Exhibit 4.1(b)
SCHEDULE I
Copyrights and Copyright Licenses
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EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of February 18, 1998
by and between
▇▇▇▇▇▇ MEDIA CORP.
and
NATWEST CAPITAL MARKETS LIMITED
as the Initial Purchaser
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$45,000,000
12% SENIOR SECURED PIK NOTES DUE 2003
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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1. Definitions............................................................ 1
2. Exchange Offer......................................................... 5
3. Shelf Registration..................................................... 8
4. Additional Interest.................................................... 9
5. Registration Procedures................................................ 11
6. Registration Expenses.................................................. 20
7. Indemnification........................................................ 21
8. Rules 144 and 144A..................................................... 25
9. Underwritten Registrations............................................. 25
10. Miscellaneous. ........................................................ 25
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements........................................ 25
(b) Adjustments Affecting Registrable Notes........................... 25
(c) Amendments and Waivers............................................ 26
(d) Notices........................................................... 26
(e) Successors and Assigns........................................ 27
(f) Counterparts.................................................. 27
(g) Headings...................................................... 27
(h) Governing Law................................................. 28
(i) Severability.................................................. 28
(j) Notes Held by the Company or its Affiliates................... 28
(k) Third Party Beneficiaries..................................... 28
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EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement (the "Agreement") is
dated as of February 18, 1998, by and between ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Media Corp., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company") and NatWest Capital Markets Limited (the "Initial
Purchaser").
This Agreement is entered into in connection with the Purchase
Agreement, dated February 12, 1998, between the Company and the Initial
Purchaser (the "Purchase Agreement"), which provides for the sale by the Company
to the Initial Purchaser of Units, consisting of, among other things,
$45,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company's 12% Senior Secured PIK
Notes due 2003 (the "Notes"). In order to induce the Initial Purchaser to enter
into the Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide the registration
rights set forth in this Agreement for the benefit of the Initial Purchaser and
their direct and indirect transferees. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement is a condition to the obligation of the Initial Purchaser to purchase
the Notes under the Purchase Agreement.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
Additional Interest: Has the meaning provided in Section 4(a)
hereof.
Advice: Has the meaning provided in the last paragraph of Section 5
hereof.
Agreement: Has the meaning provided in the first introductory
paragraph hereto.
Applicable Period: Has the meaning provided in Section 2(b) hereof.
Closing Date: Has the meaning provided in the Purchase Agreement.
Company: Has the meaning provided in the first introductory
paragraph hereto.
Effectiveness Date: The 150th day after the Issue Date.
Effectiveness Period: Has the meaning provided in Section 3(a)
hereof.
Event Date: Has the meaning provided in Section 4(b) hereof.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
Exchange Notes: Has the meaning provided in Section 2(a) hereof.
Exchange Offer: Has the meaning provided in Section 2(a) hereof.
Exchange Offer Registration Statement: Has the meaning provided in
Section 2(a) hereof.
Filing Date: The 45th day after the Issue Date.
Holder: Any holder of a Registrable Note or Registrable Notes.
Indemnified Person: Has the meaning provided in Section 7(c) hereof.
Indemnifying Person: Has the meaning provided in Section 7(c)
hereof.
Indenture: The Indenture, dated as of February 1, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Trust Company of New York, as trustee, pursuant to
which the Notes are being issued, as amended or supplemented from time to time
in accordance with the terms thereof.
Initial Purchaser: Has the meaning provided in the first
introductory paragraph hereto.
Inspectors: Has the meaning provided in Section 5(o) hereof.
Issue Date: The date on which the original Notes were sold to the
Initial Purchaser pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
NASD: Has the meaning provided in Section 5(s) hereof.
Notes: Has the meaning provided in the second introductory paragraph
hereto.
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Participant: Has the meaning provided in Section 7(a) hereof.
Participating Broker-Dealer: Has the meaning provided in Section
2(b) hereof.
Persons: An individual, trustee, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association,
union, business association, firm or other legal entity.
Private Exchange: Has the meaning provided in Section 2(b) hereof.
Private Exchange Notes: Has the meaning provided in Section 2(b)
hereof.
Prospectus: The prospectus included in any Registration Statement
(including, without limitation, any prospectus subject to completion and a
prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus
filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A
promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any
prospectus supplement, and all other amendments and supplements to the
Prospectus, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the
Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement including
post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed
to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
Purchase Agreement: Has the meaning provided in the second
introductory paragraph hereto.
Records: Has the meaning provided in Section 5(o) hereof.
Registrable Notes: Each Note upon original issuance of the Notes and
at all times subsequent thereto, each Exchange Note as to which Section 2(c)(v)
hereof is applicable upon original issuance and at all times subsequent thereto
and each Private Exchange Note upon original issuance thereof and at all times
subsequent thereto, until in the case of any such Note, Exchange Note or Private
Exchange Note, as the case may be, the earliest to occur of (i) a Registration
Statement (other than, with respect to any Exchange Note as to which Section
2(c)(v) hereof is applicable, the Exchange Offer Registration Statement)
covering such Note, Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note, as the case may be,
has been declared effective by the SEC and such Note (unless such Note was not
tendered for exchange by the Holder thereof), Exchange Note or Private Exchange
Note, as the case may be, has been disposed of in accordance with such effective
Registration Statement, (ii) such Note, Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note,
as the case may be, is, or may be, sold in compliance with Rule 144, or (iii)
such Note, Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note, as the case may be, ceases to
be outstanding
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for purposes of the Indenture.
Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company,
including, but not limited to, the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, that
covers any of the Registrable Notes pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement, including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such
registration statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits, and
all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference
in such registration statement.
Rule 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, as such
Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule (other than Rule
144A) or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC providing for offers and sales
of securities made in compliance therewith resulting in offers and sales by
subsequent holders that are not affiliates of an issuer of such securities being
free of the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act.
Rule 144A: Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act, as such
Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule (other than Rule 144)
or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC.
Rule 415: Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, as such
Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation
hereafter adopted by the SEC.
SEC: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
Shelf Notice: Has the meaning provided in Section 2(c) hereof.
Shelf Registration: Has the meaning provided in Section 3(a) hereof.
Shelf Registration Statement: shall mean a "shelf" registration
statement of the Company which covers all of the Registrable Notes on an
appropriate form under Rule 415, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the
SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement,
including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus
contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by
reference therein.
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
Trustee(s): The trustee under the Indenture and, if existent, the
trustee
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under any indenture governing the Exchange Notes and Private Exchange Notes (if
any).
Underwritten registration or underwritten offering: A registration
in which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to
the public.
2. Exchange Offer
(a) The Company agrees to file with the SEC no later than the Filing
Date an offer to exchange (the "Exchange Offer") any and all of the Registrable
Notes (other than the Private Exchange Notes, if any) for a like aggregate
principal amount of debt securities of the Company which are identical in all
material respects to the Notes (the "Exchange Notes") (and which are entitled to
the benefits of the Indenture or a trust indenture which is identical in all
material respects to the Indenture (other than such changes to the Indenture or
any such identical trust indenture as are necessary to comply with any
requirements of the SEC to effect or maintain the qualification thereof under
the TIA) and which, in either case, has been qualified under the TIA), except
that the Exchange Notes (but not Private Exchange Notes, if any) shall have been
registered pursuant to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities
Act and shall contain no restrictive legend thereon. The Exchange Offer shall be
registered under the Securities Act on the appropriate form (the "Exchange Offer
Registration Statement") and shall comply with all applicable tender offer rules
and regulations under the Exchange Act. The Company agrees to use its best
efforts to (x) cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be declared
effective under the Securities Act no later than the 150th day after the Issue
Date; (y) keep the Exchange Offer open for at least 30 business days (or longer
if required by applicable law) after the date that notice of the Exchange Offer
is mailed to the Holders; and (z) consummate the Exchange Offer on or prior to
the 180th day following the Issue Date. If after such Exchange Offer
Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, the Exchange Offer or
the issuance of the Exchange Notes thereunder is interfered with by any stop
order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or any other
governmental agency or court, such Exchange Offer Registration Statement shall
be deemed not to have become effective for purposes of this Agreement until such
stop order, injunction or other order or requirement is no longer in effect.
Each Holder who participates in the Exchange Offer (other than certain specified
holders) will be required to represent that any Exchange Notes received by it
will be acquired in the ordinary course of its business, that at the time of the
consummation of the Exchange Offer such Holder will have no arrangement or
understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange
Notes in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act, that such Holder is
not an "affiliate" of the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and
that such Holder is not acting on behalf of any person who could not truthfully
make the foregoing representations. Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer in
accordance with this Section 2, the Company shall have no further obligation to
register Registrable
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Notes (other than Private Exchange Notes and other than in respect of any
Exchange Notes as to which clause 2(c)(v) hereof applies) pursuant to Section 3
hereof. No securities other than the Exchange Notes shall be included in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement.
(b) The Company shall include within the Prospectus contained in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement a section entitled "Plan of Distribution,"
reasonably acceptable to the Initial Purchaser, which shall contain a summary
statement of the positions taken or policies made by the Staff of the SEC with
respect to the potential "underwriter" status of any broker-dealer that is the
beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of Exchange
Notes received by such broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer (a "Participating
Broker-Dealer"), whether such positions or policies have been publicly
disseminated by the Staff of the SEC or such positions or policies, in the
judgment of the Initial Purchaser, represent the prevailing views of the Staff
of the SEC. Such "Plan of Distribution" section shall also expressly permit the
use of the Prospectus by all Persons subject to the prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act, including all Participating Broker-Dealers,
and include a statement describing the means by which Participating
Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Notes.
The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the Prospectus
contained therein, in order to permit such Prospectus to be lawfully delivered
by any Participating Broker-Dealer subject to the prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act for such period of time as is necessary to
comply with applicable law in connection with any resale of the Exchange Notes;
provided, however, that such period shall not exceed 180 days after the
consummation of the Exchange Offer (or such longer period if extended pursuant
to the last paragraph of Section 5 hereof) (the "Applicable Period").
If, immediately prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer, the
Initial Purchaser holds any Notes acquired by it and having the status of an
unsold allotment in the initial distribution, the Company shall, upon the
request of the Initial Purchaser, simultaneously with the delivery of the
Exchange Notes in the Exchange Offer issue and deliver to the Initial Purchaser
in exchange (the "Private Exchange") for such Notes held by the Initial
Purchaser a like principal amount of debt securities of the Company that are
identical in all material respects to the Exchange Notes (the "Private Exchange
Notes") (and which are issued pursuant to the same Indenture as the Exchange
Notes) except for the placement of a restrictive legend on such Private Exchange
Notes. The Private Exchange Notes shall if permissible bear the same CUSIP
number as the Exchange Notes.
Interest on the Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes will
accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was payable on the
Notes
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surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has become payable on the
Notes, from the Issue Date.
In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(1) mail to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part of the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter
of transmittal and related documents;
(2) utilize the services of a depositary for the Exchange Offer with
an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York;
(3) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Notes at any time prior to
the close of business, New York time, on the last business day on which
the Exchange Offer shall remain open; and
(4) otherwise comply in all material respects with all applicable
laws, rules and regulations.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer or the
Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:
(1) accept for exchange all Notes tendered and not validly withdrawn
pursuant to the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange;
(2) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Notes so accepted
for exchange; and
(3) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to each
Holder tendering Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes, as the
case may be, equal in principal amount to the Notes of such Holder so
accepted for exchange.
The Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes are to be issued
under (i) the Indenture or (ii) an indenture identical in all material respects
to the Indenture, which in either event shall provide that (1) the Exchange
Notes shall not be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the
Indenture and (2) the Private Exchange Notes shall be subject to the transfer
restrictions set forth in the Indenture. The Indenture or such indenture shall
provide that the Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange Notes and the Notes shall
vote and consent together on all matters as to which they have the right to vote
or consent as one class and that none of the Exchange Notes, the Private
Exchange Notes or the Notes will have the right to vote or consent as a separate
class on any matter.
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(c) If, (i) because of any change in law or in applicable
interpretations of the Staff of the SEC, the Company is not permitted to effect
an Exchange Offer, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not consummated within 180 days
after the Issue Date, (iii) any holder of Private Exchange Notes so requests at
any time after the consummation of the Private Exchange, or (iv) any Holder
(other than the Initial Purchaser) is not eligible to participate in the
Exchange Offer, then the Company shall promptly deliver written notice thereof
(the "Shelf Notice") to the Trustee and, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii)
above, all Holders, in the case of clause (iii) above, the Holders of the
Private Exchange Notes and, in the case of clause (iv) above, the affected
Holder, and shall file a Shelf Registration pursuant to Section 3 hereof;
provided, however, that in the case of clause (iii) above such Holders shall pay
all reasonable registration expenses of the Company as described in Section 6
hereof in connection with such Shelf Registration.
3. Shelf Registration
If a Shelf Notice is delivered as contemplated by Section 2(c)
hereof, then:
(a) Shelf Registration. The Company shall as promptly as reasonably
practicable file with the SEC a Registration Statement for an offering to be
made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of the Registrable
Notes (the "Shelf Registration"). If the Company shall not have yet filed an
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company shall use its best efforts to
file with the SEC the Shelf Registration on or prior to the Filing Date. The
Shelf Registration shall be on Form S-3 or another appropriate form permitting
registration of such Registrable Notes for resale by Holders in the manner or
manners designated by them (including, without limitation, one or more
underwritten offerings). The Company shall not permit any securities other than
the Registrable Notes to be included in the Shelf Registration.
The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Shelf
Registration to be declared effective under the Securities Act by the 150th day
after the Shelf Request and to keep the Shelf Registration continuously
effective under the Securities Act until the date which is two years from the
Issue Date (or one year from the date of the Shelf Registration Statement is
declared effective if such Shelf Registration Statement is filed upon the
request of the Initial Purchaser pursuant to clause 2(c)(iii) above), subject to
extension pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 5 hereof, or such shorter
period ending when all Registrable Notes covered by the Shelf Registration have
been sold in the manner set forth and as contemplated in the Shelf Registration
or when the Notes become eligible for registration without volume restrictions,
pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (the "Effectiveness Period").
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(b) Withdrawal of Stop Orders. If the Shelf Registration ceases to
be effective for any reason at any time during the Effectiveness Period (other
than because of the sale of all of the securities registered thereunder), the
Company shall use its best efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order
suspending the effectiveness thereof.
(c) Supplements and Amendments. The Company shall promptly
supplement and amend the Shelf Registration if required by the rules,
regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used for such
Shelf Registration, if required by the Securities Act, or if reasonably
requested for such purpose by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement or by any
underwriter of such Registrable Notes.
4. Additional Interest
(a) The Company and the Initial Purchaser agree that the Holders of
Registrable Notes will suffer damages if the Company fails to fulfill its
obligations under Section 2 or Section 3 hereof and that it would not be
feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages with precision. Accordingly,
the Company agrees to pay, as liquidated damages and as the sole and exclusive
remedy therefor, additional interest on the Notes ("Additional Interest") under
the circumstances and to the extent set forth below:
(i) if the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf
Registration Statement is not filed within 45 days following the Issue
Date Additional Interest shall accrue on the Notes over and above the
stated interest at a rate of 0.50% per annum for the first 30 days
commencing on the 46th day after the Issue Date, such Additional Interest
rate increasing by an additional 0.50% per annum at the beginning of each
subsequent 30-day period; or
(ii) if the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf
Registration Statement is not declared effective within 150 days following
the Issue Date, Additional Interest shall accrue on the Notes over and
above the stated interest at a rate of 0.50% per annum for the first 90
days commencing on the 151st day after the Issue Date such Additional
Interest rate increasing by an additional 0.50% per annum at the beginning
of each subsequent 30-day period; or
(iii) if (A) the Company has not exchanged all Notes validly
tendered in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer on or prior to
180 days after the Issue Date or (B) the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement ceases to be effective at any time prior to the time that the
Exchange Offer is consummated or (C) if applicable, the Shelf Registration
Statement has been declared effective
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and such Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective at any time
prior to the second anniversary of the Issue Date (unless all the Notes
have been sold thereunder), then Additional Interest shall accrue on the
Notes over and above the stated interest at a rate of 0.50% per annum for
the first 30 days commencing on (x) the 181st day after the Issue Date
with respect to the Notes validly tendered and not exchanged by the
Company, in the case of (A) above, or (y) the day the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement ceases to be effective or usable for its intended
purpose in the case of (B) above, or (z) the day such Shelf Registration
Statement ceases to be effective in the case of (C) above, such Additional
Interest rate increasing by an additional 0.50% per annum at the beginning
of each subsequent 30-day period; provided, however, that the Additional
Interest rate on the Notes under clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above, may not
exceed in the aggregate 2.0% per annum; and provided further, that (1)
upon the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf
Registration Statement (in the case of clause (i) above), (2) upon the
effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf
Registration Statement (in the case of (ii) above), or (3) upon the
exchange of Exchange Notes for all Notes tendered (in the case of clause
(iii)(A) above), or upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement which had ceased to remain effective (in the case
of clause (iii)(B) above), or upon the effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration Statement which had ceased to remain effective (in the case
of clause (iii)(C) above), Additional Interest on the Notes as a result of
such clause (or the relevant subclause thereof), as the case may be, shall
cease to accrue.
(b) The Company shall notify the Trustee within one business day
after each and every date on which an event occurs in respect of which
Additional Interest is required to be paid (an "Event Date"). The Company shall
pay the Additional Interest due on the transfer restricted Notes by depositing
with the paying agent (which shall not be the Company for these purposes) for
the transfer restricted Notes, in trust, for the benefit of the holders thereof,
prior to 11:00 A.M. on the next interest payment date specified by the Indenture
(or such other indenture), sums sufficient to pay the Additional Interest then
due. Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to clauses (a)(i), (a)(ii)
or (a)(iii) of this Section 4 will be payable to the Holders of affected Notes
in cash semi-annually on each interest payment date specified by the Indenture
(or such other indenture) to the record holders entitled to receive the interest
payment to be made on such date, commencing with the first such date occurring
after any such Additional Interest commences to accrue. The amount of Additional
Interest will be determined by multiplying the applicable Additional Interest
rate by the principal amount of the affected Registrable Notes of such Holders,
multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days such
Additional Interest rate was applicable during such period (determined on the
basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months and, in the case of a
partial month, the actual number of days elapsed), and the denominator of which
is 360.
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5. Registration Procedures
In connection with the filing of any Registration Statement pursuant
to Sections 2 or 3 hereof, the Company shall effect such registration(s) to
permit the sale of the securities covered thereby in accordance with the
intended method or methods of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto and in
connection with any Registration Statement filed by the Company hereunder, the
Company shall:
(a) Prepare and file with the SEC prior to the Filing Date a
Registration Statement or Registration Statements as prescribed by
Sections 2 or 3 hereof, and use their best efforts to cause each such
Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective as
provided herein; provided, however, that, if (1) such filing is pursuant
to Section 3 hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Offer
Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to
be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer
who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, before
filing any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or
supplements thereto, the Company shall, if requested in writing, furnish
to and afford the Holders of the Registrable Notes covered by such
Registration Statement or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the
case may be, their counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, a
reasonable opportunity to review copies of all such documents (including
copies of any documents to be incorporated by reference therein and all
exhibits thereto) proposed to be filed (in each case at least three
business days prior to such filing). The Company shall not file any
Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements
thereto in respect of which the Holders must be afforded an opportunity to
review prior to the filing of such document under the immediately
preceding sentence, if the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement, or
any such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, their counsel,
or the managing underwriters, if any, shall object thereto in writing,
which writing shall set forth a reasonable basis for such objection.
(b) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective
amendments to each Shelf Registration or Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, as the case may be, as may be necessary to keep such
Registration Statement continuously effective for the Effectiveness Period
or the Applicable Period or until consummation of the Exchange Offer, as
the case may be; cause the related Prospectus to be supplemented by any
Prospectus supplement required by applicable law, and as so supplemented
to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force)
promulgated under the Securities Act; and comply with the provisions of
the Securities Act and the Exchange Act
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applicable to it with respect to the disposition of all securities covered
by such Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so
supplemented and with respect to the subsequent resale of any securities
being sold by a Participating Broker-Dealer covered by any such
Prospectus; the Company shall be deemed not to have used its best efforts
to keep a Registration Statement effective during the Applicable Period if
it voluntarily takes any action that would result in selling Holders of
the Registrable Notes covered thereby or Participating Broker-Dealers
seeking to sell Exchange Notes not being able to sell such Registrable
Notes or such Exchange Notes during that period unless such action is
required by applicable law or unless the Company complies with this
Agreement, including without limitation, the provisions of paragraph 5(k)
hereof and the last paragraph of this Section 5.
(c) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3
hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered
under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to
sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, notify the selling
Holders of Registrable Notes, or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as
the case may be, their counsel and the managing underwriters, if any,
promptly (but in any event within two business days), and confirm such
notice in writing, (i) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to a
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has
become effective under the Securities Act (including in such notice a
written statement that any Holder may, upon request, obtain, at the sole
expense of the Company, one conformed copy of such Registration Statement
or post-effective amendment including financial statements and schedules,
and, if requested, documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference and exhibits), (ii) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any order
preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iii) if at any time when
a Prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered in
connection with sales of the Registrable Notes or resales of Exchange
Notes by Participating Broker-Dealers the representations and warranties
of the Company contained in any agreement (including any underwriting
agreement), contemplated by Section 5(n) hereof cease to be true and
correct in all material respects, (iv) of the receipt by the Company of
any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or
exemption from qualification of a Registration Statement or any of the
Registrable Notes or the Exchange Notes to be sold by any Participating
Broker-Dealer for offer or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or
threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the happening of
any event, the existence of any condition or any information becoming
known that makes any statement made in such
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Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material
respect or that requires the making of any changes in or amendments or
supplements to such Registration Statement, Prospectus or documents so
that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, and that in the case of the Prospectus, it will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, and (vi) of the determination by the Company that a
post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be
appropriate.
(d) Use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any order
preventing or suspending the use of a Prospectus or suspending the
qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable
Notes or the Exchange Notes for sale in any jurisdiction, and, if any such
order is issued, to use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any
such order at the earliest possible moment.
(e) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof
and if requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters (if any), or
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable
Notes being sold in connection with an underwritten offering, (i) promptly
incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such
information as the managing underwriter or underwriters (if any), such
Holders, or counsel for any of them reasonably request to be included
therein, (ii) make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or
such post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company has
received notification of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment, and (iii) supplement or make
amendments to such Registration Statement.
(f) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3
hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered
under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to
sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, furnish to each selling
Holder of Registrable Notes and to each such Participating Broker-Dealer
who so requests and to counsel and each managing underwriter, if any, at
the sole expense of the Company, one conformed copy of the Registration
Statement or Registration Statements and each post-effective amendment
thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and, if requested,
all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by
reference and all exhibits.
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(g) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3
hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered
under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to
sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, deliver to each selling
Holder of Registrable Notes, or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as
the case may be, their respective counsel, and the underwriters, if any,
at the sole expense of the Company, as many copies of the Prospectus or
Prospectuses (including each form of preliminary prospectus) and each
amendment or supplement thereto and any documents incorporated by
reference therein as such Persons may reasonably request; and, subject to
the last paragraph of this Section 5, the Company hereby consents to the
use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of
the selling Holders of Registrable Notes or each such Participating
Broker- Dealer, as the case may be, and the underwriters or agents, if
any, and dealers (if any), in connection with the offering and sale of the
Registrable Notes covered by, or the sale by Participating Broker-Dealers
of the Exchange Notes pursuant to, such Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement thereto.
(h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Notes or any
delivery of a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange
Notes during the Applicable Period, to use its best efforts to register or
qualify such Registrable Notes (and to cooperate with selling Holders of
Registrable Notes or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case
may be, the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, and their
respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification
(or exemption from such registration or qualification) of such Registrable
Notes) for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions within the United States as any selling Holder,
Participating Broker-Dealer, or the managing underwriter or underwriters
reasonably request in writing; provided, however, that where Exchange
Notes held by Participating Broker-Dealers or Registrable Notes are
offered other than through an underwritten offering, the Company agrees to
cause its counsel to perform Blue Sky investigations and file
registrations and qualifications required to be filed pursuant to this
Section 5(h); keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption
therefrom) effective during the period such Registration Statement is
required to be kept effective and do any and all other acts or things
reasonably necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such
jurisdictions of the Exchange Notes held by Participating Broker-Dealers
or the Registrable Notes covered by the applicable Registration Statement;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to (A) qualify
generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so
qualified, (B) take any action that would subject it to general service of
process in any such jurisdiction where it is not
-14-
then so subject or (C) subject itself to taxation in excess of a nominal
dollar amount in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(i) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof,
cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Notes and the managing
underwriter or underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation
and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Notes to be sold,
which certificates shall not bear any restrictive legends and shall be in
a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company; and enable
such Registrable Notes to be in such denominations and registered in such
names as the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or Holders may
reasonably request.
(j) Use its best efforts to cause the Registrable Notes covered by
the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other
governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the
Holders thereof or the underwriter or underwriters, if any, to dispose of
such Registrable Notes, except as may be required solely as a consequence
of the nature of a selling Holder's business, in which case the Company
will cooperate in all reasonable respects with the filing of such
Registration Statement and the granting of such approvals.
(k) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3
hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered
under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to
sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, upon the occurrence of
any event contemplated by paragraph 5(c)(v) or 5(c)(vi) hereof, as
promptly as practicable prepare and (subject to Section 5(a) hereof) file
with the SEC, at the sole expense of the Company, a supplement or
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to
the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference, or file any other required document so
that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Notes
being sold thereunder or to the purchasers of the Exchange Notes to whom
such Prospectus will be delivered by a Participating Broker-Dealer, any
such Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading; provided, that this Section 5(k) shall not
be deemed to require the Company to disclose any information that, in the
good faith opinion of the management of the Company, is not yet required
to be disclosed and would not be in the best interests of the Company to
disclose, so long as the Company complies with all applicable laws and
government regulations and the last paragraph of this Section 5.
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(l) Prior to the effective date of the first Registration Statement
relating to the Registrable Notes, (i) provide the Trustee with
certificates for the Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes, as the case may
be, in a form eligible for deposit with The Depositary Trust Company and
(ii) provide a CUSIP number for the Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes,
as the case may be.
(m) In connection with any underwritten offering initiated by the
Company of Registrable Notes pursuant to a Shelf Registration, enter into
an underwriting agreement as is customary in underwritten offerings of
debt securities similar to the Notes and take all such other actions as
are reasonably requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters in
order to facilitate the registration or the disposition of such
Registrable Notes and, in such connection, (i) make such representations
and warranties to, and covenants with, the underwriters with respect to
the business of the Company and its respective subsidiaries and the
Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents, if any, incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, in each case, as are
customarily made by the Company to underwriters in underwritten offerings
of debt securities similar to the Notes, and confirm the same in writing
if and when requested; (ii) obtain the written opinion of counsel to the
Company and written updates thereof in form, scope and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriter or underwriters,
addressed to the underwriters covering the matters customarily covered in
opinions requested in underwritten offerings of debt similar to the Notes
and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by the managing
underwriter or underwriters; (iii) obtain "cold comfort" letters and
updates thereof in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to
the managing underwriter or underwriters from the independent certified
public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other
independent certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company
or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements
and financial data are, or are required to be, included or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement), addressed to each of the
underwriters, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of
the type customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in connection with
underwritten offerings of debt similar to the Notes and such other matters
as reasonably requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters; and
(iv) if an underwriting agreement is entered into, the same shall contain
indemnification provisions and procedures no less favorable than those set
forth in Section 7 hereof (or such other provisions and procedures
acceptable to Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement and the managing
underwriter or underwriters or agents) with respect to all parties to be
indemnified pursuant to said Section. The above shall be done at each
closing under such underwriting agreement, or as and to the extent
required thereunder.
-16-
(n) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3
hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered
under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to
sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, make available for
inspection by any selling Holder of such Registrable Notes being sold, or
each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, any underwriter
participating in any such disposition of Registrable Notes, if any, and
any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such selling
Holder or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, or
underwriter (collectively, the "Inspectors"), at the offices where
normally kept, during reasonable business hours, all financial and other
records, pertinent corporate documents and instruments of the Company and,
if any, its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Records") as shall be
reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise any applicable due
diligence responsibilities, and cause the officers, directors and
employees of the Company and, if any, its subsidiaries to make available
for inspection all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector
in connection with such Registration Statement. Records which the Company
determines, in good faith, to be confidential and any Records which it
notifies the Inspectors are confidential shall not be disclosed by the
Inspectors unless (i) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid
or correct a misstatement or omission in such Registration Statement, (ii)
the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other
order from a court of competent jurisdiction, (iii) disclosure of such
information is, in the opinion of counsel (a copy of which shall be
delivered to the Company) for any Inspector, necessary or advisable in
connection with any action, claim, suit or proceeding, directly or
indirectly, involving or potentially involving such Inspector and arising
out of, based upon, relating to, or involving this Agreement, or any
transactions contemplated hereby or arising hereunder, or (iv) the
information in such Records has been made generally available to the
public. Each selling Holder of such Registrable Securities and each such
Participating Broker-Dealer will be required to agree that information
obtained by it as a result of such inspections shall be deemed
confidential and shall not be used by it as the basis for any market
transactions in the securities of the Company unless and until such
information is generally available to the public other than as a result of
a disclosure or failure to safeguard by such Inspector. Each selling
Holder of such Registrable Notes and each such Participating Broker-Dealer
will be required to further agree that it will, upon learning that
disclosure of such Records is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction,
give notice to the Company and allow the Company to undertake appropriate
action to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed confidential at the
Company's sole expense.
(o) Provide an indenture trustee for the Registrable Notes or the
Exchange Notes, as the case may be, and cause the Indenture or the trust
-17-
indenture provided for in Section 2(a) hereof, as the case may be, to be
qualified under the TIA not later than the effective date of the Exchange
Offer or the first Registration Statement relating to the Registrable
Notes; and in connection therewith, cooperate with the trustee under any
such indenture and the Holders of the Registrable Notes, to effect such
changes to such indenture as may be required for such indenture to be so
qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA; and execute, and use
its best efforts to cause such trustee to execute, all documents as may be
required to effect such changes, and all other forms and documents
required to be filed with the SEC to enable such indenture to be so
qualified in a timely manner.
(p) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and
make generally available to its securityholders earnings statements
satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule
158 thereunder (or any similar rule promulgated under the Securities Act)
no later than 45 days after the end of any 12-month period (or 90 days
after the end of any 12-month period if such period is a fiscal year) (i)
commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Registrable Notes are
sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts underwritten
offering and (ii) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering,
commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the Company
after the effective date of a Registration Statement, which statements
shall cover said 12-month periods.
(q) If an Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be consummated,
upon delivery of the Registrable Notes by Holders to the Company (or to
such other Person as directed by the Company) in exchange for the Exchange
Notes or the Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, the Company shall
▇▇▇▇, or cause to be marked, on such Registrable Notes that such
Registrable Notes are being cancelled in exchange for the Exchange Notes
or the Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be; in no event shall such
Registrable Notes be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.
(r) Cooperate with each seller of Registrable Notes covered by any
Registration Statement and each underwriter, if any, participating in the
disposition of such Registrable Notes and their respective counsel in
connection with any filings required to be made with the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD").
(s) Use its best efforts to take all other steps necessary or
advisable to effect the registration of the Registrable Notes covered by a
Registration Statement contemplated hereby.
The Company may require each seller of Registrable Notes as to which
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any Registration Statement is being effected to furnish to the Company such
information regarding such seller and the distribution of such Registrable Notes
as the Company may, from time to time, reasonably request. The Company may
exclude from such Registration Statement the Registrable Notes of any seller who
unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after
receiving such request. Each seller as to which any Shelf Registration is being
effected agrees to furnish promptly to the Company all information required to
be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the
Company by such seller not materially misleading.
Each Holder of Registrable Notes and each Participating
Broker-Dealer agrees by acquisition of such Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes
to be sold by such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, that, upon
actual receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of
the kind described in Section 5(c)(ii), 5(c)(iv), 5(c)(v), or 5(c)(vi) hereof,
such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Notes or
Exchange Notes, as the case may be, covered by such Registration Statement or
Prospectus to be sold by such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case
may be, until such Holder's or Participating Broker-Dealer's receipt of the
copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(k)
hereof, or until it is advised in writing (the "Advice") by the Company that the
use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any
amendments or supplements thereto. In the event the Company shall give any such
notice, each of the Effectiveness Period and the Applicable Period shall be
extended by the number of days during such periods from and including the date
of the giving of such notice to and including the date when each seller of
Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement or Exchange Notes to be
sold by such Participating Broker- Dealer, as the case may be, shall have
received (x) the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated
by Section 5(k) hereof or (y) the Advice. In the event the Company does not give
any such notice within five business days, each Holder shall return such
Registration Statement or Prospectus to the Company or destroy all copies of
such Registration Statement or Prospectus; and if so requested by the Company,
shall certify that all copies of the Registration Statement or Prospectus were
destroyed.
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6. Registration Expenses
(a) All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or
compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne by the Company
whether or not the Exchange Offer or a Shelf Registration is filed or becomes
effective, including, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees
(including, without limitation, (A) fees with respect to filings required to be
made with the NASD in connection with an underwritten offering and (B) fees and
expenses of compliance with state securities or Blue Sky laws (including,
without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of the Company's counsel
in connection with Blue Sky qualifications of the Registrable Notes or Exchange
Notes and determination of the eligibility of the Registrable Notes or Exchange
Notes for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions (x) where the holders
of Registrable Notes are located, in the case of the Exchange Notes, or (y) as
provided in Section 5(h) hereof, in the case of Registrable Notes or Exchange
Notes to be sold by a Participating Broker-Dealer during the Applicable
Period)), (ii) printing expenses, including, without limitation, expenses of
printing certificates for Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes in a form eligible
for deposit with The Depository Trust Company and of printing Prospectuses if
the printing of Prospectuses is requested by the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the Registrable Notes included in any Registration Statement or sold by any
Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, (iii) messenger, telephone and
delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, (v)
fees and disbursements of all independent certified public accountants referred
to in Section 5(n)(iii) hereof (including, without limitation, the expenses of
any special audit and "cold comfort" letters required by or incident to such
performance by or incident to such performance), (vi) rating agency fees, if
any, and any fees associated with making the Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes
eligible for trading through The Depository Trust Company, (vii) Securities Act
liability insurance, if the Company desires such insurance, (viii) fees and
expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company, (ix) internal expenses of
the Company (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of
officers and employees of the Company performing legal or accounting duties),
(x) the expense of any annual audit, (ix) the fees and expenses incurred in
connection with the listing of the securities to be registered on any securities
exchange or any inter-dealer quotation system, if applicable, and (xii) the
expenses relating to printing, word processing and distributing all Registration
Statements, underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements, indentures and
any other documents necessary in order to comply with this Agreement.
(b) The Company shall reimburse the Holders of the Registrable Notes
being registered in a Shelf Registration for the reasonable fees and
disbursements of not more than one counsel chosen in writing by the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes to be included
in such Registration Statement.
-20-
7. Indemnification. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless each Holder of Registrable Notes offered pursuant to a Shelf
Registration Statement and each Participating Broker-Dealer selling Exchange
Notes during the Applicable Period, the affiliates, directors, officers, agents,
representatives and employees of each such Person or its affiliates, and each
other Person, if any, who controls any such Person or its affiliates within the
meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act (each, a "Participant") from and against any and all losses, claims, damages
and liabilities (including, without limitation, the reasonable legal fees and
other expenses actually incurred in connection with any suit, action or
proceeding or any claim asserted) caused by, arising out of or based upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Registration Statement pursuant to which the offering of such Registrable Notes
or Exchange Notes, as the case may be, is registered (or any amendment thereto)
or related Prospectus (or any amendments or supplements thereto) or any related
preliminary prospectus, or caused by, arising out of or based upon any omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however,
that the Company will not be required to indemnify a Participant if (i) such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any untrue statement or
omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf
of such Participant expressly for use therein or (ii) if such Participant sold
to the person asserting the claim the Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes which
are the subject of such claim and such untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission was contained or made in any preliminary prospectus
and corrected in the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto and the
Prospectus does not contain any other untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission of a material fact that was the subject matter of
the related proceeding and such Participant failed to deliver or provide a copy
of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) to such Person with or prior to
the confirmation of the sale of such Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes sold to
such Person if required by applicable laws, unless such failure to deliver or
provide a copy of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) was a result of
noncompliance by the Company with Section 5 of this Agreement.
(b) Each Participant agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify
and hold harmless the Company, its respective directors and officers and each
Person who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the
foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Participant, but only (i) with
reference to information furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf of
such Participant expressly for use in any Registration Statement or Prospectus,
any amendment or supplement thereto, or any
-21-
preliminary prospectus or (ii) with respect to any untrue statement or
representation made by such Participant in writing to the Company.
(c) If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or
regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against
any Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to either of the
two preceding paragraphs, such Person (the "Indemnified Person") shall promptly
notify the Person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "Indemnifying
Person") in writing, and the Indemnifying Person, shall have the right to retain
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the
Indemnified Person and any others the Indemnifying Person may reasonably
designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses
actually incurred by such counsel related to such proceeding; provided, however,
that the failure to so notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it of
any obligation or liability which it may have hereunder or otherwise (unless and
only to the extent that such failure results in the loss or compromise of any
material rights or defenses by the Indemnifying Person). In any such proceeding,
any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the
fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified
Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have
mutually agreed in writing to the contrary, (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall
have failed within a reasonable period of time to retain counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the Indemnified Person or (iii) the named parties in any such
proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying
Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same
counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests
between them. It is understood that, unless there exists a conflict among
Indemnified Persons, the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any
one such proceeding or separate but substantially similar related proceeding in
the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations, be liable for
the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local
counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such reasonable fees and
expenses shall be reimbursed promptly as they are incurred. Any such separate
firm for the Participants and such control Persons of Participants shall be
designated in writing by Participants who sold a majority in interest of
Registrable Notes and Exchange Notes sold by all such Participants and any such
separate firm for the Company, its directors, its officers and such control
Persons of the Company shall be designated in writing by the Company. The
Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding
effected without its prior written consent, but if settled with such consent or
if there be a final non-appealable judgment for the plaintiff for which the
Indemnified Person is entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement,
the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified
Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or
judgment. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the prior written consent of the
Indemnified Person, effect any settlement or compromise of any pending or
threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could
have been a party,
-22-
and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person,
unless such settlement (A) includes an unconditional written release of such
Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such
Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of
such proceeding and (B) does not include any statement as to an admission of
fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in Sections 7(a) and 7(b)
hereof is for any reason unavailable to, or insufficient to hold harmless, an
Indemnified Person in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities
referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraphs, in
lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder and in order to provide
for just and equitable contribution, shall contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect (i) the relative
benefits received by the Indemnifying Person or Persons on the one hand and the
Indemnified Person or Persons on the other from the offering of the Notes or
(ii) if the allocation provided by the foregoing clause (i) is not permitted by
applicable law, not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of
the Indemnifying Person or Persons on the one hand and the Indemnified Person or
Persons on the other in connection with the statements or omissions or alleged
statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof). The relative fault of the parties
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 on the
one hand or such Participant or such other Indemnified Person, as the case may
be, on the other, the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission, and any other
equitable considerations appropriate in the circumstances.
(e) The parties agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation
(even if the Participants were treated as one entity for such purposes) or by
any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount
paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims,
damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall
be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any reasonable
legal or other expenses actually incurred by such Indemnified Person in
connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, in no event shall a
Participant be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by
which proceeds received by such Participant from sales of Registrable Notes or
Exchange Notes, as the case may be, exceeds the amount of any damages that such
Participant has otherwise been required to pay or has paid by reason of such
untrue or alleged untrue statement or
-23-
omission or alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation.
(f) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this
Section 7 will be in addition to any liability which the Indemnifying Persons
may otherwise have to the Indemnified Persons referred to above.
8. Rules 144 and 144A. The Company covenants that it will file the
reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act
and the rules and regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder in a timely manner
in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act
and, if at any time the Company is not required to file such reports, it will,
upon the request of any Holder of Registrable Notes, make publicly available
annual reports and such information, documents and other reports of the type
specified in Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Company further
covenants for so long as any Registrable Notes remain outstanding, to make
available to any Holder or beneficial owner of Registrable Notes in connection
with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Registrable Notes
from such Holder or beneficial owner the information required by Rule 144(d)(4)
under the Securities Act in order to permit resales of such Registrable Notes
pursuant to Rule 144A.
9. Underwritten Registrations. If any of the Registrable Notes
covered by any Shelf Registration are to be sold in an underwritten offering,
the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that will
manage the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of such Registrable Notes included in such offering and
reasonably acceptable to the Company.
No Holder of Registrable Notes may participate in any underwritten
registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder's
Registrable Notes on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements
approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b)
completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities,
underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such
underwriting arrangements.
10. Miscellaneous. (a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has
not entered, as of the date hereof, and the Company shall not, after the date of
this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to any its securities that
(i) would by it terms preclude the exercise by the Holders of Registrable Notes
of any rights of such Holder granted in this Agreement or (ii) preclude the
Company from performing its obligations under this Agreement. Other than as
provided in Schedule A attached hereto the Company has not entered and the
Company will not enter into any agreement
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with respect to any of its securities which will grant to any Person piggy-back
registration rights with respect to a Registration Statement.
(b) Adjustments Affecting Registrable Notes. Other than as provided
in Schedule B attached hereto the Company shall not, directly or indirectly,
take any action with respect to the Registrable Notes as a class that would
adversely affect the ability of the Holders of Registrable Notes to include such
Registrable Notes in a registration undertaken pursuant to this Agreement.
(c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not
be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from
the provisions hereof may not be given, otherwise than with the prior written
consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the then outstanding Registrable Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a
waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter
that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders of Registrable Notes whose
securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not
directly or indirectly affect, impair, limit or compromise the rights of other
Holders of Registrable Notes may be given by Holders of at least a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes being sold by such Holders
pursuant to such Registration Statement; provided, however, that the provisions
of this sentence may not be amended, modified or supplemented except in
accordance with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence.
(d) Notices. All notices and other communications (including,
without limitation, any notices or other communications to the Trustee) provided
for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered
first-class mail, next-day air courier or facsimile:
1. if to a Holder of the Registrable Notes or any
Participating Broker-Dealer, at the most current address of such
Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, set forth
on the records of the registrar under the Indenture, with a copy in
like manner to the Initial Purchaser as follows:
NatWest Capital Markets Limited
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
with a copy to:
White & Case
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1155 Avenue of the Americas
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile No: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
2. if to the Initial Purchaser, at the addresses specified in
Section 10(d)(1);
3. if to the Company, as follows:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Media Corp.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
with a copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇, P.C.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been
duly given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three business days
after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; one business day
after being timely delivered to a next-day air courier; and when receipt is
acknowledged by the addressee, if sent by facsimile.
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 and in the manner specified in such Indenture.
(e) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties
hereto; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not inure to the benefit of
or be binding upon a successor or assign of a Holder unless and to the extent
such successor or assign holds Registerable Notes.
(f) 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.
-26-
(g) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning thereof.
(h) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AS APPLIED TO CONTRACTS
MADE AND PERFORMED WHOLLY WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES TO SUBMIT TO
THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR
PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.
(i) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties
hereto shall use their best efforts to find and employ an alternative means to
achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such
term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared
to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that
may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(j) Notes Held by the Company or its Affiliates. Whenever the
consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registerable Notes
is required hereunder, Registerable Notes held by the Company or its affiliates
(as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) shall not be
counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders
of such required percentage.
(k) Third Party Beneficiaries. Holders of Registerable Notes and
Participating Broker-Dealers are intended third party beneficiaries of this
Agreement and this Agreement may be enforced by such Persons.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed the Agreement as of
the date first written above.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ MEDIA CORP.
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By:__________________________
Name:
Title:
The foregoing Agreement is
hereby confirmed and accepted
as of the date first
above written:
NATWEST CAPITAL MARKETS LIMITED
By:__________________________
Name:
Title:
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SCHEDULE A
Piggy-Back Registration Rights
SCHEDULE B
Adjustments Reflecting Registrable Notes