Exhibit 10.44
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
by and among
HORIZON PCS, INC.
HORIZON PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
BRIGHT PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, LLC
and
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
FIRST UNION SECURITIES, INC.
BEAR, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INC
and
▇▇▇▇▇▇ BROTHERS INC.
Dated as of December 7, 2001
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and entered
into as of December 7, 2001, by and among Horizon PCS, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), Horizon Personal Communications, Inc., an Ohio
corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company ("PerCom"), Bright
Personal Communications Services, LLC, an Ohio limited liability company and
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company ("Bright" and, together with PerCom, the
"Guarantors"), and Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation, First Union
Securities, Inc., Bear, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc. and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Brothers Inc.
(collectively, the "Initial Purchasers"), who have agreed to purchase the
Company's 13 3/4% Senior Notes due 2011 (the "Initial Notes") pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement (as defined below).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated December
4, 2001 (the "Purchase Agreement"), by and among the Company, the Guarantors and
the Initial Purchasers. In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to purchase
the Initial Notes, the Company and the Guarantors have agreed to provide the
registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement is a condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchasers set
forth in Section 9 of the Purchase Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein and
not otherwise defined shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Indenture,
dated December 7, 2001, between the Company, the Guarantors and ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Bank
Minnesota, National Association, as Trustee, relating to the Initial Notes and
the Exchange Notes (the "Indenture").
The parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the
following meanings:
Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Affiliate: As defined in Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.
Broker-Dealer: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.
Certificated Securities: Definitive Notes, as defined in the Indenture.
Closing Date: The date hereof.
Commission: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
Consummate: An Exchange Offer shall be deemed "Consummated" for purposes of
this Agreement upon the occurrence of (a) the filing and effectiveness under the
Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Notes
to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (b) the maintenance of such Exchange Offer
Registration Statement as continuously effective and the keeping of the Exchange
Offer open for a period not less than the period required pursuant to Section
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3(b) hereof and (c) the delivery by the Company to the Registrar under the
Indenture of Exchange Notes in the same aggregate principal amount as the
aggregate principal amount of Initial Notes tendered by Holders thereof pursuant
to the Exchange Offer.
Consummation Deadline: As defined in Section 3(b) hereof.
Effectiveness Deadline: As defined in Sections 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Exchange Notes: The Company's 13 3/4% Senior Notes due 2011 to be issued
pursuant to the Indenture: (i) in the Exchange Offer or (ii) as contemplated by
Section 4 hereof.
Exchange Offer: The exchange and issuance by the Company of a principal
amount of Exchange Notes (which shall be registered pursuant to the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement) equal to the outstanding principal amount of
Initial 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 Initial 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.
Person: means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political
subdivision thereof.
Recommencement Date: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
Registration Default: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company and the
Guarantors relating to (a) an offering of Exchange Notes pursuant to an Exchange
Offer or (b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, (i) that is filed
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) including the Prospectus
included therein, all amendments and supplements thereto (including
post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by
reference therein.
Regulation S: Regulation S promulgated under the Act.
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Rule 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.
Shelf Registration Statement: The Registration Statement relating to the
Shelf Registration set forth in Section 4 of this Agreement, including the
related Prospectus.
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 Initial Note, until the earliest to
occur of (a) the date on which such Initial Note is exchanged in the Exchange
Offer for an Exchange Note which is entitled to be resold to the public by the
Holder thereof without complying with the prospectus delivery requirements of
the Act, (b) the date on which such Initial Note has been disposed of in
accordance with a Shelf Registration Statement (and the purchasers thereof have
been issued Exchange Notes), or (c) the date on which such Initial Note is
distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Act (and purchasers
thereof have been issued Exchange Notes) and each Exchange Note until the date
on which such Exchange Note is disposed of by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the
"Plan of Distribution" contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
(including the delivery of the Prospectus contained therein).
Underwritten Registration: A registration in which the Transfer Restricted
Securities are sold to an underwriter for offering and sale to the public.
SECTION 2. HOLDERS
A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (each,
a "Holder") whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities.
SECTION 3. REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER
(a) Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permitted by applicable federal
law (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below have been complied
with), the Company 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 120 days after the Closing
Date (such day being the "Filing Deadline"), (ii) use their reasonable best
efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective
at the earliest possible time, but in no event later than 210 days after the
Closing Date (such 210th 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 prospectus supplement to such
Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act and
(C) cause all necessary filings, if any, in connection with the registration and
qualification of the Exchange Notes to be made under the Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions as are necessary to permit Consummation of the Exchange Offer, and
(iv) upon the effectiveness of such Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
commence and Consummate the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall be on the
appropriate form permitting (i) registration of the Exchange Notes to be offered
in exchange for the Initial Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities and
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(ii) resales of Exchange Notes by Broker-Dealers that tendered into the Exchange
Offer Initial Notes that any Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a
result of market making activities or other trading activities (other than
Initial Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates) as
contemplated by Section 3(c) below.
(b) The Company and the Guarantors shall use their respective best efforts
to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be effective continuously,
and shall keep the Exchange Offer open for a period of not less than the minimum
period required under applicable federal and state securities laws to Consummate
the Exchange Offer; provided, however, that in no event shall such period be
less than 20 Business Days. The Company and the Guarantors shall cause the
Exchange Offer to comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws.
No securities other than the Exchange Notes shall be included in the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement. The Company and the Guarantors shall use their
respective best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be Consummated on the
earliest practicable date after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has
become effective, but in no event later than the 30th Business Day 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 Initial Notes acquired
directly from the Company or any Affiliate of the Company), may exchange such
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer. Such "Plan of
Distribution" section shall also contain all other information with respect to
such sales by such Broker-Dealers that the Commission may require in order to
permit such sales pursuant thereto, but such "Plan of Distribution" shall not
name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Transfer Restricted
Securities held by any such Broker-Dealer, except to the extent required by the
Commission as a result of a change in policy, rules or regulations after the
date of this Agreement. See the Shearman & Sterling no-action letter (available
July 2, 1993).
Because such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the
requirements of the Act in connection with its initial sale of any Exchange
Notes received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, 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
Exchange Notes by Broker-Dealers, the Company and the Guarantors agree to use
their respective best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
continuously effective, supplemented, amended and current as required by and
subject to the provisions of Sections 6(a) and (c) hereof and in conformity with
the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and
regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of
one year from the Consummation Deadline or such shorter period as will terminate
when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement
have been sold pursuant thereto. The Company and the Guarantors shall provide
sufficient copies of the latest version of such Prospectus to such
Broker-Dealers, promptly upon request, and in no event later than one day after
such request, at any time during such period.
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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 within 20 Business Days following
the Consummation Deadline that (A) such Holder was prohibited by law or
Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer or (B) such Holder
may not resell the Exchange Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the
public without delivering a prospectus and the Prospectus contained in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such
resales by such Holder or (C) such Holder is a Broker-Dealer and holds Initial
Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates, then the
Company and the Guarantors shall:
(x) cause to be filed, on or prior to 30 days after the earlier
of (i) the date on which the Company determines that the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement cannot be filed as a result of clause
(a)(i) above and (ii) the date on which the Company receives the
notice specified in clause (a)(ii) above (such earlier date, the
"Filing Deadline"), a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule
415 under the Act (which may be an amendment to the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement (the "Shelf Registration Statement")), relating
to all Transfer Restricted Securities, and
(y) shall use their respective best efforts to cause such Shelf
Registration Statement to become effective on or prior to 60 days
after the Filing Deadline for the Shelf Registration Statement (such
60th day the "Effectiveness Deadline").
If, after the Company has filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement
that satisfies the requirements of Section 3(a) above, the Company is required
to file and make effective a Shelf Registration Statement solely because the
Exchange Offer is not permitted under applicable federal law (i.e., clause
(a)(i) above), then the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of clause (x) above; provided that,
in such event, the Company shall remain obligated to meet the Effectiveness
Deadline set forth in clause (y).
To the extent necessary to ensure that the Shelf Registration Statement is
available for sales of Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof
entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a) and the other securities required
to be registered therein pursuant to Section 6(b)(ii) hereof, the Company and
the Guarantors shall use their respective best efforts to keep any Shelf
Registration Statement required by this Section 4(a) continuously effective,
supplemented, amended and current as required by and subject to the provisions
of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof and in conformity with the requirements of this
Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as
announced from time to time, for a period of at least two years (as extended
pursuant to Section 6(d)) following the Closing or such shorter period as will
terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Shelf
Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto.
(b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with the
Shelf Registration Statement. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may
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include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration
Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to
the Company in writing, within 20 days after receipt of a request therefor, the
information specified in Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, of
the Act for use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or
Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus included therein. No Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities shall be entitled to liquidated damages pursuant to
Section 5 hereof unless such Holder shall have provided all such information
within the time frame required above. Each selling Holder agrees to promptly
furnish additional information required to be disclosed in order to make the
information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially
misleading.
SECTION 5. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
If (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not filed
with the Commission on or prior to the applicable Filing Deadline, (ii) any such
Registration Statement has 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 during the required time period without being succeeded
within two Business Days by a post-effective amendment to such Registration
Statement that cures such failure and that is itself declared effective within
seven Business Days of filing such post-effective amendment to such Registration
Statement (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a
"Registration Default"), then the Company and the Guarantors hereby jointly and
severally agree to pay to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities affected
thereby liquidated damages in an amount equal to $0.05 per week per $1,000 in
principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holder for each
week or portion thereof that the Registration Default continues for the first
90-day period immediately following the occurrence of such Registration Default.
The amount of the liquidated damages shall increase by an additional $0.05 per
week per $1,000 in principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities with
respect to each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have
been cured, up to a maximum amount of liquidated damages of $0.50 per week per
$1,000 in principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided that the
Company and the Guarantors shall in no event be required to pay liquidated
damages for more than one Registration Default at any given time.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, (1) upon filing of
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf
Registration Statement), in the case of (i) above, (2) upon the effectiveness of
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf
Registration Statement), in the case of (ii) above, (3) upon Consummation of the
Exchange Offer, in the case of (iii) above, or (4) upon the filing of a
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.
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
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are due cease to be Transfer Restricted Securities, all obligations of the
Company and the Guarantors to pay liquidated damages with respect to securities
shall survive until such time as such obligations with respect to such
securities shall have been satisfied in full.
SECTION 6. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. In connection with the Exchange
Offer, the Company and the Guarantors shall (x) comply with all applicable
provisions of Section 6(c) below, (y) use their respective best efforts to
effect such exchange and to permit the resale of Exchange Notes by
Broker-Dealers that tendered in the Exchange Offer Initial Notes that such
Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of its market making
activities or other trading activities (other than Initial 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 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 reasonably 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 Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and
(C) it is acquiring the Exchange Notes in its ordinary course of business.
As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer each Holder using
the Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the Exchange Notes
shall acknowledge and agree that, if the resales are of Exchange Notes
obtained by such Holder in exchange for Initial Notes acquired directly
from the Company or an Affiliate thereof, it (1) could not, under
Commission policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement, rely on the
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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
of the Guarantors has entered into any arrangement or understanding with
any Person to distribute the Exchange Notes to be received in the Exchange
Offer and that, to the best of the Company's and each Guarantor's
information and belief, each Holder participating in the Exchange Offer is
acquiring the Exchange Notes in its ordinary course of business and has no
arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the
distribution of the Exchange Notes received in the Exchange Offer and (C)
any other undertaking or representation required by the Commission as set
forth in any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above, if
applicable.
(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf Registration
Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall:
(i) comply with all the provisions of Section 6(c) below and use their
respective best efforts to effect such registration to permit the sale of
the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in accordance with the
intended method or methods of distribution thereof (as indicated in the
information furnished to the Company pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof), and
pursuant thereto the Company and the Guarantors will prepare and file with
the Commission a Registration Statement relating to the registration on any
appropriate form under the Act, which form shall be available for the sale
of the Transfer Restricted Securities in accordance with the intended
method or methods of distribution thereof within the time periods and
otherwise in accordance with the provisions hereof.
(ii) issue, upon the request of any Holder or purchaser(s) of Initial
Notes covered by any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this
Agreement, Exchange Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the
aggregate principal amount of Initial Notes sold pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement and surrendered to the Company for cancellation; the
Company shall register Exchange Notes on the Shelf Registration Statement
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for this purpose and issue the Exchange Notes to the purchaser(s) of
securities subject to the Shelf Registration Statement in the names as such
purchaser(s) shall designate.
(c) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration Statement and
any related Prospectus required by this Agreement, the Company and the
Guarantors shall:
(i) use their respective best efforts to keep such Registration
Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite financial
statements for the period specified in Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement, as
applicable. Upon the occurrence of any event that would cause any such
Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain
an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (B) not to be
effective and usable for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during
the period required by this Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors shall
file promptly, subject to Section 6(c)(5), an appropriate amendment to such
Registration Statement curing such defect, and, if Commission review is
required, use their respective best efforts to cause such amendment to be
declared effective as soon as practicable.
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and
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) advise each Holder and the Initial Purchasers 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, and (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, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading, or that requires the making of any
additions to or changes in the Prospectus in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
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misleading. If at any time the Commission shall issue any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any state
securities commission or other regulatory authority shall issue an order
suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of the
Transfer Restricted Securities under state securities or Blue Sky laws, the
Company and the Guarantors shall use their respective best efforts to
obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible
time;
(iv) subject to Section 6(c)(i), if any fact or event contemplated by
Section 6(c)(iii)(D) above shall exist or have occurred, prepare a
supplement or 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 each Holder and the Initial Purchasers in connection
with such exchange or sale, if any, before filing with the Commission,
copies of any Registration Statement or any Prospectus included therein or
any amendments or supplements to any such Registration Statement or
Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference after the
initial filing of such Registration Statement), which documents will be
subject to the review and comment of such Persons 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 such
Persons shall reasonably object within five Business Days after the receipt
thereof. Any of such Persons 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 an untrue
statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading or fails to comply with the
applicable requirements of the Act;
(vi) promptly prior to the filing of any document that is to be
incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or Prospectus,
provide copies of such document to each Holder and the Initial Purchasers
in connection with such exchange or sale, if any, make the Company's and
the Guarantors' representatives available for discussion of such document
and other customary due diligence matters, and include such information in
such document prior to the filing thereof as such Persons may reasonably
request;
(vii) make available, at reasonable times, for inspection by each
Holder and the Initial Purchasers and any attorney or accountant retained
by such Persons, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate
documents of the Company and the Guarantors and cause the Company's and the
Guarantors' officers, directors and employees to supply all information
reasonably requested by any such Holder, attorney or accountant in
connection with such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment
thereto subsequent to the filing thereof and prior to its effectiveness;
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(viii) if requested by any Holder or the Initial Purchasers in
connection with such exchange or sale, promptly include in any Registration
Statement or Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or post-effective
amendment if necessary, such information as such Persons 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, subject to
Section 6(c)(5), after the Company is notified of the matters to be
included in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;
(ix) furnish to each Holder and the Initial Purchasers in connection
with such exchange or sale, without charge, at least one copy of the
Registration Statement, as first filed with the Commission, and of each
amendment thereto, including all documents incorporated by reference
therein and all exhibits (including exhibits incorporated therein by
reference);
(x) deliver to each Holder without charge, as many copies of the
Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or
supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may request; the Company and
the Guarantors hereby consent to the use (in accordance with law) of the
Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each selling Holder
in connection with the offering and the sale of the Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto;
(xi) upon the request of any Holder, enter into such agreements
(including underwriting agreements) and make such representations and
warranties and take all such other actions in connection therewith in order
to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Transfer Restricted
Securities pursuant to any applicable Registration Statement contemplated
by this Agreement as may be reasonably requested by such Person in
connection with any sale or resale pursuant to any applicable Registration
Statement. In such connection, the Company and the Guarantors shall:
(A) upon request of any Holder, furnish (or in the case of
paragraphs (2) and (3), use its best efforts to cause to be furnished)
to each 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 of the Guarantors by (x) the President or any
Vice President and (y) a principal financial or accounting
officer of the Company and such Guarantor, confirming, as of the
date thereof, the matters set forth in Sections 6(a) and (b)
(with respect to the applicable registration statement and
prospectus), 9(a) and 9(b) of the Purchase Agreement and such
other similar matters as such Holders may reasonably request;
(2) an opinion, dated the date of Consummation of the
Exchange Offer or the date of effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration Statement, as the case may be, of counsel for the
12
Company and the Guarantors covering matters similar to those set
forth in paragraph (e) of Section 9 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 Guarantor, 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 9(g) of the
Purchase Agreement; and
(B) deliver such other documents and certificates as may be
reasonably requested by the selling Holders to evidence compliance
with the matters covered in clause (A) above and with any customary
conditions contained in any agreement entered into by the Company and
the Guarantors pursuant to this clause (xi);
(xii) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted Securities,
cooperate with the selling Holders and their counsel in connection with the
registration and qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under
the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the selling
13
Holders may request and do any and all other acts or things necessary or
advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Transfer
Restricted Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement;
provided, however, that neither the Company nor any Guarantor shall be
required to register or qualify as a foreign corporation where it is not
now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to the service
of process in suits or to taxation, other than as to matters and
transactions relating to the Registration Statement, in any jurisdiction
where it is not now so subject;
(xiii) in connection with any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities
that will result in such securities no longer being Transfer Restricted
Securities, cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely preparation
and delivery of certificates representing Transfer Restricted Securities to
be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and to register such
Transfer Restricted Securities in such denominations and such names as the
selling Holders may request at least two Business Days prior to such sale
of Transfer Restricted Securities;
(xiv) use their respective best efforts to cause the disposition of
the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Registration Statement to
be registered with or approved by such other govern mental agencies or
authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof to
consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities, subject
to the proviso contained in clause (xii) above;
(xv) provide a CUSIP number for all Transfer Restricted Securities not
later than the effective date of a Registration Statement covering such
Transfer Restricted Securities and provide the Trustee under the Indenture
with printed certificates for the Transfer Restricted Securities which are
in a form eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company;
(xvi) otherwise use their respective best efforts to comply with all
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally
available to its security holders with regard to any applicable
Registration Statement, as soon as practicable, a consolidated earnings
statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158 (which need not be audited)
covering a twelve-month period beginning after the effective date of the
Registration Statement (as such term is defined in paragraph (c) of Rule
158 under the Act);
(xvii) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA not later
than the effective date of the first Registration Statement required by
this Agreement and, in connection therewith, cooperate with the Trustee and
the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for
such Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA;
and execute and use its best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all
documents that may be required to effect such changes and all other forms
and documents required to be filed with the Commission to enable such
Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner; and
14
(xviii) provide promptly to each Holder, upon request, each document
filed with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or
Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(d) Restrictions on Holders. Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a
Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of the notice referred to in
Section 6(c)(iii)(C) or any notice from the Company of the existence of any fact
of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof (in each case, a
"Suspension Notice"), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement
until (i) such Holder has received copies of the supplemented or amended
Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(iv) hereof as filed with the Commission,
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 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
Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of Prospectuses),
messenger and delivery services and telephone; (iv) all fees and disbursements
of counsel for the Company and the Guarantors; (v) all application and filing
fees in connection with listing the Exchange Notes on a national securities
exchange or automated quotation system pursuant to the requirements hereof; and
(vi) all fees and disbursements of independent certified public accountants of
the Company and the Guarantors (including the expenses of any special audit and
comfort letters required by or incident to such performance).
(b) 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.
(c) In connection with any Registration Statement required by this
Agreement (including, without limitation, the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement and the Shelf Registration Statement), the Company and the Guarantors
15
will reimburse the Initial Purchasers and the Holders of Transfer Restricted
Securities who are tendering Initial Notes in the Exchange Offer and/or selling
or reselling Initial Notes or Exchange Notes pursuant to the "Plan of
Distribution" contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the
Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable, for the reasonable fees and
disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall be ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
unless another firm shall be chosen by the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities for whose benefit such Registration
Statement is being prepared.
SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION
(a) The Company and the Guarantors agree, jointly and severally, to
indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, its directors, officers and each
Person, if any, who controls such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of
the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act), from and against any and all losses,
claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, (including without limitation, any
legal or other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending
any matter, including any action that could give rise to any such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments) caused by any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration
Statement, preliminary prospectus or Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto) provided by the Company to any Holder or any prospective purchaser of
Exchange Notes or registered Initial 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; provided further that the Company and the Guarantors
shall not be liable to any Holder or any of such Holder's directors, officers
and Persons controlling such Holder with respect to any preliminary prospectus
to the extent that any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments of
such Person results proximately and primarily from the fact that such Person
sold Transfer Restricted Securities to a second Person to whom there was not
sent or given, at or before the written confirmation of such sale, a copy of the
Prospectus (excluding documents incorporated by reference) if the Company has
previously furnished copies thereof to such first Person in compliance with this
Agreement and the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments of such
first Person results proximately and primarily from an untrue statement or
omission of a material fact contained in such preliminary prospectus which was
corrected in the Prospectus (or the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented).
(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 8(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
16
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 party") in writing
and the indemnifying party shall assume the defense of such action, including
the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party and
the payment of all fees and expenses of such counsel, as incurred (except that
in the case of any action in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant
to both Sections 8(a) and 8(b), a Holder shall not be required to assume the
defense of such action pursuant to this Section 8(c), but may employ separate
counsel and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of one
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 the Holders of a
majority of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the applicable
Registration Statement, in the case of the parties indemnified pursuant to
Section 8(a), and by the Company and Guarantors, in the case of parties
indemnified pursuant to Section 8(b). The indemnifying party shall indemnify and
hold harmless the indemnified party from and against any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities and judgments by reason of any settlement of any action (i)
effected with its written consent or (ii) effected without its written consent
if the settlement is entered into more than twenty business days after the
indemnifying party shall have received a request from the indemnified party for
reimbursement for the fees and expenses of counsel (in any case where such fees
and expenses are at the expense of the indemnifying party) and, prior to the
date of such settlement, the indemnifying party shall have failed to comply with
such reimbursement request. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior
written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement or compromise
of, or consent to the entry of judgment with respect to, any pending or
threatened action in respect of which the indemnified party is or could have
been a party and indemnity or contribution may be or could have been sought
hereunder by the indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or
judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all
17
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 herein, then each indemnifying
party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the
amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the
Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, from their sale
of Transfer Restricted Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause
8(d)(i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate
to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 8(d)(i) above
but also the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand,
and of the Holder, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or
omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
judgments, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative
fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and of the Holder, on
the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether
the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the
Company or such Guarantors, on the one hand, or by the Holder, on the other
hand, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The 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 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.
18
SECTION 9. UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATIONS
(a) If any of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by a Shelf
Registration Statement are to be sold in an Underwritten Registration, the
managing underwriters shall be selected by the Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities to be included
in such offering; provided, that such managing underwriters must be reasonably
satisfactory to the Company.
(b) No Holder may participate in any Underwritten Registration, unless such
Holder: (i) agrees to sell its Transfer Restricted Securities on the basis
reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements approved in accordance with
paragraph (a) above; and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers
of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably
required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
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. Except as
described in the Offering Circular (as defined in the Purchase Agreement),
neither the Company nor any Guarantor has previously entered into any agreement
granting any registration rights with respect to its debt 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
19
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 and, if applicable, affiliated market makers hereunder.
(e) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted
hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail
(registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier, or air
courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(i) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of the
Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to the Registrar under the
Indenture; and
(ii) if to the Company or the Guarantors:
Horizon PCS, Inc.
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telecopier No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: President
With a copy to:
Arnall Golden & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LLP
2800 One Atlantic Center
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telecopier No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: T. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, III
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business
Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt
acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next business day, if timely delivered
to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the
address specified in the Indenture.
(f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including
without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent
Holders; provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment,
transfer or other disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities in violation of
the terms hereof or of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture. If any
20
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 or Indenture,
as the case may be, and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits
hereof.
(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(i) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE
CONFLICT OF LAW RULES THEREOF.
(j) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions
contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions
contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
(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.
21
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first written above.
Very truly yours,
HORIZON PCS, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: President
HORIZON PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: President
BRIGHT PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, LLC
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Financial Officer
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
FIRST UNION SECURITIES, INC.
BEAR, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INC.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ BROTHERS INC.
BY: CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
--------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Managing Director
22
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