EXHIBIT 4.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated January 18, 2001
between
STONE CONTAINER CORPORATION
and
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INCORPORATED
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made
and entered into January 18, 2001, between STONE CONTAINER CORPORATION, a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INCORPORATED,
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC., CHASE SECURITIES INC. and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
INC. (each a "Placement Agent" and, collectively, the "Placement Agents").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Placement Agreement
dated January 18, 2001, between the Company and the Placement Agents (the
"Placement Agreement"), which provides for the sale by the Company to the
Placement Agents of an aggregate of $300,000,000 principal amount of the
Company's 93% Senior Notes due 2008 and $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount
of the Company's 9:% Senior Notes due 2011 (the "Securities"). In order to
induce the Placement Agents to enter into the Placement Agreement, the Company
has agreed to provide to the Placement Agents and their direct and indirect
transferees the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution
of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Placement Agreement.
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined
terms shall have the following meanings:
"1933 ACT" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
from time to time.
"1934 ACT" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended from time to time.
"CLOSING DATE" shall mean the Closing Date as defined in the
Placement Agreement.
"COMPANY" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and
shall also include the Company's successors.
"EXCHANGE DATES" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(a)(ii) hereof.
"EXCHANGE OFFER" shall mean the exchange offer by the Company
of Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to Section
2(a) hereof.
"EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION" shall mean a registration under
the 1933 Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
"EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT" shall mean an exchange
offer registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another
appropriate form) and all
amendments and supplements to such registration statement, in each case
including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and
all material incorporated by reference therein.
"EXCHANGE SECURITIES" shall mean securities issued by the
Company under the Indenture (as defined below) containing terms
identical to the Securities (except that (i) interest thereon shall
accrue from the last day on which interest was paid on the Securities,
or if no such interest has been paid, from January 25, 2001; and (ii)
the Exchange Securities will not contain restrictions on transfer) and
to be offered to Holders of Securities in exchange for Securities
pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
"HOLDER" shall mean any Placement Agent, for so long as it
owns any Registrable Securities, and each of its successors, assigns
and direct and indirect transferees who become registered owners of
Registrable Securities under the Indenture; PROVIDED that for purposes
of Sections 4 and 5 of this Agreement, the term "Holder" shall include
Participating Broker-Dealers (as defined in Section 4(a)).
"INDENTURE" shall mean the Indenture relating to the
Securities dated as of January , 2001 between the Company and The Bank
of New York, as trustee, and as the same may be amended from time to
time in accordance with the terms thereof.
"MAJORITY HOLDERS" shall mean the Holders of a majority of the
aggregate principal amount of outstanding Registrable Securities;
PROVIDED that whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a
specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder,
Registrable Securities held by the Company or any of its affiliates (as
such term is defined in Rule 405 under the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) (other than the
Placement Agents or subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities if
such subsequent holders are deemed to be such affiliates solely by
reason of their holding of such Registrable Securities) shall not be
counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by
the Holders of such required percentage or amount.
"PERSON" shall mean an individual, partnership, limited
liability company, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization,
or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
"PLACEMENT AGENT(S)" shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble.
"PLACEMENT AGREEMENT" shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble.
"PROSPECTUS" shall mean the prospectus included in a
Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any
such prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus
supplement, including a prospectus supplement with respect to the terms
of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by
a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other amendments and
supplements to such prospectus, and in each case including all material
incorporated by reference therein.
"REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" shall mean the Securities; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities
(i) when a Registration Statement with
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respect to such Securities shall have been declared effective under the
1933 Act and such Securities shall have been disposed of pursuant to
such Registration Statement, (ii) when such Securities have been sold
to the public pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any similar provision then in
force, but not Rule 144A) under the 1933 Act or (iii) when such
Securities shall have ceased to be outstanding.
"REGISTRATION EXPENSES" shall mean any and all expenses
incident to performance of or compliance by the Company with this
Agreement, including without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange or
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. registration and
filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with
compliance with state securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel for any underwriters or Holders in
connection with blue sky qualification of any of the Exchange
Securities or Registrable Securities), (iii) all expenses of any
Persons in preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing,
printing and distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus,
any amendments or supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements,
securities sales agreements and other documents relating to the
performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all rating
agency fees, (v) all fees and disbursements relating to the
qualification of the Indenture under applicable securities laws, (vi)
the fees and disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel, (vii) the
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and, in the case of a
Shelf Registration Statement, the fees and disbursements of one counsel
for the Holders (which counsel shall be selected by the Majority
Holders and which counsel may also be counsel for the Placement Agents)
and (viii) the fees and disbursements of the independent public
accountants of the Company, including the expenses of any special
audits or "cold comfort" letters required by or incident to such
performance and compliance, but excluding fees and expenses of counsel
to the underwriters (other than fees and expenses set forth in clause
(ii) above) or the Holders and underwriting discounts and commissions
and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of
Registrable Securities by a Holder.
"REGISTRATION STATEMENT" shall mean any registration statement
of the Company that covers any of the Exchange Securities or
Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and
all amendments and supplements to any such Registration Statement,
including post-effective amendments, in each case including the
Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material
incorporated by reference therein.
"SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"SHELF REGISTRATION" shall mean a registration effected
pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof.
"SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT" shall mean a "shelf"
registration statement of the Company pursuant to the provisions of
Section 2(b) of this Agreement which covers all of the Registrable
Securities (but no other securities unless approved by the Holders
whose Registrable Securities are covered by such Shelf Registration
Statement) on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the 1933 Act, or
any similar rule that may be
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adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such
registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each
case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto
and all material incorporated by reference therein.
"TRUSTEE" shall mean the trustee with respect to the
Securities under the Indenture.
"UNDERWRITER" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3
hereof.
"UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATION" or "UNDERWRITTEN OFFERING" shall
mean a registration in which Registrable Securities are sold to an
Underwriter for reoffering to the public.
2. REGISTRATION UNDER THE 1933 ACT.
(a) To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or
applicable interpretation of the Staff of the SEC, the Company shall use its
best efforts to cause to be filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement
covering the offer by the Company to the Holders to exchange all of the
Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities and to have such Registration
Statement remain effective until the closing of the Exchange Offer. The Company
shall commence the Exchange Offer promptly after the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement has been declared effective by the SEC and use its best efforts to
have the Exchange Offer consummated not later than 60 days after such effective
date. The Company shall commence the Exchange Offer by mailing the related
exchange offer Prospectus and accompanying documents to each Holder stating, in
addition to such other disclosures as are required by applicable law:
(i) that the Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to
this Registration Rights Agreement and that all Registrable Securities
validly tendered will be accepted for exchange;
(ii) the dates of acceptance for exchange (which shall be
a period of at least 20 business days from the date such notice is
mailed) (the "Exchange Dates");
(iii) that any Registrable Security not tendered will
remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest, but will not retain
any rights under this Registration Rights Agreement;
(iv) that Holders electing to have a Registrable Security
exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to surrender
such Registrable Security, 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 notice
prior to the close of business on the last Exchange Date; and
(v) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their
election, not later than the close of business on the last Exchange
Date, by sending to the institution and at the address (located in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) specified in the notice a
telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the
name of such Holder, the principal amount of Registrable Securities
delivered for exchange and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing
his election to have such Securities exchanged.
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As soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date, the
Company shall:
(i) accept for exchange Registrable Securities or
portions thereof tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the
Exchange Offer; and
(ii) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for
cancellation all Registrable Securities or portions thereof so accepted
for exchange by the Company and issue, and cause the Trustee to
promptly authenticate and mail to each Holder, an Exchange Security
equal in principal amount to the principal amount of the Registrable
Securities surrendered by such Holder.
The Company shall use its best efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as
provided above and shall comply with the applicable requirements of the 1933
Act, the 1934 Act and other applicable laws and regulations in connection with
the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any conditions,
other than that the Exchange Offer does not violate applicable law or any
applicable interpretation of the Staff of the SEC. The Company shall inform the
Placement Agents of the names and addresses of the Holders to whom the Exchange
Offer is made, and the Placement Agents shall have the right, subject to
applicable law, to contact such Holders and otherwise facilitate the tender of
Registrable Securities in the Exchange Offer.
(b) In the event that (i) the Company determines that the
Exchange Offer Registration provided for in Section 2(a) above is not available
or may not be consummated as soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date
because it would violate applicable law or the applicable interpretations of the
Staff of the SEC, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not for any other reason
consummated by July 24, 2001 or (iii) the Exchange Offer has been completed and
in the opinion of counsel for the Placement Agents a Registration Statement must
be filed and a Prospectus must be delivered by the Placement Agents in
connection with any offering or sale of Registrable Securities, the Company
shall use its best efforts to cause to be filed as soon as practicable after
such determination, date or notice of such opinion of counsel is given to the
Company, as the case may be, a Shelf Registration Statement providing for the
sale by the Holders of all of the Registrable Securities and to have such Shelf
Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC. In the event the Company
is required to file a Shelf Registration Statement solely as a result of the
matters referred to in clause (iii) of the preceding sentence, the Company shall
use its best efforts to file and have declared effective by the SEC both an
Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) with respect to
all Registrable Securities and a Shelf Registration Statement (which may be a
combined Registration Statement with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement)
with respect to offers and sales of Registrable Securities held by the Placement
Agents after completion of the Exchange Offer. The Company agrees to use its
best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective
until the expiration of the period referred to in Rule 144(k) with respect to
the Registrable Securities or such shorter period that will terminate when all
of the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have
been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement. The Company further
agrees to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement if required by
the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used
by the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the 1933 Act or by
any other rules and regulations thereunder for shelf registration or if
reasonably requested by a Holder with respect to information relating to such
Holder, and to use its best efforts to cause any such amendment to
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become effective and such Shelf Registration Statement to become usable as soon
as thereafter practicable. The Company agrees to furnish to the Holders of
Registrable Securities copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly after
its being used or filed with the SEC.
(c) The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in
connection with the registration pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b). Each
Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes,
if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder's Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.
(d) An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to
Section 2(a) hereof or a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b)
hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared
effective by the SEC; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, if, after it has been declared
effective, the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf
Registration Statement is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other
order or requirement of the SEC or any other governmental agency or court, such
Registration Statement will be deemed not to have become effective during the
period of such interference until the offering of Registrable Securities
pursuant to such Registration Statement may legally resume. As provided for in
the Indenture, in the event the Exchange Offer is not consummated and the Shelf
Registration Statement is not declared effective on or prior to July 24, 2001,
the interest rate on the Securities will be increased by 0.5% per annum until
the Exchange Offer is consummated or the Shelf Registration Statement is
declared effective by the SEC.
(e) Without limiting the remedies available to the
Placement Agents and the Holders, the Company acknowledges that any failure by
the Company to comply with its obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b)
hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Placement Agents or the
Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be
possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event
of any such failure, the Placement Agents or any Holder may obtain such relief
as may be required to specifically enforce the Company's obligations under
Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof.
3. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.
In connection with the obligations of the Company with respect
to the Registration Statements pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof,
the Company shall as expeditiously as possible:
(a) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration
Statement on the appropriate form under the 1933 Act, which form (x) shall be
selected by the Company and (y) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be
available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the selling Holders
thereof and (z) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the
requirements of the applicable form and include all financial statements
required by the SEC to be filed therewith, and use its best efforts to cause
such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective in
accordance with Section 2 hereof;
(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and
post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to
keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period and cause
each Prospectus to be supplemented by
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any required prospectus supplement and, as so supplemented, to be filed pursuant
to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act; to keep each Prospectus current during the
period described under Section 4(3) and Rule 174 under the 1933 Act that is
applicable to transactions by brokers or dealers with respect to the Registrable
Securities or Exchange Securities;
(c) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each
Holder of Registrable Securities, to counsel for the Placement Agents, to
counsel for the Holders and to each Underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of
Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies of each
Prospectus, including each preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment or
supplement thereto and such other documents as such Holder or Underwriter may
reasonably request, in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition
of the Registrable Securities; and the Company consents to the use of such
Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable
law by each of the selling Holders of Registrable Securities and any such
Underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable
Securities covered by and in the manner described in such Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law;
(d) use its best efforts to register or qualify the
Registrable Securities under all applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws
of such jurisdictions as any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a
Registration Statement shall reasonably request in writing by the time the
applicable Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, to cooperate
with such Holders in connection with any filings required to be made with the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and do any and all other acts
and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such Holder
to consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction of such Registrable
Securities owned by such Holder; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall not
be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities
in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for
this Section 3(d), (ii) file any general consent to service of process or (iii)
subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not so subject;
(e) in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each
Holder of Registrable Securities, counsel for the Holders and counsel for the
Placement Agents promptly and, if requested by any such Holder or counsel,
confirm such advice in writing (i) when a Registration Statement has become
effective and when any post-effective amendment thereto has been filed and
becomes effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any state securities
authority for amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement and
Prospectus or for additional information after the Registration Statement has
become effective, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities
authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration
Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) if,
between the effective date of a Registration Statement and the closing of any
sale of Registrable Securities covered thereby, the representations and
warranties of the Company contained in any underwriting agreement, securities
sales agreement or other similar agreement, if any, relating to the offering
cease to be true and correct in all material respects or if the Company receives
any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the
Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any
proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the happening of any event during the period
a Shelf Registration Statement is effective which makes any statement made in
such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus untrue in any material
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respect or which requires the making of any changes in such Registration
Statement or Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading
and (vi) of any determination by the Company that a post-effective amendment to
a Registration Statement would be appropriate;
(f) make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal
of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement at the
earliest possible moment and provide immediate notice to each Holder of the
withdrawal of any such order;
(g) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each
Holder of Registrable Securities, without charge, at least one conformed copy of
each Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto (without
documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless
requested);
(h) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with
the selling Holders of Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to
be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends and enable such Registrable
Securities to be in such denominations (consistent with the provisions of the
Indenture) and registered in such names as the selling Holders may reasonably
request at least one business day prior to the closing of any sale of
Registrable Securities;
(i) in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon the
occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(e)(v) hereof, use its best
efforts to prepare and file with the SEC a supplement or post-effective
amendment to a Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any document
incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that,
as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities, such
Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Company agrees to
notify the Holders to suspend use of the Prospectus as promptly as practicable
after the occurrence of such an event, and the Holders hereby agree to suspend
use of the Prospectus until the Company has amended or supplemented the
Prospectus to correct such misstatement or omission;
(j) a reasonable time prior to the filing of any
Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any amendment to a Registration
Statement or amendment or supplement to a Prospectus or any document which is to
be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or a Prospectus after
initial filing of a Registration Statement, provide copies of such document to
the Placement Agents and its counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration
Statement, the Holders and their counsel) and make such of the representatives
of the Company as shall be reasonably requested by the Placement Agent or its
counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders or
their counsel) available for discussion of such document, and shall not at any
time file or make any amendment to the Registration Statement, any Prospectus or
any amendment of or supplement to a Registration Statement or a Prospectus or
any document which is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration
Statement or a Prospectus, of which the Placement Agents and their counsel (and,
in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders and their counsel)
shall not have previously been advised
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and furnished a copy or to which the Placement Agents or its counsel (and, in
the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders or their counsel) shall
object;
(k) obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities or
Registrable Securities, as the case may be, not later than the effective date of
a Registration Statement;
(l) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "TIA"), in connection with the
registration of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case
may be, cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders 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 best efforts to cause the
Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes and
all other forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable the
Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner;
(m) in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available
for inspection by a representative of the Holders of the Registrable Securities,
any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Shelf
Registration Statement, and attorneys and accountants designated by the Holders,
at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all financial and other records,
pertinent documents and properties of the Company, and cause the respective
officers, directors and employees of the Company to supply all information
reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, attorney or
accountant in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement, all in a manner as
is necessary and customary to provide the Holders a due diligence;
(n) in the case of a Shelf Registration, use its best
efforts to cause all Registrable Securities to be listed on any securities
exchange or any automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by
the Company are then listed if requested by the Majority Holders, to the extent
such Registrable Securities satisfy applicable listing requirements;
(o) use its best efforts to cause the Exchange Securities
to continue to be rated by two nationally recognized statistical rating
organizations (as such term is defined in Rule 436(g)(2) under the 1933 Act), if
the Registrable Securities have been rated;
(p) if reasonably requested by any Holder of Registrable
Securities covered by a Registration Statement, (i) promptly incorporate in a
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information with respect
to such Holder as such Holder reasonably requests to be included therein and
(ii) make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such
post-effective amendment as soon as the Company has received notification of the
matters to be incorporated in such filing; and
(q) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such
customary agreements and take all such other actions in connection therewith
(including those requested by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities being sold) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of
such Registrable Securities including, but not limited to, an Underwritten
Offering and in such connection, (i) to the extent possible, make such
representations and warranties to the Holders and any Underwriters of such
Registrable Securities with respect to the business of
9
the Company and its subsidiaries, the Registration Statement, Prospectus and
documents incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by reference, if any,
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) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company (which counsel and
opinions, in form, scope and substance, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
Holders and such Underwriters and their respective counsel) addressed to each
selling Holder and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, covering the matters
customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings, (iii)
obtain "cold comfort" letters from the independent certified public accountants
of the Company (and, if necessary, any other certified public accountant of any
subsidiary of the Company, or of any business acquired by the Company for which
financial statements and financial data are or are required to be included in
the Registration Statement) addressed to each selling Holder and Underwriter of
Registrable Securities, such letters to be in customary form and covering
matters of the type customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in connection
with underwritten offerings, and (iv) deliver such documents and certificates as
may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of
the Registrable Securities being sold or the Underwriters, and which are
customarily delivered in underwritten offerings, to evidence the continued
validity of the representations and warranties of the Company made pursuant to
clause (i) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions
contained in an underwriting agreement.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may
require each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Company such
information regarding the Holder and the proposed distribution by such Holder of
such Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably
request in writing.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder
agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any
event of the kind described in Section 3(e)(v) hereof, such Holder will
forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a
Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(i) hereof, and, if
so directed by the Company, such Holder will deliver to the Company (at its
expense) all copies in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in
such Holder's possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities
current at the time of receipt of such notice. If the Company shall give any
such notice to suspend the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a
Registration Statement, the Company shall extend the period during which the
Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement
by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the
giving of such notice to and including the date when the Holders shall have
received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to resume
such dispositions. The Company may give any such notice only twice during any
365 day period and any such suspensions may not exceed 45 days for each
suspension and there may not be more than two suspensions in effect during any
365 day period.
The Holders of Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf
Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell such Registrable Securities
in an Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment
banker or investment bankers and manager or managers (the "Underwriters") that
will administer the offering will be selected by the Majority Holders of the
Registrable Securities included in such offering.
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4. PARTICIPATION OF BROKER-DEALERS IN EXCHANGE OFFER.
(a) The Staff of the SEC has taken the position that any
broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in the
Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities that were acquired by such
broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities (a
"Participating Broker-Dealer"), may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the 1933 Act and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements
of the 1933 Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
The Company understands that it is the Staff's position that
if the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer 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
Securities, without naming the Participating Broker-Dealers or specifying the
amount of Exchange Securities owned by them, such Prospectus may be delivered by
Participating Broker-Dealers to satisfy their prospectus delivery obligation
under the 1933 Act in connection with resales of Exchange Securities for their
own accounts, so long as the Prospectus otherwise meets the requirements of the
1933 Act.
(b) In light of the above, notwithstanding the other
provisions of this Agreement, the Company agrees that the provisions of this
Agreement as they relate to a Shelf Registration shall also apply to an Exchange
Offer Registration to the extent, and with such reasonable modifications thereto
as may be, reasonably requested by the Placement Agent or by one or more
Participating Broker-Dealers, in each case as provided in clause (ii) below, in
order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of any Exchange Securities by
Participating Broker-Dealers consistent with the positions of the Staff recited
in Section 4(a) above; PROVIDED that:
(i) the Company shall not be required to amend
or supplement the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, as would otherwise be contemplated by Section 3(i), for a period
exceeding 180 days after the last Exchange Date (as such period may be extended
pursuant to the penultimate paragraph of Section 3 of this Agreement) and
Participating Broker-Dealers shall not be authorized by the Company to deliver
and shall not deliver such Prospectus after such period in connection with the
resales contemplated by this Section 4; and
(ii) the application of the Shelf Registration
procedures set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement to an Exchange Offer
Registration, to the extent not required by the positions of the Staff of the
SEC or the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, will be in
conformity with the reasonable request to the Company by the Placement Agent or
with the reasonable request in writing to the Company by one or more
broker-dealers who certify to the Placement Agents and the Company in writing
that they anticipate that they will be Participating Broker-Dealers; and
PROVIDED FURTHER that, in connection with such application of the Shelf
Registration procedures set forth in Section 3 to an Exchange Offer
Registration, the Company shall be obligated (x) to deal only with one entity
representing the Participating Broker-Dealers, which shall be ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ &
Co. Incorporated unless it elects not to act as such representative, (y) to pay
the fees and expenses of only one counsel representing the Participating
Broker-Dealers, which shall be counsel to the Placement Agents unless such
counsel elects not to so act and (z) to cause to be delivered only one, if any,
"cold comfort" letter
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with respect to the Prospectus in the form existing on the last Exchange Date
and with respect to each subsequent amendment or supplement, if any, effected
during the period specified in clause (i) above.
(c) The Placement Agents shall have no liability to the
Company or any Holder with respect to any request that it may make pursuant to
Section 4(b) above.
5. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Placement Agents, each Holder and each Person, if any, who controls any
Placement Agent or any Holder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the
1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, or is under common control with, or is
controlled by, any Placement Agent or any Holder, from and against all losses,
claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by any Placement Agent, any Holder or any
such controlling or affiliated Person in connection with defending or
investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto) pursuant to which Exchange Securities or
Registrable Securities were registered under the 1933 Act, including all
documents incorporated therein by reference, or caused by any omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or caused by any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any
amendments or supplements thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements
therein in light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading,
except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any
such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based
upon information relating to any Placement Agent or any Holder furnished to the
Company in writing through any Placement Agent or any selling Holder expressly
for use therein. In connection with any Underwritten Offering permitted by
Section 3, the Company will also indemnify the Underwriters, if any, selling
brokers, dealers and similar securities industry professionals participating in
the distribution, their officers and directors and each Person who controls such
Persons (within the meaning of the 1933 Act and the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) to the same extent
as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders, if
requested in connection with any Registration Statement.
(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Placement Agents and the other
selling Holders, and each of their respective directors, officers who sign the
Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company, the
Placement Agents and any other selling Holder within the meaning of either
Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act to the same extent as
the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the Placement Agents and the
Holders, but only with reference to information relating to such Holder
furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto).
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(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental
investigation) shall be instituted involving any Person in respect of which
indemnity may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) above,
such Person (the "indemnified party") shall promptly notify the Person against
whom such indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying party") in writing and the
indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified
party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and
shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding.
In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its
own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense
of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the
named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include
both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both
parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party
shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same
jurisdiction, be liable for (a) the fees and expenses of more than one separate
firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the Placement Agents and all
Persons, if any, who control the Placement Agents within the meaning of either
Section 15 of the 1933 Act or ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, (▇) the fees and
expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for
the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration Statement and
each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either such
Section and (c) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in
addition to any local counsel) for all Holders and all Persons, if any, who
control any Holders within the meaning of either such Section, and that all such
fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. In such case
involving the Placement Agents and Persons who control the Placement Agents,
such firm shall be designated in writing by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated.
In such case involving the Holders and such Persons who control Holders, such
firm shall be designated in writing by the Majority Holders. In all other cases,
such firm shall be designated by the Company. The indemnifying party shall not
be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written
consent but, if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for
the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party
from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party
shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party
for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third
sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be
liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent
if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 60 days after receipt by such
indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party
shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party for such fees and expenses of
counsel in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No
indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect
of which such indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity
could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such
settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all
liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a)
or paragraph (b) of this Section 5 is unavailable to an indemnified party or
insufficient in respect of any losses,
13
claims, damages or liabilities, then each indemnifying party under such
paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result
of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties
on the one hand and of the indemnified party or parties on the other hand in
connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault of the Company and the Holders 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 by the Holders
and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Holders'
respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 5(d) are several
in proportion to the respective principal amount of Registrable Securities of
such Holder that were registered pursuant to a Registration Statement.
(e) The Company and each Holder agree that it would not
be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 were determined
by PRO RATA allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take
account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The
amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be
deemed to include, subject to the 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 5, no Holder shall be required to indemnify or
contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which
Registrable Securities were sold by such Holder exceeds the amount of any
damages that 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 ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this
Section 5 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may
otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this
Section 5 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i)
any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf
of the Placement Agents, any Holder or any Person controlling the Placement
Agents or any Holder, or by or on behalf of the Company, its officers or
directors or any Person controlling the Company, (iii) acceptance of any of the
Exchange Securities and (iv) any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a
Shelf Registration Statement.
6. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) NO INCONSISTENT AGREEMENTS. The Company has not
entered into, and on or after the date of this Agreement will not enter into,
any agreement which is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of
Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the
provisions hereof. 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 other issued and outstanding securities under any such agreements.
14
(b) 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 unless the Company has obtained the written
consent of Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification,
supplement, waiver or consent; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no amendment,
modification, supplement, waiver or consent to any departure from the provisions
of Section 5 hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of Registrable
Securities unless consented to in writing by such Holder.
(c) NOTICES. All notices and other communications
provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery,
registered first-class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing
overnight delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such
Holder to the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 6(c), which address initially is, with respect to the
Placement Agents, the address set forth in the Placement Agreement; and (ii) if
to the Company, initially at the Company's address set forth in the Placement
Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c).
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 is 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.
(d) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall inure to
the benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of
each of the parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an
express assignment, subsequent Holders; PROVIDED that nothing herein shall be
deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable
Securities in violation of the terms of the Placement Agreement. If any
transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any manner,
whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be
held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding
such Registrable Securities such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have
agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this
Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof. Each
Placement Agent (in its capacity as Placement Agent) shall have no liability or
obligation to the Company with respect to any failure by a Holder to comply
with, or any breach by any Holder of, any of the obligations of such Holder
under this Agreement.
(e) PURCHASES AND SALES OF SECURITIES. The Company shall
not, and shall use its best efforts to cause its affiliates (as defined in Rule
405 under the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) not to, purchase and then resell or otherwise transfer
any Securities.
15
(f) THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARY. The Holders shall be third
party beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the
one hand, and the Placement Agents, on the other hand, and shall have the right
to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such enforcement
necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of Holders hereunder.
(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
the laws of the State of New York.
(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.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement
as of the date first written above.
STONE CONTAINER CORPORATION
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-----------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
Confirmed and accepted as of
the date first above written:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INCORPORATED
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.
By: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
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