1
EXHIBIT 4.5
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/B EXCHANGE
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of July 28, 1998
by and among
THE GNI GROUP, INC.,
THE GUARANTORS NAMED ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HERETO
and
CIBC ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ CORP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is made and
entered into as of July 28, 1998, by and among The GNI Group, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "COMPANY"), the Guarantors named on the signature page hereto
(each a "GUARANTOR" and, collectively, the "GUARANTORS"), and CIBC ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Corp. (the "INITIAL PURCHASER"), who has agreed to purchase the Company's
10-7/8% Series A Senior Notes due 2005 (the "SERIES A NOTES") pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement (as defined below). The Series A Notes will be fully and
unconditionally guaranteed (the "SERIES A SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES") and the
Series B Notes (as defined) will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed (the
"SERIES B SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES") as to payment of principal, interest and
liquidated damages and premium, if any, on an unsecured senior basis, jointly
and severally, in each case, by each of the Guarantors.
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated July
23, 1998 (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), by and among the Company, the Guarantors
and the Initial Purchaser. In order to induce the Initial Purchaser to
purchase the Series A Notes (including Series A Subsidiary Guarantees), 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 Purchaser set forth in Section 2 of the Purchase
Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have
the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture, dated July 28, 1998, among the
Company, the Guarantors and United States Trust Company of New York, as
Trustee, relating to the Series A Notes, the Series A Subsidiary Guarantees,
the Series B Notes and the Series B Subsidiary Guarantees (the "INDENTURE").
The parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have
the following meanings:
ACT: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
AFFILIATE: As defined in Rule 144 of the Act.
BROKER-DEALER: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.
CERTIFICATED SECURITIES: Definitive Notes, as defined in the Indenture.
CLOSING DATE: The date hereof.
1
3
COMMISSION: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONSUMMATE: An Exchange Offer shall be deemed "Consummated" for
purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (a) the filing and
effectiveness under the Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
relating to the Series B Notes (including Series B Subsidiary Guarantees) to be
issued in the Exchange Offer, (b) the maintenance of such Exchange Offer
Registration Statement continuously effective and the keeping of the Exchange
Offer open for a period not less than the period required pursuant to Section
3(b) hereof and (c) the delivery by the Company to the Registrar under the
Indenture of Series B Notes (including Series B Subsidiary Guarantees) in the
same aggregate principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of Series A
Notes (including Series A Subsidiary Guarantees) tendered by Holders thereof
pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
CONSUMMATION DEADLINE: As defined in Section 3(b) hereof.
EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE: As defined in Section 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.
EXCHANGE ACT: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
EXCHANGE OFFER: The exchange and issuance by the Company of a principal
amount of Series B Notes (including Series B Subsidiary Guarantees) (each of
which shall be registered pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement) equal to the outstanding principal amount of Series A Notes
(including Series A Subsidiary Guarantees) that are tendered by such Holders in
connection with such exchange and issuance.
EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT: The Registration Statement
relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.
FILING DEADLINE: As defined in Sections 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.
GUARANTORS: The Guarantors defined in the preamble hereto and any
Person which becomes a guarantor of either series of Notes, in each case after
the date hereof pursuant to the terms of the Indenture.
HOLDERS: As defined in Section 2 hereof.
PERSON: An individual, partnership, limited liability company,
corporation, trust, unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or
political subdivision thereof.
2
4
PROSPECTUS: The prospectus included in a Registration Statement at the
time such Registration Statement is declared effective, 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.
RECOMMENCEMENT DATE: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
REGISTRATION DEFAULT: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
REGISTRATION STATEMENT: Any registration statement of the Company and
the Guarantors relating to (a) an offering of Series B Notes (including Series
B Subsidiary Guarantees) pursuant to an Exchange Offer or (b) the registration
for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement, in each case, (i) that is filed pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement and (ii) including the Prospectus included therein, all amendments
and supplements thereto (including post-effective amendments) and all exhibits
and material incorporated by reference therein.
RULE 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.
SERIES B NOTES: The Company's 10-7/8% Series B Senior Notes due 2005 to
be issued pursuant to the Indenture: (i) in the Exchange Offer or (ii) as
contemplated by Section 4 hereof.
SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT: As defined in Section 4 hereof.
SUSPENSION NOTICE: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Section 77aaa-77bbbb) as
in effect on the date of the Indenture.
TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES: Each Series A Note and corresponding
Series A Subsidiary Guarantee, until the earliest to occur of (a) the date on
which such Series A Note and Series A Subsidiary Guarantee are exchanged in the
Exchange Offer for a Series B Note and corresponding Series B Subsidiary
Guarantee which are entitled to be resold to the public by the Holder thereof
without complying with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Act, (b) the
date on which such Series A Note and Series A Subsidiary Guarantee have been
disposed of in accordance with a Shelf Registration Statement (and the
purchasers thereof have been issued Series B Notes and Series B Subsidiary
Guarantees) or (c) the date on which such Series A Note and Series A Subsidiary
Guarantee are distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Act (and
purchasers thereof have been issued Series B Notes and Series B Subsidiary
Guarantees)
3
5
and each Series B Note and corresponding Series B Subsidiary Guarantee until
the date on which such Series B Note and Series B Subsidiary Guarantee are
disposed of by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the "Plan of Distribution"
contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (including the
delivery of the Prospectus contained therein).
SECTION 2. HOLDERS
A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
(each, a "HOLDER" and, collectively, the "HOLDERS") whenever such Person owns
Transfer Restricted Securities.
SECTION 3. REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER
(a) Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permitted by applicable
federal law (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below have been
complied with), the Company and the Guarantors shall (i) cause the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement to be filed with the Commission as soon as
practicable after the Closing Date, but in no event later than 60 days after
the Closing Date (such 60th day being the "FILING DEADLINE"), (ii) use its best
efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective
at the earliest possible time, but in no event later than 150 days after the
Closing Date (such 150th day being the "EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE"), (iii) in
connection with the foregoing, (A) file all pre-effective amendments to such
Exchange Offer Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to cause it
to become effective, (B) file, if applicable, a post-effective amendment to
such Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act
and (C) cause all necessary filings, if any, in connection with the
registration and qualification of the Series B Notes (including Series B
Subsidiary Guarantees) to be made under the Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions
as are necessary to permit Consummation of the Exchange Offer, and (iv) upon
the effectiveness of such Exchange Offer Registration Statement, commence and
Consummate the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall be on the appropriate
form permitting (i) registration of the Series B Notes (including Series B
Subsidiary Guarantees) to be offered in exchange for the Series A Notes
(including Series A Subsidiary Guarantees) that are Transfer Restricted
Securities and (ii) resales of Series B Notes (including Series B Subsidiary
Guarantees) by Broker-Dealers that tendered into the Exchange Offer Series A
Notes (including Series A Subsidiary Guarantees) that such Broker-Dealer
acquired for its own account as a result of market making activities or other
trading activities (other than Series A Notes and Series A Subsidiary
Guarantees acquired directly from the Company, any of the Guarantors or any of
their Affiliates) as contemplated by Section 3(c) below.
(b) The Company and the Guarantors shall use their respective best
efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be effective
continuously, and shall keep the Exchange
4
6
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 20 business
days. The Company and the Guarantors shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply
with all applicable federal and state securities laws. No securities other
than the Series B Notes and Series B Subsidiary Guarantees shall be included in
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. The Company and the Guarantors
shall use their respective best 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 thereafter (such 30th day being the "CONSUMMATION DEADLINE").
(c) The Company shall include a "Plan of Distribution" section in
the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and
indicate therein that any Broker-Dealer who holds Transfer Restricted
Securities that were acquired for the account of such Broker-Dealer as a result
of market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Series A
Notes and Series A Subsidiary Guarantees acquired directly from the Company,
any of the Guarantors or any of their Affiliates), may exchange such Transfer
Restricted Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer. Such "Plan of
Distribution" section shall also contain all other information with respect to
such sales by such Broker-Dealers that the Commission may require in order to
permit such sales pursuant thereto, but such "Plan of Distribution" shall not
name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Transfer Restricted
Securities held by any such Broker-Dealer, except to the extent required by
the Commission as a result of a change in policy, rules or regulations after
the date of this Agreement.
Because such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within
the meaning of the Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the
requirements of the Act in connection with its initial sale of any Series B
Notes (including Series B Subsidiary Guarantees) received by such Broker-Dealer
in the Exchange Offer, the Company and Guarantors shall permit the use of the
Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement by such
Broker-Dealer to satisfy such prospectus delivery requirement. To the extent
necessary to ensure that the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement is available for sales of Series B Notes (including
Series B Subsidiary Guarantees) by Broker-Dealers, the Company and the
Guarantors agree to use their respective best efforts to keep the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented, amended and
current as required by and subject to the provisions of Section 6(a) and (c)
hereof and in conformity with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and
the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to
time, for a period of one (1) year from the Consummation Deadline or such
shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities
covered by such Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto. The
Company and the Guarantors shall
5
7
provide sufficient copies of the latest version of such Prospectus to such
Broker-Dealers, promptly upon request, and in no event later than one (1) day
after such request, at any time during such period.
SECTION 4. SHELF REGISTRATION
(a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Exchange Offer is not permitted
by applicable law (after the Company and the Guarantors have complied with the
procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below) or (ii) if any Holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities shall notify the Company within 20 Business Days
following the Consummation Deadline that (A) such Holder was prohibited by law
or Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer or (B) such
Holder may not resell the Series B Notes or Series B Subsidiary Guarantees
acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a
prospectus and 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 Series A Notes or Series A
Subsidiary Guarantees acquired directly from the Company, the Guarantors or any
of their Affiliates, then the Company and the Guarantors shall:
(x) cause to be filed, on or prior to 60 days after the earlier of (i) the
date on which the Company determines that the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement cannot be filed as a result of clause (a)(i) above and (ii) the date
on which the Company receives the notice specified in clause (a)(ii) above
(such earlier date, the "FILING DEADLINE"), a shelf registration statement
pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act (which may be an amendment to the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement (the "SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT")), relating to
all Transfer Restricted Securities, and
(y) shall use their respective best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration
Statement to become effective on or prior to 150 days after the earlier of (i)
the date on which the Company determines that the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement cannot be filed as a result of clause (a)(i) above and (ii) the date
on which the Company receives the notice specified in clause (a)(ii) above
(such earlier date, the "EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE").
If, after the Company has filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement
that satisfies the requirements of Section 3(a) above, the Company is required
to file and make effective a Shelf Registration Statement solely because the
Exchange Offer is not permitted under applicable federal law (i.e., clause
(a)(i) above), then the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of clause (x) above; PROVIDED that,
in such event, the Company shall remain obligated to meet the Effectiveness
Deadline set forth in clause (y).
6
8
To the extent necessary to ensure that the Shelf Registration Statement
is available for sales of Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof
entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a) and the other securities required
to be registered therein pursuant to Section 6(b)(ii) hereof, the Company and
the Guarantors shall use their respective best efforts to keep any Shelf
Registration Statement required by this Section 4(a) continuously effective,
supplemented, amended and current as required by and subject to the provisions
of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof and in conformity with the requirements of this
Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as
announced from time to time, for a period of at least two years (2) (as
extended pursuant to Section 6(c)(i)) following the Closing Date, or such
shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities
covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto.
(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 days after receipt of a request therefor, the
information specified in Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, of
the Act for use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or
Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus included therein. No Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities shall be entitled to liquidated damages pursuant to
Section 5 hereof unless and until such Holder shall have provided all such
information. Each selling Holder agrees to promptly furnish additional
information required to be disclosed in order to make the information
previously furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially misleading.
SECTION 5. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
If (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not
filed with the Commission on or prior to the applicable Filing Deadline, (ii)
any such Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the
Commission on or prior to the applicable Effectiveness Deadline, (iii) the
Exchange Offer has not been Consummated on or prior to the Consummation
Deadline 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 Statement that cures such failure
and that is itself declared effective immediately (each such event referred to
in clauses (i) through (iv), a "REGISTRATION DEFAULT"), then the Company and
the Guarantors hereby jointly and severally agree to pay to each Holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities affected thereby liquidated damages in an amount
equal to the rate of 50 basis points per year times the principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holder for the
7
9
first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of such Registration
Default. The amount of the liquidated damages shall increase by an additional
25 basis points per year times the principal amount of Transfer Restricted
Securities with respect to each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration
Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum amount of liquidated damages of 200
basis points per year times the principal amount of Transfer Restricted
Securities; PROVIDED that the Company and the Guarantors shall in no event be
required to pay liquidated damages for more than one Registration Default at
any given time. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, (1)
upon filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if
applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of (i) above, (2)
upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if
applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of (ii) above, (3)
upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer, in the case of (iii) above, or (4)
upon the filing of a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or
an additional Registration Statement that causes the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration
Statement) to again be declared effective or made usable in the case of (iv)
above, the liquidated damages payable with respect to the Transfer Restricted
Securities as a result of such clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), as applicable,
shall cease.
All accrued liquidated damages shall be paid to the Holders entitled
thereto, in the manner provided for the payment of interest in the Indenture,
on each Interest Payment Date, as more fully set forth in the Indenture and the
Notes. Notwithstanding the fact that any securities for which liquidated
damages are due cease to be Transfer Restricted Securities, all obligations of
the Company and the Guarantors to pay liquidated damages with respect to
securities shall survive until such time as such obligations with respect to
such securities 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 (x) comply with all
applicable provisions of Section 6(c) below, (y) use their respective best
efforts to effect such exchange and to permit the resale of Series B Notes
(including Series B Subsidiary Guarantees) by Broker-Dealers that tendered in
the Exchange Offer Series A Notes (including Series A Subsidiary Guarantees)
that such Broker-Dealers acquired for their own accounts as a result of their
market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Series A Notes
or Series A Subsidiary Guarantees acquired directly from the Company, any of
the Guarantors or any of their Affiliates) being sold in accordance with the
intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and (z) comply with all of
the following provisions:
8
10
(i) If, following the date hereof there has
been announced a change in Commission policy with respect to exchange
offers such as the Exchange Offer, that in the reasonable opinion of
counsel to the Company raises a substantial question as to whether the
Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable federal law, the Company and
the Guarantors hereby agree 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 such Transfer
Restricted Securities. The Company and the Guarantors hereby agree to
pursue the issuance of such a decision to the Commission staff level.
In connection with the foregoing, the Company and the Guarantors
hereby agree to take all such other actions as may be requested by the
Commission or otherwise required in connection with the issuance of
such decision, including without limitation (A) participating in
telephonic conferences with the Commission, (B) delivering 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 pursuing a resolution (which need not be favorable) by the
Commission staff.
(ii) As a condition to its participation in the
Exchange Offer, each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
(including, without limitation, any Holder who is a Broker-Dealer)
shall furnish, upon the request of the Company, prior to the
Consummation of the Exchange Offer, a written representation to the
Company and the Guarantors (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 Series B Notes (including Series B Subsidiary
Guarantees) to be issued in the Exchange Offer and (C) it is acquiring
the Series B Notes (including Series B Subsidiary Guarantees) in its
ordinary course of business. As a condition to its participation in
the Exchange Offer each Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate
in a distribution of the Series B Notes (including Series B Subsidiary
Guarantees) shall acknowledge and agree that, if the resales are of
Series B Notes (including Series B Subsidiary Guarantees) obtained by
such Holder in exchange for Series A Notes (including Series A
Subsidiary Guarantees) acquired directly from the Company or an
Affiliate thereof, it (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 (including,
if applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i)
above), and (2) must comply with the registration and prospectus
9
11
delivery requirements of the Act in connection with a secondary resale
transaction and that such a secondary resale transaction must 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.
(iii) Prior to effectiveness of the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors provide a
supplemental letter to the Commission (A) stating that the Company and
the Guarantors are registering the Exchange Offer in reliance on the
position of the Commission enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings
Corporation (available May 13, 1988), ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Co., Inc.
(available June 5, 1991) as interpreted in the Commission's letter to
Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and, if applicable, any no-
action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above, (B) including a
representation that neither the Company nor any Guarantor has entered
into any arrangement or understanding with any Person to distribute
the Series B Notes (including Series B Subsidiary Guarantees) to be
received in the Exchange Offer and that, to the best of the Company's
and each Guarantor's information and belief, each Holder participating
in the Exchange Offer is acquiring the Series B Notes (including
Series B Subsidiary Guarantees) in its ordinary course of business and
has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in
the distribution of the Series B Notes (including Series B Subsidiary
Guarantees) received in the Exchange Offer and (C) any other
undertaking or representation required by the Commission as set forth
in any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above, if
applicable.
(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall (i) comply with all
the provisions of Section 6(c) below and use their respective best 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 (as indicated in the information furnished to the Company
pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof), and pursuant thereto the Company and the
Guarantors shall prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement
relating to the registration on any appropriate form under the Act, which form
shall be available for the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities in
accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof within
the time periods and otherwise in accordance with the provisions hereof, and
(ii) issue, upon the request of any Holder or
purchaser of Series A Notes (including Series A Subsidiary Guarantees)
covered by any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this
Agreement, Series B Notes (including Series B Subsidiary Guarantees)
having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal
amount of Series A Notes
10
12
(including Series A Subsidiary Guarantees) sold pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement and surrendered to the Company for
cancellation; the Company shall register Series B Notes (including
Series B Subsidiary Guarantees) on the Shelf Registration Statement
for this purpose and issue the Series B Notes (including Series B
Subsidiary Guarantees) to the purchaser(s) of securities subject to
the Shelf Registration Statement in the names as such purchaser(s)
shall designate.
(c) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration
Statement and any related Prospectus required by this Agreement, the Company
and the Guarantors shall:
(i) use their respective best efforts to keep
such Registration Statement continuously effective and provide all
requisite financial statements for the period specified in Section 3
or 4 of this Agreement, as applicable. Upon the occurrence of any
event that would cause any such Registration Statement or the
Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain an untrue statement of
material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading or (B) not to be effective and
useable for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during the
period required by this Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors
shall file promptly an appropriate amendment to such Registration
Statement curing such defect, and, if Commission review is required,
use their respective best efforts to cause such amendment to be
declared effective as soon as practicable;
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such
amendments and post-effective amendments to the applicable
Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration
Statement effective for the applicable period set forth in Section 3
or 4 hereof, as the case may be; cause the Prospectus to be
supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so
supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, and to
comply fully with Rules 424, 430A and 462, as applicable, under the
Act in a timely manner; and comply with the provisions of the 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) advise each Holder promptly and, if
requested by such Holder, 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 applicable
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
11
13
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 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 in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or that
requires the making of any additions to or changes in the Prospectus in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, 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, the Company and the Guarantors shall
use their respective best efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of
such order at the earliest possible time;
(iv) subject to Section 6(c)(i), if any fact or
event contemplated by Section 6(c)(iii)(D) above 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 fact or
omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading;
(v) furnish to the Initial Purchaser and each
Holder in connection with such exchange or sale, 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
in connection with such sale, if any, for a period of at least five
Business Days, and the 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 such Holders shall reasonably object
within five Business Days after
12
14
the receipt thereof. A Holder shall be deemed to have reasonably objected
to such filing if such Registration Statement, amendment, Prospectus or
supplement, as applicable, as proposed to be filed, contains an untrue
statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading or fails to comply with the
applicable requirements of the Act;
(vi) 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 each Holder in
connection with such exchange or sale, 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 Holders may reasonably
request;
(vii) make available, at reasonable times, for
inspection by each and any attorney or accountant retained by such
Holders, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents 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, 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;
(viii) if requested by any Holders in connection
with such exchange or sale, promptly include in any Registration Statement
or Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if
necessary, such information as such Holders may reasonably request to have
included therein, including, without limitation, information relating to
the "Plan of Distribution" of the Transfer Restricted Securities, 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 included in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment;
(ix) furnish to each Holder in connection with
such exchange or sale, without charge, at least one copy of the
Registration Statement, as first filed with the Commission, and of each
amendment thereto, including all documents incorporated by reference
therein and all exhibits (including exhibits incorporated therein by
reference);
(x) deliver to each Holder without charge, as
many copies of the Prospectus (including the preliminary prospectus) and
any amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may
request; the Company and the Guarantors hereby consent to the use (in
accordance with law) of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement
thereto
13
15
by each selling Holder in connection with the offering and the sale of the
Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment
or supplement thereto;
(xi) upon the request of any Holder, enter into
such agreements (including underwriting agreements) and make such
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 applicable Registration
Statement contemplated by this Agreement as may be reasonably requested by
any Holder in connection with any sale or resale pursuant to any
applicable Registration Statement. In such connection, the Company and
the Guarantors shall:
(A) upon request of any Holder, furnish (or in the case of
paragraphs (2) and (3), use its best efforts to cause to be
furnished) to each Holder, upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer
or upon the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as
the case may be:
(1) a certificate, dated such date, signed on behalf of
the Company and each Guarantor by (x) the President or any
Vice President and (y) a principal financial or accounting
officer of the Company and such Guarantor, confirming, as of
the date thereof, the matters set forth in Sections 6(ii),
9(a) and 9(b) of the Purchase Agreement and such other similar
matters as such Holders may reasonably request;
(2) an opinion, dated the date of Consummation of the
Exchange Offer or the date of effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration Statement, as the case may be, of each of the
counsel to the Company and the Guarantors covering matters
similar to those set forth in paragraph (e), respectfully, of
Section 9 of the Purchase Agreement and such other matters as
such Holder may reasonably request, and in any event including
a statement in the opinion from each such counsel to the
Company 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
public accountants for the Company and the Guarantors 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 (relying as to materiality to the
extent such counsel deems appropriate upon the
14
16
statements of officers and other representatives of the
Company and the Guarantors) and without independent check or
verification) 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 and, in the case of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, as of the date of Consummation of the Exchange
Offer, 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 and, in the case of the opinion dated the date
of Consummation of the Exchange Offer, as of the date of
Consummation, contained an untrue statement of a material fact
or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading. 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, notes and schedules and other
financial data included in any Registration Statement
contemplated by this Agreement or the related Prospectus; and
(3) a customary comfort letter, dated the date of
Consummation of the Exchange Offer, or as of the date of
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case
may be, from the Company's independent accountants, in the
customary form and covering matters of the type customarily
covered in comfort letters to underwriters in connection with
underwritten offerings, and affirming the matters set forth in
the comfort letters delivered pursuant to Section 9(h) of the
Purchase Agreement; and
(B) deliver such other documents and certificates as may be
reasonably requested by the selling Holders to evidence compliance
with the matters covered in clause (A) above and with any
customary conditions contained in the any agreement entered into
by the Company and the Guarantors pursuant to this clause (xi);
(xii) prior to any public offering of Transfer
Restricted Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders and their
counsel in connection with the registration and qualification of the
Transfer Restricted Securities under the securities or Blue Sky laws of
such jurisdictions as the selling Holders may request and do any and all
other acts or things
15
17
necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of
the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the applicable Registration
Statement; provided, however, that neither the Company nor any Guarantor
shall be required to register or qualify as a foreign corporation where it
is not now 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 now so subject;
(xiii) in connection with any sale of Transfer
Restricted Securities that will result in such securities no longer being
Transfer Restricted Securities, cooperate with the Holders to facilitate
the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Transfer
Restricted Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends;
and to register such Transfer Restricted Securities in such denominations
and such names as the selling Holders may request at least two (2)
Business Days prior to such sale of Transfer Restricted Securities;
(xiv) use their respective best efforts to cause
the disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the
Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other
governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the
seller or sellers thereof to consummate the disposition of such Transfer
Restricted Securities, subject to the proviso contained in clause (xii)
above;
(xv) provide a CUSIP number for all Transfer
Restricted Securities not later than the effective date of a Registration
Statement covering such Transfer Restricted Securities and provide the
Trustee under the Indenture with printed certificates for the Transfer
Restricted Securities which are in a form eligible for deposit with the
Depository Trust Company;
(xvi) otherwise use their respective best efforts
to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and
make generally available to their security holders with regard to any
applicable Registration Statement, as soon as practicable, a consolidated
earnings statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158 (which need not be
audited) covering a twelve-month period beginning after the effective date
of the Registration Statement (as such term is defined in paragraph (c) of
Rule 158 under the Act);
(xvii) cause the Indenture to be qualified under
the TIA 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 to effect such changes to the
16
18
Indenture as may be required for such Indenture to be so qualified in
accordance with the terms of the TIA; and execute and use its best efforts
to cause 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;
(xviii) provide promptly to each Holder, upon
request, each document filed with the Commission pursuant to the
requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; and
(xix) make appropriate officers of the Company
available to the selling Holders for meetings with prospective purchasers
of the Transfer Restricted Securities and prepare and present to potential
investors customary "road show" material in a manner consistent with other
new issuances of other securities similar to the Transfer Restricted
Securities.
(d) Restrictions on Holders. Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a
Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of the notice referred to in
Section 6(c)(iii)(C) or any notice from the Company of the existence of any
fact of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof (in each case, a
"SUSPENSION NOTICE"), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration
Statement until (i) such Holder has received copies of the supplemented or
amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(iv) hereof, or (ii) such Holder
is advised in writing 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 (in each case, the
"RECOMMENCEMENT DATE"). Each Holder receiving a Suspension Notice hereby
agrees that it will either (i) destroy any Prospectuses, other than permanent
file copies, then in such Holder's possession which have been replaced by the
Company with more recently dated Prospectuses or (ii) 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 the Suspension 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 a number of
days equal to the number of days in the period from and including the date of
delivery of the Suspension Notice to the date of delivery of the Recommencement
Date.
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,
regardless of whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including
without limitation: (i) all registration and
17
19
filing fees and expenses; (ii) all fees and expenses of compliance with federal
securities and state Blue Sky or securities laws; (iii) all expenses of
printing (including printing certificates for the Series B Notes (including
Series B Subsidiary Guarantees) to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing
of Prospectuses, messenger and delivery services and telephone charges; (iv)
all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, the Guarantors and the
Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; (v) all application and filing fees
in connection with listing the Series B Notes (including Series B Subsidiary
Guarantees) on a national securities exchange or automated quotation system
pursuant to the requirements hereof; and (vi) all fees and disbursements of
independent certified public accountants of the Company and the Guarantors
(including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters required by or
incident to such performance).
The Company will, in any event, bear its and the Guarantors' 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
will reimburse the Initial Purchaser and the Holders of Transfer Restricted
Securities who are tendering Series A Notes into in the Exchange Offer and/or
selling or reselling Series A Notes (including Series A Subsidiary Guarantees)
or Series B Notes (including Series B Subsidiary Guarantees) pursuant to the
"Plan of Distribution" contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
or the Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable, for the reasonable fees and
disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall be ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
unless another firm shall 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 AND CONTRIBUTION
(a) The Company and the Guarantors agree, jointly and severally, to
indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, its directors, officers, partners,
employees, representatives and agents and each Person, if any, who controls
such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities, judgments, (including without limitation, any legal or other
expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any matter,
including any action that could give rise to any such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or judgments) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement,
preliminary prospectus or
18
20
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) provided by the Company to
any Holder or any prospective purchaser of Series B Notes (including Series B
Subsidiary Guarantees) or registered Series A Notes (including Series A
Subsidiary Guarantees), 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, except insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or judgments are caused by an untrue statement or omission
or alleged untrue statement or omission that is based upon information relating
to any of the Holders furnished in writing to the Company by any of the
Holders.
(b) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agrees, severally
and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Guarantors,
and their respective directors and officers, and each person, if any, who
controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act) the Company, or the Guarantors to the same extent as the
foregoing indemnity from the Company and the Guarantors set forth in section
(a) above, but only with reference to information relating to such Holder
furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use in any
Registration Statement. In no event shall any Holder, its directors, officers
partners, employees, representatives and agents or any Person who controls such
Holder be liable or responsible for any amount in excess of the amount by which
the total amount received by such Holder with respect to its sale of Transfer
Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds (i) the
amount paid by such Holder for such Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) the
amount of any damages that such Holder, its directors, officers or any Person
who controls such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such
untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
(c) In case any action shall be commenced involving any person in
respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a) or 8(b) (the
"INDEMNIFIED PARTY"), the indemnified party shall promptly notify the person
against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "INDEMNIFYING PERSON") in
writing and the indemnifying party shall assume the defense of such action,
including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified
party and the payment of all fees and expenses of such counsel, as incurred
(except that in the case of any action in respect of which indemnity may be
sought pursuant to both Sections 8(a) and 8(b), a Holder shall not be required
to assume the defense of such action pursuant to this Section 8(c), but may
employ separate counsel and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees
and expenses of such counsel, except as provided below, shall be at the expense
of the Holder). Any indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate
counsel in any such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees
and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnified party
unless (i) the employment of such counsel shall have been specifically
authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnifying party
shall have
19
21
failed to assume the defense of such action or employ counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the indemnified party or (iii) the named parties to any such
action (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified party and
the indemnifying party, and the indemnified party shall have been advised by
such counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which
are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party
(in which case the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the
defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party). In any such case,
the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one action or separate
but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising
out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees
and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any
local counsel) for all indemnified parties and all such fees and expenses shall
be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing
by a majority of the Holders, in the case of the parties indemnified pursuant
to Section 8(a), and by the Company and Guarantors, in the case of parties
indemnified pursuant to Section 8(b). The indemnifying party shall indemnify
and hold harmless the indemnified party from and against any and all losses,
claims, damages, liabilities and judgments by reason of any settlement of any
action (i) effected with its written consent or (ii) effected without its
written consent if the settlement is entered into more than twenty (20)
business days after the indemnifying party shall have received a request from
the indemnified party for reimbursement for the fees and expenses of counsel
(in any case where such fees and expenses are at the expense of the
indemnifying party) and, prior to the date of such settlement, the indemnifying
party shall have failed to comply with such reimbursement request. No
indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
party, effect any settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of
judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action in respect of which
the indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity or
contribution may be or could have been sought hereunder by the indemnified
party, unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an
unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability on claims
that are or could have been the subject matter of such action and (ii) does not
include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to
act, by or on behalf of the indemnified party.
(d) To the extent that the indemnification provided for in this
Section 8 is unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to therein, then each
indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result
of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments (i) 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 their sale of Transfer Restricted Securities or (ii) if the
allocation provided by clause 8(d)(i) is not permitted by applicable law, in
such proportion as is appropriate
20
22
to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 8(d)(i) above
but also the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand,
and of the Holder, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or
omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
judgments, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The
relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and of the
Holder, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or
the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Company or such Guarantor, on the one hand, or by
the Holder, on the other hand, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity 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 judgments referred to above shall be deemed to
include, subject to the limitations set forth in the second paragraph of
Section 8(a), 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 agree that it would not be
just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) 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. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a
result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to in
the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the
limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any
matter, including any action that could have given rise to such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or judgments. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Section 8, no Holder, its directors, its officers, partners, employees,
representatives and agents, or any Person, if any, who controls such Holder
shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the
amount by which the total received by such Holder with respect to the sale of
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds (i)
the amount paid by such Holder for such Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii)
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 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 Transfer Restricted Securities
held by each Holder hereunder and not joint.
21
23
SECTION 9. RULE 144A AND RULE 144
The Company and each Guarantor agrees with each Holder, for so long as
any Transfer Restricted Securities remain outstanding and during any period in
which the Company or such Guarantor (i) is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Exchange Act, to make available, upon request of any Holder, to such
Holder or beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with
any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted
Securities designated by such Holder or beneficial owner, the information
required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act in order to permit resales of such
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A, and (ii) is subject to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to make all filings required thereby
in a timely manner in order to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted
Securities pursuant to Rule 144.
SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) REMEDIES. The Company and the Guarantors acknowledge and agree
that any failure by the Company and/or the Guarantors to comply with their
respective obligations under Sections 3 and 4 hereof may result in material
irreparable injury to the Initial Purchaser 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 Initial
Purchaser or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to
specifically enforce the Company's and the Guarantor's obligations under
Sections 3 and 4 hereof. The Company and the Guarantors further agree to waive
the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would
be adequate.
(b) NO INCONSISTENT AGREEMENTS. Neither the Company nor any
Guarantor will, 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 Guarantor 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 and the Guarantors' securities under any agreement
in effect on the date hereof.
(c) 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 (i) in the case
of Section 5 hereof and this Section 10(c)(i), the Company has obtained the
written consent of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities
and (ii) in the case of all other provisions hereof, the Company has obtained
the written consent of
22
24
Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer
Restricted Securities (excluding 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 Transfer Restricted Securities are being tendered pursuant to
the Exchange Offer, and that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights
of other Holders whose Transfer Restricted 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 subject to
such Exchange Offer.
(d) THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARY. The Holders shall be third party
beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company and the
Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchaser, on the other hand, and
shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent they may
deem such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect their rights hereunder.
(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 or the Guarantors:
The GNI Group, Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telecopier No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
With a copy to:
Citicorp Venture Capital
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telecopier No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
23
25
and
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & Bockius LLP
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telecopier No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇, Esq. and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five (5)
Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed;
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; provided, that nothing herein shall be deemed
to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Transfer Restricted
Securities in violation of the terms hereof or of the Purchase Agreement or the
Indenture. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Transfer Restricted
Securities in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such
Transfer Restricted Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of
this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Transfer Restricted 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, including the
restrictions on resale set forth in this Agreement and, if applicable, the
Purchase Agreement, and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits
hereof.
(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 CONFLICT OF LAW RULES THEREOF.
24
26
(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 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 with respect to the
Transfer Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements
and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
25
27
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
THE GNI GROUP, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Financial Officer
GUARANTORS:
GULF NUCLEAR OF LOUISIANA, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Financial Officer
GNI CHEMICALS CORPORATION
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Financial Officer
DISPOSAL SYSTEMS, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Financial Officer
26
28
RESOURCE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Financial Officer
DISPOSAL SYSTEMS OF CORPUS CHRISTI, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Financial Officer
27
29
CIBC ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ CORP.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Managing Director
28