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Exhibit 10.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of June 4, 1998
by and among
▇▇▇▇▇▇ STEEL COMPANY
AND ITS SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS
and
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LUFKIN & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ SECURITIES CORPORATION
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & COMPANY, INC.
FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO., INC.
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This Registration Rights Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is made and
entered into as of June 4, 1998, by and among ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Steel Company, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), and each of its subsidiary guarantors set
forth on Exhibit B hereto (the "GUARANTORS"), and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Securities Corporation ("DLJ"), ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Company, Inc., and Friedman,
Billings, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., Inc. (each an "INITIAL PURCHASER" and, collectively, the
"INITIAL PURCHASERS"), each of whom has agreed to purchase the Company's 10 1/2%
Senior Notes due 2008 (the "RESTRICTED NOTES") pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement (as defined below).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated June
1, 1998, (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), by and among the Company, the Guarantors
and the Initial Purchasers. In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to
purchase the Restricted 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 Purchasers set
forth in Section 9 of the Purchase Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein and
not otherwise defined shall have the meaning assigned to them the Indenture,
dated June 4, 1998, between the Company and the Guarantors and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Trust
Company of California, as Trustee, relating to the Restricted Notes and the
Exchange Notes (the "INDENTURE").
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.
AFFILIATE: As defined in Rule 144 of the Act.
BROKER/DEALER: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.
CERTIFICATED SECURITIES: Definitive 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 Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective
and the keeping of the Exchange Offer open for a period not less than the period
required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof and (c) the delivery by the Company to
the Registrar under the Indenture of Exchange
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Notes in the same aggregate principal amount as the aggregate principal amount
of Restricted Notes tendered by Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
CONSUMMATION DEADLINE: As defined in Section 3(b) hereof.
EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE: As defined in Section 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.
EXCHANGE ACT: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
EXCHANGE NOTES: The Company's 10 1/2% Senior Notes due 2008 to be
issued pursuant to the Indenture: (i) in the Exchange Offer or (ii) as
contemplated by Section 4 hereof.
EXCHANGE OFFER: The exchange and issuance by the Company of a
principal amount of Exchange Notes (which shall be registered pursuant to the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement) equal to the outstanding principal amount
of Restricted Notes that are tendered by such Holders in connection with such
exchange and issuance.
EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT: The Registration Statement
relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.
EXEMPT RESALES: The transactions in which the Initial Purchasers
propose to sell the Restricted Notes to certain "qualified institutional
buyers," as such term is defined in Rule 144A under the Act and pursuant to
Regulation S under the Act.
FILING DEADLINE: As defined in Sections 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.
HOLDERS: As defined in Section 2 hereof.
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 posteffective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference
into such Prospectus.
RECOMMENCEMENT DATE: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
REGISTRATION DEFAULT: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
REGISTRATION STATEMENT: Any registration statement of the Company and
the Guarantors 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) that
is filed pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) including the
Prospectus included therein, all amendments and supplements thereto (including
posteffective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by
reference therein.
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REGULATION S: Regulation S promulgated under the Act.
RULE 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.
SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT: As defined in Section 4 hereof.
SUSPENSION NOTICE: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Section 77aaa77bbbb)
as in effect on the date of the Indenture.
TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES: Each Restricted Note, until the
earliest to occur of (a) the date on which such Restricted Note is exchanged in
the Exchange Offer for a Exchange Note which is entitled to be resold to the
public by the Holder thereof without complying with the prospectus delivery
requirements of the Act, (b) the date on which such Restricted Note has been
disposed of in accordance with a Shelf Registration Statement (and the
purchasers thereof have been issued Exchange Notes), or (c) the date on which
such Restricted Note is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the
Act (and purchasers thereof have been issued Exchange Notes) and each Exchange
Note until the date on which such Exchange Note is disposed of by a
Broker/Dealer pursuant to the "Plan of Distribution" contemplated by the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement (including the delivery of the Prospectus
contained therein).
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 and the Guarantors shall (i) cause the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be filed with the Commission as soon as
practicable after the Closing Date, but in no event later than 60 days after the
Closing Date (such 60th day being the "FILING DEADLINE"), (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 150 days after the
Closing Date (such 150th day being the "EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE"), (iii) in
connection with the foregoing, (A) file all preeffective amendments to such
Exchange Offer Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to cause it
to become effective, (B) file, if applicable, a posteffective 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
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Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall be on the appropriate form permitting
(i) registration of the Exchange Notes to be offered in exchange for the
Restricted Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) resales of
Exchange Notes by Broker/Dealers that tendered into the Exchange Offer
Restricted Notes that such Broker/Dealer acquired for its own account as a
result of market making activities or other trading activities (other than
Restricted Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates) as
contemplated by Section 3(c) below.
(b) The Company and the Guarantors shall use their respective
best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be effective
continuously, and shall keep the Exchange Offer 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 and the Guarantors 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 and the Guarantors
shall use their respective best efforts to cause 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 days
thereafter (such 30th day being the "CONSUMMATION DEADLINE").
(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 Broker/Dealer who holds Transfer Restricted Securities
that were acquired for the account of such Broker/Dealer as a result of
marketmaking activities or other trading activities (other than Restricted Notes
acquired directly from the Company or any Affiliate of the Company), may
exchange such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
Such "Plan of Distribution" section shall also contain all other information
with respect to such sales by such 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
Transfer Restricted Securities held by any such Broker/Dealer, except to the
extent required by the Commission as a result of a change in policy, rules or
regulations after the date of this Agreement. See the Shearman & Sterling
no-action letter (available July 2, 1993).
Because 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 any Exchange
Notes received by such Broker/Dealer in the Exchange Offer, such "Plan of
Distribution" section shall also expressly permit the use of the Prospectus
contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement by such Broker/Dealer to
satisfy such prospectus delivery requirement. To the extent necessary to ensure
that the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is
available for sales of Exchange Notes by Broker/Dealers, the Company and the
Guarantors agree to use their respective best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented, amended and current
as required by and subject to the provisions of Section 6(a) and (c) hereof and
in conformity 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 Consummation Deadline or such shorter period
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as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such
Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto. The Company and the
Guarantors shall provide sufficient copies of the latest version of such
Prospectus to such Broker/Dealers, promptly upon request, and in no event later
than one day after such request, at any time during such period.
(d) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer,
each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (including, without limitation,
any Holder who is a Broker Dealer) shall furnish, upon the request of the
Company, prior to the Consummation of the Exchange Offer, a written
representation to the Company and the Guarantors (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. As a condition to its participation in
the Exchange Offer, each Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate in a
distribution of the Exchange Notes shall acknowledge and agree that, if the
resales are of Exchange Notes obtained by such Holder in exchange for Restricted
Notes acquired directly from the Company or an Affiliate thereof, it (1) could
not, under Commission policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement, rely on
the position of the Commission enunciated in ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 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, 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.
SECTION 4. SHELF REGISTRATION
(a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Exchange Offer is not
permitted by applicable law (after the Company and the Guarantors have complied
with the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below) or (ii) if any Holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities shall notify the Company within 20 Business Days
following the Consummation Deadline 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
Restricted Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates,
then the Company and the Guarantors shall:
(x) cause to be filed, on or prior to 30 days after
the earlier of (i) the date on which the Company determines that the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement cannot be filed as a result of
clause (a)(i) above and (ii) the date on which the Company receives
the notice specified in clause (a)(ii) above, (such earlier date, the
"FILING DEADLINE"), a shelf
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registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act (which may
be an amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (the
"SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT")), relating to all Transfer Restricted
Securities, and
(y) shall use their respective best efforts to
cause such Shelf Registration Statement to become effective on or
prior to 60 days after the Filing Deadline for the Shelf Registration
Statement (such 60th day the "EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE").
If, after the Company has filed an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement that 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 is not permitted under applicable federal law (i.e.,
clause (a)(i) above), then the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of clause (x) above;
provided that, in such event, the Company shall remain obligated to meet the
Effectiveness Deadline set forth in clause (y).
To the extent necessary to ensure that the Shelf Registration
Statement is available for sales of Transfer Restricted Securities by the
Holders thereof entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a) and the other
securities required to be registered therein pursuant to Section 6(b)(ii)
hereof, the Company and the Guarantors shall use their respective best efforts
to keep any Shelf Registration Statement required by this Section 4(a)
continuously effective, supplemented, amended and current as required by and
subject to the provisions of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof and in conformity 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(c)(i)) following the Closing
Date, or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant
thereto.
(b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection
with the Shelf Registration Statement. No Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities 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, the information specified in Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as
applicable, of the Act for use in connection with any Shelf Registration
Statement or Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus included therein. No Holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities shall be entitled to liquidated damages pursuant
to Section 5 hereof unless and until such Holder shall have provided all such
information. Each selling Holder agrees to promptly furnish additional
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 applicable Filing Deadline, (ii)
any such Registration Statement has
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not been declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the applicable
Effectiveness Deadline, (iii) the Exchange Offer has not been Consummated on or
prior to the Consummation Deadline 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 posteffective 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 and the Guarantors hereby jointly and
severally agree to pay to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities affected
thereby liquidated damages in an amount equal to $.05 per week per $1,000 in
principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holder for each
week or portion thereof that the Registration Default continues for the first
90-day period immediately following the occurrence of such Registration Default.
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 in principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided that the
Company and the Guarantors shall in no event be required to pay liquidated
damages for more than one Registration Default at any given time.
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
posteffective amendment to the 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 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. Notwithstanding the fact that any securities for which liquidated damages
are due cease to be Transfer Restricted Securities, all obligations of the
Company and the Guarantors to pay liquidated damages with respect to securities
shall survive until such time as such obligations with respect to such
securities shall have been satisfied in full.
SECTION 6. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. In connection with
the Exchange Offer, the Company and the Guarantors shall (x) comply with all
applicable provisions of Section 6(c) below, (y) use their respective best
efforts to effect such exchange and to permit the resale of Exchange Notes by
Broker/Dealers that tendered in the Exchange Offer Restricted Notes that such
Broker/Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of its market making
activities or other trading activities (other than Restricted Notes acquired
directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates) being sold in accordance
with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and (z)
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comply with all of the following provisions:
(i) If, following the date hereof there has been
announced a change in Commission policy with respect to exchange
offers such as the Exchange Offer, that in the reasonable opinion of
counsel to the Company raises a substantial question as to whether
the Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable federal law, the
Company and the Guarantors hereby agree to seek a no-action letter or
other favorable decision from the Commission allowing the Company and
the Guarantors to Consummate an Exchange Offer for such Transfer
Restricted Securities. The Company and the Guarantors hereby agree to
pursue the issuance of such a decision to the Commission staff level.
In connection with the foregoing, the Company and the Guarantors
hereby agree to take all such other actions as may be requested by
the Commission or otherwise required in connection with the issuance
of such decision, including without limitation (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.
(ii) To the extent required as a precondition to,
and prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall provide a
supplemental letter to the Commission (A) stating that the Company
and the Guarantors are registering the Exchange Offer in reliance on
the position of the Commission enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings
Corporation (available May 13, 1988), ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 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 neither the Company nor any Guarantor has
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 and each Guarantor'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, if applicable.
(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall (i) comply with all
the provisions of Section 6(c) below and use their respective 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 and the
Guarantors 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
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or methods of distribution thereof within the time periods and otherwise in
accordance with the provisions hereof and (ii) issue, upon the request of any
Holder or purchaser of Restricted 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 Restricted Notes
sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and surrendered to the Company
for cancellation; the Company shall register Exchange Notes on the Shelf
Registration Statement for this purpose and issue the Exchange Notes to the
purchaser(s) of securities subject to the Shelf Registration Statement in the
names as such purchaser(s) shall designate.
(c) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration
Statement and any related Prospectus required by this Agreement, the Company and
the Guarantors shall:
(i) use their respective 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 an untrue statement of
material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading or (B) not to be effective and
usable for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during the period
required by this Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors shall file
promptly an appropriate amendment to such Registration Statement
curing such defect, and, if Commission review is required, use their
respective best efforts to cause such amendment to be declared
effective as soon as practicable.
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such
amendments and posteffective amendments to the applicable
Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration
Statement effective for the applicable period set forth in Section 3
or 4 hereof, as the case may be; 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 each Initial Purchaser promptly and, if
requested by such Initial Purchaser, confirm such advice in writing,
(A) when the Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or posteffective
amendment has been filed, and, with respect to any applicable
Registration Statement or any posteffective 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
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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 and the Guarantors shall use their respective best efforts to
obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest
possible time;
(iv) 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 posteffective amendment 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;
(v) furnish to each Initial Purchaser(s) as the
case may be in connection with such exchange or 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 Initial Purchaser(s) as the case may be in
connection with such sale, if any, for a period of at least two
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 such Initial Purchaser(s) as the
case may be shall reasonably object within two Business Days after
the receipt thereof;
(vi) 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 to each Initial
Purchaser(s) as the case may be in connection with such exchange or
sale, if any, make the Company's and the Guarantors' 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 Initial Purchaser(s) as the case
may be may reasonably request;
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(vii) make available, at reasonable times, for
inspection by each Initial Purchaser(s) as the case may be and any
attorney or accountant retained by such Initial Purchaser(s) as the
case may be, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate
documents of the Company and the Guarantors and cause the Company's
and the Guarantors' officers, directors and employees to supply all
information reasonably requested by any such Holder, attorney or
accountant in connection with such Registration Statement or any
posteffective amendment thereto subsequent to the filing thereof and
prior to its effectiveness;
(viii) if requested by any Holders in connection with
such exchange or sale, promptly include in any Registration Statement
or Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or posteffective amendment if
necessary, such information as such Holders may reasonably request to
have included therein, including, without limitation, information
relating to the "Plan of Distribution" of the Transfer Restricted
Securities; and make all required filings of such Prospectus
supplement or posteffective amendment as soon as practicable after
the Company is notified of the matters to be included in such
Prospectus supplement or posteffective amendment;
(ix) furnish to each Initial Purchaser in connection
with such exchange or sale 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);
(x) deliver to each Holder 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 and the Guarantors hereby consent to the use (in
accordance with law) of the Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement thereto by each selling Holder in connection with the
offering and the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered
by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;
(xi) upon the request of any Holder, enter into such
agreements (including underwriting agreements) and make such
customary representations and warranties and take all such other
actions in connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate
the disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to any
applicable Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement as
may be reasonably requested by any Holder in connection with any sale
or resale pursuant to any applicable Registration Statement. In such
connection, the Company and the Guarantors shall:
(A) upon request of any Initial Purchaser,
furnish (or in the case of paragraphs (2) and (3), use its
best efforts to cause to be furnished) to such Initial
Purchaser, upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer or upon
the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as
the case may be:
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(1) a certificate, dated such
date, signed on behalf of the Company and each
Guarantor by (x) the President or any Vice
President and (y) a principal financial or
accounting officer of the Company and such
Guarantor, confirming, as of the date thereof,
the matters set forth in Sections 6(y), 9(a)
and 9(b) of the Purchase Agreement and such
other similar matters as such Holders 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 and the Guarantors
covering matters similar to those set forth in
paragraph (e) of Section 9 of the Purchase
Agreement, 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 and the
Guarantors, representatives of the independent
public accountants for the Company and the
Guarantors 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 the extent such counsel deems
appropriate upon the statements of officers and
other representatives of the Company and the
Guarantors 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
posteffective 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 the date of Consummation of the
Exchange Offer, or as of the date of
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration
Statement, as the case may be, from the
Company's independent
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accountants, in the customary form and covering
matters of the type customarily covered in
comfort letters to underwriters in connection
with underwritten offerings, and affirming the
matters set forth in the comfort letters
delivered pursuant to Section 9(g) of the
Purchase Agreement; and
(B) deliver such other documents and
certificates as may be reasonably requested by the selling
Holders to evidence compliance with the matters covered in
clause (A) above and with any customary conditions
contained in the any agreement entered into by the Company
and the Guarantors pursuant to this clause (xi);
(xii) prior to any public offering of Transfer
Restricted Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders and their
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 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 neither the Company nor any Guarantor shall
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;
(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 Holders 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
selling Holders may request at least two Business Days prior to such
sale of Transfer Restricted Securities;
(xiv) use their respective 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 to consummate the disposition of
such Transfer Restricted Securities, subject to the proviso contained
in clause (xii) above;
(xv) 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;
(xvi) otherwise use their respective 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
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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);
(xvii) 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 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
(xviii) 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)(iii)(C) or any notice from the Company of the existence of any
fact of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof (in each case, a
"SUSPENSION NOTICE"), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement
until (i) such Holder has received copies of the supplemented or amended
Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(iv) hereof, or (ii) such Holder 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 (in each case, the "RECOMMENCEMENT
DATE"). Each Holder receiving a Suspension Notice hereby agrees that it will
either (i) destroy any Prospectuses, other than permanent file copies, then in
such Holder's possession which have been replaced by the Company with more
recently dated Prospectuses or (ii) 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 the Suspension 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 a number of days equal to the
number of days in the period from and including the date of delivery of the
Suspension Notice to the date of delivery of the Recommencement Date.
SECTION 7. REGISTRATION EXPENSES
(a) All expenses incident to the Company's and the
Guarantor(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;
(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
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to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of Prospectuses whether for
exchanges, sales, market making or otherwise, messenger and delivery services
and telephone; (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, the
Guarantors and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; (v) all
application and filing fees in connection with listing the Exchange 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 and the Guarantors (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 and the Guarantor(s)'
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 or the Guarantor(s).
(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 and the Guarantors
will reimburse the Initial Purchasers and the Holders of Transfer Restricted
Securities who are tendering Restricted Notes into the Exchange Offer and/or
selling or reselling Restricted Notes or Exchange Notes pursuant to the "Plan of
Distribution" contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the
Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable, for the reasonable fees and
disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall be Akin, Gump, Strauss,
▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇, L.L.P., unless another firm 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 and the Guarantors agree jointly and
severally, to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, its directors, officers
and each Person, if any, who controls such Holder (within the meaning of Section
15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act), from and against any and all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, (including without limitation,
any legal or other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or
defending any matter, including any action that could give rise to any such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments) caused by 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) provided by the Company to any Holder or any prospective
purchaser of Exchange Notes or registered Restricted Notes, or caused by any
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
except insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments are
caused by an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or
omission that is based upon information relating to any of the Holders furnished
in writing to the Company by any of the Holders.
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(b) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted agrees, severally and
not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Guarantors, and
their respective directors and officers, and each person, if any, who controls
(within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act)
the Company, or the Guarantors to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity
from the Company and the Guarantors set forth in section (a) above, but only
with reference to information relating to such Holder furnished in writing to
the Company by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement. In
no event shall any Holder, its directors, officers or any Person who controls
such Holder be liable or responsible for any amount in excess of the amount by
which the total amount received by such Holder with respect to its sale of
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds (i)
the amount paid by such Holder for such Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii)
the amount of any damages that such Holder, its directors, officers or any
Person who controls such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of
such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
(c) In case any action shall be commenced involving any person
in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a) or 8(b)
(the "INDEMNIFIED PARTY"), the indemnified party shall promptly notify the
person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "INDEMNIFYING PERSON") in
writing and the indemnifying party shall assume the defense of such action,
including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified
party and the payment of all fees and expenses of such counsel, as incurred
(except that in the case of any action in respect of which indemnity may be
sought pursuant to both Sections 8(a) and 8(b), a Holder shall not be required
to assume the defense of such action pursuant to this Section 8(c), but may
employ separate counsel and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and
expenses of such counsel, except as provided below, shall be at the expense of
the Holder). Any indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate
counsel in any such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees
and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnified party
unless (i) the employment of such counsel shall have been specifically
authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnifying party
shall have failed to assume the defense of such action or employ counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party or (iii) the named parties to
any such action (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified
party and the indemnifying party, and the indemnified party shall have been
advised by such counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available
to it which are different from or additional to those available to the
indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party shall not have the
right to assume the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party).
In any such case, the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one
action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same
jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be
liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in
addition to any local counsel) for all indemnified parties and all such fees and
expenses shall be reimbursed a they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated
in writing by a majority of the Holders, in the case of the parties indemnified
pursuant to Section 8(a), and by the Company and Guarantors, in the case of
parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(b). The indemnifying party shall
indemnify and hold harmless the indemnified party from and against any and all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments by reason of any settlement
of any action (i) effected with its
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written consent or (ii) effected without its written consent if the settlement
is entered into more than twenty business days after the indemnifying party
shall have received a request from the indemnified party for reimbursement for
the fees and expenses of counsel (in any case where such fees and expenses are
at the expense of the indemnifying party) and, prior to the date of such
settlement, the indemnifying party shall have failed to comply with such
reimbursement request. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement or compromise of, or
consent to the entry of judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened
action in respect of which the indemnified party is or could have been a party
and indemnity or contribution may be or could have been sought hereunder by the
indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes
an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability on claims
that are or could have been the subject matter of such action 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 the indemnified party.
(d) To the extent that the indemnification provided for in
this Section 8 is unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to therein, then each
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 judgments (i) in such proportion
as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and
the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, from their
sale of Transfer Restricted Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by
clause 8(d)(i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause
8(d)(i) above but also the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on
the one hand, and of the Holder, on the other hand, in connection with the
statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or judgments, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on the one
hand, and of the 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 such Guarantor, on the one hand, or by
the Holder, on the other hand, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages, liabilities and judgments 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, the Guarantors and each Holder agree that it would not
be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) 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 judgments 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
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by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any
matter, including any action that could have given rise to such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or judgments. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Section 8, no Holder, its directors, its officers or any Person, if any, who
controls such Holder 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 Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration
Statement exceeds (i) the amount paid by such Holder for such Transfer
Restricted Securities and (ii) 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
Transfer Restricted Securities held by each Holder hereunder and not joint.
SECTION 9. RULE 144A AND RULE 144
The Company and each Guarantor agrees with each Holder, for so long
as any Transfer Restricted Securities remain outstanding and during any period
in which the Company or such Guarantor (i) is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Exchange Act, to make available, upon request of any Holder, to such
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 144A(d)(4) under the Act in order to permit resales of such
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A, and (ii) is subject to
Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Exchange Act, to make all filings required thereby
in a timely manner in order to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted
Securities pursuant to Rule 144.
SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) Remedies. The Company and the Guarantors acknowledge and
agree that any failure by the Company and/or the Guarantors to comply with their
respective obligations under Sections 3 and 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 will not be possible to measure damages for
such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial
Purchasers or any Holder or Affiliated Market Makers may obtain such relief as
may be required to specifically enforce the Company's and the Guarantor's
obligations under Sections 3 and 4 hereof. The Company and the Guarantors
further agree to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a
remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any
Guarantor will, 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.
Neither the Company nor any Guarantor has previously entered into any agreement
granting any registration rights with respect to its securities to any Person.
The rights granted to the Holders
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hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the
rights granted to the holders of the Company's and the Guarantor(s)' securities
under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.
(c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement
may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or
departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless (i) in the case of
Section 5 hereof and this Section 10(c)(i), the Company has obtained the written
consent of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) 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 (excluding Transfer Restricted Securities held by the
Company or its Affiliates). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent
to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights
of Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities are being tendered pursuant to
the Exchange Offer, and that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights
of other Holders whose Transfer Restricted 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.
(d) Third Party Beneficiary. The Holders shall be third party
beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company and the
Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and
shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent they may
deem such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights
of Holders hereunder.
(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 or the Guarantor(s):
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Steel Company
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telecopier No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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With a copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇, L.L.P.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telecopier No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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.
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, that nothing herein shall be deemed to
permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Transfer Restricted
Securities in violation of the terms hereof or of the Purchase Agreement or the
Indenture. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Transfer Restricted
Securities in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such
Transfer Restricted Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this
Agreement, and by taking and holding such Transfer Restricted 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.
(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.
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(k) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is 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.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ STEEL COMPANY
By:______________________________________
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: President
ADDISON STRUCTURAL SERVICES, INC.
By:______________________________________
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Executive Officer
ADDISON STEEL, INC.
By:______________________________________
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Executive Officer
QUINCY JOIST COMPANY
By:______________________________________
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Executive Officer
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B & K STEEL FABRICATIONS, INC.
By:______________________________________
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: President
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LUFKIN & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
SECURITIES CORPORATION
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & COMPANY, INC.
FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO., INC.
BY: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LUFKIN & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
SECURITIES CORPORATION
By:______________________________________
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ III
Title: Vice President
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EXHIBIT A
NOTICE OF FILING OF
A/B EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT
To: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Company, Inc.
Friedman, Billings, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., Inc.
c/▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (Compliance Department)
Fax: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
From: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Steel Company
10 1/2% Senior Notes due 2008
Date: ___, 199_
For your information only (NO ACTION REQUIRED):
Today, ______, 1998, we filed [AN A/B EXCHANGE REGISTRATION STATEMENT/A
SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT] with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We
currently expect this registration statement to be declared effective within __
business days of the date hereof.
26
EXHIBIT B
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS
Addison Steel, Inc.
Addison Structural Services, Inc.
Quincy Joist Company
B & K Steel Fabrications, Inc.
