REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT by and among The Bon-Ton Department Stores, Inc., the Guarantor named herein, and Banc of America Securities LLC Citigroup Global Markets Inc. Dated as of March 6, 2006
EXHIBIT 10.1
by and among
The Bon-Ton Department
Stores, Inc.,
the Guarantor named herein,
Stores, Inc.,
the Guarantor named herein,
and
Banc of America Securities LLC
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Dated as of March 6, 2006
This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of March 6,
2006, by and among The Bon-Ton Department Stores, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (the “Company”),
The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (“Parent”) and other guarantors listed on
Schedule I hereto (together with the Parent, the “Guarantors”), and Banc of America Securities LLC
and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (collectively, the “Initial Purchasers”), each of whom has agreed
to purchase the Company’s 101/4% Senior Notes due 2014 (the “Initial Notes”) fully and
unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantors (the “Guarantees”) pursuant to the Purchase Agreement
(as defined below). The Initial Notes and the Guarantees attached thereto are herein collectively
referred to as the “Initial Securities.”
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated March 2, 2006 (the “Purchase
Agreement”), among the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers (i) for the benefit of
the Initial Purchasers and (ii) for the benefit of the holders from time to time of the Initial
Securities, including the Initial Purchasers. In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to purchase
the Initial Securities, the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this
Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the obligations of the
Initial Purchasers set forth in Section 5(h) of the Purchase Agreement.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have
the following meanings:
Agreement: As defined in the preamble hereto.
Broker-Dealer: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.
Business Day: Any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or U.S. federal holiday or a day on which
banking institutions or trust companies located in New York, New York are authorized or obligated
to be closed.
Closing Date: The date of this Agreement.
Commission: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
Company: As defined in the preamble hereto.
Consummate: A registered Exchange Offer shall be deemed “Consummated” for purposes of this
Agreement upon the occurrence of (i) the filing and effectiveness under the Securities Act of the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Securities to be issued in the
Exchange Offer, (ii) the maintenance of such Registration Statement continuously effective and the
keeping of the Exchange Offer open for a period not less than the minimum period required pursuant
to Section 3(b) hereof and (iii) the delivery by the Company to the Registrar under the Indenture
of Exchange Securities in an aggregate principal amount equal to the
aggregate principal amount of Initial Securities tendered by Holders thereof pursuant to the
Exchange Offer and not withdrawn.
Effectiveness Target Date: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Exchange Offer: The registration by the Company under the Securities Act of the Exchange
Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement pursuant to which the Company offers the Holders of
all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities the opportunity to exchange all such outstanding
Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holders for Exchange Securities in an aggregate
principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities
tendered pursuant to such exchange offer by such Holders and not withdrawn.
Exchange Offer Registration Statement: The Registration Statement relating to the Exchange
Offer, including the related Prospectus.
Exempt Resales: The transactions in which the Initial Purchasers propose to sell the Initial
Securities to certain “qualified institutional buyers,” as such term is defined in Rule 144A under
the Securities Act and to certain non-U.S. persons pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities
Act.
Exchange Securities: The 101/4% Senior Notes due 2014, of the same series under the Indenture
as the Initial Notes and the Guarantees attached thereto, to be issued to Holders in exchange for
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to this Agreement.
Guarantors: As defined in the preamble hereto.
Holder: As defined in Section 2(b) hereof.
Indemnified Holder: As defined in Section 8(a) hereof.
Indenture: The Indenture, dated as of March 6, 2006, by and among the Company, the Guarantors
and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the “Trustee”), pursuant to which the Securities are to be
issued, as such Indenture is amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms
thereof.
Initial Purchasers: As defined in the preamble hereto.
Initial Notes: As defined in the preamble hereto.
Initial Placement: The issuance and sale by the Company of the Initial Securities to the
Initial Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
Initial Securities: As defined in the preamble hereto.
Interest Payment Date: As defined in the Securities.
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NASD: National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Person: An individual, partnership, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, or a
government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
Parent: As defined in the preamble hereto.
Prospectus: The prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented
by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments thereto, including post-effective
amendments, and all material incorporated by reference into such Prospectus.
Purchase Agreement: As defined in the preamble hereto.
Registration Default: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company relating to (a) an offering
of Exchange Securities pursuant to an Exchange Offer or (b) the registration for resale of Transfer
Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, which is filed pursuant to the
provisions of this Agreement, in each case, including the Prospectus included therein, all
amendments and supplements thereto (including post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and
material incorporated by reference therein.
Securities: The Initial Securities and the securities issued in exchange therefore or in lieu
thereof pursuant to the Indenture.
Securities Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Shelf Filing Deadline: As defined in Section 4(a) hereof.
Shelf Registration Statement: As defined in Section 4(a) hereof.
Trust Indenture Act: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
Transfer Restricted Securities: Each Initial Security, until the earliest to occur of (a) the
date on which such Initial Security is exchanged in the Exchange Offer for an Exchange Security
entitled to be resold to the public by the Holder thereof without complying with the prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities Act, (b) the date on which such Initial Security has been
effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with a Shelf
Registration Statement and (c) the date on which such Initial Security is distributed to the public
pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the “Plan of
Distribution” contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (including delivery of the
Prospectus contained therein).
Underwritten Registration or Underwritten Offering: A registration in which securities of the
Company are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the public.
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SECTION 2. Securities Subject to this Agreement.
(a) Transfer Restricted Securities. The securities entitled to the benefits of this Agreement
are the Transfer Restricted Securities.
(b) Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities. A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities (each, a “Holder”) whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities.
SECTION 3. Registered Exchange Offer.
(a) Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permissible under applicable law or Commission
policy (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a) hereof have been complied with), each of the
Company and the Guarantors shall (i) cause to be filed with the Commission within 90 days after the
Closing Date (or, if such 90th day is not a Business Day, by the next Business Day), a Registration
Statement under the Securities Act relating to the Exchange Securities and the Exchange Offer, (ii)
use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective
by the Commission within 180 days after the Closing Date (or, if such 180th day is not a Business
Day, by the next Business Day), (iii) in connection with the foregoing, file (A) all pre-effective
amendments to such Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to cause such Registration
Statement to become effective, (B) if applicable, a post-effective amendment to such Registration
Statement pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act and (C) cause all necessary filings in
connection with the registration and qualification of the Exchange Securities to be made under the
state securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as are necessary to permit Consummation of
the Exchange Offer, and (iv) upon the effectiveness of such Registration Statement, commence the
Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall be on the appropriate form permitting registration of the
Exchange Securities to be offered in exchange for the Transfer Restricted Securities and to permit
resales of Exchange Securities held by Broker-Dealers as contemplated by Section 3(c) hereof.
(b) The Company and the Guarantors shall cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be
effective continuously and shall keep the Exchange Offer open for a period of not less than the
minimum period required under applicable federal and state securities laws to Consummate the
Exchange Offer; provided, however, that in no event shall such period be less than 30 days after
the date notice of the Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holders. The Company shall cause the
Exchange Offer to comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws. No securities
other than the Exchange Securities shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.
The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be Consummated
on the earliest practicable date after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become
effective, but in no event later than 30 Business Days after the Effectiveness Target Date.
(c) The Company shall indicate in a “Plan of Distribution” section contained in the Prospectus
forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement that any Broker-Dealer who holds
Initial Securities that are Transfer Restricted Securities and that were acquired for its own
account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Transfer
Restricted Securities acquired directly from the Company), may exchange such Initial Securities
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pursuant to the Exchange Offer; however, such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an
“underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus
meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resales of the Exchange
Securities received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, which prospectus delivery
requirement may be satisfied by the delivery by such Broker-Dealer of the Prospectus contained in
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. Such “Plan of Distribution” section shall also contain
all other information with respect to such resales by Broker-Dealers that the Commission may
require in order to permit such resales pursuant thereto, but such “Plan of Distribution” shall not
name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Exchange Securities held by any such
Broker-Dealer except to the extent required by the Commission as a result of a change in policy
after the date of this Agreement.
Each of the Company and the Guarantors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to keep the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required
by the provisions of Section 6(c) hereof to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for
resales of Exchange Securities acquired by Broker-Dealers for their own accounts as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities, and to ensure that it conforms with the
requirements of this Agreement, the Securities Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the
Commission as announced from time to time, for a period ending on the earlier of (i) 180 days from
the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective and (ii) the date
on which a Broker-Dealer is no longer required to deliver a prospectus in connection with
market-making or other trading activities.
The Company shall provide sufficient copies of the latest version of such Prospectus to
Broker-Dealers promptly upon request at any time during such 180-day (or shorter as provided in the
foregoing sentence) period in order to facilitate such resales.
SECTION 4. Shelf Registration.
(a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Company is not required to file an Exchange Offer
Registration Statement or to consummate the Exchange Offer because the Exchange Offer is not
permitted by applicable law or Commission policy (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)
hereof have been complied with), (ii) for any reason the Exchange Offer is not Consummated within
30 Business Days after the Effectiveness Target Date of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
(iii) any Initial Purchaser holding an unsold allotment of Transfer Restricted Securities at any
time so requests or (iv) within 15 days following the Consummation of the Exchange Offer (or, if
such 15th day is not a Business Day, by the next Business Day), any Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities notifies the Company that (A) such Holder is prohibited by applicable law or Commission
policy from participating in the Exchange Offer, or (B) such Holder may not resell the Exchange
Securities acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and
that the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or
available for such resales by such Holder, or (C) such Holder is a Broker-Dealer and holds Initial
Securities acquired directly from the Company or one of its affiliates, then, upon such Holder’s
request, the Company and the Guarantors shall
(x) cause to be filed a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the
Securities Act, which may be an amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration
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Statement (in either event, the “Shelf Registration Statement”) on or prior to the
earliest to occur of (1) the 90th day after the date on which the Company determines that it
is not required to file the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (2) the 90th day after
the date on which the Company receives notice from a Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities as contemplated by clause (iii) or (iv) above, and (3) the 30th Business Day
after the Effectiveness Target Date of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (if the
Exchange Offer has not already been Consummated) (such earliest date being the “Shelf Filing
Deadline”), which Shelf Registration Statement shall provide for resales of all Transfer
Restricted Securities the Holders of which shall have provided the information required
pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof; and
(y) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to
be declared effective by the Commission on or before the 180th day after the obligation to
file such Shelf Registration Statement arises (or if such 180th day is not a Business Day,
the next succeeding Business Day).
Each of the Company and the Guarantors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to keep such
Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by the
provisions of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available
for resales of Initial Securities by the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities entitled to the
benefit of this Section 4(a), and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this
Agreement, the Securities Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as
announced from time to time, for a period of at least two years following the effective date of
such Shelf Registration Statement (or shorter period that will terminate when all the Initial
Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to such Shelf
Registration Statement).
(b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with the Shelf Registration
Statement. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may include any of its Transfer Restricted
Securities in any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such
Holder furnishes to the Company in writing, within 20 Business 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. Each Holder
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.
SECTION 5. Additional Interest. If (i) any of the Registration Statements required by this
Agreement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such filing in
this Agreement, (ii) any of such Registration Statements has not been declared effective by the
Commission on or prior to the date specified for such effectiveness in this Agreement (the
“Effectiveness Target Date”), (iii) the Exchange Offer has not been Consummated within 30 Business
Days after the Effectiveness Target Date with respect to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
or (iv) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is filed and declared effective but
shall thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be usable for its intended purpose without being
succeeded immediately by a post-effective amendment to such Registration
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Statement that cures such failure and that is itself immediately declared effective (each such
event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a “Registration Default”), then the Company hereby
agrees that the interest rate borne by the Transfer Restricted Securities shall be increased by
0.25% per annum during the 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of any Registration
Default and shall increase by 0.25% per annum at the end of each subsequent 90-day period, but in
no event shall such increase exceed 1.00% per annum. Following the cure of all Registration
Defaults relating to any particular Transfer Restricted Securities, the interest rate borne by the
relevant Transfer Restricted Securities will be reduced to the original interest rate borne by such
Transfer Restricted Securities; provided, however, that, if after any such reduction in interest
rate, a different Registration Default occurs, the interest rate borne by the relevant Transfer
Restricted Securities shall again be adjusted pursuant to the foregoing provisions.
All payment obligations of the Company and the Guarantors set forth in the preceding paragraph
that are outstanding with respect to any Transfer Restricted Security at the time such security
ceases to be a Transfer Restricted Security shall survive until such time as all such obligations
with respect to such security shall have been satisfied in full.
SECTION 6. Registration Procedures.
(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company
and the Guarantors shall comply with all of the provisions of Section 6(c) hereof, shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to effect such exchange to permit the sale of Transfer Restricted
Securities being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof,
and shall comply with all of the following provisions:
(i) If in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company there is a question as to
whether the Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable law, each of the Company and the
Guarantors hereby agrees to seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision from the
Commission allowing the Company and the Guarantors to Consummate an Exchange Offer for the
Initial Securities. Each of the Company and the Guarantors hereby agrees to pursue the
issuance of such a decision to the Commission staff level but shall not be required to take
commercially unreasonable action to effect a change of Commission policy. Each of the
Company and the Guarantors hereby agrees, however, to (A) participate in telephonic
conferences with the Commission, (B) deliver to the Commission staff an analysis prepared by
counsel to the Company setting forth the legal bases, if any, upon which such counsel has
concluded that such an Exchange Offer should be permitted and (C) diligently pursue a
favorable resolution by the Commission staff of such submission.
(ii) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement, each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall furnish, upon the
request of the Company, prior to the Consummation thereof, a written representation to the
Company (which may be contained in the letter of transmittal contemplated by the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement) to the effect that (A) it is not an affiliate of the Company,
(B) it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, and has no arrangement or
understanding with any Person to participate in, a distribution of the Exchange Securities
to be issued in the Exchange Offer and (C) it is acquiring the
Exchange Securi-
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ties in its ordinary course of business. In addition, all such Holders of Transfer
Restricted Securities shall otherwise cooperate in the Company’s preparations for the
Exchange Offer. Each Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that any Broker-Dealer and any
such Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the securities to
be acquired in the Exchange Offer (1) could not under Commission policy as in effect on the
date of this Agreement rely on the position of the Commission enunciated in ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings
Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the Commission’s letter to
Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and similar no-action letters (which may include any
no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above), and (2) must comply with the
registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with a
secondary resale transaction and that such a secondary resale transaction should be covered
by an effective registration statement containing the selling security holder information
required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K if the resales are of Exchange
Securities obtained by such Holder in exchange for Initial Securities acquired by such
Holder directly from the Company.
(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, each
of the Company and the Guarantors shall comply with all the provisions of Section 6(c) hereof and
shall use commercially reasonable efforts to effect such registration to permit the sale of the
Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of
distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto each of the Company and the Guarantors will as
expeditiously as possible prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement relating to
the registration on any appropriate form under the Securities Act that is available for the sale of
the Transfer Restricted Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of
distribution thereof.
(c) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration Statement and any Prospectus
required by this Agreement to permit the sale or resale of Transfer Restricted Securities
(including, without limitation, any Registration Statement and the related Prospectus required to
permit resales of Initial Securities by Broker-Dealers), each of the Company and the Guarantors
shall:
(i) use commercially reasonable efforts to keep such Registration Statement
continuously effective and provide all requisite financial statements (including, if
required by the Securities Act or any regulation thereunder, financial statements of the
Guarantors for the period specified in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable; upon the
occurrence of any event that would cause any such Registration Statement or the Prospectus
contained therein (A) to contain a material misstatement or omission or (B) not to be
effective and usable for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during the period required
by this Agreement, the Company shall file promptly an appropriate amendment to such
Registration Statement, in the case of clause (A), correcting any such misstatement or
omission, and, in the case of either clause (A) or (B), use commercially reasonable efforts
to cause such amendment to be declared effective and such Registration Statement and the
related Prospectus to become usable for their intended purpose(s) as soon as practicable
thereafter;
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(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments
to the applicable Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep the Registration
Statement effective for the applicable period set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as
applicable, or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities
covered by such Registration Statement have been sold; cause the Prospectus to be
supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed
pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, and to comply fully with the applicable
provisions of Rules 424 and 430A under the Securities Act in a timely manner; and comply
with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities
covered by such Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the
intended method or methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such
Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;
(iii) in the case of a Shelf Registration or if a Prospectus is required to be
delivered by any Broker-Dealer in the case of an Exchange Offer, advise the underwriter(s),
if any, and selling Holders promptly and, if requested by such Persons, to confirm such
advice in writing, (A) when the Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment has been filed, and, with respect to any Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective, (B) of any request by
the Commission for amendments to the Registration Statement or amendments or supplements to
the Prospectus or for additional information relating thereto, (C) of the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
under the Securities Act or of the suspension by any state securities commission of the
qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities for offering or sale in any
jurisdiction, or the initiation of any proceeding for any of the preceding purposes, (D) of
the existence of any fact or the happening of any event that makes any statement of a
material fact made in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any amendment or
supplement thereto, or any document incorporated by reference therein untrue, or that
requires the making of any additions to or changes in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading. If at any time the
Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement, or any state securities commission or other regulatory authority shall issue an
order suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of the Transfer
Restricted Securities under state securities or blue sky laws, each of the Company and the
Guarantors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of
such order at the earliest possible time;
(iv) in the case of a Shelf Registration or if a Prospectus is required to be delivered
by any Broker-Dealer in the case of an Exchange Offer, furnish without charge to each of the
Initial Purchasers, each selling Holder named in any Registration Statement, and each of the
underwriter(s), if any, before filing with the Commission, copies of any Registration
Statement or any Prospectus included therein or any amendments or supplements to any such
Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference
after the initial filing of such Registration Statement), which documents will be subject to
the review and comment of such Holders and underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if
any, for a period of at least five Business Days, and the
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Company will not file any such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all such documents
incorporated by reference) to which an Initial Purchaser of Transfer Restricted Securities
covered by such Registration Statement or the underwriter(s), if any, shall reasonably
object in writing within five Business Days after the receipt thereof (such objection to be
deemed timely made upon confirmation of telecopy transmission within such period); provided
that each Initial Purchaser, Holder and underwriter who receives any such documents hereby
agrees to maintain any disclosed material nonpublic information in confidence until the
filing of such information. The objection of an Initial Purchaser or underwriter, if any,
shall be deemed to be reasonable if such Registration Statement, amendment, Prospectus or
supplement, as applicable, as proposed to be filed, contains a material misstatement or
omission;
(v) in the case of a Shelf Registration or if a Prospectus is required to be delivered
by any Broker-Dealer in the case of an Exchange Offer, promptly prior to the filing of any
document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or
Prospectus, provide copies of such document to the Initial Purchasers, each selling Holder
named in any Registration Statement, and to the underwriter(s), if any, make the Company’s
and the Guarantors’ representatives available for discussion of such document and other
customary due diligence matters, and include such information in such document prior to the
filing thereof as such selling Holders or underwriter(s), if any, reasonably may request;
provided that each Initial Purchasers, selling Holder and the underwriter who receives
copies of such documents hereby agrees to maintain any disclosed material nonpublic
information in confidence until the filing of such information;
(vi) in the case of a Shelf Registration or if a Prospectus is required to be delivered
by any Broker-Dealer in the case of an Exchange Offer, make available at reasonable times
for inspection by the Initial Purchasers, the underwriter(s), if any, participating in any
disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement and any attorney or accountant retained
by such Initial Purchasers or any of the underwriter(s), all financial and other records,
pertinent corporate documents and properties of each of the Company and the Guarantors and
cause the Company’s and the Guarantors’ officers, directors and employees to supply all
information reasonably requested by any such Holder, underwriter, attorney or accountant in
connection with such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto
subsequent to the filing thereof and prior to its effectiveness and to participate in
meetings with investors to the extent requested by the underwriter(s), if any; provided that
each Initial Purchaser, Holder and underwriter who receives any such records or documents
hereby agrees to maintain any disclosed material nonpublic information in confidence until
the filing of such information;
(vii) if requested by any selling Holders or the underwriter(s), if any, promptly
incorporate in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or
post-effective amendment if necessary, such information as such selling Holders and
underwriter(s), if any, may reasonably request to have included therein, including, without
limitation, information relating to the “Plan of Distribution” of the Transfer Restricted
Securities, information with respect to the principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Securi-
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ties being sold to such underwriter(s), the purchase price being paid therefor and any
other terms of the offering of the Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold in such
offering; and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment as soon as practicable after the Company is notified of the matters to be
incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;
(viii) cause the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Registration Statement
to be rated with the appropriate rating agencies, if so requested by the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of Securities covered thereby or the underwriter(s),
if any and if such Securities covered thereby are not already rated;
(ix) furnish to each Initial Purchaser, each selling Holder and each of the
underwriter(s), if any, without charge, at least one copy of the Registration Statement, as
first filed with the Commission, and of each amendment thereto, including financial
statements and schedules, all documents incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits
(including exhibits incorporated therein by reference);
(x) deliver to (i) in the case of a Shelf Registration, each selling Holder and each of
the underwriter(s), if any, and (ii) in the case of an Exchange Offer, each Broker-Dealer
who submits a request to the Company, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus
(including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto as such
Persons reasonably may request; each of the Company and the Guarantors hereby consents to
the use of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling
Holders and each of the underwriter(s), if any, in connection with the offering and the sale
of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto;
(xi) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such agreements (including an
underwriting agreement), and make such customary representations and warranties, and take
all such other actions in connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the
disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement
contemplated by this Agreement, all to such extent as may be reasonably requested by any
Initial Purchaser or by any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities or underwriter in
connection with any sale or resale pursuant to any Registration Statement contemplated by
this Agreement; and whether or not an underwriting agreement is entered into and whether or
not the registration is an Underwritten Registration, each of the Company and the Guarantors
shall:
(A) furnish to each Initial Purchaser, each selling Holder and each
underwriter, if any, in such substance and scope as they may request and as are
customarily made by issuers to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings, upon
the date of the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement:
(1) a certificate, dated the date of effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration Statement signed by (y) the Chairman of the Board, Chief
Executive Officer or President and (z) the Chief Financial Officer, Chief
Accounting Officer or Treasurer of each of the Company and the Guaran-
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tors confirming, as of the date thereof, the matters set forth in
paragraphs (i) and (ii) of Section 5(e) of the Purchase Agreement and such
other matters as such parties may reasonably request
(2) an opinion, dated the date of effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration Statement of counsel for the Company and the Guarantors,
covering the matters set forth in Section 5(c) of the Purchase Agreement and
such other matter as such parties may reasonably request, and in any event
including a statement to the effect that such counsel has participated in
conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company and the
Guarantors, representatives of the independent registered public accounting
firm for the Company and the Guarantors, representatives of the
underwriter(s), if any, and counsel to the underwriter(s), if any, in
connection with the preparation of such Registration Statement and the
related Prospectus and have considered the matters required to be stated
therein and the statements contained therein, although such counsel has not
independently verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of such
statements; and that such counsel advises that, on the basis of the
foregoing, no facts came to such counsel’s attention that caused such
counsel to believe that the applicable Registration Statement, at the time
such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto became
effective, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus contained in such
Registration Statement as of its date contained an untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make
the statements therein not misleading. Without limiting the foregoing, such
counsel may state further that such counsel assumes no responsibility for,
and has not independently verified, the accuracy, completeness or fairness
of the financial statements or other financial data derived therefrom in any
Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement or the related
Prospectus; and
(3) a customary comfort letter, dated the date of effectiveness of the
Shelf Registration Statement, from the independent registered public
accounting firm for the Company, in the customary form and covering matters
of the type customarily requested to be covered in comfort letters by
underwriters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, and covering
or affirming the matters set forth in the comfort letters delivered pursuant
to Section 5(a) of the Purchase Agreement, without exception;
(B) set forth in full or incorporate by reference in the underwriting
agreement, if any, the indemnification provisions and procedures of Section 8 hereof
with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to said Section; and
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(C) deliver such other documents and certificates as may be reasonably
requested by such parties to evidence compliance with Section 6(c)(xi)(A) hereof and
with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other
agreement entered into by the Company or any of the Guarantors pursuant to this
Section 6(c)(xi), if any.
If at any time the representations and warranties of the Company and the Guarantors
contemplated in Section 6(c)(xi)(A)(1) hereof cease to be true and correct, the Company or
the Guarantors shall so advise the Initial Purchasers and the underwriter(s), if any, and
each selling Holder promptly and, if requested by such Persons, shall confirm such advice in
writing;
(xii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, prior to any public offering of Transfer
Restricted Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders, the underwriter(s), if any, and
their respective counsel in connection with the registration and qualification of the
Transfer Restricted Securities under the state securities or blue sky laws of such
jurisdictions as the selling Holders or underwriter(s), if any, may request and do any and
all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such
jurisdictions of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration
Statement; provided, however, that none of the Company or the Guarantors shall be required
to register or qualify as a foreign corporation where it is not then so qualified or to take
any action that would subject it to the service of process in suits or to taxation, other
than as to matters and transactions relating to the Registration Statement, in any
jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;
(xiii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, shall issue, upon the request of any Holder
of Initial Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement, Exchange Securities
having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Initial
Securities surrendered to the Company by such Holder in exchange therefor or being sold by
such Holder; such Exchange Securities to be registered in the name of such Holder or in the
name of the purchaser(s) of such Securities, as the case may be; in return, the Initial
Securities held by such Holder shall be surrendered to the Company for cancellation;
(xiv) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the selling Holders and the
underwriter(s), if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates
representing Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive
legends; and enable such Transfer Restricted Securities to be in such denominations and
registered in such names as the Holders or the underwriter(s), if any, may request at least
two Business Days prior to any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities made by such Holders
or underwriter(s);
(xv) if any fact or event contemplated by Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof shall exist or
have occurred, prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file
any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of Transfer
Restricted Securities, the Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material
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fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein not misleading;
(xvi) provide a CUSIP number for all Securities not later than the effective date of
the Registration Statement covering such Securities and provide the Trustee under the
Indenture with printed certificates for such Securities which are in a form eligible for
deposit with the Depository Trust Company and take all other action necessary to ensure that
all such Securities are eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company;
(xvii) cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with the NASD and in the
performance of any due diligence investigation by any underwriter (including any “qualified
independent underwriter”) that is required to be retained in accordance with the rules and
regulations of the NASD;
(xviii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, otherwise use commercially reasonable
efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make
generally available to its security holders, as soon as practicable, a consolidated earnings
statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158 (which need not be audited) for the
twelve-month period (A) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Transfer
Restricted Securities are sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts
Underwritten Offering or (B) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering, beginning with
the first month of the Company’s first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of
the Registration Statement;
(xix) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act not later than
the effective date of the first Registration Statement required by this Agreement, and, in
connection therewith, cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders of Securities to effect
such changes to the Indenture as may be required for such Indenture to be so qualified in
accordance with the terms of the Trust Indenture Act; and to execute and use commercially
reasonable efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents that may be required to
effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the
Commission to enable such Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner;
(xx) cause all Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be listed on each
securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the
Company are then listed if requested by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of Initial Securities or the managing underwriter(s), if any; and
(xxi) provide promptly to each Holder upon request each document filed with the
Commission pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 and Section 15 of the Exchange Act and
incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement.
Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of any
notice from the Company of the existence of any fact of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D)
hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities
pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xv) hereof, or until
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it is advised in writing (the “Advice”) by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be
resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus. If so directed by the Company, each Holder will deliver to the
Company (at the Company’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such
Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus covering such Transfer Restricted Securities that was
current at the time of receipt of such notice. In the event the Company shall give any such
notice, the time period regarding the effectiveness of such Registration Statement set forth in
Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, shall be extended by the number of days during the period
from and including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof to
and including the date when each selling Holder covered by such Registration Statement shall have
received the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xv)
hereof or shall have received the Advice; provided, however, that no such extension shall be taken
into account in determining whether Additional Interest is due pursuant to Section 5 hereof or the
amount of such Additional Interest, it being agreed that the Company’s option to suspend use of a
Registration Statement pursuant to this paragraph shall be treated as a Registration Default for
purposes of Section 5 hereof.
SECTION 7. Registration Expenses.
(a) All expenses incident to the Company’s and the Guarantors’ performance of or compliance
with this Agreement will be borne by the Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally,
regardless of whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including, without limitation:
(i) all registration and filing fees and expenses (including filings made by any Initial Purchaser
or Holder with the NASD (and, if applicable, the fees and expenses of any “qualified independent
underwriter” and its counsel that may be required by the rules and regulations of the NASD)); (ii)
all fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state securities or blue sky laws;
(iii) all expenses of printing (including printing certificates for the Exchange Securities to be
issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of Prospectuses), messenger and delivery services and
telephone; (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, the Guarantors and, subject
to Section 7(b) hereof, the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; (v) all application and
filing fees in connection with listing the Exchange Securities on a securities exchange or
automated quotation system pursuant to the requirements thereof; and (vi) all fees and
disbursements of the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company and the
Guarantors (including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters required by or incident
to such performance).
Each of the Company and the Guarantors will, in any event, bear its internal expenses
(including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing
legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any
Person, including special experts, retained by the Company or the Guarantors.
(b) In connection with any Registration Statement required by this Agreement (including,
without limitation, the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and the Shelf Registration
Statement), the Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, will reimburse the Initial
Purchasers and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities being tendered in the Exchange Offer
and/or resold pursuant to the “Plan of Distribution”
contained in the Exchange Offer Regis-
-15-
tration Statement or registered pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable,
for the reasonable fees and disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall be ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
& ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ llp or such other counsel as may be chosen by the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities for whose benefit such Registration
Statement is being prepared.
SECTION 8. Indemnification.
(a) The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold
harmless (i) each Holder and (ii) each Person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of Section
15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) any Holder (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 any Holder or
any controlling person (any Person referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) may hereinafter be
referred to as an “Indemnified Holder”), to the fullest extent lawful, from and against any and all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, actions and expenses (including, without
limitation, and as incurred, reimbursement of all reasonable costs of investigating, preparing,
pursuing, settling, compromising, paying or defending any claim or action, or any investigation or
proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, including the reasonable
fees and expenses of counsel to any Indemnified Holder), joint or several, directly or indirectly
caused by, related to, based upon, arising out of or in connection with any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or Prospectus
(or any amendment or supplement thereto), or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are caused by
an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission that is made in reliance
upon and in conformity with information relating to any of the Holders furnished in writing to the
Company by any of the Holders expressly for use therein. This indemnity agreement shall be in
addition to any liability which the Company or any of the Guarantors may otherwise have.
In case any action or proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation or
proceeding) shall be brought or asserted against any of the Indemnified Holders with respect to
which indemnity may be sought against the Company or the Guarantors, such Indemnified Holder (or
the Indemnified Holder controlled by such controlling person) shall promptly notify the Company and
the Guarantors in writing; provided, however, that the failure to give such notice shall not
relieve any of the Company or the Guarantors of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement. Such
Indemnified Holder shall have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action and the fees
and expenses of such counsel shall be paid, as incurred, by the Company and the Guarantors
(regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an Indemnified Holder is not entitled to
indemnification hereunder). The Company and the Guarantors shall not, in connection with any one
such action or proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related actions or proceedings
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) at any time for such Indemnified Holders, which firm shall be designated by the
Holders. The Company and the Guarantors shall be liable for any settlement of any such action or
proceeding effected with the Company’s and the Guarantors prior
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written consent, which consent shall not be withheld unreasonably, and each of the Company and
the Guarantors agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any Indemnified Holder from and against any
loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of any settlement of any action effected with
the written consent of the Company and the Guarantors. The Company and the Guarantors shall not,
without the prior written consent of each Indemnified Holder, settle or compromise or consent to
the entry of judgment in or otherwise seek to terminate any pending or threatened action, claim,
litigation or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought
hereunder (whether or not any Indemnified Holder is a party thereto), unless such settlement,
compromise, consent or termination includes an unconditional release of each Indemnified Holder
from all liability arising out of such action, claim, litigation or proceeding.
(b) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agrees, severally and not jointly, to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Guarantors and their respective directors and officers
(or Persons holding equivalent positions) who sign a Registration Statement, and any Person
controlling (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act) the Company or any of the Guarantors, and the respective officers, directors, partners,
employees, representatives and agents of each such Person, to the same extent as the foregoing
indemnity from the Company and the Guarantors to each of the Indemnified Holders, but only with
respect to claims and actions based on information relating to such Holder furnished in writing by
such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement. In case any action or proceeding
shall be brought against the Company, the Guarantors or their respective directors or officers (or
Persons holding equivalent positions) or any such controlling person in respect of which indemnity
may be sought against a Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, such Holder shall have the rights
and duties given the Company and the Guarantors, and the Company, the Guarantors, their respective
directors and officers (or Persons holding equivalent positions) and such controlling person shall
have the rights and duties given to each Holder by the preceding paragraph.
(c) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable to an indemnified
party under Section 8(a) or (b) hereof (other than by reason of exceptions provided in those
Sections) in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, actions or expenses
referred to therein, then each applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such
indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a
result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors, on the one
hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, from the Initial Placement (which in the case of the
Company and the Guarantors shall be deemed to be equal to the total gross proceeds to the Company
and the Guarantors from the Initial Placement), or if such allocation is not permitted by
applicable law, the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the
Holders, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Indemnified Holder on
the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
relates to information supplied by the Company or any of the Guarantors, on the one hand, or the
Indemnified Holders, on the other hand, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportu-
-17-
nity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party
as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be
deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in the second paragraph of Section 8(a)
hereof, any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with
investigating or defending any action or claim.
The Company, the Guarantors and each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agree that it
would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(c) were determined by
pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any
other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to
in the immediately preceding paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇, ▇▇▇▇ of
the Holders (and its related Indemnified Holders) shall be required to contribute, in the
aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the total discount received by such Holder
with respect to the Initial Securities exceeds the amount of any damages which such Holder has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty
of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this
Section 8(c) are several in proportion to the respective principal amount of Initial Securities
held by each of the Holders hereunder and not joint.
SECTION 9. Rule 144A. Each of the Company and the Guarantors hereby agrees with each Holder,
for so long as any Transfer Restricted Securities remain outstanding, to make available to any
Holder or beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with any sale thereof
and any prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted Securities from such Holder or beneficial
owner, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act in order to permit
resales of such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act.
SECTION 10. Participation in Underwritten Registrations. No Holder may participate in any
Underwritten Registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder’s Transfer
Restricted Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the
Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all
reasonable questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements, lock-up
letters and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
SECTION 11. Selection of Underwriters. The Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities covered
by the Shelf Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell such Transfer Restricted
Securities in an Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment
banker(s) and managing underwriter(s) that will administer such offering will be selected by the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities included
in such offering; provided, however, that such investment banker(s) and managing underwriter(s)
must be reasonably satisfactory to the Company.
SECTION 12. Miscellaneous.
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(a) Remedies. Each of the Company and the Guarantors hereby agrees that monetary damages
would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the
provisions of this Agreement and hereby agree to waive the defense in any action for specific
performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. Each of the Company and the Guarantors will not on or after
the date of this Agreement enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is
inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with
the provisions hereof. Neither the Company nor any of the Guarantors has previously entered into
any agreement granting any registration rights with respect to its securities to any Person. The
rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent
with the rights granted to the holders of the Company’s or any of the Guarantors’ securities under
any agreement in effect on the date hereof.
(c) Adjustments Affecting the Securities. The Company will not take any action, or permit any
change to occur, with respect to the Securities that would materially and adversely affect the
ability of the Holders to Consummate any Exchange Offer.
(d) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures from the provisions hereof may not be given
unless the Company has (i) in the case of Section 5 hereof and this Section 12(d)(i), obtained the
written consent of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) in the case
of all other provisions hereof, obtained the written consent of Holders of a majority of the
outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities (excluding any Transfer Restricted
Securities held by the Company or its Affiliates). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or
consent to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders
whose securities are being tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer and that does not affect
directly or indirectly the rights of other Holders whose securities are not being tendered pursuant
to such Exchange Offer may be given by the Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal
amount of Transfer Restricted Securities being tendered or registered; provided, however, that,
with respect to any matter that directly or indirectly affects the rights of any Initial Purchaser
hereunder, the Company shall obtain the written consent of each such Initial Purchaser with respect
to which such amendment, qualification, supplement, waiver, consent or departure is to be
effective.
(e) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall
be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt
requested), telex, telecopier, or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(i) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of the Registrar under the
Indenture, with a copy to the Registrar under the Indenture; and
(ii) if to the Company:
The Bon-Ton Department Stores, Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇.▇. ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇.▇. ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
-▇▇-
▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: General Counsel
with a copy to:
Wolf, Block, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ LLP
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time
delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail,
postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt acknowledged, if
telecopied; and on the next Business Day, if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing
overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by
the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the address specified in the Indenture.
(f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including, without limitation, and without the
need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided,
however, that this Agreement shall not inure to the benefit of or be binding upon a successor or
assign of a Holder unless and to the extent such successor or assign acquired Transfer Restricted
Securities from such Holder.
(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the
parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an
original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall
not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(i) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAW RULES THEREOF.
(j) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or
the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the
validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the
remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
(k) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of
their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and
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understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There
are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred
to herein with respect to the registration rights granted by the Company with respect to the
Transfer Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings
between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written
above.
| THE BON-TON DEPARTMENT STORES, INC. | ||||
| /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||||
| Vice Chairman and Chief Administrative Officer | ||||
| THE BON-TON STORES, INC. | ||||
| /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||||
| Vice Chairman and Chief Administrative Officer | ||||
| THE BON-TON CORP. | ||||
| /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ | ||||
| President and Secretary | ||||
| THE BON-TON GIFTCO, INC. | ||||
| /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||||
| THE BON-TON STORES OF LANCASTER, INC. | ||||
| /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||||
| Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
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| THE BON-TON TRADE CORP. | ||||
| /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ | ||||
| President and Secretary | ||||
| THE ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ STORES CORP. | ||||
| /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||||
| Vice Chairman and Chief Administrative Officer | ||||
| ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ WEST VIRGINIA, INC. | ||||
| /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
|
||||
| Vice Chairman and Chief Administrative Officer | ||||
| ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ HOLDINGS, INC. | ||||
| /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||||
| Vice President | ||||
| ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ OPERATIONS, LLC | ||||
| By: The ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Stores Corp., its managing member | ||||
| /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||||
| Vice Chairman and Chief Administrative Officer |
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| HERBERGER’S DEPARTMENT STORES, LLC | ||||
| /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||||
| Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer | ||||
| PARISIAN, INC. | ||||
| /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||||
| Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer | ||||
| ▇▇▇▇▇’▇, INC. | ||||
| /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||||
| Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer | ||||
| SAKS DISTRIBUTION CENTERS, INC. | ||||
| /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||||
| Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer | ||||
| MCRIL, LLC | ||||
| /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||||
| Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer |
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The foregoing Registration Rights Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date
first above written:
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
By:
|
Banc of America Securities LLC | |||
By:
|
/S/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇. | |||
| Title: Managing Director |
SCHEDULE I
The Bon-Ton Corp.
The ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Stores Corp.
The Bon-Ton Giftco, Inc.
The Bon-Ton Stores of Lancaster, Inc.
The Bon-Ton Trade Corp.
▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ West ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Holdings, Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Operations, LLC
Herberger’s Department Stores LLC
Parisian, Inc.
Saks Distribution Centers, Inc.
McRIL, LLC
▇▇▇▇▇’▇, Inc.
The ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Stores Corp.
The Bon-Ton Giftco, Inc.
The Bon-Ton Stores of Lancaster, Inc.
The Bon-Ton Trade Corp.
▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ West ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Holdings, Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Operations, LLC
Herberger’s Department Stores LLC
Parisian, Inc.
Saks Distribution Centers, Inc.
McRIL, LLC
▇▇▇▇▇’▇, Inc.