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EXHIBIT 10.15
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9.625% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2008
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated April 28, 1998
by and among
TALON AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.,
VS HOLDINGS, INC.,
▇▇▇▇▇▇ HOLDINGS USA, INC.
and
▇▇▇▇▇▇ METAL PRODUCTS CO.,
and
SALOMON BROTHERS INC
and
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
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This Registration Rights Agreement is made and entered into
this 28th day of April, 1998, by and among Talon Automotive Group, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), VS Holdings, Inc., a Michigan corporation,
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Holdings USA, Inc., a Michigan corporation, and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Metal Products
Co., a Nova Scotia unlimited liability company (the "Guarantors" and, together
with the Company, the "Issuers"), and Salomon Brothers Inc and Credit Suisse
First Boston Corporation (the "Initial Purchasers").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement,
dated April 23, 1998, among the Company, the Guarantors and Initial Purchasers
(the "Purchase Agreement"). In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to enter
into the Purchase Agreement, the Issuers have agreed to provide the registration
rights provided for in this Agreement to the Initial Purchasers and their direct
and indirect transferees. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a
condition to the closing of the transactions contemplated by 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: As defined in Section 4(a) hereof.
Advice: As defined in the last paragraph of Section 5 hereof.
Affiliate: With respect to any specified person, "Affiliate"
shall mean any other person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by
or under direct or indirect common control with such specified person. For the
purposes of this definition, "control," when used with respect to any person,
means the power to direct the management and policies of such person, directly
or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract
or otherwise and the terms "affiliated," controlling" and "controlled" have
meanings correlative to the foregoing.
Agreement: This Registration Rights Agreement, as the same may
be amended, supplemented or modified from time to time in accordance with the
terms hereof.
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Business Day: Any day except a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on
which banking institutions in New York, New York generally are required or
authorized by law or other government action to be closed.
Company: As defined in the preamble hereof.
Consummate or consummate: When used to qualify the term
"Exchange Offer" shall mean validly and lawfully to issue and deliver the
Exchange Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer for all Notes validly tendered and
not validly withdrawn pursuant thereto in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement.
Consummation Date: The date that is 20 Business Days
immediately following the date that the Exchange Registration Statement shall
have been declared effective by the SEC (or such later date as shall be required
by applicable law).
Effectiveness Period: As defined in Section 3(a) hereof.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC pursuant thereto.
Exchange Date: As defined in Section 2(d) hereof.
Exchange Notes: The 9.625% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008,
Series B, of the Company, guaranteed on a senior subordinated basis by each of
the Guarantors, that are identical to the Notes in all material respects, except
that the provisions regarding restrictions on transfer shall be modified, as
appropriate, and the issuance thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer shall have
been registered pursuant to an effective Registration Statement in compliance
with the Securities Act.
Exchange Offer: An offer to issue, in exchange for any and all
of the Notes, a like aggregate principal amount of Exchange Notes, which offer
shall be made by the Company pursuant to Section 2 hereof.
Exchange Registration Statement: As defined in Section 2(a)
hereof.
Guarantors: As defined in the preamble hereof.
Indemnified Person: As defined in Section 7(a) hereof.
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Indenture: The Indenture, dated as of April 28, 1998, among
the Issuers and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as trustee thereunder,
pursuant to which the Notes are issued and, as amended or supplemented from time
to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
Initial Purchasers: As defined in the preamble hereof.
Issue Date: As defined in Section 2(a).
Issuers: As defined in the preamble hereof.
Notes: The 9.625% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008, Series
A, of the Company, guaranteed on a senior subordinated basis by each of the
Guarantors, issued pursuant to the Indenture.
Participating Broker-Dealer: As defined in Section 2(e)
hereof.
Private Exchange: As defined in Section 2(c) hereof.
Private Exchange Notes: As defined in Section 2(c) hereof.
Prospectus: The prospectus included in any Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that discloses
information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated pursuant to the
Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with
respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Notes, Exchange Notes
or Private Exchange Notes covered by such Registration Statement, and all other
amendments and supplements to any such prospectus, including post-effective
amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be
incorporated by reference, if any, in such prospectus.
Registration Default: As defined in Section 4(a) hereof.
Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the
Company and the Guarantors that covers any of the Notes, Exchange Notes or
Private Exchange Notes pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including
the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement or
Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits
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thereto, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated
by reference, if any, in such registration statement.
Rule 144: Rule 144 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the
Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar
rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC as a replacement thereto having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
Rule 144A: Rule 144A promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the
Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar
rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC as a replacement thereto having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
Rule 158: Rule 158 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the
Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar
rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC as a replacement thereto having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
Rule 174: Rule 174 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the
Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar
rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC as a replacement thereto having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
Rule 415: Rule 415 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the
Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar
rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC as a replacement thereto having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
Rule 424: Rule 424 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the
Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar
rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC as a replacement thereto having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
SEC: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder.
Shelf Registration: As defined in Section 3 hereof.
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Shelf Registration Statement: As defined in Section 3 hereof.
Special Counsel: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, special counsel to
the holders of Transfer Restricted Securities, or such other counsel as shall be
agreed upon by the Issuers and holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of Transfer Restricted Securities, the expenses of which holders of
Transfer Restricted Securities will be reimbursed by the Issuers pursuant to
Section 6.
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
Transfer Restricted Securities: The Notes, upon original
issuance thereof, and at all times subsequent thereto, each Exchange Note as to
which Section 3(a)(iii) 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) the date on which any such Note has been exchanged by a person
other than a Participating Broker-Dealer for an Exchange Note (other than with
respect to an Exchange Note as to which Section 3(a)(iii) hereof applies)
pursuant to the Exchange Offer, (ii) with respect to Exchange Notes received by
Participating Broker-Dealers in the Exchange Offer, the earlier of (x) the date
on which such Exchange Note has been sold by such Participating Broker-Dealer by
means of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Registration Statement and (y)
the date on which the Exchange Registration Statement has been effective under
the Securities Act for a period of 6 months after the Consummation Date, (iii) a
Shelf Registration Statement covering such Note, Exchange Note or Private
Exchange Note has been declared effective by the SEC and such Note, Exchange
Note or Private Exchange Note, as the case may be, has been disposed of in
accordance with such effective Shelf Registration Statement, (iv) the date on
which such Note, Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note, as the case may be, is
distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar provisions then
in effect) or is saleable pursuant to Rule 144(k) promulgated by the SEC
pursuant to the Securities Act or (v) the date on which such Note, Exchange Note
or Private Exchange Note, as the case may be, ceases to be outstanding for
purposes of the Indenture or any other indenture under which such Exchange Note
or Private Exchange Note was issued.
Trustee: The trustee under the Indenture.
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underwritten registration or underwritten offering: A
registration in connection with which securities are sold to an underwriter for
reoffering to the public pursuant to an effective Registration Statement.
2. Exchange Offer
(a) To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or applicable
interpretation of the staff of the SEC, the Issuers shall (A) prepare and, on or
prior to 60 days after the date of original issuance of the Notes (the "Issue
Date"), file with the SEC a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with
respect to an offer by the Company to the holders of the Notes to issue and
deliver to such holders, in exchange for Notes, a like principal amount of
Exchange Notes, (B) use their best efforts to cause the Registration Statement
relating to the Exchange Offer to be declared effective by the SEC under the
Securities Act on or prior to 150 days after the Issue Date, and (C) commence
the Exchange Offer and use their best efforts to issue, on or prior to the
Consummation Date, the Exchange Notes. The offer and sale of the Exchange Notes
pursuant to the Exchange Offer shall be registered pursuant to the Securities
Act on the appropriate form (the "Exchange Registration Statement") and duly
registered or qualified under all applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws
and will comply with all applicable tender offer rules and regulations under the
Exchange Act and state securities or Blue Sky laws. The Exchange Offer shall not
be subject to any condition, other than that the Exchange Offer does not violate
any applicable law or interpretation of the staff of the SEC. Upon consummation
of the Exchange Offer in accordance with this Section 2, the Issuers shall have
no further registration obligations other than with respect to (i) Private
Exchange Notes, (ii) Exchange Notes held by Participating Broker-Dealers and
(iii) Notes or Exchange Notes as to which Section 3(a)(iii) hereof applies. No
securities shall be included in the Exchange Registration Statement other than
the Exchange Notes.
(b) The Issuers may require each holder of Notes as a condition to its
participation in the Exchange Offer to represent to the Issuers and their
counsel in writing (which may be contained in the applicable letter of
transmittal) that at the time of the consummation of the Exchange Offer (i) any
Exchange Notes received by such holder will be acquired in the ordinary course
of its business, (ii) such holder will have no arrangement or understanding with
any person to participate in the distribution (within the mean-
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ing of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Notes and (iii) such holder is not an
Affiliate of an Issuer, or if it is an Affiliate of an Issuer, it will comply
with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act, to the extent applicable.
(c) If, prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer, an Initial
Purchaser holds any Notes acquired by it and having, or which are reasonably
likely to be determined to have, the status of an unsold allotment in the
initial distribution, or any other holder of Notes is not entitled to
participate in the Exchange Offer, the Company upon the request of such Initial
Purchaser or any such holder shall, simultaneously with the delivery of the
Exchange Notes in the Exchange Offer, issue and deliver to such Initial
Purchaser and any such holder, in exchange (the "Private Exchange") for such
Notes held by such Initial Purchaser and any such holder, a like principal
amount of debt securities of the Company, guaranteed by each of the Guarantors
on a senior subordinated basis, that are identical in all material respects to
the Exchange Notes (the "Private Exchange Notes") (and which are issued pursuant
to the same indenture as the Exchange Notes). The Private Exchange Notes shall
bear the same CUSIP number as the Exchange Notes.
(d) Unless the Exchange Offer would not be permitted by any applicable
law or interpretation of the staff of the SEC, the Company shall mail the
Exchange Offer Prospectus and appropriate accompanying documents, including
appropriate letters of transmittal, to each holder of Notes providing, in
addition to such other disclosures as are required by applicable law:
(i) that the Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to this Agreement and
that all Notes validly tendered will be accepted for exchange;
(ii) the date of acceptance for exchange (the "Exchange Date"), which date
shall in no event be later than the Consummation Date (unless otherwise
required by applicable law);
(iii) that holders of Notes electing to have a Note exchanged pursuant to
the Exchange Offer will be required to surrender such Note, together with
the enclosed letters of transmittal, to the institution and at the address
(located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) specified in the
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notice prior to the close of business on the Exchange Date; and
(iv) that holders of Notes that do not tender all such securities pursuant
to the Exchange Offer may no longer have any registration rights hereunder
with respect to Notes not tendered.
Promptly after the Exchange Date, the Company shall:
(i) accept for exchange all Notes or portions thereof validly tendered and
not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer or the Private
Exchange; and
(ii) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation
all Notes or portions thereof so accepted for exchange by the Company, and
issue, cause the Trustee under the Indenture (or the indenture pursuant to
which the Exchange Notes are issued) to authenticate, and mail to each
holder of Notes, Exchange Notes equal in principal amount to the principal
amount of the Notes surrendered by such holder.
(e) The Issuers and the Initial Purchasers acknowledge that the staff
of the SEC has taken the position that any broker-dealer that owns Exchange
Notes that were received by such broker-dealer for its own account in the
Exchange Offer (a "Participating Broker-Dealer") may be deemed to be an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and must deliver a
prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any
resale of such Exchange Notes (other than a resale of an unsold allotment
resulting from the original offering of the Notes).
The Issuers and the Initial Purchasers also acknowledge that it is
the SEC staff's position that if the Prospectus contained in the Exchange
Registration Statement includes a plan of distribution containing a statement to
the above effect and the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell
the Exchange Notes, without naming the Participating Broker-Dealers or
specifying the amount of Exchange Notes owned by them, such Prospectus may be
delivered by Participating Broker-Dealers to satisfy their prospectus delivery
obligations under the Securities Act in connection with resales of Exchange
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Notes for their own accounts, so long as the Prospectus otherwise meets the
requirements of the Securities Act.
In light of the foregoing, if requested by a Participating
Broker-Dealer, the Issuers agree (x) to use their best efforts to keep the
Exchange Registration Statement continuously effective for a period of up to 6
months or such earlier date as each Participating Broker-Dealer shall have
notified the Company in writing that such Participating Broker-Dealer has resold
all Exchange Notes acquired in the Exchange Offer, (y) to comply with the
provisions of Section 5 of this Agreement, as they relate to the Exchange Offer
and the Exchange Registration Statement, and (z) to deliver to such
Participating Broker-Dealer a "cold comfort" letter of the independent public
accountants of the Issuers and a legal opinion as to matters reasonably
requested by such Participating Broker-Dealer relating to the Exchange
Registration Statement and the related Prospectus and any amendments or
supplements thereto.
(f) The Initial Purchasers shall have no liability to any
Participating Broker-Dealer with respect to any request made pursuant to Section
2(e).
(g) Interest on the Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes
will accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on
the Notes surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid on
the Notes, from the date of the original issuance of the Notes.
(h) The Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes may 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 the Exchange Notes
shall not 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 one class and that neither the Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange
Notes nor the Notes will have the right to vote or consent as a separate class
on any matter.
3. Shelf Registration
(a) If (i) the Company is not permitted to consummate the Exchange
Offer because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by any applicable law or
applicable interpretation
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of the staff of the SEC or (ii) the Company has not consummated the
Exchange Offer within 180 days of the Issue Date and a holder of Notes so
requests or (iii) any holder of a Note notifies the Company on or prior to the
Exchange Date that (A) due to a change in law or policy it is not entitled to
participate in the Exchange Offer, (B) due to a change in law or policy it may
not resell the Exchange Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public
without delivering a prospectus and the Prospectus contained in the Exchange
Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales by such
holder or (C) it is a broker-dealer that owns Notes (including an Initial
Purchaser that holds Notes as part of an unsold allotment from the original
offering of the Notes) acquired directly from an Issuer or an Affiliate of an
Issuer or (iv) any holder of Private Exchange Notes so requests within 120 days
after the consummation of the Private Exchange (each such event referred to in
clauses (i) through (iv), a "Shelf Filing Event"), the Issuers shall cause to be
filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 415 a shelf registration statement (the
"Shelf Registration Statement") prior to the later of (x) 60 days after the
Issue Date and (y) 30 days after the occurrence of such Shelf Filing Event,
relating to all Transfer Restricted Securities (the "Shelf Registration") the
holders of which have provided the information required pursuant to Section 3(b)
hereof, and shall use their best efforts to have the Shelf Registration
Statement declared effective by the SEC on or prior to the later of (i) 150 days
after the Issue Date and (ii) 90 days after the occurrence of such Shelf Filing
Event. In such circumstances, the Issuers shall use their best efforts to keep
the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities
Act, until (A) 24 months following the date on which the Shelf Registration
Statement was initially declared effective (subject to extension pursuant to the
last paragraph of Section 5 hereof) or (B) if sooner, the date immediately
following the date that all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf
Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto (the "Effectiveness
Period"); provided that the Effectiveness Period shall be extended to the extent
required to permit dealers to comply with the applicable prospectus delivery
requirements of Rule 174 and as otherwise provided herein.
(b) No holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may include any of
its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant
to this Agreement unless and until such holder furnishes to the Company in
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ing, within 30 days after receipt of a request therefor, such information as
the Company may reasonably request for use in connection with any Shelf
Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary prospectus included therein.
No holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall be entitled to Additional
Interest pursuant to Section 4 hereof unless and until such holder shall have
provided all such reasonably requested information. Each holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities as to which any Shelf Registration Statement 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 holder not materially misleading.
4. Additional Interest
(a) The parties hereto agree that the holders of Transfer Restricted
Securities will suffer damages if the Issuers fail to fulfill their obligations
pursuant to Section 2 or Section 3, as applicable, and that it would not be
feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages. Accordingly, in the event that
(i) the applicable Registration Statement is not filed with the SEC on or prior
to the date specified herein for such filing, (ii) the applicable Registration
Statement has not been declared effective by the SEC on or prior to the date
specified herein for such effectiveness after such obligation arises, (iii) if
the Exchange Offer is required to be Consummated hereunder, the Company has not
exchanged Exchange Notes for all Notes validly tendered and not validly
withdrawn in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer by the Consummation
Date or (iv) the applicable Registration Statement is filed and declared
effective but shall thereafter cease to be effective without being succeeded
immediately by any additional Registration Statement covering the Notes, the
Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, which has been
filed and declared effective (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through
(iv), a "Registration Default"), then the interest rate on Transfer Restricted
Securities will increase ("Additional Interest"), with respect to the first
90-day period immediately following the occurrence of such Registration Default,
by 0.50% per annum and will increase by an additional 0.50% per annum with
respect to each subsequent 90-day period until such Registration Default has
been cured, up to a maximum amount of 1.50% per annum with respect to all
Registration Defaults. Following the cure of a Registration Default, the accrual
of Additional Interest with respect to such Registration Default will cease and
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upon the cure of all Registration Defaults the interest rate will revert to the
original rate.
(b) The Company shall notify the Trustee and paying agent under the
Indenture (or the trustee and paying agent under such other indenture under
which the Transfer Restricted Securities are issued) immediately upon the
happening of each and every Registration Default. The Company shall pay the
Additional Interest due on the Transfer Restricted Securities by depositing with
the paying agent (which shall not be the Company for these purposes) for the
Transfer Restricted Securities, in trust, for the benefit of the holders
thereof, prior to l1:00 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. The Additional Interest due shall be payable on each interest
payment date specified by the Indenture (or such other indenture) to the record
holder entitled to receive the interest payment to be made on such date. Each
obligation to pay Additional Interest shall be deemed to accrue from and
including the applicable Registration Default.
(c) The parties hereto agree that the Additional Interest provided
for in this Section 4 constitutes a reasonable estimate of the damages that will
be suffered by holders of Transfer Restricted Securities by reason of the
happening of any Registration Default.
5. Registration Procedures
In connection with the Issuers' registration obligations hereunder,
the Issuers shall effect such registrations on the appropriate form available
for the sale of the Notes, the Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes, as
applicable, to (i) in the case of the Exchange Offer, permit the exchange of
Exchange Notes for Notes in the Exchange Offer and, if applicable, resales of
Exchange Notes by Participating Broker-Dealers and (ii) in the case of a Shelf
Registration, permit the sale of the applicable Transfer Restricted Securities
in accordance with the method or methods of disposition thereof specified by the
holders of such Transfer Restricted Securities, and pursuant thereto the Issuers
shall as expeditiously as possible:
(a) In the case of a Shelf Registration, a reasonable period of
time prior to the initial filing of a Shelf Registration Statement or
Prospectus and a reasonable period of time prior to the filing of any
amendment or supplement thereto (including any document
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that would be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by
reference), furnish to the holders of the Transfer Restricted
Securities included in such Shelf Registration Statement, their Special
Counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, copies of all such
documents proposed to be filed, which documents (other than those
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference) will be subject
to the review of such holders, their Special Counsel and such
underwriters, if any, and cause the officers and directors of the
Issuers, counsel to the Issuers and independent certified public
accountants to the Issuers to respond to such reasonable inquiries as
shall be necessary, in the opinion of respective counsel to such
holders and such underwriters, to conduct a reasonable investigation
within the meaning of the Securities Act; provided that the Issuers
shall not be deemed to have kept a Shelf Registration Statement
effective during the applicable period if any of them voluntarily takes
or fails to take any reasonable action that results in holders of the
Transfer Restricted Securities covered thereby not being able to sell
such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Federal securities laws
during that period (and the time period during which such Shelf
Registration Statement is required to remain effective hereunder shall
be extended by the number of days during which such holders of Transfer
Restricted Securities are not able to sell such Transfer Restricted
Securities). The Issuers shall not file any such Shelf Registration
Statement or related Prospectus or any amendments or supplements
thereto which the holders of a majority of the Transfer Restricted
Securities included in such Shelf Registration Statement shall
reasonably object on a timely basis;
(b) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments, including
post-effective amendments, to each Registration Statement as may be
necessary to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective
for the applicable time period required hereunder; cause the related
Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement,
and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; and comply
with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with
respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such
Registration Statement during such period in accordance with the
intended methods of disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in
such Registration
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Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented;
(c) Notify the holders of Transfer Restricted Securities to be
sold or, in the case of an Exchange Offer, tendered for, their Special
Counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, promptly, and (if
requested by any such person), confirm such notice in writing, (i)(A)
when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment is proposed to be filed, and (B) with respect to a
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same
has become effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any other
Federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements
to a Registration Statement or related Prospectus or for additional
information, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC, any state securities
commission, any other governmental agency or any court of any stop
order, order or injunction suspending or enjoining the use of a
Prospectus or the effectiveness of a 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 or exemption from qualification of any of the Notes,
Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes for sale in any jurisdiction,
or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose,
and (v) of the happening of any event or information becoming known
that makes any statement made in a 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 such Registration Statement, Prospectus or
documents so that 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 a 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;
(d) Use their best efforts to avoid the issuance of or, if
issued, obtain the withdrawal of any order enjoining or suspending the
use of a Prospectus or the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or
the lift-
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ing of any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from
qualification) of any of the Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange
Notes for sale in any jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable moment;
(e) If a Shelf Registration Statement is filed pursuant to
Section 3 hereof and if requested by the managing underwriters, if any,
or the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Transfer Restricted Securities being sold pursuant to such Shelf
Registration Statement, (i) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the managing
underwriters, if any, and such holders reasonably believe should be
included therein, and (ii) make all required filings of such Prospectus
supplement or such post-effective amendment under the Securities Act as
soon as practicable after the Company has received notification of the
matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment; provided, however, that the Issuers shall not
be required to take any action pursuant to this Section 5(e) that
would, in the opinion of counsel for the Issuers, violate or be
inconsistent with applicable law;
(f) Upon written request to the Company, furnish to each
holder of Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes to be
exchanged or sold pursuant to a Registration Statement, their Special
Counsel and each managing underwriter, if any, without charge, at least
one conformed copy of such Registration Statement and each amendment
thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and all
exhibits to the extent requested (including those previously furnished
or incorporated by reference) as soon as practicable after the filing
of such documents with the SEC;
(g) Deliver to each holder of Notes, Exchange Notes or Private
Exchange Notes to be exchanged or sold pursuant to a Registration
Statement, their Special Counsel, and the underwriters, if any, without
charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (including each form of
prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto as such persons
reasonably request; and the Issuers hereby consent to the use of such
Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the
selling
17
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holders of Transfer Restricted Securities and the underwriters, if any,
in connection with the offering and sale of the Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement
thereto;
(h) Prior to any public offering of Notes, Exchange Notes or
Private Exchange Notes, use their best efforts to register or qualify
or cooperate with the holders of Notes, Exchange Notes or Private
Exchange Notes to be sold or tendered for, the underwriters, if any,
and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or
qualification (or exemption from such registration or qualification) of
such Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes for offer and sale
under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the
United States as any such holder or underwriter reasonably requests in
writing; keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption
therefrom) effective during the period such Registration Statement is
required to be kept effective hereunder and do any and all other acts
or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such
jurisdictions of the Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes
covered by the applicable Registration Statement; provided, however,
that the Issuers shall not be required to (i) qualify generally to do
business in any jurisdiction where they are not then so qualified or
(ii) take any action which would subject them to general service of
process or to taxation in any jurisdiction where they are not so
subject;
(i) In connection with any sale or transfer of Transfer
Restricted Securities that will result in such securities no longer
being Transfer Restricted Securities, cooperate with the holders
thereof and the managing underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Transfer
Restricted Securities 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 to enable such Transfer Restricted
Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as
the managing underwriters, if any, or such holders may request at least
two Business Days prior to any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities;
18
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(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section
5(c)(v), as promptly as practicable, prepare a supplement or amendment,
including, if appropriate, a post-effective amendment, to each
Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any
document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by
reference, and file any other required document so that, as thereafter
delivered, 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;
(k) Prior to the effective date of the Exchange Registration
Statement, to provide a CUSIP number for the Exchange Notes (and
Private Exchange Notes if applicable);
(l) If a Shelf Registration Statement is filed pursuant to
Section 3 hereof, enter into such agreements (including an underwriting
agreement in form, scope and substance as is customary in underwritten
offerings) and take all such other reasonable actions in connection
therewith (including those reasonably requested by the managing
underwriters, if any, or the holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold) in
order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Transfer
Restricted Securities, and, whether or not an underwriting agreement is
entered into and whether or not the registration is an underwritten
registration, (i) make such representations and warranties to the
holders of such Transfer Restricted Securities and the underwriters, if
any, with respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries
(including with respect to businesses or assets acquired or to be
acquired by any of them), and the Shelf Registration Statement,
Prospectus and documents, if any, incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference therein, in each case, in form, substance and
scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in
underwritten offerings, and confirm the same if and when requested;
(ii) use their best efforts to obtain opinions of counsel to the
Issuers and updates thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope
and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the managing
underwriters, if any, and Special Counsel to the
19
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holders of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold),
addressed to each selling holder of Transfer Restricted Securities and
each of the underwriters, if any, covering the matters customarily
covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings and such other
matters as may be reasonably requested by such Special Counsel and
underwriters; (iii) use their best efforts to obtain customary "cold
comfort" letters and updates thereof 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 is, or is required to be, included in the
Shelf Registration Statement), addressed (where reasonably possible) to
each selling holder of Transfer Restricted Securities and each of the
underwriters, if any, such letters to be in customary form and covering
matters of the type customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in
connection with underwritten offerings; (iv) if an underwriting
agreement is entered into, the same shall contain indemnification
provisions and procedures no less favorable to the selling holders and
the underwriters, if any, 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 Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement and the
managing underwriters, if any); and (v) deliver such documents and
certificates as may be reasonably requested by the holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted
Securities being sold, their Special Counsel and the managing
underwriters, if any, to evidence the continued validity of the
representations and warranties made pursuant to clause (i) above and to
evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in the
underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Issuers;
(m) In the case of a Shelf Registration, make available for
inspection by a representative of the holders of Transfer Restricted
Securities being sold, any underwriter participating in any such
disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities, and any attorney,
consultant or accountant retained by such selling holders or
underwriter, at the offices where normally kept, during reasonable
business hours, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate
documents and prop-
20
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erties of the Company and its subsidiaries (including with respect to
businesses and assets acquired or to be acquired to the extent that
such information is available to the Company), and cause the officers,
directors, agents and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries
(including with respect to businesses and assets acquired or to be
acquired to the extent that such information is available to the
Company) to supply all information in each case reasonably requested by
any such representative, underwriter, attorney, consultant or
accountant in connection with such Shelf Registration; provided,
however, that such persons shall first agree in writing with the
Company that any information that is reasonably and in good faith
designated by the Company in writing as confidential at the time of
delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by such
persons, unless (i) disclosure of such information is required by court
or administrative order or is necessary to respond to inquiries of
regulatory authorities, (ii) disclosure of such information is required
by law (including any disclosure requirements pursuant to Federal
securities laws in connection with the filing of the Shelf Registration
Statement or the use of any Prospectus), (iii) such information becomes
generally available to the public other than as a result of a
disclosure or failure to safeguard such information by such person or
(iv) such information becomes available to such person from a source
other than the Company and its subsidiaries and such source is not
bound by a confidentiality agreement; and provided, further, that the
foregoing inspection and information gathering shall be coordinated by
one counsel designated by and on behalf of such other persons;
(n) Provide an indenture trustee for the Notes and/or the
Exchange Notes and Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, and
cause an indenture to be qualified under the TIA not later than the
effective date of the first Registration Statement relating to the
Notes and/or the Exchange Notes and Private Exchange Notes, as the case
may be; and if such indenture shall be the Indenture, in connection
therewith, cooperate with the Trustee and the holders of the Notes
and/or the Exchange Notes and Private Exchange Notes, to effect such
changes to the Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to be so
qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA; and execute, and use
its reasonable efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all customary
docu-
21
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ments as may be required to effect such changes, and all other forms
and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable the Indenture
to be so qualified in a timely manner;
(o) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
SEC and make generally available to their securityholders earning
statements satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities
Act and Rule 158, 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 Transfer Restricted Securities are sold to underwriters in a firm
commitment or reasonable efforts underwritten offering and (ii) if not
sold to underwriters in such an offering, commencing on the first day
of the first fiscal quarter after the effective date of a Registration
Statement, which statement shall cover said period, consistent with the
requirements of Rule 158; and
(p) Cooperate with each seller of Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by any Registration Statement and each underwriter,
if any, participating in the disposition of such Transfer Restricted
Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings
required to be made with the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc.
(q) Use their best efforts to cause the Exchange Notes, if
issued, to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange on or prior to the
consummation of the Exchange Offer.
The Issuers may require a holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities to be included in a Registration Statement to furnish to the Issuers
such information regarding the distribution of such Transfer Restricted
Securities as is required by law to be disclosed in such Registration Statement
and the Issuers may exclude from such Registration Statement the Transfer
Restricted Securities of any holder who unreasonably fails to furnish such
information within a reasonable time after receiving such request.
If any such Registration Statement refers to any holder by
name or otherwise as the holder of any securities of an Issuer, then such holder
shall have the right to require (i)
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the insertion therein of language, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to such holder, to the effect that the holding by such holder of such securities
is not to be construed as a recommendation by such holder of the investment
quality of the Issuers' securities covered thereby and that such holding does
not imply that such holder will assist in meeting any future financial
requirements of the Issuers, or (ii) in the event that such reference to such
holder by name or otherwise is not required by the Securities Act, the deletion
of the reference to such holder in any amendment or supplement to the
Registration Statement filed or prepared subsequent to the time that such
reference ceases to be required.
In the case of a Shelf Registration pursuant to Section 3
hereof, each holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agrees by acquisition of
such Transfer Restricted Securities that, upon receipt of any notice from the
Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 5(c)(ii),
5(c)(iii), 5(c)(iv) or 5(c)(v) hereof, such holder will forthwith discontinue
disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration
Statement or Prospectus until such holder's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(j) hereof, or until
it is advised in writing (the "Advice") by the Company that the use of the
applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either case, has received copies
of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in such Prospectus. If the Company shall give any such
notice, the 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 holder of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by
such Registration Statement shall have received (x) the copies of the
supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(j) hereof or (y)
the Advice, and, in either case, has received copies of any additional or
supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference in such Prospectus.
6. Registration Expenses
All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or
compliance with this Agreement by the Issuers shall be borne by the Issuers
whether or not any Registration Statement is filed or becomes effective and
whether or not any Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes are issued or
sold pursuant to any Registration Statement. The fees and expenses referred to
in the foregoing sentence shall include, without
23
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limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation,
fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings required to be made with the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and (B) in compliance with
securities or Blue Sky laws), (ii) printing expenses (including, without
limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Notes, Exchange Notes and
Private Exchange Notes in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust
Company and of printing Prospectuses), (iii) reasonable fees and disbursements
of counsel for the Issuers and the Special Counsel, (iv) fees and disbursements
of all independent certified public accountants referred to in Section 2(e) and
Section 5(l)(iii) hereof (including, without limitation, the expenses of any
special audit and "cold comfort" letters required by or incident to such
performance), and (v) fees and expenses of all other persons retained by the
Issuers. In addition, the Issuers shall pay their internal expenses (including,
without limitation, all salaries and expenses of their respective officers and
employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual
audit, and the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the
Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes to be registered on any
securities exchange. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything in this Agreement
to the contrary, each holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall pay all
underwriting discounts and commissions of any underwriters with respect to any
Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes sold by it.
7. Indemnification
(a) The Issuers agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold
harmless (i) each Initial Purchaser, each holder of Notes, Exchange Notes and
Private Exchange Notes and each Participating Broker-Dealer, (ii) each person,
if any, who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20
of the Exchange Act) any of the foregoing (any of the persons referred to in
this clause (ii) being hereinafter referred to as a "controlling person"), and
(iii) the respective officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives
and agents of the Initial Purchasers, each holder of Notes, Exchange Notes and
Private Exchange Notes, each Participating Broker-Dealer and any controlling
person (any person referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) may hereinafter be
referred to as an "Indemnified Person"), from and against any and all losses,
claims, damages, liabilities and judgments arising out of or relating to any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Registration Statement, Prospectus or
24
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preliminary prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or arising out
of or relating to any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
(in the case of any Prospectus or preliminary prospectus or supplement thereto,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except
insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments are caused by
any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission
based upon information relating to any Indemnified Person furnished in writing
to the Issuers by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person expressly for use
therein; provided that the foregoing indemnity with respect to any preliminary
prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Indemnified Person from whom
the person asserting such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments
purchased securities if such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue
statement or omission made in such preliminary prospectus is eliminated or
remedied in the Prospectus and a copy of the Prospectus shall not have been
furnished to such person in a timely manner due to the wrongful action or
wrongful inaction of such Indemnified Person.
(b) In case any action shall be brought against any Indemnified Person,
based upon any Registration Statement or any such Prospectus or preliminary
prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto and with respect to which
indemnity may be sought against the Issuers hereunder, such Indemnified Person
shall promptly notify the Issuers in writing and the Company shall assume the
defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to
such Indemnified Person and payment of all fees and expenses. Any Indemnified
Person shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and
participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel
shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person, unless (i) the employment of
such counsel shall have been specifically authorized in writing by the Issuers,
(ii) the Company shall have failed to assume the defense and employ counsel or
pay all such fees and expenses or (iii) the named parties to any such action
(including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Person and an
Issuer and such Indemnified Person shall have been advised by counsel that there
may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from or
additional to those available to any such Issuer (in which case the Company
shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action on behalf of
25
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such Indemnified Person, it being understood, however, that the Issuers shall
not, in connection with any one such action or separate but substantially
similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same
general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and
expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local
counsel) for all such Indemnified Persons, which firm shall be designated in
writing by such Indemnified Persons, and that all such reasonable fees and
expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred). The Issuers shall not be
liable for any settlement of any such action effected without their written
consent but if settled with the written consent of the Issuers, the Issuers
agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified
Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement. No
Issuer shall, without the prior written consent of each Indemnified Person,
effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of
which any Indemnified Person is a party and indemnity could have been sought
hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release of such Indemnified Person from all liability on claims
that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
(c) In connection with any Registration Statement pursuant to which a
holder of Transfer Restricted Securities offers or sells Transfer Restricted
Securities, such holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold
harmless the Issuers, their respective directors and officers and any person
controlling an Issuer 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 Issuers to each Indemnified Person but only with respect to information
relating to such holder furnished in writing by or on behalf of such holder
expressly for use in such Registration Statement. In any such case in which any
action shall be brought against an Issuer, any director or officer of an Issuer
or any person controlling an Issuer based on such Registration Statement and in
respect of which indemnity may be sought against a holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities, such holder shall have the rights and duties given to the Issuers
(except that if an Issuer shall have assumed the defense thereof, such holder
shall not be required to do so, but may employ separate counsel therein and
participate in the defense thereof but the fees and expenses of such counsel
shall be at the expense of such holder), and the Issuers, their respective
directors and officers and any person controlling an Issuer shall have the
26
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rights and duties given to the Indemnified Persons by Section 7(b) hereof.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is
unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or judgments referred to herein, then each indemnifying party, in
lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid
or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities and judgments (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect the relative benefits received by each indemnifying party on the one
hand and the indemnified party on the other hand from the offering of the Notes,
the Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be (it being
expressly understood and agreed that the relative benefits received by the
Issuers from the offering of the Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange
Notes, as the case may be, shall be the amount of the net proceeds received by
the Company from the sale of the Notes to the Initial Purchasers), 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 each indemnifying
party on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other hand in connection
with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or judgments, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault of the each indemnifying party on the one
hand the indemnified party on the other hand shall be determined by reference
to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by an indemnifying party or such indemnified party and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission.
The Issuers and the Initial Purchasers agree that it would not be just
and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7(d) were determined by
pro rata allocation (even if the Indemnified Person were treated as one entity
for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take
account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to in the immediately
preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the
27
-26-
limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such
action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no
Indemnified Person shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the
amount by which the net profits received by it in connection with the sale of
the Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes contemplated by this
Agreement exceeds the amount of any damages which such Indemnified Person has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. The Indemnified Person's obligations to contribute
pursuant to this Section 7(d) are several in proportion to the respective amount
of Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes included in any such
Registration Statement by each Indemnified Person and not joint.
8. Rules 144 and 144A
Each of Issuers shall use its best efforts to file the reports
required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act in a
timely manner and, if at any time it is not required to file such reports but in
the past had been required to or did file such reports, it will, upon the
request of any holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, make available other
information as required by, and so long as necessary to permit, sales of its
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, nothing in this Section 8 shall be deemed to require an Issuer 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 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 will not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed).
No person may participate in any underwritten registration
hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such Transfer Restricted
Securities on the basis reasonably provided
28
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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
required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
10. Miscellaneous
(a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by an Issuer or by a holder of
Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes of any of its obligations under
this Agreement, each holder of Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes
and each Issuer, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by
law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of
its rights under this Agreement. Subject to Section 4 hereof, the Issuers and
each holder of Notes, Exchange Notes and Private Exchange Notes agree that
monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by
reason of a breach of any of the provisions of this Agreement and each hereby
further agrees 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.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Issuers will not enter into any
agreement with respect to their securities that is inconsistent with the rights
granted to the holders of Notes, Exchange Notes and Private Exchange Notes and
Indemnified Persons in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions
hereof. Without the written consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities, the Issuers
shall not grant to any person any rights which conflict with or are inconsistent
with the provisions of this Agreement.
(c) No Piggyback on Registrations. The Issuers shall not grant to any
of their securityholders (other than the holders of Transfer Restricted
Securities in such capacity) the right to include any of their securities in any
Registration Statement other than Transfer Restricted Securities.
(d) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including
the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented,
and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be
given, otherwise than with the prior written consent of the
29
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holders of not less than a majority of the then outstanding aggregate
principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided, however, that, for
the purposes of this Agreement, Transfer Restricted Securities that are owned,
directly or indirectly, by the Issuers or any of their Affiliates are not deemed
outstanding. 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 Transfer Restricted Securities whose securities are being
sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or
indirectly affect the rights of other holders of Transfer Restricted Securities
may be given by holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Transfer Restricted Securities 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
no amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent with respect to
Section 7 shall be made or given otherwise than with the prior written consent
of each Indemnified Person affected thereby.
(e) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for herein
shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, next-day air courier, certified
first-class mail, return receipt requested, telex or telecopier:
(i) if to the Issuers, as provided in the Purchase Agreement,
(ii) if to the Initial Purchasers, as provided in the Purchase Agreement, or
(iii) if to any other person who is then the registered holder of Notes,
Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes, to the address of such holder as it
appears in the register therefor of the Company.
Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all such communications
shall be deemed to have been duly given: when delivered by hand, if personally
delivered; one business day after being timely delivered to a next-day air
courier; five business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid,
if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; and when receipt is acknowledged by
the recipient's telecopier machine, if telecopied.
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(f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the
parties and shall inure to the benefit of each holder of Notes, Exchange Notes
and Private Exchange Notes. The Issuers may not assign any of their rights or
obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities and each Indemnified Person. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, no successor or assignee of an Issuer shall have any of the rights
granted under this Agreement until such person shall acknowledge its rights and
obligations hereunder by a signed written statement of such person's acceptance
of such rights and obligations.
(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and, all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.
(h) Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE
GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK,
AS APPLIED TO CONTRACTS MADE AND PERFORMED WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE
ISSUERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY NEW YORK STATE
COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK OR ANY FEDERAL
COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK IN RESPECT OF
ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, AND
EACH IRREVOCABLY ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY
AND UNCONDITIONALLY, JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS.
(i) 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 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
31
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may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(j) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof. All
references made in this Agreement to "Section" and "paragraph" refer to such
Section or paragraph of this Agreement, unless expressly stated otherwise.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Registration
Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
TALON AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.
By:______________________________
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President
VS HOLDINGS, INC.
By:_______________________________
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President
VETRI HOLDINGS USA, INC.
By:________________________________
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President
▇▇▇▇▇▇ METAL PRODUCTS CO.
By:_________________________________
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President
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SALOMON BROTHERS INC
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
By: SALOMON BROTHERS INC
By: __________________________________
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Associate