securities (USA) Inc. (collectively, the "Initial Purchasers").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated June 30,
1999, among the Company and the Initial Purchasers (the "Purchase Agreement"),
which provides for the sale by the Company to the Initial Purchasers of an
aggregate of $750,000,000 million principal amount of the Company's 7-7/8%
Senior Notes due 2009 (the "Notes") and $500,000,000 principal amount of the
Company's 8-1/2% Senior Debentures due 2029 (the "Debentures" and, together with
the Notes, the "Securities"). In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to
enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide to the
Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees the registration
rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution of this Agreement is a
condition to the closing under the Purchase Agreement.
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
-----------
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms shall
have the following meanings:
"1933 Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to
--------
time.
"1934 Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of l934, as amended from
--------
time to time.
"Business Day" shall mean a day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day
------------
on which banking institutions in New York, New York or Wilmington, Delaware are
authorized or required to be closed.
"Closing Date" shall mean the Closing Time as defined in the Purchase
------------
Agreement.
"Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also
-------
include the Company's successors.
"Depositary" shall mean The Depository Trust Company, or any other
----------
depositary appointed by the Company, provided, however, that such depositary
must have an address in the Borough of Manhattan, in The City of New York.
"Exchange Offer" shall mean the exchange offer by the Company of Exchange
--------------
Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof.
"Exchange Offer Registration" shall mean a registration under the 1933 Act
---------------------------
effected pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof.
"Exchange Offer Registration Statement" shall mean an exchange offer
-------------------------------------
registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate
form), and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement,
including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all
documents incorporated by reference therein.
"Exchange Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 hereof.
---------------
"Exchange Securities" shall mean the 7-7/8% Senior Notes due 2009, Series B
-------------------
and the 8-1/2% Senior Debentures due 2029, Series B issued by the Company under
the Indenture containing terms identical to the
Securities in all material respects (except for references to certain interest
rate provisions, restrictions on transfers and restrictive legends), to be
offered to Holders of Securities in exchange for Registrable Securities pursuant
to the Exchange Offer.
"Holder" shall mean an Initial Purchaser, for so long as it owns any
------
Registrable Securities, and each of its successors, assigns and direct and
indirect transferees who become registered owners of Registrable Securities
under the Indenture and each Participating Broker-Dealer that holds Exchange
Securities for so long as such Participating Broker-Dealer is required to
deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with
any resale of such Exchange Securities.
"Indenture" shall mean the Indenture relating to the Securities, dated as
---------
of July 7, 1999, between the Company and The Bank of New York, as trustee, as
supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 7, 1999,
between the Company and The Bank of New York, as trustee, as the same may be
amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time in
accordance with the terms thereof.
"Initial Purchaser" or "Initial Purchasers" shall have the meaning set
----------------- ------------------
forth in the preamble.
"Majority Holders" shall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate
----------------
principal amount of Outstanding (as defined in the Indenture) Registrable
Securities; provided that whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a
--------
specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder,
Registrable Securities held by the Company and other obligors on the Securities
or any Affiliate (as defined in the Indenture) of the Company shall be
disregarded in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the
Holders of such required percentage amount.
"Participating Broker-Dealer" shall mean any of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Brothers Inc.,
---------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ Incorporated, Banc of America Securities
LLC, BNY Capital Markets, Inc., Credit Lyonnais Securities (USA) Inc.,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.
Incorporated, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Barney Inc., ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., Inc., TD Securities
(USA) Inc. and any other broker-dealer which makes a market in the Securities
and exchanges Registrable Securities in the Exchange Offer for Exchange
Securities.
"Person" shall mean an individual, partnership (general or limited),
------
corporation, limited liability company, trust or unincorporated organization, or
a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
"Private Exchange" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 hereof.
----------------
"Private Exchange Securities" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
---------------------------
2.1 hereof.
"Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus included in a Registration
----------
Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as
amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including any such
prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion
of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by
all other amendments and supplements to a prospectus, including post-effective
amendments, and in each case including all material incorporated by reference
therein.
"Purchase Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
------------------
"Registrable Securities" shall mean the Securities and, if issued, the
----------------------
Private Exchange Securities; provided, however, that Securities and, if issued,
-------- -------
the Private Exchange Securities, shall cease to be Registrable Securities when
(i) a Registration Statement with respect to such Securities shall have been
declared effective under the 1933 Act and such Securities shall have been
disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) such Securities have
been sold to the public pursuant to Rule l44 (or any similar provision then in
force, but not Rule 144A) under the 1933 Act, (iii) such Securities shall have
ceased to be outstanding or (iv) the Exchange Offer is consummated (except in
the case of Securities purchased from the Company and continued to be held by
the Initial Purchasers).
"Registration Expenses" shall mean any and all expenses incident to
---------------------
performance of or compliance by the Company with this Agreement, including
without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange or National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") registration and filing fees, including,
if applicable, the fees and expenses of
2
any "qualified independent underwriter" (and its counsel) that is required to be
retained by any holder of Registrable Securities in accordance with the rules
and regulations of the NASD, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection
with compliance with state securities or blue sky laws and compliance with the
rules of the NASD (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for
any underwriters or Holders in connection with blue sky qualification of any of
the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities and any filings with the
NASD), (iii) all expenses of any Persons in preparing or assisting in preparing,
word processing, printing and distributing any Registration Statement, any
Prospectus, any amendments or supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements,
securities sales agreements and other documents relating to the performance of
and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all fees and expenses incurred in
connection with the listing, if any, of any of the Registrable Securities on any
securities exchange or exchanges, (v) all rating agency fees, (vi) the fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company and of the independent public
accountants of the Company, including the expenses of any special audits or
"cold comfort" letters required by or incident to such performance and
compliance, (vii) the fees and expenses of the Trustee, and any escrow agent or
custodian, (viii) the reasonable expenses of the Initial Purchasers in
connection with the Exchange Offer, including the reasonable fees and expenses
of counsel to the Initial Purchasers in connection therewith, (ix) the
reasonable fees and disbursements of ▇▇▇▇▇ & Wood LLP, counsel representing the
Holders of Registrable Securities and (x) the reasonable fees and disbursements
of the underwriters customarily required to be paid by issuers or sellers of
securities and the fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the
Company in connection with any Registration Statement, but excluding
underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to
the sale or disposition of Registrable Securities by a Holder.
"Registration Statement" shall mean any registration statement of the
----------------------
Company which covers any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, and all amendments and supplements
to any such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, in each
case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all
material incorporated by reference therein.
"SAS 72" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(f)(B).
------
"SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor
---
agency or government body performing the functions currently performed by the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Shelf Registrable Securities" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
----------------------------
2.5.
"Shelf Registration" shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section
------------------
2.2 hereof.
"Shelf Registration Statement" shall mean a "shelf" registration statement
----------------------------
of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.2 of this Agreement which
covers all of the Registrable Securities or all of the Private Exchange
Securities on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the 1933 Act, or any
similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and supplements
to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each
case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all
material incorporated by reference therein.
"Special Counsel" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(g)(i).
---------------
"TIA" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
---
"Trustee" shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities under the
-------
Indenture.
2. Registration Under the 1933 Act.
-------------------------------
2.1 Exchange Offer. The Company shall, for the benefit of the Holders, at
--------------
the Company's cost, (A) prepare and, as soon as practicable but not later than
90 days following the Closing Date, file with the SEC an Exchange Offer
Registration Statement on an appropriate form under the 1933 Act with respect to
a proposed Exchange Offer and the issuance and delivery to the Holders, in
exchange for the Registrable Securities (other than Private Exchange
Securities), of a like principal amount of Exchange Securities, (B) use its
reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be
declared effective under the 1933 Act within 180 days of the
3
Closing Date, (C) use its best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement effective until the closing of the Exchange Offer and (D) use its best
efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be consummated not later than 210 days
following the Closing Date. The Exchange Securities will be issued under the
Indenture. Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
the Company shall promptly commence the Exchange Offer, it being the objective
of such Exchange Offer to enable each Holder eligible and electing to exchange
Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities (assuming that such Holder (a) is
not an affiliate of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the 1933
Act, (b) is not a broker-dealer tendering Registrable Securities acquired
directly from the Company for its own account, (c) acquired the Exchange
Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder's business and (d) has no
arrangements or understandings with any Person to participate in the Exchange
Offer for the purpose of distributing the Exchange Securities) to transfer such
Exchange Securities from and after their receipt without any limitations or
restrictions under the 1933 Act and under state securities or blue sky laws.
In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(a) mail as promptly as practicable to each Holder a copy of the
Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together
with an appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;
(b) keep the Exchange Offer open for acceptance for a period of not
less than 20 Business Days after the date notice thereof is mailed to the
Holders (or longer if required by applicable law) (such period referred to
herein as the "Exchange Period");
(c) utilize the services of the Depositary for the Exchange Offer;
(d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Registrable Securities at any
time prior to 12:00 midnight (Eastern Time), on the last Business Day of the
Exchange Period, by sending to the institution specified in the notice, a
telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of such
Holder, the principal amount of Registrable Securities delivered for exchange,
and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing such Holder's election to have
such Securities exchanged;
(e) notify each Holder that any Registrable Security not tendered
will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest, but will not retain any
rights under this Agreement (except in the case of the Initial Purchasers and
Participating Broker-Dealers as provided herein); and
(f) otherwise comply in all respects with all applicable laws
relating to the Exchange Offer.
If, prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Initial Purchasers
hold any Securities acquired by them and having the status of an unsold
allotment in the initial distribution, the Company upon the request of any
Initial Purchaser shall, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange
Securities in the Exchange Offer, issue and deliver to such Initial Purchaser in
exchange (the "Private Exchange") for the Securities held by such Initial
Purchaser, a like principal amount of debt securities of the Company on a senior
basis, that are identical (except that such securities shall bear appropriate
transfer restrictions) to the Exchange Securities (the "Private Exchange
Securities").
The Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities shall be issued
under (i) the Indenture or (ii) an indenture identical in all material respects
to the Indenture and which, in either case, has been qualified under the TIA, or
is exempt from such qualification and shall provide that the Exchange Securities
shall not be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture but
that the Private Exchange Securities shall be subject to such transfer
restrictions. The Indenture or such indenture shall provide that the Exchange
Securities, the Private Exchange Securities and the Securities shall vote and
consent together on all matters as one class and that none of the Exchange
Securities, the Private Exchange Securities or the Securities will have the
right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter. The Private
Exchange Securities shall be of the same series as the Exchange Securities and
the Company shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to have the Private
Exchange Securities bear the same CUSIP number as the Exchange Securities. The
Company shall not have any liability under this Agreement
4
solely as a result of such Private Exchange Securities not bearing the same
CUSIP number as the Exchange Securities.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer and/or the
Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:
(i) accept for exchange all Registrable Securities duly tendered
and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with
the terms of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and the letter of
transmittal which shall be an exhibit thereto;
(ii) accept for exchange all Securities properly tendered and not
validly withdrawn pursuant to the Private Exchange;
(iii) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable
Securities so accepted for exchange; and
(iv) cause the Trustee promptly to authenticate and deliver Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, to each
Holder of Registrable Securities so accepted for exchange in a principal
amount equal to the principal amount of the Registrable Securities of such
Holder so accepted for exchange.
Interest on each Exchange Security and Private Exchange Security will
accrue from the last date on which interest was paid on the Registrable
Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid on
the Registrable Securities, from the date of original issuance. The Exchange
Offer and the Private Exchange shall not be subject to any conditions, other
than (i) that the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, or the making of any
exchange by a Holder, does not violate applicable law or any applicable
interpretation of the staff of the SEC, (ii) the valid tendering of Registrable
Securities in accordance with the Exchange Offer and the Private Exchange, (iii)
that each Holder of Registrable Securities exchanged in the Exchange Offer shall
have represented that all Exchange Securities to be received by it shall be
acquired in the ordinary course of its business and that at the time of the
consummation of the Exchange Offer it shall have no arrangement or understanding
with any person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) of the Exchange Securities and shall have made such other
representations as may be reasonably necessary under applicable SEC rules,
regulations or interpretations to render the use of Form S-4 or other
appropriate form under the 1933 Act available and (iv) that no action or
proceeding shall have been instituted or threatened in any court or by or before
any governmental agency with respect to the Exchange Offer or the Private
Exchange which, in the Company's judgment, would reasonably be expected to
impair the ability of the Company to proceed with the Exchange Offer or the
Private Exchange. The Company shall inform the Initial Purchasers of the names
and addresses of the Holders to whom the Exchange Offer is made, and the Initial
Purchasers shall have the right to contact such Holders and otherwise facilitate
the tender of Registrable Securities in the Exchange Offer.
Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer in accordance with this Agreement,
the Company shall have no further obligation to register the Registrable
Securities pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement.
2.2 Shelf Registration. (i) If, because of any changes in law, SEC rules
------------------
or regulations or applicable interpretations thereof by the staff of the SEC,
the Company determines after consultation with its outside counsel that it is
not permitted to effect the Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section 2.1
hereof, (ii) if for any other reason (A) the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement is not declared effective within 180 days following the original issue
of the Registrable Securities or (B) the Exchange Offer is not consummated
within 210 days after the original issue of the Registrable Securities, (iii)
upon the request of any of the Initial Purchasers holding Private Exchange
Securities or (iv) upon notice of any Holder given to the Company within 30 days
after the commencement of the Exchange Offer that (A) due to a change in law or
policy it is not entitled to participate in the Exchange Offer, (B) due to a
change in law or policy it may not resell the Exchange Securities 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 (D) it is a broker-
dealer and owns Registrable acquired directly from the Company or an affiliate
of the Company, then in case of each of clauses (i) through (iv) the Company
shall, at its cost:
5
(a) As promptly as practicable, file with the SEC, and
thereafter shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause to be declared
effective as promptly as practicable but no later than 210 days after the
original issue of the Registrable Securities, a Shelf Registration
Statement relating to the offer and sale of the Registrable Securities by
the Holders from time to time in accordance with the methods of
distribution elected by the Majority Holders participating in the Shelf
Registration and set forth in such Shelf Registration Statement.
(b) Use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf
Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit the
Prospectus forming part thereof to be usable by Holders for a period of two
years from the original issue of the Registrable Securities, or for such
shorter period that will terminate when all Registrable Securities covered
by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement or cease to be outstanding or otherwise to be
Registrable Securities (the "Effectiveness Period"); provided, however,
that the Effectiveness Period in respect of the Shelf Registration
Statement shall be extended up to a maximum of 90 days if necessary to
permit dealers to comply with the applicable prospectus delivery
requirements of Rule 174 under the 1933 Act and as otherwise provided
herein.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, use its
reasonable best efforts to ensure that (i) any Shelf Registration Statement
and any amendment thereto and any Prospectus forming part thereof and any
supplement thereto complies in all material respects with the 1933 Act and
the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) any Shelf Registration Statement
and any amendment thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading and (iii) any Prospectus forming part of any Shelf
Registration Statement, and any supplement to such Prospectus (as amended
or supplemented from time to time), does not include an untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make
the statements, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.
The Company shall not permit any securities other than Registrable
Securities to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement. The Company
further agrees, if necessary, to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration
Statement, as required by Section 3(b) below, and to furnish to the Holders of
Registrable Securities copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly as
reasonably practicable after its being used or filed with the SEC.
2.3 Expenses. The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in
--------
connection with the registration pursuant to Section 2.1 or 2.2. Each Holder
shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any,
relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder's Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.
2.4 Effectiveness. (a) The Company will be deemed not to have used its
-------------
reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or
the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, to become, or to remain,
effective during the requisite period if the Company voluntarily takes any
action that would, or omits to take any action which omission would, result in
any such Registration Statement not being declared effective or in the Holders
of Registrable Securities covered thereby not being able to exchange or offer
and sell such Registrable Securities during that period as and to the extent
contemplated hereby, unless (i) such action is required by applicable law, or
(ii) such action is taken by the Company in good faith and for valid business
reasons (not including avoidance of the Company's obligations hereunder),
including the acquisition or divestiture of assets, so long as the Company
promptly thereafter complies with the requirements of Section 3(k) hereof, if
applicable.
(b) An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.1
hereof or a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof will not
be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the
SEC; provided, however, that if, after it has been declared effective, the
offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or a Shelf Registration Statement is interfered with by any stop
order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or any other
governmental agency or court, such Registration Statement will be deemed not to
have become effective during the period of such interference, until the offering
of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement may legally
resume.
6
2.5 Interest. The Indenture executed in connection with the Securities
--------
will provide that in the event that either (a) the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the 90th calendar day
following the date of original issue of the Securities, (b) the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement has not been declared effective on or prior to the 180th
calendar day following the date of original issue of the Securities or (c) the
Exchange Offer is not consummated or, if required, a Shelf Registration
Statement is not declared effective, in either case, on or prior to the 210th
calendar day following the date of original issue of the Securities (each such
event referred to in clauses (a) through (c) above, a "Registration Default"),
the interest rate borne by the Securities shall be increased ("Additional
Interest") by one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) per annum upon the occurrence
of each Registration Default, which rate will increase by one quarter of one
percent at the beginning of each 90-day period (or portion thereof) that such
Additional Interest continues to accrue under any such circumstance, provided
that the maximum aggregate increase in the interest rate will in no event exceed
one percent (1%) per annum. Immediately following the cure of a Registration
Default, the accrual of Additional Interest with respect to that particular
Registration Default will cease. Immediately following the cure of all
Registration Defaults or the date on which the Exchange Securities are saleable
pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the 1933 Act or any successor provision, the
accrual of Additional Interest will cease and the interest rate will revert to
the original rate.
If the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective but becomes
unusable by the Holders of Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf
Registration Statement ("Shelf Registrable Securities") for any reason, and the
aggregate number of days in any consecutive twelve-month period for which the
Shelf Registration Statement shall not be usable exceeds 30 days in the
aggregate, then the interest rate borne by the Shelf Registrable Securities will
be increased by 0.25% per annum of the principal amount of the Securities for
the first 90-day period (or portion thereof) beginning on the 31st such date
that such Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be usable, which rate shall be
increased by an additional 0.25% per annum of the principal amount of the
Securities at the beginning of each subsequent 90-day period, provided that the
maximum aggregate increase in the interest rate as a result of a Shelf
Registration Statement being unusable (inclusive of any interest that accrues on
such Shelf Registrable Securities pursuant to the first paragraph of this
Section 2.5) will in no event exceed one percent (1%) per annum. Upon the Shelf
Registration Statement once again becoming usable, the interest rate borne by
the Shelf Registrable Securities will be reduced to the original interest rate.
Additional Interest shall be computed based on the actual number of days elapsed
in each 90-day period in which the Shelf Registration Statement is unusable.
The Company shall notify the Trustee within three business days after each
and every date on which an event occurs in respect of which Additional Interest
is required to be paid (an "Event Date"). Additional Interest shall be paid by
depositing with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of
Registrable Securities, on or before the applicable semiannual interest payment
date, immediately available funds in sums sufficient to pay the Additional
Interest then due. The Additional Interest due shall be payable on each
interest payment date to the record Holder of Securities entitled to receive the
interest payment to be paid on such date as set forth in the Indenture. Each
obligation to pay Additional Interest shall be deemed to accrue from and
including the day following the applicable Event Date.
3. Registration Procedures.
-----------------------
In connection with the obligations of the Company with respect to
Registration Statements pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereof, the Company
shall:
(a) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement,
within the relevant time period specified in Section 2, on the appropriate form
under the 1933 Act, which form (i) shall be selected by the Company, (ii) shall,
in the case of a Shelf Registration, be available for the sale of the Shelf
Registrable Securities by the selling Holders thereof, (iii) shall comply as to
form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and
include or incorporate by reference all financial statements required by the SEC
to be filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein, and (iv) shall
comply in all respects with the requirements of Regulation S-T under the 1933
Act;
(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-
effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary under
applicable law to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable
period; and cause each Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus
supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any
similar provision then in force) under the 1933 Act and
7
comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder applicable to them with respect to the disposition of all
securities covered by each Registration Statement during the applicable period
in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by the selling
Holders thereof (including sales by any Participating Broker-Dealer);
(c) in the case of a Shelf Registration, (i) notify each Holder
of Registrable Securities, at least five business days prior to filing, that a
Shelf Registration Statement with respect to the Registrable Securities is being
filed and advising such Holders that the distribution of Registrable Securities
will be made in accordance with the method selected by the Majority Holders
participating in the Shelf Registration; (ii) furnish to each Holder of
Registrable Securities and to each underwriter of an underwritten offering of
Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies of each
Prospectus, including each preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment or
supplement thereto and such other documents as such Holder or underwriter may
reasonably request, including financial statements and schedules and, if the
Holder so requests, all exhibits in order to facilitate the public sale or other
disposition of the Registrable Securities; and (iii) hereby consent to the use
of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling
Holders of Registrable Securities in connection with the offering and sale of
the Registrable Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto;
(d) use its best efforts to register or qualify the Registrable
Securities under all applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws of such
jurisdictions as any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a Registration
Statement and each underwriter of an underwritten offering of Registrable
Securities shall reasonably request by the time the applicable Registration
Statement is declared effective by the SEC, and do any and all other acts and
things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each such Holder
and underwriter to consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction of such
Registrable Securities owned by such Holder; provided, however, that the Company
shall 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 Section 3(d), (ii) take any action which would subject it
to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is
not then so subject, or (iii) conform its capitalization or the composition of
its assets at the time to the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdiction;
(e) notify promptly each Holder of Registrable Securities under
a Shelf Registration or any Participating Broker-Dealer who has notified the
Company that it is utilizing the Exchange Offer Registration Statement as
provided in paragraph (f) below and, if requested by such Holder or
Participating Broker-Dealer, confirm such advice in writing promptly (i) when a
Registration Statement has become effective and when any post-effective
amendments and supplements thereto become effective, (ii) of any request by the
SEC or any state securities authority for post-effective amendments and
supplements to a Registration Statement and Prospectus or for additional
information after the Registration Statement has become effective, (iii) of the
issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of
any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) in the case of a Shelf Registration, if,
between the effective date of a Registration Statement and the closing of any
sale of Registrable Securities covered thereby, the representations and
warranties of the Company contained in any underwriting agreement, securities
sales agreement or other similar agreement, if any, relating to the offering
cease to be true and correct in all material respects, (v) of the happening of
any event or the discovery of any facts during the period a Shelf Registration
Statement is effective which makes any statement made in such Registration
Statement or the related Prospectus untrue in any material respect or which
requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement or Prospectus
in order to make the statements therein not misleading, (vi) of the receipt by
the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the
qualification of the Registrable Securities or the Exchange Securities, as the
case may be, for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of
any proceeding for such purpose and (vii) of any determination by the Company
that a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement would be
appropriate;
(f) (A) in the case of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement (i) include in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a section
entitled "Plan of Distribution" which section shall be reasonably acceptable to
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Brothers and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ on behalf of the Participating Broker-Dealers,
and which shall contain a summary statement of the positions taken or policies
made by the staff of the SEC with respect to the potential "underwriter" status
of any broker-dealer that holds Registrable Securities acquired for its own
account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and
that will be the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange
Act) of Exchange Securities to be received by such broker-dealer in the Exchange
Offer,
8
whether such positions or policies have been publicly disseminated by the staff
of the SEC or such positions or policies, in the reasonable judgment of ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Brothers and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ on behalf of the Participating Broker-Dealers and its
counsel, represent the prevailing views of the staff of the SEC, including a
statement that any such broker-dealer who receives Exchange Securities for
Registrable Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be deemed a statutory
underwriter and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the 1933
Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities, (ii) furnish to
each Participating Broker-Dealer who has delivered to the Company the notice
referred to in Section 3(e), without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus
included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, including any preliminary
prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, as such Participating
Broker-Dealer may reasonably request, (iii) hereby consent to the use of the
Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or any
amendment or supplement thereto, by any Person subject to the prospectus
delivery requirements of the SEC, including all Participating Broker-Dealers, in
connection with the sale or transfer of the Exchange Securities covered by the
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, and (iv) include in the
transmittal letter or similar documentation to be executed by an exchange
offeree in order to participate in the Exchange Offer (x) the following
provision:
"If the exchange offeree is a broker-dealer holding Registrable Securities
acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or
other trading activities, it will deliver a prospectus meeting the
requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with any resale of Exchange
Securities received in respect of such Registrable Securities pursuant to
the Exchange Offer;"
and (y) a statement to the effect that by a broker-dealer making the
acknowledgment described in clause (x) and by delivering a Prospectus in
connection with the exchange of Registrable Securities, the broker-dealer will
not be deemed to admit that it is an underwriter within the meaning of the 1933
Act; and
(B) in the case of any Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, the Company agrees to deliver to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Brothers and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ on
behalf of the Participating Broker-Dealers upon the effectiveness of the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement (i) an opinion of counsel or opinions of
counsel substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, (ii) officers'
certificates substantially in the form customarily delivered in a public
offering of debt securities and (iii) a comfort letter or comfort letters in
customary form to the extent permitted by SAS 72 (or if such a comfort letter is
not permitted by SAS 72, an agreed upon procedures letter in customary form)
from the Company's independent certified public accountants (and, if necessary,
any other independent certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the
Company or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial
statements are, or are required to be, included in the Registration Statement)
at least as broad in scope and coverage as the comfort letter or comfort letters
delivered to the Initial Purchasers in connection with the initial sale of the
Securities to the Initial Purchasers;
(g) (i) in the case of an Exchange Offer, furnish counsel for
the Initial Purchasers and (ii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish
▇▇▇▇▇ & Wood llp, as special counsel for the Holders of Shelf Registrable
Securities (or, if ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ llp is unable or unwilling to serve, such other
special counsel (but not more than one) as may be selected by the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of such Shelf Registrable Securities ("Special
Counsel"), copies of any comment letters received from the SEC or any other
request by the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments or
supplements to a Registration Statement and Prospectus or for additional
information;
(h) make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of any
order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement at the earliest
possible moment;
(i) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder
of Registrable Securities, and each underwriter, if any, without charge, at
least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and any post-effective
amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules (without
documents incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits thereto, unless
requested);
(j) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the
selling Holders of Shelf Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Shelf Registrable
Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and enable such
Shelf Registrable Securities to be in such denominations (consistent with the
provisions of the Indenture) and registered in such names as the selling Holders
9
or the underwriters, if any, may reasonably request at least three business days
prior to the closing of any sale of Shelf Registrable Shelf Securities;
(k) in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon the occurrence of any
event or the discovery of any facts, each as contemplated by Sections 3(e)(v)
and 3(e)(vi) hereof, as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an
event, use its best efforts to prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment
to the Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any document
incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that,
as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Shelf Registrable Securities or
Participating Broker-Dealers, such Prospectus will not contain at the time of
such delivery any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. At such time as such
public disclosure is otherwise made or the Company determines that such
disclosure is not necessary, in each case to correct any misstatement of a
material fact or to include any omitted material fact, the Company agrees
promptly to notify each Holder of such determination and to furnish each Holder
such number of copies of the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, as such
Holder may reasonably request;
(l) obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities, Private
Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, not later
than the effective date of a Registration Statement, and provide the Trustee
with printed certificates for the Exchange Securities, Private Exchange
Securities or the Registrable Securities, as the case may be, in a form eligible
for deposit with the Depositary;
(m) (i) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA in
connection with the registration of the Exchange Securities or Registrable
Securities, as the case may be, (ii) cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders
to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to
be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA and (iii) execute, and
use its best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents as may be
required to effect such changes, and all other forms and documents required to
be filed with the SEC to enable the Indenture to be so qualified in a timely
manner;
(n) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into agreements
(including underwriting agreements) and take all other customary and appropriate
actions in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Shelf
Registrable Securities and in such connection whether or not an underwriting
agreement is entered into and whether or not the registration is an underwritten
registration:
(i) make such representations and warranties to the Holders of such
Shelf Registrable Securities and the underwriters, if any, in form,
substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in
similar underwritten offerings as may be reasonably requested by them;
(ii) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and updates thereof
(which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be
reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriters, if any, and the
holders of a majority in principal amount of the Shelf Registrable
Securities being sold) addressed to each selling Holder and the
underwriters, if any, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions
requested in sales of securities or underwritten offerings and such other
matters as may be reasonably requested by such Holders and underwriters;
(iii) obtain "cold comfort" letters and updates thereof from the
Company's independent certified public accountants (and, if necessary, any
other independent certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the
Company or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial
statements are, or are required to be, included in the Registration
Statement) addressed to the underwriters, if any, and use reasonable
efforts to have such letter addressed to the selling Holders of Shelf
Registrable Securities (to the extent consistent with SAS 72), such letters
to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily
covered in "cold comfort" letters to underwriters in connection with
similar underwritten offerings;
(iv) enter into a securities sales agreement with the Holders and an
agent of the Holders providing for, among other things, the appointment of
such agent for the selling Holders for the purpose of
10
soliciting purchases of Shelf Registrable Securities, which agreement shall
be in form, substance and scope customary for similar offerings;
(v) if an underwriting agreement is entered into, cause the same to
set forth indemnification provisions and procedures substantially
equivalent to the indemnification provisions and procedures set forth in
Section 4 hereof with respect to the underwriters and all other parties to
be indemnified pursuant to said Section or, at the request of any
underwriters, in the form customarily provided to such underwriters in
similar types of transactions; and
(vi) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably
requested and as are customarily delivered in similar offerings to the
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Shelf Registrable
Securities being sold and the managing underwriters, if any.
The above shall be done at (i) the effectiveness of such Registration Statement
(and each post-effective amendment thereto) and (ii) each closing under any
underwriting or similar agreement as and to the extent required thereunder;
(o) in the case of a Shelf Registration or if a Prospectus is
required to be delivered by any Participating Broker-Dealer in the case of an
Exchange Offer, make available for inspection by representatives of the Holders
of the Registrable Securities, any underwriters participating in any disposition
pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement, any Participating Broker-Dealer, any
Special Counsel or any accountant retained by any of the foregoing, all
financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the
Company reasonably requested by any such persons, and cause the respective
officers, directors, employees, and any other agents of the Company to supply
all information reasonably requested by any such representative, underwriter,
Special Counsel or accountant in connection with a Registration Statement, and
make such representatives of the Company available for discussion of such
documents as shall be reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers;
(p) (i) in the case of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement, a
reasonable time prior to the filing of any Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, any Prospectus forming a part thereof, any amendment to an Exchange
Offer Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to such Prospectus,
provide copies of such document to the Initial Purchasers and to ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇
llp, as counsel to the Holders of Registrable Securities, and make such changes
in any such document prior to the filing thereof as the Initial Purchasers or
such counsel to the Holders of Registrable Securities may reasonably request
and, except as otherwise required by applicable law, not file any such document
in a form to which the Initial Purchasers on behalf of the Holders of
Registrable Securities and such counsel to the Holders of Registrable Securities
shall not have previously been advised and furnished a copy of or to which the
Initial Purchasers on behalf of the Holders of Registrable Securities or such
counsel to the Holders of Registrable Securities shall reasonably object, and
make the representatives of the Company available for discussion of such
documents as shall be reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers; and
(ii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, a reasonable time
prior to filing any Shelf Registration Statement, any Prospectus forming a part
thereof, any amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement or amendment or
supplement to such Prospectus, provide copies of such document to the Holders of
Shelf Registrable Securities, to the Initial Purchasers, to Special Counsel and
to the underwriter or underwriters of an underwritten offering of Shelf
Registrable Securities, if any, make such changes in any such document prior to
the filing thereof as the Initial Purchasers, Special Counsel or the underwriter
or underwriters reasonably request and not file any such document in a form to
which the Majority Holders of Shelf Registrable Securities, the Initial
Purchasers on behalf of the Holders of Registrable Securities, Special Counsel
or any underwriter shall not have previously been advised and furnished a copy
of or to which such Majority Holders, the Initial Purchasers of behalf of the
Holders of Registrable Securities, Special Counsel or any underwriter shall
reasonably object, and make the representatives of the Company available for
discussion of such document as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders of
Registrable Securities, the Initial Purchasers on behalf of such Holders,
Special Counsel or any underwriter.
(q) in the case of a Shelf Registration, use its best efforts to
cause all Shelf Registrable Securities to be listed on any securities exchange
on which similar debt securities issued by the Company are then listed if
requested by the Majority Holders or if requested by the underwriter or
underwriters of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, if any;
11
(r) in the case of a Shelf Registration, use its best efforts to
cause the Shelf Registrable Securities to be rated by the appropriate rating
agencies, if so requested by the Majority Holders, or if requested by the
underwriter or underwriters of an underwritten offering of Registrable
Securities, if any;
(s) otherwise comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
SEC and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably
practicable, an earnings statement covering at least 12 months which shall
satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act and Rule 158 thereunder;
(t) cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with the
NASD and, in the case of a Shelf Registration, in the performance of any due
diligence investigation by any underwriter and its counsel (including any
"qualified independent underwriter" that is required to be retained in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the NASD); and
(u) upon consummation of an Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange,
obtain a customary opinion of counsel to the Company addressed to the Trustee
for the benefit of all Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the
Exchange Offer or Private Exchange, and which includes an opinion that (i) the
Company has duly authorized, executed and delivered the Exchange Securities
and/or Private Exchange Securities, as applicable, and the related indenture,
and (ii) each of the Exchange Securities and related indenture constitute a
legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the
Company in accordance with its respective terms (with customary exceptions).
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may (as a
condition to such Holder's participation in the Shelf Registration) require each
Holder of Shelf Registrable Securities to furnish to the Company such
information regarding the Holder and the proposed distribution by such Holder of
such Shelf Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time
reasonably request in writing for use in connection with any Shelf Registration
Statement or Prospectus included therein, including without limitation,
information specified in Item 507 of Regulation S-K under the 1933 Act.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder agrees that,
upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event or the
discovery of any facts, each of the kind described in Section 3(e)(v) hereof,
such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities
pursuant to a Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies
of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(k) hereof,
and, if so directed by the Company, such Holder will deliver to the Company (at
its expense) all copies in such Holder's possession, other than permanent file
copies then in such Holder's possession, of the Prospectus covering such Shelf
Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.
If any of the Registrable Securities covered by any Shelf Registration
Statement are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the underwriter or
underwriters and manager or managers that will manage such offering will be
selected by the Majority Holders of such Registrable Securities included in such
offering, provided such selection is acceptable to the Company. No Holder of
Registrable Securities may participate in any underwritten registration
hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder's Registrable
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 questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting
agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting
arrangements.
4. Indemnification; Contribution.
-----------------------------
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Initial Purchasers, each Holder, each Participating Broker-Dealer, each Person
who participates as an underwriter (any such Person being an "Underwriter") and
each Person, if any, who controls any Holder or Underwriter within the meaning
of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act as follows:
(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and
expense, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement (or
any amendment or supplement thereto) pursuant to which Exchange Securities
or Registrable Securities
12
were registered under the 1933 Act, including all documents incorporated
therein by reference, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, or arising out of any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus
(or any amendment or supplement thereto) or the omission or alleged
omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading;
(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense,
as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of
any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental
agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim based upon any
such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or
omission; provided that (subject to Section 4(d) below) any such settlement
is effected with the written consent of the Company; and
(iii) against any and all expense, as incurred (including the fees
and disbursements of counsel chosen by any indemnified party as provided
therein), reasonably incurred in investigating or defending against any
litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency
or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim based upon any such untrue
statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to
the extent that any such expense is not paid under subparagraph (i) or (ii)
above;
provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss,
-------- -------
liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the
Holder or Underwriter expressly for use in a Registration Statement (or any
amendment thereto) or any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto),
and provided further, that the Company shall not indemnify any Underwriter or
-------- -------
any person who controls such Underwriter from any loss, liability, claim or
damage (or expense incurred in connection therewith) alleged by any person who
purchased Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities from such Underwriter if
the untrue statement, omission or allegation thereof upon which such loss,
liability, claim or damage is based was made in (i) any preliminary prospectus,
if a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented if the Company
shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) was not sent or
given by or on behalf of such Underwriter to such person at or prior to the
written confirmation of the sale of Exchange Securities or Registrable
Securities to such person, and if the Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented)
corrected the untrue statement or omission giving rise to such loss, claim,
damage or liability; (ii) any Prospectus used by such Underwriter or any person
who controls such Underwriter, after such time as the Company advised the
Underwriters that the filing of a post-effective amendment or supplement thereto
was required, except the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented, if the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented by such post-effective amendment or
supplement would not have given rise to such loss, liability, claim or damage;
or (iii) any Prospectus used after such time as the obligation of the Company to
keep the same current and effective has expired.
(b) Each Holder severally, but not jointly, agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, the Initial Purchasers, each Underwriter and the
other selling Holders, and each of their respective directors and officers, and
each Person, if any, who controls the Company, the Initial Purchasers, any
Underwriter or any other selling Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the
1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, against any and all loss, liability,
claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 4(a)
hereof, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or
alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Shelf Registration Statement
(or any amendment thereto) or any Prospectus included therein (or any amendment
or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information with respect to such Holder furnished to the Company by such Holder
expressly for use in the Shelf Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto)
or such Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto); provided, however,
that no such Holder shall be liable for any claims hereunder in excess of the
amount of net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable
Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement.
(c) Each indemnified party shall give written notice as promptly as
reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action or proceeding
commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, and
the indemnifying party shall assume the defense thereof, including the
employment of counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party, and the payment of
all expenses. Any omission to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve
such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not
materially
13
prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any
liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity
agreement. Any such indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate
counsel in any such action or proceeding and to participate in the defense
thereof, but the fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be paid by
such indemnified party unless (a) the indemnifying party has agreed to pay such
fees and expenses or (b) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the
defense of such action or proceeding and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory
to the indemnified party in any such action or proceeding or (c) the named
parties to any such action or proceeding (including any impleaded parties)
include both such indemnified party and indemnifying party, and the indemnified
party shall have been advised by its counsel that there may be a conflict of
interest between such indemnified party and indemnifying party in the conduct of
the defense of such action (in which case, if such indemnified party notifies
the indemnifying party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at
the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the
right to assume the defense of such action or proceeding on behalf of such
indemnified party), it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party
shall not, in connection with any one such action or proceeding or separate but
substantially similar or related actions or proceedings 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 (unless the members of such
firm are not admitted to practice in a jurisdiction where an action is pending,
in which case the indemnifying party shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses
of one additional firm of attorneys to act as local counsel in such
jurisdiction, provided the services of such counsel are substantially limited to
that of appearing as attorneys of record) at any time for all indemnified
parties, which firm shall be designated in writing by the indemnified party. No
indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with
respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any
governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in
respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this
Section 4 (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential
parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an
unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out
of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include
a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by
or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an
indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of
counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any
settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 4(a)(ii) effected without its
written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after
receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such
indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at
least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such
indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in
accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.
(e) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 4 is for any
reason unavailable to hold harmless an indemnified party (other than by reason
of the first sentence of Section 4(c)) in respect of any losses, liabilities,
claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party
shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims,
damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by
the Company on the one hand and the Holders and the Initial Purchasers on the
other hand from the offering of the Securities, the Exchange Securities and the
Registrable Securities (taken together) included in such offering or (ii) if the
allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred
to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one
hand and the Holders and the Initial Purchasers on the other hand in connection
with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities,
claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations.
The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the
Initial Purchasers on the other hand in connection with the offering of the
Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Registrable Securities (taken
together) included in such offering shall be deemed to be in the same respective
proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the
Company and the total underwriting discount received by the Initial Purchasers,
bear to the aggregate initial offering price of the Securities.
The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Holders and the
Initial Purchasers on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement
14
of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
relates to information supplied by the Company, the Holders or the Initial
Purchasers and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company, the Holders and the Initial Purchasers agree that it would not
be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4 were determined
by pro rata allocation (even if the Initial Purchasers 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 above in this Section
4. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses
incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 4 shall
be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any
litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or
body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such
untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4, no Initial Purchaser
shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the
total price at which the Securities purchased and sold by it were offered
exceeds the amount of any damages which such Initial Purchaser 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 ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
For purposes of this Section 4, each Person, if any, who controls an
Initial Purchaser or Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or
Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such
Initial Purchaser or Holder, and each Person, if any, who controls the Company
within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act
shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. The Initial
Purchasers' respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 4 are
several in proportion to the principal amount of Securities set forth opposite
their respective names in Schedule A to the Purchase Agreement and not joint.
5. Miscellaneous.
5.1 Rule 144 and Rule 144A. For so long as the Company is subject to the
----------------------
reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15 of the 1934 Act, the Company
covenants that it will file the reports required to be filed by it under the
1933 Act and Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the 1934 Act and the rules and
regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder. If the Company ceases to be so
required to file such reports, the Company covenants that it will upon the
request of any Holder of Registrable Securities (a) make publicly available such
information as is necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144 under the 1933
Act, (b) deliver such information to a prospective purchaser as is necessary to
permit sales pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act and it will take such
further action as any Holder of Registrable Securities may reasonably request,
and (c) take such further action that is reasonable in the circumstances, in
each case, to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to
sell its Registrable Securities without registration under the 1933 Act within
the limitation of the exemptions provided by (i) Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, as
such Rule may be amended from time to time, (ii) Rule 144A under the 1933 Act,
as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or (iii) any similar rules or
regulations hereafter adopted by the SEC. Upon the request of any Holder of
Registrable Securities, the Company will deliver to such Holder a written
statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements. The Company's
obligations under this Section 5.1 shall terminate upon the later of the
consummation of the Exchange Offer and the Effectiveness Period.
5.2 No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not entered into and the
--------------------------
Company will not after the date of this Agreement enter into any agreement which
is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities
in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights
granted to the Holders hereunder do not and will not for the term of this
Agreement in any way conflict with the rights granted to the holders of the
Company's other issued and outstanding securities under any such agreements.
5.3 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
15
provisions hereof may not be given unless the Company has obtained the written
consent of Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification,
supplement, waiver or departure.
5.4 Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
-------
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, registered first-
class mail, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight delivery (a) if to
a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company by
means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5.4,
which address initially is the address set forth in the Purchase Agreement with
respect to the Initial Purchasers; and (b) if to the Company, initially at the
Company's address set forth in the Purchase Agreement, and thereafter at such
other address of which notice is given in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 5.4.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; two business
days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt
is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next business day if timely delivered
to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands, or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the person giving the same to the Trustee under the
Indenture, at the address specified in such Indenture.
5.5 Successor and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
---------------------
and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of each of the
parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an express
assignment, subsequent Holders; 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 Purchase Agreement or 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 the terms and provisions of this
Agreement, including the restrictions on resale set forth in this Agreement and,
if applicable, the Purchase Agreement, and such person shall be entitled to
receive the benefits hereof.
5.6 Third Party Beneficiaries. The Initial Purchasers (even if the Initial
-------------------------
Purchasers are not Holders of Registrable Securities) shall be third party
beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one
hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce
such agreements directly to the extent they deem such enforcement necessary or
advisable to protect their rights or the rights of Holders hereunder. Each
Holder of Registrable Securities shall be a third party beneficiary to the
agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one hand, and the Initial
Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such
agreements directly to the extent it deems such enforcement necessary or
advisable to protect its rights hereunder.
5.7 Specific Enforcement. Without limiting the remedies available to the
--------------------
Initial Purchasers and the Holders, the Company acknowledges that any failure by
the Company to comply with its obligations under Sections 2.1 through 2.4 hereof
may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the
Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it would not be
possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event
of any such failure, the Initial Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief
as may be required to specifically enforce the Company's obligations under
Sections 2.1 through 2.4 hereof.
5.8 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.
5.9 Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
--------
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
16
5.10 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
-------------
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS THEREOF.
5.11 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.
17
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first written above.
LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION
By:/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Senior Vice President
Confirmed and accepted as
of the date first above
written:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ BROTHERS INC.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LYNCH, PIERCE, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
INCORPORATED
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
BNY CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
CREDIT LYONNAIS SECURITIES (USA) INC.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LUFKIN & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ SECURITIES CORPORATION
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INCORPORATED
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ BARNEY INC.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INC.
TD SECURITIES (USA) INC.
BY: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LYNCH, PIERCE, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
INCORPORATED
For itself and the other Initial Purchasers set forth above
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-----------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Authorized Signatory
18
EXHIBIT A
---------
Form of Opinion of Counsel
--------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Brothers Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
Incorporated
Banc of America Securities LLC
BNY Capital Markets, Inc.
Credit Lyonnais Securities (USA) Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Barney Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc.
TD Securities (USA) Inc.
c/o Merrill Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
Incorporated
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ World Headquarters
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Liberty Media Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the sale by the Company to the
Initial Purchasers (as defined below) of $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount
of 7-7/8% Senior Notes due 2009 (the "Notes") and $500,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of 8-1/2% Senior Debentures due 2029 (the "Debentures" and,
together with the Notes, the "Securities") of the Company pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement dated June 30, 1999 (the "Purchase Agreement") among the
Company and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ Incorporated, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Brothers
Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC, BNY Capital Markets, Inc., Credit Lyonnais
Securities (USA) Inc., ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Barney Inc., ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., Inc. and TD Securities (collectively,
the "Initial Purchasers") and the filing by the Company of an Exchange Offer
Registration Statement (the "Registration Statement") in connection with an
Exchange Offer to be effected pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement (the
"Registration Rights Agreement"), dated July 7, 1999, between the Company and
the Initial Purchasers. This opinion is furnished to you pursuant to Section
3(f)(B) of the Registration Rights Agreement. Unless otherwise defined herein,
capitalized terms used in this opinion that are defined in the Registration
Rights Agreement are used herein as so defined.
We have examined such documents, records and matters of law as we have
deemed necessary for purposes of this opinion. In rendering this opinion, as to
all matters of fact relevant to this opinion, we have assumed the completeness
and accuracy of, and are relying solely upon, the representations and warranties
of the Company set forth in the Purchase Agreement and the statements set forth
in certificates of public officials and officers of the Company, without making
any independent investigation or inquiry with respect to the completeness or
accuracy of such representations, warranties or statements, other than a review
of the certificate of incorporation, by-laws and relevant minute books of the
Company.
Based on and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
A-1
The Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as of its effective date, and
the Prospectus, as of the date hereof (except as to (x) the financial
statements, notes and schedules thereto and other financial and statistical data
contained or incorporated by reference therein, (y) the documents incorporated
or deemed incorporated by reference therein, and (z) the Form T-1, as to which
such counsel need express no opinion), comply as to form in all material
respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the applicable rules and
regulations promulgated under the 1933 Act. In passing upon the form of such
documents, we have necessarily assumed the correctness and completeness of the
statements made or included therein by the Company and take no responsibility
for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained therein
except insofar as such statements related to the description of the Exchange
Securities and the Indenture or relate to us. However, in connection with our
examination of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, we have had
conferences with certain officers and other representatives of the Company, and
our examination of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and our
discussions in such conferences did not disclose to us any information (relying
as to the materiality of any such information primarily upon officers and other
representatives of the Company) which gave us reason to believe that either the
Registration Statement, as of its effective date, or the Prospectus, as of the
date hereof (except as to (x) the financial statements, notes and schedules
thereto and other financial and statistical data contained or incorporated by
reference therein and (y) the documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by
reference therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion), contains
any untrue statement of a material fact or omits any material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of
the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not
misleading.
This opinion is being furnished to you solely for your benefit in
connection with the transactions contemplated by the Registration Rights
Agreement, and may not be used for any other purpose or relied upon by any
person other than you. Except with our prior written consent, the opinions
herein expressed are not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise referred to
in connection with any transactions other than those contemplated by the
Registration Rights Agreement by or to any other person.
Very truly yours,
A-2