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Exhibit 4.2
Execution Copy
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
NBC Acquisition Corp.
$76,000,000
10 3/4% Senior Discount Debentures due 2009
EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
February 13, 1998
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
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Ladies and Gentlemen:
NBC Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
proposes to issue and sell to Chase Securities Inc. ("CSI" or the "Initial
Purchaser"), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in a
purchase agreement dated February 10, 1998 (the "Purchase Agreement"),
$76,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 10 3/4% Senior Discount Debentures
due 2009 (the "Securities"). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall
have the meanings given to such terms in the Purchase Agreement.
As an inducement to the Initial Purchaser to enter into the Purchase
Agreement and in satisfaction of a condition to the obligations of the Initial
Purchaser thereunder, the Company agrees with the Initial Purchaser, for the
benefit of the holders (including the Initial Purchaser) of the Securities, the
Exchange Securities (as defined herein) and the Private Exchange Securities (as
defined herein) (collectively, the "Holders"), as follows:
1. Registered Exchange Offer. The Company shall (i) prepare and, not
later than 45 days following the date of original issuance of the Securities
(the "Issue Date"), file with the Commission a registration statement (the
"Exchange Offer Registration Statement") on an appropriate form under the
Securities Act with respect to a proposed offer to the Holders of the Securities
(the "Registered Exchange Offer") to issue and deliver to such Holders, in
exchange for the Securities, a like aggregate principal amount of debt
securities of the Company (the "Exchange Securities") that are identical in all
material respects to the Securities, except for the transfer restrictions
relating to the Securities, (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to cause the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become
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effective under the Securities Act no later than 150 days after the Issue Date
and the Registered Exchange Offer to be consummated no later than 180 days after
the Issue Date and (iii) keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
effective for not less than 30 days (or longer, if required by applicable law)
after the date on which notice of the Registered Exchange Offer is mailed to the
Holders (such period being called the "Exchange Offer Registration Period"). The
Exchange Securities will be issued under the Indenture or an indenture (the
"Exchange Securities Indenture") between the Company and the Trustee or such
other bank or trust company that is reasonably satisfactory to the Initial
Purchaser, as trustee (the "Exchange Securities Trustee"), such indenture to be
identical in all material respects to the Indenture, except for the transfer
restrictions relating to the Securities (as described above).
Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
the Company shall promptly commence the Registered Exchange Offer, it being the
objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable each Holder electing to
exchange Securities for Exchange Securities (assuming that such Holder (a) is
not an affiliate of the Company or an Exchanging Dealer (as defined herein) not
complying with the requirements of the next sentence, (b) acquires the Exchange
Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder's business and (c) has no
arrangements or understandings with any person to participate in the
distribution of the Exchange Securities) and to trade such Exchange Securities
from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions under the
Securities Act and without material restrictions under the securities laws of
the several states of the United States. The Company, the Initial Purchaser and
each Exchanging Dealer acknowledge that, pursuant to current interpretations by
the Commission's staff of Section 5 of the Securities Act, each Holder that is a
broker-dealer electing to exchange Securities, acquired for its own account as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities, for Exchange
Securities (an "Exchanging Dealer"), is required to deliver a prospectus
containing substantially the information set forth in Annex A hereto on the
cover, in Annex B hereto in the "Exchange Offer Procedures" section and the
"Purpose of the Exchange Offer" section and in Annex C hereto in the "Plan of
Distribution" section of such prospectus in connection with a sale of any such
Exchange Securities received by such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to the
Registered Exchange Offer.
If, prior to the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, any
Holder holds any Securities acquired by it that have, or that are reasonably
likely to be determined to have, the status of an unsold allotment in an initial
distribution, or any Holder is not entitled to participate in the Registered
Exchange Offer, the Company shall, upon the request of any such Holder,
simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Securities in the Registered
Exchange Offer, issue and deliver to any such Holder, in exchange for the
Securities held by such
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Holder (the "Private Exchange"), a like aggregate principal amount of debt
securities of the Company (the "Private Exchange Securities") that are identical
in all material respects to the Exchange Securities, except for the transfer
restrictions relating to such Private Exchange Securities. The Private Exchange
Securities will be issued under the same indenture as the Exchange Securities,
and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Private
Exchange Securities to bear the same CUSIP number as the Exchange Securities.
In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(a) 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;
(b) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than 30
days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date on which
notice of the Registered Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holders;
(c) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered Exchange
Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York;
(d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities at any time prior
to the close of business, New York City time, on the last business day on
which the Registered Exchange Offer shall remain open; and
(e) otherwise comply in all respects with all laws that are
applicable to the Registered Exchange Offer.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange
Offer, and any Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:
(a) accept for exchange all Securities tendered and not validly
withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and the Private
Exchange;
(b) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities so
accepted for exchange; and
(c) cause the Trustee or the Exchange Securities Trustee, as the
case may be, promptly to authenticate and deliver to each Holder, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, equal in
principal amount to the Securities of such Holder so accepted for
exchange.
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The Company shall use its reasonable 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 used by
all persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act for such period of time as such persons must comply with such requirements
in order to resell the Exchange Securities; provided that (i) in the case where
such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto must be delivered by an
Exchanging Dealer, such period shall be the lesser of 180 days and the date on
which all Exchanging Dealers have sold all Exchange Securities held by them and
(ii) the Company shall make such prospectus and any amendment or supplement
thereto available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any resale of
any Exchange Securities for a period of not less than 90 days after the
consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer.
The Indenture or the Exchange Securities Indenture, as the case may
be, shall provide that the Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Private
Exchange Securities shall vote and consent together on all matters as one class
and that none of the Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange
Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any
matter.
Interest on each Exchange Security and Private Exchange Security
issued pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and in the Private Exchange
will accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on
the Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid
on the Securities, from the Issue Date.
Each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer shall be
required to represent to the Company that at the time of the consummation of the
Registered Exchange Offer (i) any Exchange Securities received by such Holder
will be acquired in the ordinary course of business, (ii) such Holder will have
no arrangements or understanding with any person to participate in the
distribution of the Securities or the Exchange Securities within the meaning of
the Securities Act and (iii) such Holder is not an affiliate of the Company or,
if it is such an affiliate, such Holder will comply with the registration and
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable.
Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company will ensure
that (i) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and
any prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto complies in all
material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder, (ii) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any
amendment thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or
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necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (iii) any prospectus
forming part of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and any supplement to
such prospectus, does not, as of the consummation of the Registered Exchange
Offer, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit 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.
2. Shelf Registration. If (i) because of any change in law or
applicable interpretations thereof by the Commission's staff the Company is not
permitted to effect the Registered Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section 1
hereof, or (ii) for any other reason the Registered Exchange Offer is not
consummated within 180 days after the Issue Date, or (iii) any Initial Purchaser
so requests with respect to Securities or Private Exchange Securities not
eligible to be exchanged for Exchange Securities in the Registered Exchange
Offer and held by it following the consummation of the Registered Exchange
Offer, or (iv) any applicable law or interpretations do not permit any Holder to
participate in the Registered Exchange Offer, or (v) any Holder that
participates in the Registered Exchange Offer does not receive freely
transferable Exchange Securities in exchange for tendered Securities, or (vi)
the Company so elects, then the following provisions shall apply:
(a) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to file as
promptly as practicable (but in no event more than 45 days after so required or
requested pursuant to this Section 2) with the Commission, and thereafter shall
use its reasonable best efforts to cause to be declared effective, a shelf
registration statement on an appropriate form under the Securities Act relating
to the offer and sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined herein)
by the Holders thereof from time to time in accordance with the methods of
distribution set forth in such registration statement (hereafter, a "Shelf
Registration Statement" and, together with any Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, a "Registration Statement").
(b) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the
Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit the
prospectus forming part thereof to be used by Holders of Transfer Restricted
Securities for a period of two years from the Issue Date or such shorter period
that will terminate when all the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the
Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto (in any such case,
such period being called the "Shelf Registration Period"). The Company shall be
deemed not to have used its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf
Registration Statement effective during the requisite period if it voluntarily
takes any action that would result in Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities
covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such Transfer Restricted
Securities during that period, unless such action is required by applicable law.
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(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company will
ensure that (i) any Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and
any prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto complies in all
material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder, (ii) any Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment
thereto (in either case, other than with respect to information included therein
in reliance upon or in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by or on behalf of any Holder specifically for use therein (the
"Holders' Information")) does not, when it becomes effective, 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 not misleading and
(iii) any prospectus forming part of any Shelf Registration Statement, and any
supplement to such prospectus (in either case, other than with respect to
Holders' Information), does not include an untrue statement of a material fact
or omit 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.
3. Liquidated Damages. (a) The parties hereto agree that the Holders
of Transfer Restricted Securities will suffer damages if the Company fails to
fulfill its obligations under Section 1 or Section 2, as applicable, and that it
would not be feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages. Accordingly, if
(i) the applicable Registration Statement is not filed with the Commission on or
prior to 45 days after the Issue Date, (ii) the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, is not
declared effective within 150 days after the Issue Date (or in the case of a
Shelf Registration Statement required to be filed in response to a change in law
or the applicable interpretations of Commission's staff, if later, within 30
days after publication of the change in law or interpretation), (iii) the
Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated on or prior to 180 days after the
Issue Date, or (iv) the Shelf Registration Statement is filed and declared
effective within 150 days after the Issue Date (or in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement required to be filed in response to a change in law or
the applicable interpretations of Commission's staff, if later, within 30 days
after publication of the change in law or interpretation) but shall thereafter
cease to be effective (at any time that the Company is obligated to maintain the
effectiveness thereof) without being succeeded within 30 days by an additional
Registration Statement filed and declared effective (each such event referred to
in clauses (i) through (iv), a "Registration Default"), the Company will be
obligated to pay liquidated damages to each Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities, during the period of one or more such Registration Defaults, in an
amount equal to $ 0.192 per week per $1,000 principal amount (or Accreted Value,
as the case may be) of Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holder until
(i) the applicable Registration Statement is filed, (ii) the Exchange Offer
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Registration Statement is declared effective and the Registered Exchange Offer
is consummated, (iii) the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective or
(iv) the Shelf Registration Statement again becomes effective, as the case may
be. Following the cure of all Registration Defaults, the accrual of liquidated
damages will cease. As used herein, the term "Transfer Restricted Securities"
means (i) each Security until the date on which such Security has been exchanged
for a freely transferable Exchange Security in the Registered Exchange Offer,
(ii) each Security or Private Exchange Security until the date on which it has
been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in
accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (iii) each Security or
Private Exchange Security until the date on which it is distributed to the
public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or is saleable pursuant to
Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
in this Section 3(a), the Company shall not be required to pay liquidated
damages to a Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities if such Holder failed to
comply with its obligations to make the representations set forth in the second
to last paragraph of Section 1 or failed to provide the information required to
be provided by it, if any, pursuant to Section 4(n).
(b) The Company shall notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent under
the Indenture immediately upon the happening of each and every Registration
Default. The Company shall pay the liquidated damages due on the Transfer
Restricted Securities by depositing with the Paying Agent (which may not be the
Company for these purposes), in trust, for the benefit of the Holders thereof,
prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next interest payment date
specified by the Indenture and the Securities, sums sufficient to pay the
liquidated damages then due. The liquidated damages due shall be payable on each
interest payment date specified by the Indenture and the Securities to the
record holder entitled to receive the interest payment to be made on such date.
Each obligation to pay liquidated damages shall be deemed to accrue from and
including the date of the applicable Registration Default.
(c) The parties hereto agree that the liquidated damages provided
for in this Section 3 constitute a reasonable estimate of and are intended to
constitute the sole damages that will be suffered by Holders of Transfer
Restricted Securities by reason of the failure of (i) the Shelf Registration
Statement or the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be filed, (ii) the
Shelf Registration Statement to remain effective or (iii) the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement to be declared effective and the Registered Exchange
Offer to be consummated, in each case to the extent required by this Agreement.
4. Registration Procedures. In connection with any Registration
Statement, the following provisions shall apply:
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(a) The Company shall (i) furnish to the Initial Purchaser, prior to
the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of the Registration Statement and
each amendment thereof and each supplement, if any, to the prospectus included
therein and shall use its reasonable best efforts to reflect in each such
document, when so filed with the Commission, such comments as the Initial
Purchaser may reasonably propose; (ii) include the information set forth in
Annex A hereto on the cover, in Annex B hereto in the "Exchange Offer
Procedures" section and the "Purpose of the Exchange Offer" section and in Annex
C hereto in the "Plan of Distribution" section of the prospectus forming a part
of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and include the information set
forth in Annex D hereto in the Letter of Transmittal delivered pursuant to the
Registered Exchange Offer; and (iii) if requested by the Initial Purchaser,
include the information required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as
applicable, in the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement.
(b) The Company shall advise the Initial Purchaser, each Exchanging
Dealer and the Holders (if applicable) and, if requested by any such person,
confirm such advice in writing (which advice pursuant to clauses (ii)-(v) hereof
shall be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the prospectus
until the requisite changes have been made):
(i) when any Registration Statement and any amendment thereto has
been filed with the Commission and when such Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment thereto has become effective;
(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements
to any Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or for
additional information;
(iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending
the effectiveness of any Registration Statement or the initiation of any
proceedings for that purpose;
(iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect
to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities, the Exchange
Securities or the Private Exchange Securities for sale in any jurisdiction
or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and
(v) of the happening of any event that requires the making of any
changes in any Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein
in order that the statements therein are not misleading and do not omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading.
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(c) The Company will use reasonable best efforts to obtain the
withdrawal at the earliest possible time of any order suspending the
effectiveness of any Registration Statement.
(d) The Company will furnish to each Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities included within the coverage of any Shelf Registration Statement,
without charge, at least one conformed copy of such Shelf Registration Statement
and any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and
schedules and, if any such Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits thereto
(including those, if any, incorporated by reference).
(e) The Company will, during the Shelf Registration Period, promptly
deliver to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities included within the
coverage of any Shelf Registration Statement, without charge, as many copies of
the prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) included in such Shelf
Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Holder
may reasonably request; and the Company consents to the use of such prospectus
or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of
Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with the offer and sale of the
Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto.
(f) The Company will furnish to each Initial Purchaser and each
Exchanging Dealer, and to any other Holder who so requests, without charge, at
least one conformed copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules
and, if any Initial Purchaser or Exchanging Dealer or any such Holder so
requests in writing, all exhibits thereto (including those, if any, incorporated
by reference).
(g) The Company will, during the Exchange Offer Registration Period
or the Shelf Registration Period, as applicable, promptly deliver to each
Initial Purchaser, each Exchanging Dealer and such other persons that are
required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer,
without charge, as many copies of the final prospectus included in the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement and any
amendment or supplement thereto as such Initial Purchaser, Exchanging Dealer or
other persons may reasonably request; and the Company consents to the use of
such prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by any such Initial
Purchaser, Exchanging Dealer or other persons, as applicable, as aforesaid.
(h) Prior to the effective date of any Registration Statement, the
Company will use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify, or
cooperate with the Holders of Securities, Exchange Securities or Private
Exchange Securities included therein and their respective counsel in connection
with the
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registration or qualification of, such Securities, Exchange Securities or
Private Exchange Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky
laws of such jurisdictions as any such Holder reasonably requests in writing and
do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the offer
and sale in such jurisdictions of the Securities, Exchange Securities or Private
Exchange Securities covered by such Registration Statement; provided that the
Company will not be required to qualify generally to do business in any
jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take any action which would
subject it to general service of process or to taxation in any such jurisdiction
where it is not then so subject.
(i) The Company will cooperate with the Holders of Securities,
Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Securities, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities to be sold pursuant to any
Registration Statement free of any restrictive legends and in such denominations
and registered in such names as the Holders thereof may request in writing prior
to sales of Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities
pursuant to such Registration Statement.
(j) If any event contemplated by Section 4(b)(ii) through (v) occurs
during the period for which the Company is required to maintain an effective
Registration Statement, the Company will promptly prepare and file with the
Commission a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a
supplement to the related prospectus or file any other required document so
that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Securities, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities from a Holder, the prospectus will not
include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit 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.
(k) Not later than the effective date of the applicable Registration
Statement, the Company will provide a CUSIP number for the Securities, the
Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, and
provide the applicable trustee with printed certificates for the Securities, the
Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, in a
form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.
(l) The Company will comply with all applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission and will make generally available to its security
holders as soon as practicable after the effective date of the applicable
Registration Statement an earning statement satisfying the provisions of Section
11(a) of the Securities Act; provided that in no event shall such earning
statement be delivered later than 45 days after the end of a 12-month period (or
90 days, if such period is a fiscal year)
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beginning with the first month of the Company's first fiscal quarter commencing
after the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement, which
statement shall cover such 12-month period.
(m) The Company will cause the Indenture or the Exchange Securities
Indenture, as the case may be, to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act as
required by applicable law in a timely manner.
(n) The Company may require each Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities to be registered pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement to
furnish to the Company such information concerning the Holder and the
distribution of such Transfer Restricted Securities as the Company may from time
to time reasonably require for inclusion in such Shelf Registration Statement,
and the Company may exclude from such registration the Transfer Restricted
Securities of any Holder that fails to furnish such information within a
reasonable time after receiving such request.
(o) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities to be registered pursuant thereto agrees by
acquisition of such Transfer Restricted Securities that, upon receipt of any
notice from the Company pursuant to Section 4(b)(ii) through (v), such Holder
will discontinue disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities until such
Holder's receipt of copies of the supplemental or amended prospectus
contemplated by Section 4(j) or until advised in writing (the "Advice") by the
Company that the use of the applicable prospectus may be resumed. If the Company
shall give any notice under Section 4(b)(ii) through (v) during the period that
the Company is required to maintain an effective Registration Statement (the
"Effectiveness Period"), such Effectiveness Period shall be extended by the
number of days during such period from and including the date of the giving of
such notice to and including the date when each seller of Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by such Registration Statement shall have received (x) the
copies of the supplemental or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 4(j)
(if an amended or supplemental prospectus is required) or (y) the Advice (if no
amended or supplemental prospectus is required).
(p) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall
enter into such customary agreements (including, if requested, an underwriting
agreement in customary form) and take all such other action, if any, as Holders
of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities, Exchange
Securities and Private Exchange Securities being sold or the managing
underwriters (if any) shall reasonably request in order to facilitate any
disposition of Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities
pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement.
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(q) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall
(i) make reasonably available for inspection by a representative of, and Special
Counsel (as defined below) acting for, Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Securities, Exchange Securities and Private Exchange
Securities being sold and any underwriter participating in any disposition of
Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities pursuant to such
Shelf Registration Statement, all relevant financial and other records,
pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries
and (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to have its officers, directors,
employees, accountants and counsel supply all relevant information reasonably
requested by such representative, Special Counsel or any such underwriter (an
"Inspector") in connection with such Shelf Registration Statement.
(r) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company
shall, if requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Securities, Exchange Securities and Private Exchange Securities being sold,
their Special Counsel or the managing underwriters (if any) in connection with
such Shelf Registration Statement, use its reasonable best efforts to cause (i)
its counsel to deliver an opinion relating to the Shelf Registration Statement
and the Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as
applicable, in customary form, (ii) its officers to execute and deliver all
customary documents and certificates requested by Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Securities, Exchange Securities and Private
Exchange Securities being sold, their Special Counsel or the managing
underwriters (if any) and (iii) its independent public accountants to provide a
comfort letter in customary form, subject to receipt of appropriate
documentation as contemplated, and only if permitted, by Statement of Auditing
Standards No. 72.
5. Registration Expenses. The Company will bear all expenses
incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under Sections 1,
2, 3 and 4 and the Company will reimburse the Initial Purchaser and the Holders
for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm of attorneys (in addition
to any local counsel) chosen by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange
Securities to be sold pursuant to each Registration Statement (the "Special
Counsel") acting for the Initial Purchaser or Holders in connection therewith.
6. Indemnification. (a) In the event of a Shelf Registration
Statement or in connection with any prospectus delivery pursuant to an Exchange
Offer Registration Statement by an Initial Purchaser or Exchanging Dealer, as
applicable, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Holder
(including, without limitation, any such Initial Purchaser or Exchanging
Dealer), its affiliates, their respective officers, directors, employees,
representatives and agents, and each person, if any,
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who controls such Holder within the meaning of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act (collectively referred to for purposes of this Section 6 and
Section 7 as a Holder) from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability,
joint or several, or any action in respect thereof (including, without
limitation, any loss, claim, damage, liability or action relating to purchases
and sales of Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities), to
which that Holder may become subject, whether commenced or threatened, under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any other federal or state statutory law or
regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any such Registration
Statement or any prospectus forming part thereof or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, and shall reimburse each Holder promptly upon demand for
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by that Holder in connection
with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against or appearing as a
third party witness in connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability
or action as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company
shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim,
damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, an untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission from any of such
documents in reliance upon and in conformity with any Holders' Information; and
provided, further, that with respect to any such untrue statement in or omission
from any related preliminary prospectus, the indemnity agreement contained in
this Section 6(a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder from whom the
person asserting any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action received
Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities to the extent
that such loss, claim, damage, liability or action of or with respect to such
Holder results from the fact that both (A) a copy of the final prospectus was
not sent or given to such person at or prior to the written confirmation of the
sale of such Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities to
such person and (B) the untrue statement in or omission from the related
preliminary prospectus was corrected in the final prospectus unless, in either
case, such failure to deliver the final prospectus was a result of
non-compliance by the Company with Section 4(d), 4(e), 4(f) or 4(g).
(b) In the event of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder
shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its affiliates, their respective
officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents, and each person, if
any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act (collectively referred to for purposes of this Section 6(b) and
Section 7 as the Company), from and against any
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loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect
thereof, to which the Company may become subject, whether commenced or
threatened, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any other federal or
state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such
loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i)
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
any such Registration Statement or any prospectus forming part thereof or in any
amendment or supplement thereto or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that
the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
was made in reliance upon and in conformity with any Holders' Information
furnished to the Company by such Holder, and shall reimburse the Company for any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with
investigating or defending or preparing to defend against or appearing as a
third party witness in connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability
or action as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that no such Holder
shall be liable for any indemnity claims hereunder in excess of the amount of
net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Securities, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration
Statement.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 6 of notice of any claim or the commencement of any action, the
indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
indemnifying party pursuant to Section 6(a) or 6(b), notify the indemnifying
party in writing of the claim or the commencement of that action; provided,
however, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it
from any liability which it may have under this Section 6 except to the extent
that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive
rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to
notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it
may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 6. If any
such claim or action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall
notify the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled
to participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other
similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense thereof with
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice from the
indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the
defense of such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to
the indemnified party under this Section 6 for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof other than the reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however,
that an indemnified party shall have the right to employ
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its own counsel in any such action, but the fees, expenses and other charges of
such counsel for the indemnified party will be at the expense of such
indemnified party unless (1) the employment of counsel by the indemnified party
has been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (2) the indemnified
party has reasonably concluded (based upon advice of counsel to the indemnified
party) that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified
parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the
indemnifying party, (3) a conflict or potential conflict exists (based upon
advice of counsel to the indemnified party) between the indemnified party and
the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party will not have the
right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party)
or (4) the indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the indemnified party to assume the defense of such action
within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the commencement of the
action, in each of which cases the reasonable fees, disbursements and other
charges of counsel will be at the expense of the indemnifying party or parties.
It is understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection
with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable
for the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of more than one
separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) at any one time
for all such indemnified party or parties. Each indemnified party, as a
condition of the indemnity agreements contained in Sections 6(a) and 6(b), shall
use all reasonable efforts to cooperate with the indemnifying party in the
defense of any such action or claim. No indemnifying party shall be liable for
any settlement of any such action effected without its written consent (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with its written
consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action,
the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified
party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or
judgment. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the
indemnified party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), effect any
settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any
indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been
sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims
that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
7. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 6 is
unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section
6(a) or 6(b), then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such
indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified
party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect
thereof, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received
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by the Company from the offering and sale of the Securities, on the one hand,
and a Holder with respect to the sale by such Holder of Securities, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities, on the other, or (ii) if the
allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits
referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on
the one hand and such Holder on the other with respect to the statements or
omissions that resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in
respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The
relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and a Holder on the
other with respect to such offering and such sale shall be deemed to be in the
same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities
(before deducting expenses) received by or on behalf of the Company as set forth
in the table on the cover of the Offering Memorandum, on the one hand, bear to
the total proceeds received by such Holder with respect to its sale of
Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities, on the other.
The relative fault 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 the Company or
information supplied by the Company on the one hand or to any Holders'
Information supplied by such Holder on the other, the intent of the parties and
their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such untrue statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it
would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 7 were
to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation
that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein.
The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss,
claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in
this Section 7 shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 7, any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in
connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend any such
action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, an
indemnifying party that is a Holder of Securities, Exchange Securities or
Private Exchange Securities shall not be required to contribute any amount in
excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities sold by such indemnifying party to any
purchaser exceeds the amount of any damages which such indemnifying party has
otherwise paid or become liable to pay by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.
8. Rules 144 and 144A. The Company shall use its reasonable best
efforts to file the reports required to be filed
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by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act in a timely manner and, if
at any time the Company is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the
written request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, make publicly
available other information so long as necessary to permit sales of such
Holder's securities pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A. The Company covenants that
it will take such further action as any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable
such Holder to sell Transfer Restricted Securities without registration under
the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rules 144
and 144A (including, without limitation, the requirements of Rule 144A(d)(4)).
Upon the written request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, the
Company shall deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has
complied with such requirements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this
Section 8 shall be deemed to require the Company to register any of its
securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.
9. Underwritten Registrations. If any of the Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by any Shelf Registration Statement are to be sold in an
underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager
or managers that will administer the offering will be selected by the Holders of
a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Transfer Restricted Securities
included in such offering, subject to the consent of the Company (which shall
not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), and such Holders shall be responsible
for all underwriting commissions and discounts in connection therewith.
No person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder
unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person's Transfer Restricted
Securities on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements
approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements 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.
10. Miscellaneous. (a) 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, unless the
Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Private
Exchange Securities, taken as a single class. 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 whose Securities, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities are being sold pursuant to a
Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect the
rights of other Holders may be given by Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the
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Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities being
sold by such Holders pursuant to such Registration Statement.
(b) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail,
telecopier or air courier guaranteeing next-day delivery:
(1) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder
to the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Section 10(b),
which address initially is, with respect to each Holder, the address of
such Holder maintained by the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy
in like manner to Chase Securities Inc.;
(2) if to the Initial Purchaser, initially at its address set forth
in the Purchase Agreement; and
(3) if to the Company, initially at the address of the Company set
forth in the Purchase Agreement.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been
duly given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; one business day
after being delivered to a next-day air courier; five business days after being
deposited in the mail; and when receipt is acknowledged by the recipient's
telecopier machine, if sent by telecopier.
(c) Successors And Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the
Company and its successors and assigns.
(d) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts (which may be delivered in original form or by telecopier) 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.
(e) Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) the
term "business day" means any day on which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. is
open for trading, (b) the term "subsidiary" has the meaning set forth in Rule
405 under the Securities Act and (c) except where otherwise expressly provided,
the term "affiliate" has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities
Act.
(f) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(g) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
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(h) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by any
Holder of any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the
Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all
rights granted by law, including recovery of damages (other than the recovery of
damages for a breach by the Company of its obligations under Sections 1 or 2
hereof for which liquidated damages have been paid pursuant to Section 3
hereof), will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this
Agreement. The Company and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not be
adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of any
of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agree that, in the event
of any action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive
the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(i) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company represents, warrants and
agrees that (i) it has not entered into, shall not, on or after the date of this
Agreement, enter into any agreement that is inconsistent with the rights granted
to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions
hereof, (ii) it has not previously entered into any agreement which remains in
effect granting any registration rights with respect to any of its debt
securities to any person and (iii) without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, without the written consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the then outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities, it
shall not grant to any person the right to request the Company to register any
debt securities of the Company under the Securities Act unless the rights so
granted are not in conflict or inconsistent with the provisions of this
Agreement.
(j) No Piggyback on Registrations. Neither the Company nor any of
its security holders (other than the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities
in such capacity) shall have the right to include any securities of the Company
in any Shelf Registration or Registered Exchange Offer other than Transfer
Restricted Securities.
(k) Severability. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and
not exclusive of any remedies provided by law. 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 reasonable 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,
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covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter
declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
21
Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement
between the Company and the Initial Purchaser.
Very truly yours,
NBC Acquisition Corp.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
Accepted:
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
By:/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------------
Authorized Signatory
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ANNEX A
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own
account pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will
deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
The Letter of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a
prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it
may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer
in connection with resales of Exchange Securities received in exchange for
Securities where such Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result
of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed
that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date (as defined herein), it
will make this Prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection
with any such resale. See "Plan of Distribution."
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ANNEX B
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own
account in exchange for Securities, where such Securities were acquired by such
broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection
with any resale of such Exchange Securities. See "Plan of Distribution."
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ANNEX C
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own
account pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will
deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be
used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Securities
received in exchange for Securities where such Securities were acquired as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has
agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date, it will make
this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for
use in connection with any such resale. In addition, until _______________,
199_, all dealers effecting transactions in the Exchange Securities may be
required to deliver a prospectus.(1)
The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of Exchange
Securities by broker-dealers. Exchange Securities received by broker-dealers for
their own account pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer may be sold from
time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in
negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the Exchange
Securities or a combination of such methods of resale, at market prices
prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market
prices or at negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made directly to
purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in
the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker-dealer or the
purchasers of any such Exchange Securities. Any broker-dealer that resells
Exchange Securities that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the
Registered Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a
distribution of such Exchange Securities may be deemed to be an "underwriter"
within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit on any such resale of
Exchange Securities and any commission or concessions received by any such
persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act.
The Letter of Transmittal states that, by acknowledging that it will deliver and
by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it
is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.
For a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date the Company will
promptly send additional copies of this Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement to this Prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents
in the Letter of Transmittal. The Company has agreed to pay all expenses
incident
----------
(1) In addition, the legend required by Item 502(e) of Regulation S-K will
appear on the back cover page of the Registered Exchange Offer prospectus.
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to the Registered Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the
Holders of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any
broker-dealers and will indemnify the Holders of the Securities (including any
broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act.
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26
ANNEX D
o CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL
COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.
Name:____________________________________
Address:_________________________________
____________________________________
If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is
not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange
Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange
Securities for its own account in exchange for Securities that were acquired as
a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it
acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such Exchange Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a
prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.
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