--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SERIES A AND SERIES B
E100,000,000
9% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2009
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF APRIL 22, 1999
BY AND AMONG
DURA OPERATING CORP.
DURA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
DURA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC. COLUMN SHIFTER OPERATIONS
DURA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CABLE OPERATIONS, INC.
UNIVERSAL TOOL & STAMPING COMPANY INC.
ADWEST ELECTRONICS, INC.
ADWEST WESTERN AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
X.E. CO.
EXCEL OF TENNESSEE L.P.
EXCEL CORPORATION
EXCEL INDUSTRIES OF MICHIGAN, INC.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INDUSTRIES, INC.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ INDUSTRIES, INC.
HYDRO FLAME CORPORATION
▇▇▇▇▇▇ AUTOMOTIVE INC.
▇▇▇▇ I MOLDED PLASTICS, INC.
▇▇▇▇ I MOLDED PLASTICS OF TENNESSEE, INC.
AND
BANK OF AMERICA INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LUFKIN & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INTERNATIONAL
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is made and entered
into as of April 20, 1999, by and among Dura Operating Corp., a Delaware
corporation (the "COMPANY"), Dura Automotive Systems, Inc., Dura Automotive
Systems, Inc. Column Shifter Operations, Dura Automotive Systems Cable
Operations, Inc., Universal Tool & Stamping Company Inc., Adwest Electronics,
Inc., Adwest Western Automotive, Inc., X.E. Co., Excel of Tennessee L.P., Excel
Corporation, Excel Industries of Michigan, Inc., ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Industries, Inc.,
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Industries, Inc., Hydro Flame Corporation, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Automotive Inc., ▇▇▇▇ I
Molded Plastics, Inc. and ▇▇▇▇ I Molded Plastics of Tennessee, Inc. (each a
"GUARANTOR" and, collectively, the "GUARANTORS"), Bank of America International
Limited and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ International (each an "INITIAL
PURCHASER" and, collectively, the "INITIAL PURCHASERS"), each of whom has agreed
to purchase the Company's 9% Series A Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009 (the
"SERIES A NOTES") pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated April
15, 1999 (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), by and among the Company, the Guarantors
and the Initial Purchasers. In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to
purchase the Series A 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 5 of the Purchase Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein and not
otherwise defined shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Indenture,
dated April 22, 1999, between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust National
Association, as Trustee, relating to the Series A Notes and the Series B 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.
BUSINESS DAY: Any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day in the City
of New York on which banks are authorized or ordered to close.
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 Series B
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 Series B Notes in the same
aggregate principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of Series A 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 OFFER: The exchange and issuance by the Company of a principal
amount of Series B Notes (which shall be registered pursuant to the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement) equal to the outstanding principal amount of
Series A 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 Series A 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 post-effective 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 Series B 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
post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by
reference therein.
REGULATION S: Regulation S promulgated under the Act.
RULE 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.
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SERIES B NOTES: The Company's 9% Series B Senior Subordinated Notes due
2009 to be issued pursuant to the Indenture: (i) in the Exchange Offer or (ii)
as contemplated by Section 4 hereof.
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 77aaa-77bbbb) as
in effect on the date of the Indenture.
TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES: Each (A) Series A Note, until the
earliest to occur of (i) the date on which such Series A Note is exchanged in
the Exchange Offer for a Series B Note which is entitled to be resold to the
public by the Holder thereof without complying with the prospectus delivery
requirements of the Act, (ii) the date on which such Series A Note has been
disposed of in accordance with a Shelf Registration Statement (and the
purchasers thereof have been issued Series B Notes), or (iii) the date on which
such Series A Note is eligible for distribution without restriction to the
public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Act and each (B) Series B Note held by a
Broker-Dealer until the date on which such Series B 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 their
respective reasonable 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
pre-effective amendments to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement as may be
necessary in order to cause it to become effective, (B) file, if applicable, a
post-effective amendment to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant
to Rule 430A under the Act and (C) cause all necessary filings, if any, in
connection with the registration and qualification of the Series B Notes to be
made under the Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as are necessary to permit
Consummation of the Exchange Offer and (iv) upon the effectiveness of such
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, commence and Consummate the Exchange
Offer. The Exchange Offer shall be on the appropriate form permitting (i)
registration of the Series B Notes to be offered in exchange for the Series A
Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) resales of Series B Notes
by Broker-Dealers that tendered into the Exchange Offer Series A Notes that such
Broker-Dealer acquired for its own
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account as a result of market making activities or other trading activities
(other than Series A 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
reasonable 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 Series B 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
Business 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 market-making
activities or other trading activities (other than Series A 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 Series B
Notes received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, the Company and the
Guarantors shall 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
Series B Notes by Broker-Dealers, the Company and the Guarantors agree to use
their respective reasonable 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 180 days from the Consummation Deadline or such shorter period 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 Business
Day after such request, at any time during such period.
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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 in writing 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 Series B 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 Series A
Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates, then the
Company and the Guarantors shall:
(x) use their respective reasonable best efforts to 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 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
(provided, however, nothing in this Section 4(a)(x) shall require the filing of
the Shelf Registration Statement prior to the Filing Deadline for the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement, and
(y) shall use their respective reasonable best efforts to cause such Shelf
Registration Statement to become effective on or prior to 90 days after the
Filing Deadline for the Shelf Registration Statement (such 90th 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.
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(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 10 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. The Company
shall not be obligated to supplement such Shelf Registration Statement after it
has been declared effective by the Commission more than one time per quarterly
period to reflect additional Holders.
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 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 within 5 Business Days by a
post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement that cures such failure
and that is itself declared effective immediately (each such event referred to
in clauses (i) through (iv), a "REGISTRATION DEFAULT"), then the Company and the
Guarantors hereby jointly and severally agree to pay to each Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities affected thereby (subject to Section 4(b)) liquidated
damages in an amount equal to .50% per annum over the stated rate for the
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 .50% per annum over
the stated rate for the Transfer Restricted Securities at the beginning of each
subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to
a maximum amount of liquidated damages of 1.0% per annum over the stated rate
for the 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 post-effective 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.
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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 reasonable
best efforts to effect such exchange and to permit the resale of Series B Notes
by Broker-Dealers that tendered in the Exchange Offer Series A Notes that such
Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of its market making
activities or other trading activities (other than Series A 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) 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) 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 Series B Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and
(C) it is acquiring the Series B 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 Series B Notes
shall acknowledge and agree that, if the resales are of Series B Notes
obtained by such Holder in exchange for Series A Notes
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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.
(iii) 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 Series B Notes to be received in the Exchange Offer and
that, to the Company's and each Guarantor's information and belief, each
Holder participating in the Exchange Offer is acquiring the Series B Notes
in its ordinary course of business and has no arrangement or understanding
with any Person to participate in the distribution of the Series B 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 reasonable 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 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 providing satisfactory
evidence to the Company of its sale of Series A Notes or purchaser of Series A
Notes covered by any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this
Agreement, Series B Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the
aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes sold pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement and surrendered to the Company for cancellation; the
Company shall register Series B Notes on the Shelf Registration Statement for
this purpose and issue the Series B
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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 reasonable 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 reasonable best efforts to cause such
amendment to be declared effective as soon as practicable.
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and
post-effective 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) with respect to a Shelf Registration Statement, advise the
selling Holders promptly and, if requested by such Persons, confirm such
advice in writing, (A) when the Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to any
applicable Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto,
when the same has become effective, (B) of any request by the Commission
for amendments to the Registration Statement or amendments or supplements
to the Prospectus or for additional information relating thereto, (C) of
the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Act or of the
suspension by any state securities commission of the qualification of the
Transfer Restricted Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or
the initiation of any proceeding for any of the preceding purposes, (D) of
the existence of any fact or the happening of any event that makes any
statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto or any document
incorporated by reference therein untrue, or that requires the making of
any additions to or changes in the Registration Statement in order to make
the statements therein not misleading, or that requires the making of any
additions to or changes in the Prospectus in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
9
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 reasonable
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 post-effective 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 the Initial Purchasers and with respect to a Shelf
Registration Statement, each selling Holder named in any Registration
Statement or Prospectus in connection with such sale, if any, before filing
with the Commission, copies of any Registration Statement or any Prospectus
included therein or any amendments or supplements to any such Registration
Statement or Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference
after the initial filing of such Registration Statement), which documents
will be subject to the review and comment of such Holders in connection
with such sale, if any, for a period of at least five Business Days, and
the Company will not file any such Registration Statement or Prospectus or
any amendment or supplement to any such Registration Statement or
Prospectus (including all such documents incorporated by reference) to
which the selling Holders of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by
such Registration Statement in connection with such sale, if any, shall
reasonably object within five Business Days after the receipt thereof. A
selling Holder shall be deemed to have reasonably objected to such filing
if such Registration Statement, amendment, Prospectus or supplement, as
applicable, as proposed to be filed, contains a material misstatement or
omission or fails to comply with the applicable requirements of the Act;
(vi) with respect to a Shelf Registration Statement, provide copies
of any document that is incorporated by reference into a Registration
Statement or Prospectus to the selling Holders in connection with such
sale, if any;
(vii) with respect to a Shelf Registration Statement, make available
at reasonable times for inspection by the selling Holders participating in
any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement and any attorney or
accountant retained by such selling Holders, all financial and other
records, pertinent corporate documents of the Company and cause the
Company's officers, directors and employees to supply all information
reasonably requested under the circumstances by any such selling Holder,
attorney or accountant in connection with such Registration Statement or
any post-effective amendment thereto subsequent to the filing thereof and
prior to its effectiveness;
10
(viii) with respect to a Shelf Registration Statement, if requested
by any selling Holders in connection with such sale, if any, promptly
include in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, pursuant to a
supplement or post-effective amendment if necessary, such information as
such selling Holders 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 post-effective amendment as soon
as practicable after the Company is notified of the matters to be included
in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;
(ix) with respect to a Shelf Registration Statement, furnish to
each selling Holder in connection with such sale, if any, without charge,
at least one copy of the Registration Statement, as first filed with the
Commission, and of each amendment thereto, including all documents
incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits (including exhibits
incorporated therein by reference);
(x) with respect to a Shelf Registration Statement deliver to each
selling 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 Holders who collectively hold an
aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes in excess of 20% of the
aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Transfer Restricted
Securities (the "Requesting Holders"), enter into an underwriting agreement
on one occasion and make such representations and warranties and take all
such other actions as are reasonably customary in underwritten offerings 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 the Requesting Holders
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 the Requesting Holders, furnish (or in
the case of paragraphs (2) and (3), use their reasonable best
efforts to cause to be furnished) to each Requesting Holder,
upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer or upon the
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case
may be:
(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
1(k), 5(b) and 5(e) of the Purchase Agreement
and such other similar matters as such
Holders may reasonably request;
11
(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 (c) of Section 5 of the Purchase
Agreement and such other matter as such
Holder may reasonably request, and in any
event including a statement to the effect
that such counsel has participated in
conferences with officers and other
representatives of the Company 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 post-effective amendment
thereto became effective and, in the case of
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as
of the date of Consummation of the Exchange
Offer, contained an untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, or that the Prospectus contained
in such Registration Statement as of its date
and, in the case of the opinion dated the
date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer,
as of the date of Consummation, contained an
untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading. Without limiting
the foregoing, such counsel may state further
that such counsel assumes no responsibility
for, and has not independently verified, the
accuracy, completeness or fairness of the
financial statements, notes and schedules and
other financial data included in any
Registration Statement contemplated by this
Agreement or the related Prospectus; and
(3) a customary comfort letter, dated
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
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
5(a) 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 any agreement
entered into by the Company and the Guarantors pursuant to
this clause (xi);
12
(v) 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;
(vi) 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;
(vii) 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 (v) above;
(viii) provide ISIN and CUSIP numbers, as applicable, 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;
(ix) 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 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);
(x) 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
13
(xi) 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 Guarantors'
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 Series B Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of
Prospectuses), messenger and delivery services and telephone; (iv) (A) all fees
and disbursements of counsel for the Company and the Guarantors and (B) one
counsel for the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with an
underwritten offering; (v) all application and filing fees in connection with
listing the Series B 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 Guarantors' 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 Guarantors.
(b) In connection with any Shelf Registration Statement required by
this Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors will reimburse the Initial
Purchasers and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities who are tendering
Series A Notes in the Exchange Offer and/or selling or
14
reselling Series A Notes or Series B 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 either ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
or ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Carton & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, who shall be chosen by the Initial Purchasers or,
if the Initial Purchasers are not Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities such
other firm as shall be chosen by the Requesting Holders for whose benefit such
Shelf 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 for use in connection with the resale of
Series B Notes or registered Series A 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.
(b) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities 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 reasonable 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
15
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 as
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 actio (i) effected
with its written consent or (ii) effected without its written consent if the
settlement is entered into more than 20 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 or given its good faith objection to such indemnification
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
16
Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and of the Holders, 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 Holders, 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 Holders, 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 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 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(d) 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.
17
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 may obtain such relief as may be required to
specifically enforce the Company's and the Guarantors' 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 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 Guarantors' 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
18
(ii) if to the Company or the Guarantors:
Dura Operating Corp.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telecopier No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
With a copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
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.
Upon the date of filing of the Exchange Offer or a Shelf Registration
Statement, as the case may be, notice shall be delivered to the Initial
Purchasers in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.
(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.
19
(i) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE
CONFLICT OF LAW RULES THEREOF.
(j) SEVERABILITY. In the event that any one or more of the
provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is
held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and
enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining
provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
(k) ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement 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.
20
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
DURA OPERATING CORP.
By: *
----------------------------------------
DURA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
By: *
----------------------------------------
DURA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC. COLUMN SHIFTER
OPERATIONS
By: *
----------------------------------------
DURA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CABLE OPERATIONS,
INC.
By: *
----------------------------------------
UNIVERSAL TOOL & STAMPING COMPANY INC.
By: *
----------------------------------------
ADWEST ELECTRONICS, INC.
By: *
----------------------------------------
ADWEST WESTERN AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
By: *
----------------------------------------
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X.E. CO.
By: *
----------------------------------------
EXCEL OF TENNESSEE L.P.
By: Excel Industries of Michigan, Inc.
Its: General Partner
By: *
----------------------------------------
EXCEL CORPORATION
By: *
----------------------------------------
EXCEL INDUSTRIES OF MICHIGAN, INC.
By: *
----------------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INDUSTRIES, INC.
By: *
----------------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇ INDUSTRIES, INC.
By: *
HYDRO FLAME CORPORATION
By: *
----------------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇ AUTOMOTIVE INC.
By: *
----------------------------------------
22
▇▇▇▇ I MOLDED PLASTICS, INC.
By: *
----------------------------------------
▇▇▇▇ I MOLDED PLASTICS OF TENNESSEE, INC.
By: *
----------------------------------------
*/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, solely in his
capacity as attorney-in-fact pursuant
to power of attorney
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BANK OF AMERICA INTERNATIONAL
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Managing Director
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INTERNATIONAL
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
-----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President
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EXHIBIT A
NOTICE OF FILING OF
A/B EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT
To: NationsBanc ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities LLC
NationsBank Corporate Center
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇-▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ (Legal Department)
Fax: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
From: Dura Operating Corp.
9% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009
Date: ___, 1999
For your information only (NO ACTION REQUIRED):
Today, ______, 1999, we filed [an 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.
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