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EXHIBIT 4.2
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of November 15, 1996
by and among
▇▇▇▇ NATIONAL GROUP, INC.,
and
CIBC WOOD GUNDY SECURITIES CORP.,
CS FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION,
NATIONSBANC CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.,
and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.
as Initial Purchasers
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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1. Definitions.................................................................................. 1
2. Exchange Offer............................................................................... 5
3. Shelf Registration........................................................................... 8
4. Additional Interest.......................................................................... 10
5. Registration Procedures...................................................................... 11
6. Registration Expenses........................................................................ 21
7. Indemnification.............................................................................. 22
8. Rules 144 and 144A........................................................................... 26
9. Underwritten Registrations................................................................... 26
10. Miscellaneous................................................................................ 27
a. Remedies............................................................................ 27
b. Enforcement......................................................................... 27
c. No Inconsistent Agreements.......................................................... 27
d. Adjustments Affecting Registrable Notes............................................. 27
e. Amendments and Waivers.............................................................. 27
f. Notices............................................................................. 28
g. Successors and Assigns.............................................................. 28
h. Counterparts........................................................................ 28
i. Headings............................................................................ 28
j. Governing Law....................................................................... 28
k. Severability........................................................................ 29
l. Entire Agreement.................................................................... 29
m. Notes Held by the Company or Its Affiliates......................................... 29
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") dated as of
November 15, 1996, by and among ▇▇▇▇ NATIONAL GROUP, INC., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and CIBC WOOD GUNDY SECURITIES CORP., CS FIRST
BOSTON CORPORATION, NATIONSBANC CAPITAL MARKETS, INC., and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC., as
initial purchasers (the "Initial Purchasers").
This Agreement is entered into in connection with the
Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 13, 1996, among the Company
and the Initial Purchasers (the "Purchase Agreement") relating to the sale by
the Company to the Initial Purchasers of $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount
of the Company's 9 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006 (the "Notes"). In
order to induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the
Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this
Agreement for the benefit of the Initial Purchasers. The execution and delivery
of this Agreement is a condition to the Initial Purchasers' obligation to
purchase the Notes under the Purchase Agreement.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions
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As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
ADDITIONAL INTEREST: See Section 4(a).
ADVICE: See Section 5.
AGREEMENT: See the first introductory paragraph of this
Agreement.
APPLICABLE PERIOD: See Section 2(b).
CLOSING: See the Purchase Agreement.
COMPANY: See the first introductory paragraph to this
Agreement.
EFFECTIVENESS DATE: The 120th day after the Issue Date.
EFFECTIVENESS PERIOD: See Section 3(a).
EVENT DATE: See Section 4(b).
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
EXCHANGE NOTES: See Section 2(a).
EXCHANGE OFFER: See Section 2(a).
EXCHANGE REGISTRATION STATEMENT: See Section 2(a).
FILING DATE: The 45th day after the Issue Date.
HOLDER: Any holder of a Registrable Note or Registrable Notes.
INDEMNIFIED PERSON: See Section 7(c).
INDEMNIFYING PERSON: See Section 7(c).
INDENTURE: The Indenture, dated as of November 15, 1996,
between the Company and Northwest Bank Minnesota, N.A., as trustee, pursuant to
which the Notes are being issued, as amended or supplemented from time to time
in accordance with the terms thereof.
INITIAL PURCHASERS: See the first introductory paragraph to
this Agreement.
INITIAL SHELF REGISTRATION: See Section 3(a).
INSPECTORS: See Section 5(o).
ISSUE DATE: The date on which the original Notes are sold to
the Initial Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
LIEN: See the Indenture.
NASD: See Section 5(t).
NOTES: See the second introductory paragraph to this
Agreement.
PARTICIPANT: See Section 7(a).
PARTICIPATING BROKER-DEALER: See Section 2(b).
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PERSON: An individual, corporation, partnership, joint
venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or
government (including any agency or political subdivision thereof).
PRIVATE EXCHANGE: See Section 2(b).
PRIVATE EXCHANGE NOTES: See Section 2(b).
PROSPECTUS: The prospectus included in any Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, any prospectus subject to completion
and a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a
prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon
Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by
any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any
portion of the Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement, and all
other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective
amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
PURCHASE AGREEMENT: See the second introductory paragraph to
this Agreement.
RECORDS: See Section 5(o).
REGISTRABLE NOTES: The Notes upon original issuance of the
Notes and at all times subsequent thereto and, if issued, the Private Exchange
Notes, until in the case of any such Notes or any such Private Exchange Notes,
as the case may be, (i) a Registration Statement covering such Notes or such
Private Exchange Notes has been declared effective by the SEC and such Notes or
such Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, have been disposed of in
accordance with such effective Registration Statement, (ii) such Notes or such
Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, are sold in compliance with Rule
144, (iii) in the case of any Note, such Note has been exchanged for an Exchange
Note or Exchange Notes pursuant to an Exchange Offer or (iv) such Notes or such
Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, cease to be outstanding.
REGISTRATION DEFAULT: See Section 4(a).
REGISTRATION STATEMENT: Any registration statement of
the Company, including, but not limited to, the Exchange
Registration Statement, which covers any of the Registrable Notes
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the
Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration
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statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits, and all material
incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such
registration statement.
RULE 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, as
such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule (other than Rule
144A) or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC providing for offers and sales
of securities made in compliance therewith resulting in offers and sales by
subsequent holders that are not affiliates of an issuer of such securities being
free of the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act.
RULE 144A: Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act, as
such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule (other than Rule
144) or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC providing for offers and sales
of securities made in compliance therewith resulting in offers and sales by
subsequent holders that are not affiliates of an issuer of such securities being
free of the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act.
RULE 415: Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, as
such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation
hereafter adopted by the SEC.
SEC: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
SECURITIES ACT: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
SHELF NOTICE: See Section 2(c).
SHELF REGISTRATION: See Section 3(b).
SUBSEQUENT SHELF REGISTRATION: See Section 3(b).
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
TRUSTEE: The trustee under the Indenture and, if existent, the
trustee under any indenture governing the Exchange Notes and Private Exchange
Notes (if any).
UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATION OR UNDERWRITTEN OFFERING: A
registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter(s)
for reoffering to the public.
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2. Exchange Offer
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(a) The Company agrees to file with the SEC as soon as
practicable after the Closing, but in no event later than the Filing Date, an
offer to exchange (the "Exchange Offer") any and all of the Registrable Notes
for a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities of the Company which
are identical to the Notes (the "Exchange Notes") (and which are entitled to the
benefits of the Indenture or a trust indenture which is substantially identical
to the Indenture (other than such changes to the Indenture or any such identical
trust indenture as are necessary to comply with any requirements of the SEC to
effect or maintain the qualification thereof under the TIA) and which, in either
case, has been qualified under the TIA), except that the Exchange Notes shall
have been registered pursuant to an effective Registration Statement under the
Securities Act. The Exchange Offer will be registered under the Securities Act
on the appropriate form (the "Exchange Registration Statement") and will comply
with all applicable tender offer rules and regulations under the Exchange Act.
The Company agrees to use its best efforts to (x) cause the Exchange
Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act on or before
the Effectiveness Date; (y) keep the Exchange Offer open for at least 30 days
(or longer if required by applicable law) after the date that notice of the
Exchange Offer is mailed to Holders; and (z) consummate the Exchange Offer on or
prior to the 60th day following the date on which the Exchange Registration
Statement is declared effective. If after such Exchange Registration Statement
is initially declared effective by the SEC, the Exchange Offer or the issuance
of the Exchange Notes thereunder is interfered with by any stop order,
injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or any other governmental
agency or court, such Exchange Registration Statement shall be deemed not to
have become effective for purposes of this agreement. Each Holder who
participates in the Exchange Offer will be required to represent that any
Exchange Notes received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of its
business, that at the time of the consummation of the Exchange Offer such Holder
will have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the
distribution of the Exchange Notes, and that such Holder is not an affiliate of
the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act
or if it is such an affiliate, that it will comply with the registration and
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, to the extent
applicable. Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer in accordance with this
Section 2, the provisions of this Agreement shall continue to apply, MUTATIS
MUTANDIS, solely with respect to Registrable Notes that are Private Exchange
Notes and Exchange Notes held by Participating Broker-Dealers (as defined
below),
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and the Company shall have no further obligation to register Registrable Notes
(other than Private Exchange Notes) pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement.
(b) The Company shall include within the Prospectus contained
in the Exchange Registration Statement a section entitled "Plan of
Distribution," reasonably acceptable to the Initial Purchasers, which shall
contain a summary statement of the positions taken or policies made by the staff
of the SEC with respect to the potential "underwriter" status of any
broker-dealer that is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated
under the Exchange Act) of Exchange Notes received by such broker-dealer in the
Exchange Offer (a "Participating Broker-Dealer"), 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 the Initial Purchasers,
represent the prevailing views of the staff of the SEC. Such "Plan of
Distribution" section shall also allow the use of the Prospectus by all persons
subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, including
all Participating Broker-Dealers, and include a statement describing the means
by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Notes.
The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Exchange
Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the Prospectus
contained therein, in order to permit such Prospectus to be lawfully delivered
by all persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act for such period of time as such persons must comply with such requirements
in order to resell the Exchange Notes, provided that such period shall not
exceed 180 days (or such longer period if extended pursuant to the last
paragraph of Section 5) (the "Applicable Period").
If, prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Initial
Purchasers hold any Notes acquired by them and having, or which are reasonably
likely to be determined to have, the status as an unsold allotment in the
initial distribution, the Company upon the request of either Initial Purchaser
shall, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Notes in the Exchange
Offer, issue and deliver to such Initial Purchaser, in exchange (the "Private
Exchange") for the Notes held by such Initial Purchaser, a like principal amount
of debt securities of the Company that are identical in all material respects to
the Exchange Notes (the "Private Exchange Notes") (and which are issued pursuant
to the same indenture as the Exchange Notes). The Private Exchange Notes shall
bear the same CUSIP number as the Exchange Notes. Interest on the Exchange Notes
and Private
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Exchange Notes will accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest
was paid on the Notes surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has
been paid on the Notes, from the Issue Date.
In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(i) mail to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming
part of the Exchange Registration Statement, together with an
appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;
(ii) utilize the services of a depositary for the Exchange
Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New
York; and
(iii) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Notes at any time
prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last business day
on which the Exchange Offer shall remain open.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer
or the Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:
(i) accept for exchange all Notes tendered and not
validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer or the
Private Exchange;
(ii) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Notes
so accepted for exchange; and
(iii) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly
to each Holder of Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes, as
the case may be, equal in principal amount to the Notes of such Holder
so accepted for exchange.
The Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes may be
issued under (i) the Indenture or (ii) an indenture substantially identical to
the Indenture, which in either event will provide that the Exchange Notes will
not be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture and that
the Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange Notes and the Notes will vote and
consent together on all matters as one class and that neither the Exchange
Notes, the Private Exchange Notes nor the Notes will have the right to vote or
consent as a separate class on any matter.
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(c) If (1) prior to the consummation of the Exchange Offer,
the Company or Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Registrable Notes reasonably determine in good faith that (i) the Exchange
Notes would not, upon receipt, be tradeable by such Holders which are not
affiliates (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Company without
restriction under the Securities Act and without restrictions under applicable
state securities laws, or (ii) after conferring with counsel, the SEC is
unlikely to permit the consummation of the Exchange Offer prior to the
Effectiveness Date, (2) subsequent to the consummation of the Private Exchange,
any holder of the Private Exchange Notes so requests or (3) the Exchange Offer
is commenced and not consummated within 180 days of the date of this Agreement,
then the Company shall promptly deliver to the Holders and the Trustee written
notice thereof (the "Shelf Notice") and shall file an Initial Shelf Registration
pursuant to Section 3. Following the delivery of a Shelf Notice to the Holders
of Registrable Notes (in the circumstances contemplated by clauses (1) and (3)
of the preceding sentence), the Company shall not have any further obligation to
conduct the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange under this Section 2.
(d) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each Holder represents and warrants to
the Company that, (A) it is not an affiliate of the Company, (B) it is not
engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, and has no arrangement or
understanding with any Person to participate in, a distribution of the Exchange
Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer, and (C) it is acquiring the Exchange
Notes in its ordinary course of business. Each Holder hereby acknowledges and
agrees that any Participating Broker-Dealer and any Holder using the Exchange
Offer to participate in a distribution of Exchange Notes (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, and (2) must comply with the registration
and prospectus delivery requirements of the Act in connection with a secondary
resale transaction and that such a secondary resale transaction must be covered
by an effective registration statement containing the selling security holder
information required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K if the
resales are of Notes obtained by such Holder in exchange for Notes acquired by
such Holder directly from the Company or an affiliate thereof.
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3. Shelf Registration
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If a Shelf Notice is delivered as contemplated by Section
2(c), then:
(a) INITIAL SHELF REGISTRATION. The Company shall prepare and
file with the SEC a Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a
continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of the Registrable Notes (the
"Initial Shelf Registration"). If the Company shall have not yet filed an
Exchange Registration Statement, the Company shall use its best efforts to file
with the SEC the Initial Shelf Registration on or prior to the Filing Date. In
any other instance, the Company shall use its best efforts to file with the SEC
the Initial Shelf Registration within 30 days of the delivery of the Shelf
Notice. The Initial Shelf Registration shall be on Form S-1 or another
appropriate form permitting registration of such Registrable Notes for resale by
such Holders in the manner or manners designated by them (including, without
limitation, one or more underwritten offerings). The Company shall not permit
any securities other than the Registrable Notes to be included in the Initial
Shelf Registration or any Subsequent Shelf Registration (as defined below). The
Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Initial Shelf Registration to be
declared effective under the Securities Act on or prior to the Effectiveness
Date and to keep the Initial Shelf Registration continuously effective under the
Securities Act until the date which is 36 months from the date on which such
Initial Shelf Registration is declared effective (subject to extension pursuant
to the last paragraph of Section 5 hereof) (the "Effectiveness Period"), or such
shorter period ending when (i) all Registrable Notes covered by the Initial
Shelf Registration have been sold in the manner set forth and as contemplated in
the Initial Shelf Registration, (ii) a Subsequent Shelf Registration covering
all of the Registrable Notes has been declared effective under the Securities
Act or (iii) no Registrable Notes remain outstanding.
(b) SUBSEQUENT SHELF REGISTRATIONS. If the Initial Shelf
Registration or any Subsequent Shelf Registration ceases to be effective for any
reason at any time during the Effectiveness Period (other than because of the
sale of all of the securities registered thereunder), the Company shall use its
best efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the
effectiveness thereof, and in any event shall within 45 days of such cessation
of effectiveness amend the Shelf Registration in a manner to obtain the
withdrawal of the order suspending the effectiveness thereof, or file an
additional "shelf" Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of
the Registrable Notes (a "Subsequent Shelf Registration"). If a Subsequent Shelf
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Registration is filed, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause the
Subsequent Shelf Registration to be declared effective as soon as practicable
after such filing and to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective
for a period equal to the number of days in the Effectiveness Period less the
aggregate number of days during which the Initial Shelf Registration or any
Subsequent Shelf Registration was previously continuously effective. As used
herein the term "Shelf Registration" means the Initial Shelf Registration and
any Subsequent Shelf Registration.
(c) SUPPLEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS. The Company shall promptly
supplement and amend the Shelf Registration if required by the rules,
regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used for such
Shelf Registration, if required by the Securities Act, or if requested by the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes
covered by such Registration Statement or by any underwriter(s) of such
Registrable Notes.
4. Additional Interest
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(a) The Company and the Initial Purchasers agree that the
Holders of Registrable Notes will suffer damages if the Company fails to fulfill
its obligations under Section 2 or Section 3 hereof and that it would not be
feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages with precision. Accordingly,
the Company agrees to pay additional interest on the Notes ("Additional
Interest") under the circumstances set forth below:
(i) if the Exchange Registration Statement or the Initial
Shelf Registration has not been filed on or prior to the Filing Date;
(ii) if the Exchange Registration Statement or the Initial
Shelf Registration has not been declared effective on or prior to the
Effectiveness Date; or
(iii) if either (A) the Company has not exchanged the Exchange
Notes for all Notes validly tendered in accordance with the terms of
the Exchange Offer on or prior to 60 days after the date on which the
Exchange Registration Statement was declared effective or (B) the
Exchange Registration Statement ceases to be effective at any time
prior to the time that the Exchange Offer is consummated or (C) if
applicable, the Shelf Registration has been declared effective and such
Shelf Registration ceases to be effective at any time during the
Effectiveness Period;
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(each such events referred to in clauses (i) through (iii) above is a
"Registration Default"), then the sole remedy available to holders of the Notes
will be the immediate accrual of Additional Interest as follows: the per annum
interest rate on the Notes will increase by 50 basis points; and the per annum
interest rate will increase by an additional 25 basis points for each subsequent
90-day period during which the Registration Default remains uncured, up to a
maximum additional interest rate of 200 basis points PER ANNUM, provided,
however, that (1) upon the filing of the Exchange Registration Statement or the
Initial Shelf Registration (in the case of (i) above), (2) upon the
effectiveness of the Exchange Registration Statement or a Shelf Registration (in
the case of (ii) above) or (3) upon the exchange of Exchange Notes for all Notes
tendered (in the case of (iii)(A) above), or upon the effectiveness of the
Exchange Registration Statement which had ceased to remain effective (in the
case of (iii)(B) above), or upon the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration
which had ceased to remain effective (in the case of (iii)(C) above), Additional
Interest on the Notes as a result of such clause (i), (ii) or (iii) (or the
relevant subclause thereof), as the case may be, shall cease to accrue and the
interest rate on the Notes will revert to the interest rate originally borne by
the Notes.
(b) The Company shall notify the Trustee within one business
day after each and every date on which an event occurs in respect of which
Additional Interest is required to be paid (an "Event Date"). Any amounts of
Additional Interest due pursuant to (a)(i), (a)(ii) or (a)(iii) of this Section
4 will be payable in cash semi-annually on each December 31 and June 30 (to the
Holders of record on the December 15 and June 15 immediately preceding such
dates), commencing with the first such date occurring after any such Additional
Interest commences to accrue, by depositing with the Trustee, in trust for the
benefit of such Holders, immediately available funds in sums sufficient to pay
such Additional Interest. The amount of Additional Interest will be determined
by multiplying the applicable Additional Interest rate by the principal amount
of the Registrable Notes, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is
the number of days such Additional Interest rate was applicable during such
period (determined on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day
months), and the denominator of which is 360.
5. Registration Procedures
-----------------------
In connection with the registration of any Registrable Notes
or Private Exchange Notes pursuant to Section 2 or 3 hereof, the Company shall
effect such registrations to permit the sale of such Registrable Notes or
Private Exchange Notes in
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accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition thereof, and
pursuant thereto the Company shall:
(a) Prepare and file with the SEC, prior to the Filing Date, a
Registration Statement or Registration Statements as prescribed by
Section 2 or 3, and to use its best efforts to cause each such
Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective as
provided herein, PROVIDED that, if (1) such filing is pursuant to
Section 3, or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration
Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 is required to be delivered under
the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell
Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, before filing any
Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements
thereto, the Company shall, if requested, furnish to and afford the
Holders of the Registrable Notes and each such Participating
Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, covered by such Registration
Statement, their counsel and the managing underwriter(s), if any, a
reasonable opportunity to review copies of all such documents
(including copies of any documents to be incorporated by reference
therein and all exhibits thereto) proposed to be filed (at least 5
business days prior to such filing). The Company shall not file any
Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements
thereto in respect of which the Holders must be afforded an opportunity
to review prior to the filing of such document, if the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes covered
by such Registration Statement, or such Participating Broker-Dealer, as
the case may be, their counsel, or the managing underwriter(s), if any,
shall reasonably object.
(b) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and
post-effective amendments to each Shelf Registration or Exchange
Registration Statement, as the case may be, as may be necessary to keep
such Registration Statement continuously effective for the
Effectiveness Period or the Applicable Period, as the case may be;
cause the related Prospectus to be supplemented by any prospectus
supplement required by applicable law, and as so supplemented to be
filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force)
under the Securities Act; and comply with the provisions of the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the
SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to them with respect to the
disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement as
so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented and with respect to
the subsequent resale of any securities being
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sold by a Participating Broker-Dealer covered by any such Prospectus;
the Company shall be deemed not to have used its best efforts to keep a
Registration Statement effective during the Applicable Period if it
voluntarily takes any action that would result in selling Holders of
the Registrable Notes covered thereby or Participating Broker-Dealers
seeking to sell Exchange Notes not being able to sell such Registrable
Notes or such Exchange Notes during that period unless such action is
required by applicable law or unless the Company complies with this
Agreement, including without limitation, the provisions of clause
5(c)(v) below.
(c) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section
3, or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement
filed pursuant to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the
Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell
Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, notify the selling Holders
of Registrable Notes, or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the
case may be, their counsel and the managing underwriter(s), if any,
promptly (but in any event within two business days), and confirm such
notice in writing, (i) when a Prospectus or any prospectus supplement
or post-effective amendment thereto has been filed, and, with respect
to a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto,
when the same has become effective (including in such notice a written
statement that any Holder may, upon request, obtain, without charge,
one conformed copy of such Registration Statement or post-effective
amendment thereto including financial statements and schedules,
documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference and
exhibits), (ii) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending
the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any order
preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary Prospectus or the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iii) if at any time
when a Prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered in
connection with sales of the Registrable Notes the representations and
warranties of the Company contained in any agreement (including any
underwriting agreement) contemplated by Section 5(n) below cease to be
true and correct, (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or
exemption from qualification of a Registration Statement or any of the
Registrable Notes or the Exchange Notes to be sold by any Participating
Broker-Dealer for offer or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation
or threatening of any
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proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the happening of any event or any
information becoming known that makes any statement made in such
Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue
in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in,
or amendments or supplements to, such Registration Statement,
Prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the Registration
Statement, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and that in
the case of the Prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and (vi)
of the Company's reasonable determination that a post-effective
amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate.
(d) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section
3, or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement
filed pursuant to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the
Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell
Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, use its best efforts to
prevent the issuance of any order suspending the effectiveness of a
Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use
of a Prospectus or suspending the qualification (or exemption from
qualification) of any of the Registrable Notes or the Exchange Notes to
be sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer, for sale in any
jurisdiction, and, if any such order is issued, to use its best efforts
to obtain the withdrawal of any such order at the earliest possible
moment.
(e) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 and
if requested by the managing underwriter(s), if any, or the Holders of
a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes being
sold in connection with an underwritten offering, (i) promptly
incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment
thereto such information as the managing underwriter(s), if any, or
such Holders reasonably request to be included therein, (ii) make all
required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective
amendment thereto as soon as practicable after the Company has received
notification of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus
supplement
17
-15-
or post-effective amendment thereto and (iii) supplement or make
amendments to such Registration Statement.
(f) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section
3, or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement
filed pursuant to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the
Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell
Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, furnish to each selling
Holder of Registrable Notes and to each such Participating
Broker-Dealer who so requests and to counsel and the managing
underwriter(s), if any, who so request, without charge, one conformed
copy of the Registration Statement or Registration Statements and each
post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and
schedules, and, if requested, all documents incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits.
(g) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section
3, or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement
filed pursuant to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the
Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell
Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, deliver to each selling
Holder of Registrable Notes, or each such Participating Broker-Dealer,
as the case may be, their counsel, and the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus
or Prospectuses (including each form of preliminary Prospectus) and
each amendment or supplement thereto and any documents incorporated by
reference therein as such Persons may reasonably request; and, subject
to the last paragraph of this Section 5, the Company hereby consents to
the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by
each of the selling Holders of Registrable Notes or each such
Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, and the managing
underwriter or underwriters or agents, if any, and dealers, if any, in
connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Notes covered
by or the sale by Participating Broker-Dealers of the Exchange Notes
pursuant to such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.
(h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Notes or any
delivery of a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Registration
Statement by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange
Notes during the Applicable Period, to use its best efforts to register
or qualify (to the extent required by applicable law), and to cooperate
with the selling Holders of Registrable Notes or each such
18
-16-
Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, the managing
underwriter or underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel in
connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from
such registration or qualification) of such Registrable Notes for offer
and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions
within the United States as any selling Holder, Participating
Broker-Dealer, or the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any,
reasonably request in writing, PROVIDED that where Exchange Notes held
by Participating Broker-Dealers or Registrable Notes are offered other
than through an underwritten offering, the Company agrees to cause its
counsel to perform Blue Sky investigations and file registrations and
qualifications required to be filed pursuant to this Section 5(h); keep
each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom)
effective during the period such Registration Statement is required to
be kept effective and do any and all other acts or things reasonably
necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions
of the Exchange Notes held by Participating Broker-Dealers or the
Registrable Notes covered by the applicable Registration Statement;
PROVIDED that the Company shall not be required to (A) qualify
generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so
qualified, (B) take any action that would subject it to general service
of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or
(C) subject itself to taxation in excess of a nominal dollar amount in
any such jurisdiction.
(i) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3,
cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Notes and the
managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Notes
to be sold, which certificates shall not bear any restrictive legends
and shall be in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust
Company; and enable such Registrable Notes to be in such denominations
and registered in such names as the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, or Holders may reasonably request.
(j) Use its best efforts to cause the Registrable Notes
covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved
by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary
to enable the seller or sellers thereof or the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, to consummate the disposition of such Registrable
Notes, except as may be required solely as a consequence of
19
-17-
the nature of such selling Holder's business, in which case the Company
will cooperate in all reasonable respects with the filing of such
Registration Statement and the granting of such approvals.
(k) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section
3, or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement
filed pursuant to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the
Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell
Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, upon the occurrence of any
event contemplated by paragraph 5(c)(v) or 5(c)(vi) above, as promptly
as practicable prepare and (subject to Section 5(a) above) file with
the SEC, at the expense of the Company, a supplement or post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related
Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated
therein by reference, or file any other required document so that, as
thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Notes being
sold thereunder or to the purchasers of the Exchange Notes to whom such
Prospectus will be delivered by a Participating Broker-Dealer, any such
Prospectus will not 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, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading.
(l) Use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registrable
Notes covered by a Registration Statement or the Exchange Notes, as the
case may be, to be rated with the appropriate rating agencies, if so
requested by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement or the
Exchange Notes, as the case may be, or the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any.
(m) Prior to the effective date of the first Registration
Statement relating to the Registrable Notes, (i) provide the Trustee
with printed certificates for the Registrable Notes in a form eligible
for deposit with The Depository Trust Company and (ii) provide a CUSIP
number for the Registrable Notes.
(n) In connection with an underwritten offering of Registrable
Notes pursuant to a Shelf Registration, enter into an underwriting
agreement as is customary in underwritten offerings of debt securities
similar to the Notes and take all such other actions as are reasonably
20
-18-
requested by the managing underwriter(s), if any, in order to expedite
or facilitate the registration or the disposition of such Registrable
Notes, and in such connection, (i) make such representations and
warranties to the managing underwriter or underwriters on behalf of any
underwriters, with respect to the business of the Company and its
respective subsidiaries and the Registration Statement, Prospectus and
documents, if any, incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference therein, in each case, as are customarily made by issuers to
underwriters in underwritten offerings of debt securities, and confirm
the same if and when requested; (ii) obtain opinions of counsel to the
Company and updates thereof in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the managing underwriter or underwriters, addressed to
the managing underwriter or underwriters covering the matters
customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings of
debt securities and such other matters as may be reasonably requested
by underwriters; (iii) obtain "cold comfort" letters and updates
thereof in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the managing
underwriter or underwriters from the independent certified public
accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent
certified public accountants of any subsidiary of any of the Company or
of any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements
and financial data are, or are required to be, included in the
Registration Statement), addressed to the managing underwriter or
underwriters on behalf of any underwriters, such letters to be in
customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in
"cold comfort" letters in connection with underwritten offerings of
debt securities and such other matters as reasonably requested by the
managing underwriter or underwriters; and (iv) if an underwriting
agreement is entered into, the same shall contain indemnification
provisions and procedures no less favorable than those set forth in
Section 7 hereof (or such other provisions and procedures acceptable to
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Registrable
Notes covered by such Registration Statement and the managing
underwriter or underwriters or agents) with respect to all parties to
be indemnified pursuant to said Section. The above shall be done at
each closing under such underwriting agreement, or as and to the extent
required thereunder.
(o) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section
3, or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement
filed pursuant to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the
Securities Act by any
21
-19-
Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the
Applicable Period, make available for inspection by any selling Holder
of such Registrable Notes being sold, or each such Participating
Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, the managing underwriter or
underwriters participating in any such disposition of Registrable
Notes, if any, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by
any such selling Holder or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as
the case may be (collectively, the "Inspectors"), at the offices where
normally kept, during reasonable business hours, all financial and
other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the
Company and its respective subsidiaries (collectively, the "Records")
as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise any
applicable due diligence responsibilities, and cause the officers,
directors and employees of the Company and its respective subsidiaries
to supply all information in each case reasonably requested by any such
Inspector in connection with such Registration Statement. Records which
the Company determines, in good faith, to be confidential and any
Records which it notifies the Inspectors are confidential shall not be
disclosed by the Inspectors unless (i) the disclosure of such Records
is necessary to avoid or correct a material misstatement or material
omission in such Registration Statement, (ii) the release of such
Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court
of competent jurisdiction or (iii) the information in such Records has
been made generally available to the public. Each selling Holder of
such Registrable Notes and each such Participating Broker-Dealer or
underwriter will be required to agree that information obtained by it
as a result of such inspections shall be deemed confidential and shall
not be used by it as the basis for any market transactions in the
securities of the Company or of ▇▇▇▇ National Corporation unless and
until such is made generally available to the public. Each selling
Holder of such Registrable Notes and each such Participating
Broker-Dealer will be required to further agree that it will, upon
learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in a court of
competent jurisdiction, give notice to the Company and allow the
Company to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of the
Records deemed confidential at its expense.
(p) Provide an indenture trustee for the Registrable Notes or
the Exchange Notes, as the case may be, and cause the Indenture or the
trust indenture provided for in Section 2(a), as the case may be, to be
qualified under the TIA not later than the effective date of the
Exchange Offer or the first Registration Statement relating to the
Registrable
22
-20-
Notes; and in connection therewith, cooperate with the trustee under
any such indenture and the Holders of the Registrable Notes, to effect
such changes to such 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 such 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 such
indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner.
(q) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
SEC and make generally available to its security- holders earnings
statements satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities
Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar rule promulgated under the
Securities Act) no later than 45 days after the end of any 12-month
period (or 90 days after the end of any 12-month period if such period
is a fiscal year) (i) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in
which Registrable Notes are sold to underwriters in a firm commitment
or best efforts underwritten offering and (ii) if not sold to
underwriters in such an offering, commencing on the first day of the
first fiscal quarter of the Company after the effective date of a
Registration Statement, which statements shall cover said 12-month
periods.
(r) Upon consummation of an Exchange Offer or a Private
Exchange, obtain an opinion of counsel to the Company, in a form
customary for underwritten offerings of debt securities similar to the
Notes, addressed to the Trustee for the benefit of all Holders of
Registrable Notes participating in the Exchange Offer or the Private
Exchange, as the case may be, and which includes an opinion that (i)
the Company has duly authorized, executed and delivered the Exchange
Notes and Private Exchange Notes and the related indenture and (ii) the
Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, 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).
(s) If an Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be
consummated, upon delivery of the Registrable Notes by Holders to the
Company (or to such other Person as directed by the Company) in
exchange for the Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange Notes, as the
case may be, the Company shall ▇▇▇▇, or cause to be marked, on such
Registrable Notes that such Registrable Notes are being cancelled in
exchange
23
-21-
for the Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange Notes, as the case may
be; and, in no event shall such Registrable Notes be marked as paid or
otherwise satisfied.
(t) Cooperate with each seller of Registrable Notes covered by
any Registration Statement and the managing underwriter(s), if any,
participating in the disposition of such Registrable Notes and their
respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made
with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD").
(u) Use its reasonable best efforts to take all other
steps necessary to effect the registration of the
Registrable Notes covered by a Registration Statement
contemplated hereby.
The Company may require each seller of Registrable Notes or
Participating Broker-Dealer as to which any registration is being effected to
furnish to the Company such information regarding such seller or Participating
Broker-Dealer and the distribution of such Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes
to be sold by such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, as the
Company may, from time to time, reasonably request. The Company may exclude from
such registration the Registrable Notes of any seller or Participating
Broker-Dealer who unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a
reasonable time after receiving such request.
Each Holder of Registrable Notes and each Participating
Broker-Dealer agrees by acquisition of such Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes
to be sold by such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, that, upon
receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind
described in Section 5(c)(ii), 5(c)(iv), 5(c)(v), or 5(c)(vi), such Holder will
forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Notes covered by such
Registration Statement or Prospectus or Exchange Notes to be sold by such Holder
or Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, until such Holder's receipt
of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section
5(k), or until it is advised in writing (the "Advice") by the Company that the
use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any
amendments or supplements thereto. In the event the Company shall give any such
notice, each of the Effectiveness Period and the Applicable Period shall be
extended by the number of days during such periods from and including the date
of the giving of such notice to and including the date when each seller of
Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement or Exchange Notes to be
sold by such Holder or
24
-22-
Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, shall have received (x) the
copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(k) or
(y) the Advice.
6. Registration Expenses
---------------------
All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or
compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne by the Company
whether or not the Exchange Offer or a Shelf Registration is filed or becomes
effective, including, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees
(including, without limitation, (A) fees with respect to filings required to be
made with the NASD in connection with an underwritten offering and (B) fees and
expenses of compliance with state securities or Blue Sky laws (including,
without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel (which may be
counsel to the Company) in connection with Blue Sky qualifications of the
Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes and, if requested, determination of the
eligibility of the Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes for investment under the
laws of such jurisdictions (x) where the Holders of Registrable Notes are
located, in the case of the Exchange Notes, or (y) as provided in Section 5(h),
in the case of Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes to be sold by a Participating
Broker-Dealer during the Applicable Period)), (ii) printing expenses (including,
without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Notes or
Exchange Notes in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company
and of printing Prospectuses if the printing of Prospectuses is reasonably
requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or, in respect of
Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes to be sold by any Participating
Broker-Dealer during the Applicable Period, by the Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes included in any Registration
Statement or of such Exchange Notes, as the case may be), (iii) messenger,
telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Company and fees and disbursements of special counsel (which will be limited to
a single firm for each related transaction) for the sellers of Registrable
Notes, (v) fees and disbursements of all independent certified public
accountants referred to in Section 5(n)(iii) (including, without limitation, the
expenses of any special audit and "cold comfort" letters required by or incident
to such performance), (vi) rating agency fees, (vii) Securities Act liability
insurance, if the Company desires such insurance, (viii) fees and expenses of
the Trustee, (ix) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the
Company, (x) internal expenses of the Company (including, without limitation,
all salaries and expenses of officers and employees of the Company performing
legal or accounting duties), (xi) the expense of any
25
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annual audit, (xii) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with any
listing of the securities to be registered on any securities exchange, (xiii)
the fees and disbursements of underwriters, if any, customarily paid by issuers
or sellers of securities (but not including any underwriting discounts or
commissions or transfer taxes, if any, attributable to the sale of the
Registrable Notes which discounts, commissions or taxes shall be paid by Holders
of such Registrable Notes), and (xiv) the expenses relating to printing, word
processing and distributing all Registration Statements, underwriting
agreements, securities sales agreements, indentures and any other documents
necessary in order to comply with this Agreement.
7. Indemnification
---------------
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Holder of Registrable Notes and each Participating Broker-Dealer selling
Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, the officers and directors of each
such person, and each person, if any, who controls any such person within the
meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act (each, a "Participant"), from and against any and all losses, claims,
damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, the reasonable legal
fees and other expenses actually incurred in connection with any suit, action or
proceeding or any claim asserted) caused by, arising out of or based upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Registration Statement or Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company
shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or any preliminary
Prospectus, or caused by, arising out of or based upon any omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities are caused by any untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information relating to any Participant furnished to the Company in writing by
such Participant expressly for use therein; provided that the foregoing
indemnity with respect to any preliminary Prospectus shall not inure to the
benefit of any Participant (or to the benefit of any person controlling such
Participant) from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities purchased Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes if such untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in such
preliminary Prospectus is eliminated or remedied in the related Prospectus (as
amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or
supplements thereto) and a copy of the related
26
-24-
Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented) shall have been furnished to such
Participant at or prior to the sale of such Registrable or Exchange Notes, as
the case may be, to such person.
(b) Each Participant will be required to agree, severally and
not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors and
officers and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of Section
15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as
the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Participant, but only with
reference to information relating to such Participant furnished to the Company
in writing by such Participant expressly for use in any Registration Statement
or Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, or any preliminary
Prospectus. The liability of any Participant under this paragraph (b) shall in
no event exceed the proceeds received by such Participant from sales of
Registrable Notes giving rise to such obligations.
(c) If any suit, action, proceeding (including any
governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or
asserted against any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant
to either paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 7, such person (the "Indemnified
Person") shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be
sought (the "Indemnifying Person") in writing, and the Indemnifying Person, upon
request of the Indemnified Person, shall retain one counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person and
any others the Indemnifying Person may reasonably designate in such proceeding
and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses incurred by such counsel related
to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have
the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel
shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying
Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed in writing to the
contrary, (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to
retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person or (iii) the
named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include
both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representations of
both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or
potential differing interests between them. It is understood that the
Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related
proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more
than one separate law firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all
Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as
they are incurred. Any
27
-25-
such separate firm for the Participants and such control persons of Participants
shall be designated in writing by Participants who sold a majority in interest
of Registrable Notes sold by all such Participants and any such separate firm
for the Company, its directors, officers and such control persons of the Company
shall be designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not
be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written
consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for
the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify any Indemnified
Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or
judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified
Person shall have requested an Indemnifying Person to reimburse the Indemnified
Person for reasonable fees and expenses incurred by counsel as contemplated by
the third sentence of this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person agrees that it
shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its
written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after
receipt by such Indemnifying Person of the aforesaid request and (ii) such
Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in
accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement
effected without its consent pursuant to this sentence if the Indemnifying
Person is contesting, in good faith, the request for reimbursement. No
Indemnifying Person shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified
Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect
of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and of which
indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless
such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person
from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b)
of this Section 7 is unavailable to an Indemnified Person in respect of any
losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each
Indemnifying Person under such paragraphs, in lieu of indemnifying such
Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by
such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault
of the Company on the one hand and the Participants on the other in connection
with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The
relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Participants on the other
shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
28
-26-
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Company or by the Participants and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission.
The parties shall agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by PRO RATA
allocation (even if the Participants were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The
amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses,
claims, damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth
above, any reasonable legal or other expenses actually incurred by such
Indemnified Person in connection with investigating or defending any such action
or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, in no event shall a
Participant be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by
which proceeds received by such Participant from sales of Registrable Notes or
Exchange Notes exceeds the amount of any damages that such Participant has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.
The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this
Section 7 will be in addition to any liability which the Indemnifying Persons
may otherwise have to the Indemnified Persons referred to above.
8. Rules 144 and 144A
------------------
The Company covenants that it will file the reports required
to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules
and regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder in a timely manner and, if at any
time the Company is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the request
of any Holder of Registrable Notes, make publicly available other information of
a like nature so long as necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule
144A. The Company further covenants that so long as any Registrable Notes remain
outstanding to make available to any Holder of Registrable Notes in connection
with any sale thereof, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4)
29
-27-
under the Securities Act in order to permit resales of such Registrable Notes
pursuant to (a) such Rule 144A, or (b) any similar rule or regulation hereafter
adopted by the SEC.
9. Underwritten Registrations
--------------------------
If any of the Registrable Notes covered by any Shelf
Registration are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the investment banker
or investment bankers and manager or managers that will manage the offering will
be selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such
Registrable Notes included in such offering and shall be reasonably acceptable
to the Company.
No Holder of Registrable Notes may participate in any
underwritten registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such
Holder's Registrable Notes 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 reasonably
required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements. No underwritten
offering shall include less than $10,000,000 principal amount of the Notes
covered by such Shelf Registration.
10. Miscellaneous
-------------
(a) REMEDIES. In the event of a breach by the Company of any
of its obligations under this Agreement, other than the occurrence of an event
which requires payment of Additional Interest, each Holder of Registrable Notes,
in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein, in the
Indenture or, in the case of the Initial Purchasers, in the Purchase Agreement
or granted by law, including recovery of damages, under this Agreement.
(b) ENFORCEMENT. The Trustee shall be authorized to enforce
the provisions of this Agreement for the ratable benefit of the Holders.
(c) NO INCONSISTENT AGREEMENTS. The Company has not, as of the
date hereof, and shall not, after the date of this Agreement, enter into any
agreement with respect to any of its securities that is inconsistent with the
rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Notes in this Agreement or
otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The Company has not entered nor
will it enter into any agreement with respect to any of its securities which
will grant to any Person piggy-back rights with respect to a Registration
Statement.
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(d) ADJUSTMENTS AFFECTING REGISTRABLE NOTES. The Company shall
not, directly or indirectly, take any action with respect to the Registrable
Notes as a class that would adversely affect the ability of the Holders of
Registrable Notes to include such Registrable Notes in a registration undertaken
pursuant to this Agreement.
(e) AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. The provisions of this Agreement,
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof
may not be given, unless the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders
of at least a majority of the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of
Registrable Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart
from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to
the rights of Holders of Registrable Notes whose securities are being sold
pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly
affect, impair, limit or compromise the rights of other Holders of Registrable
Notes may be given by Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Registrable Notes being sold by such Holders pursuant to such
Registration Statement, PROVIDED that the provisions of this sentence may not be
amended, modified or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of
the immediately preceding sentence.
(f) NOTICES. All notices and other communications (including
without limitation any notices or other communications to the Trustee) provided
for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered
first-class mail, next-day air courier or telecopier:
(i) if to a Holder of Registrable Notes, at the most current
address given by the Trustee to the Company; and
(ii) if to the Company, ▇▇▇▇ National Group, Inc., ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention:
Chief Financial Officer, with a copy to ▇▇▇▇▇, Day, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇,
Esq.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have
been duly given: (i) when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; (ii) five
business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed;
(iii) one business day after being timely delivered to a next-day air courier;
and (iv) when receipt is acknowledged by the addressee, if telecopied.
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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.
(g) 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 of Registrable Notes.
(h) 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.
(i) HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the
meaning hereof.
(j) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AS APPLIED TO
CONTRACTS MADE AND PERFORMED WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES TO SUBMIT TO
THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR
PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.
(k) SEVERABILITY. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties
hereto shall use their best efforts to find and employ an alternative means to
achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such
term, provision, covenant or restriction.
(l) ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement, together with the
Purchase Agreement and the Indenture, is intended by the parties as a final
expression of their agreement, and is intended to be a complete and exclusive
statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of
the subject matter contained herein and therein.
(m) NOTES HELD BY THE COMPANY OR ITS AFFILIATES. Whenever the
consent or approval of Holders of a specified
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percentage of Registrable Notes is required hereunder, Registrable Notes held by
the Company or its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the
Securities Act) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or
approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.
33
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement
as of the date first written above.
▇▇▇▇ NATIONAL GROUP, INC.
(a Delaware corporation)
By:
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
CIBC WOOD GUNDY SECURITIES CORP.
By:
-----------------------------
Name:
Title:
CS FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
By:
-----------------------------
Name:
Title:
NATIONSBANC CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
By:
-----------------------------
Name:
Title:
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.
By:
-----------------------------
Name:
Title: