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EXHIBIT 4.7
THE ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ COMPANY, INC.
$100,000,000 10% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2008
$50,000,000 10% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2008
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
December 1, 1998
BancBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
c/o BancBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇/▇ ▇▇-▇▇-▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Dear Sirs:
The ▇. ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Company, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the
"Issuer"), proposes to issue and sell to BancBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.
("BancBoston") and Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation ("CSFBC" and, together
with BancBoston, the "Initial Purchasers"), upon the terms set forth in a
purchase agreement of even date herewith (the "Purchase Agreement"), $50,000,000
aggregate principal amount of its 10% Senior Notes Due 2008 (the "Initial
Securities") to be unconditionally guaranteed (each, a "Subsidiary Guaranty") on
an unsecured senior basis by certain of the Issuer's subsidiaries (the
"Subsidiary Guarantors", and together with the Issuer, the "Company"). The
obligations of the Company in this Agreement are joint and several obligations
of the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors. The Initial Securities will be
issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1998, (the "Indenture")
among the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors and First Union National Bank, as
trustee (the "Trustee"). Pursuant to an Indenture dated May 15, 1998 among the
Issuer, certain of the Issuer's current subsidiaries and First Union National
Bank, as trustee, the Issuer issued $100,000,000 aggregate principal amount of
its 10% Senior Notes Due 2008 (the "Existing Securities"). As an inducement to
the Initial Purchasers, the Company agrees with the Initial Purchasers, for the
benefit of the holders of the Initial Securities (including, without limitation,
the Initial Purchasers), the Exchange Securities (as defined below) and the
Private Exchange Securities (as defined below) (collectively the "Holders"), as
follows:
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1. Registered Exchange Offer. The Company shall, at its own cost,
prepare and, not later than March 31, 1999, file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement (the "Exchange
Offer Registration Statement") on an appropriate form under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to a proposed offer
(the "Registered Exchange Offer") to the Holders of Transfer Restricted
Securities (as defined in Section 6 hereof) who are not prohibited by any law or
policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer,
and to the holders of the Existing Securities, to issue and deliver to such
Holders or holders of Existing Securities, as the case may be, in exchange for:
(a) the Initial Securities, a like aggregate principal amount (up to $50,000,000
aggregate principal amount) of debt securities (the "Initial Exchange
Securities") of the Issuer and (b) the Existing Securities, a like principal
amount (up to $100,000,000 aggregate principal amount) of debt securities
(together with the Initial Exchange Securities, the "Exchange Securities") of
the Issuer, each of the Exchange Securities issued under the Indenture and
identical in all material respects to the Initial Securities (except for the
transfer restrictions relating to the Initial Securities and the provisions
relating to the matters described in Section 6 hereof) that would be registered
under the Securities Act. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause such
Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities
Act within 180 days (or if the 180th day is not a business day, the first
business day thereafter) after the date of original issue of the Initial
Securities (the "Issue Date") and shall keep the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement effective for not less than 20 Business Days (as defined in the
Indenture) (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date notice of
the Registered Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holders (such period being called
the "Exchange Offer Registration Period").
If the Company effects the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company will
be entitled to close the Registered Exchange Offer 20 Business Days after the
commencement thereof provided that the Company has accepted all the Initial
Securities and the Existing Securities theretofore validly tendered in
accordance with the terms of the Registered Exchange Offer.
Following the declaration of the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly commence the Registered
Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to
enable each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities or holder of Existing
Securities, as the case may be, electing to exchange the Initial Securities or
the Existing Securities, as applicable, for Exchange Securities (assuming that
such Holder is not an affiliate of the Company within the meaning of the
Securities Act, acquires the Exchange Securities in the ordinary course of such
▇▇▇▇▇▇'s business and has no arrangements with any person to participate in the
distribution of the Exchange Securities and is not prohibited by any law or
policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer) to
trade such Exchange Securities from and after their receipt without any
limitations or restrictions under the Securities Act and without material
restrictions under the securities laws of the several states of the United
States.
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The Company acknowledges that, pursuant to current interpretations by
the Commission's staff of Section 5 of the Securities Act, in the absence of an
applicable exemption therefrom, (i) each Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities which is a broker-dealer electing to exchange Securities, acquired
for its own account as a result of market making activities or other trading
activities, for Exchange Securities (an "Exchanging Dealer"), is required to
deliver a prospectus containing the information set forth in (a) Annex A hereto
on the cover, (b) Annex B hereto in the "Exchange Offer Procedures" section and
the "Purpose of the Exchange Offer" section, and (c) Annex C hereto in the "Plan
of Distribution" section of such prospectus in connection with a sale of any
such Exchange Securities received by such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to the
Registered Exchange Offer and (ii) an Initial Purchaser that elects to sell
Exchange Securities acquired in exchange for Securities (as defined below)
constituting any portion of an unsold allotment is required to deliver a
prospectus containing the information required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation
S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in connection with such sale.
The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the prospectus
contained therein, in order to permit such prospectus to be lawfully delivered
by all persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act for such period of time as such persons must comply with such requirements
in order to resell the Exchange Securities; provided, however, that (i) in the
case where such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto must be
delivered by an Exchanging Dealer or an Initial Purchaser, such period shall be
the lesser of 180 days and the date on which all Exchanging Dealers and the
Initial Purchasers have sold all Exchange Securities held by them received in
exchange for Initial Securities (unless such period is extended pursuant to
Section 3(j) below) and (ii) the Company shall make such prospectus and any
amendment or supplement thereto, available to any broker-dealer for use in
connection with any resale of any Exchange Securities received in exchange for
Initial Securities for a period of not less than 90 days after the consummation
of the Registered Exchange Offer.
If, upon consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, any Initial
Purchaser holds Initial Securities acquired by it as part of its initial
distribution, the Company, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange
Securities pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, shall issue and deliver to
such Initial Purchaser upon the written request of such Initial Purchaser, in
exchange (the "Private Exchange") for the Initial Securities held by such
Initial Purchaser, a like principal amount of debt securities of the Company
issued under the Indenture and identical in all material respects (including the
existence of restrictions on transfer under the Securities Act and the
securities laws of the several states of the United States, but excluding
provisions relating to the matters described in Section 6 hereof) to the Initial
Securities (the "Private Exchange Securities"). The Initial Securities, the
Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities are herein collectively
called the "Securities."
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In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(a) mail to each Holder and each holder of Existing Securities
a copy of the prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of
transmittal and related documents;
(b) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than
20 Business Days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the
date notice thereof is mailed to the Holders;
(c) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered
Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of
New York, which may be the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee;
(d) permit Holders and holders of Existing Securities to
withdraw tendered Securities and tendered Existing Securities at any
time prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last
business day on which the Registered Exchange Offer shall remain open;
and
(e) otherwise comply with all applicable laws.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange Offer
or the Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:
(x) accept for exchange all the Initial Securities or Existing
Securities, as the case may be, validly tendered and not withdrawn
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, as
the case may be;
(y) deliver to the Trustee for cancelation all the Initial
Securities or Existing Securities, as the case may be, so accepted for
exchange; and
(z) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to
each Holder of the Initial Securities and to each holder of Existing
Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the
case may be, equal in principal amount to the Initial Securities or
Existing Securities, as the case may be, of such Holder or holder of
Existing Securities so accepted for exchange.
The Indenture will provide that the Exchange Securities will not be
subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture and that all the
Securities will vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that
none of the Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a class
separate from one another on any matter.
Interest on each Exchange Security and Private Exchange Security issued
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and in the Private Exchange will
accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the
Initial Securities or the Existing
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Securities, as the case may be, surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no
interest has been paid on the Initial Securities, from the date of original
issue of the Initial Securities.
Each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer shall be
required to represent to the Company that at the time of the consummation of the
Registered Exchange Offer (i) any Exchange Securities received by such Holder
will be acquired in the ordinary course of business, (ii) such Holder will have
no arrangements or understanding with any person to participate in the
distribution of the Securities or the Exchange Securities within the meaning of
the Securities Act, (iii) such Holder is not an "affiliate," as defined in Rule
405 of the Securities Act, of the Company or if it is an affiliate, such Holder
will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act to the extent applicable, (iv) if such Holder is not a
broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, the
distribution of the Exchange Securities and (v) if such Holder is a
broker-dealer, that it will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in
exchange for Initial Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities and that it will be required to
acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such Exchange Securities.
Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company will ensure
that (i) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and
any prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto complies in all
material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, (ii) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment
thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (iii) any prospectus
forming part of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and any supplement to
such prospectus, does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
2. Shelf Registration. If, (i) because of any change in law or in
applicable interpretations thereof by the staff of the Commission, the Company
is not permitted to effect a Registered Exchange Offer, as contemplated by
Section 1 hereof, (ii) the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated within
225 days of the Issue Date (or, if such 225th day is not a business day, the
first business day thereafter), (iii) any Initial Purchaser so requests with
respect to the Initial Securities (or the Private Exchange Securities) not
eligible to be exchanged for Exchange Securities in the Registered Exchange
Offer and held by it following consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer or
(iv) any Holder (other than an Exchanging Dealer) is not eligible to participate
in the Registered Exchange Offer or, in the case of any Holder (other than an
Exchanging Dealer) that participates in the Registered Exchange Offer, such
Holder does not receive
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freely tradeable Exchange Securities on the date of the exchange, the Company
shall take the following actions:
(a) The Company shall, at its cost, as promptly as practicable
(but in no event more than 45 days after so required or requested
pursuant to this Section 2) file with the Commission and thereafter
shall use its best efforts to cause to be declared effective a
registration statement (the "Shelf Registration Statement" and,
together with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, a
"Registration Statement") on an appropriate form under the Securities
Act relating to the offer and sale of the Transfer Restricted
Securities by the Holders thereof from time to time in accordance with
the methods of distribution set forth in the Shelf Registration
Statement and Rule 415 under the Securities Act (hereinafter, the
"Shelf Registration"); provided, however, that no Holder (other than an
Initial Purchaser) shall be entitled to have the Securities held by it
covered by such Shelf Registration Statement unless such Holder agrees
in writing to be bound by all the provisions of this Agreement
applicable to such Holder.
(b) The Company shall use its reasonable efforts to keep the
Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit
the prospectus included therein to be lawfully delivered by the Holders
of the relevant Securities for a period of two years (or for such
longer period if extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) from the date
of its effectiveness or such shorter period that will terminate when
all the Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement (i) have
been sold pursuant thereto or (ii) are no longer restricted securities
(as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or any successor rule
thereof). The Company shall be deemed not to have used its reasonable
efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective during the
requisite period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result
in Holders of Securities covered thereby not being able to offer and
sell such Securities during that period, unless such action is required
by applicable law.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to
the contrary, the Company shall cause the Shelf Registration Statement
and the related prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as
of the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, amendment or
supplement, (i) to comply in all material respects with the applicable
requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission and (ii) not to contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
3. Registration Procedures. In connection with any Shelf Registration
contemplated by Section 2 hereof and, to the extent applicable, any Registered
Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 1 hereof, the following provisions shall
apply:
(a) The Company shall (i) furnish to each Initial Purchaser,
prior to the
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filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of the Registration
Statement and each amendment thereof and each supplement, if any, to
the prospectus included therein and, in the event that an Initial
Purchaser (with respect to any portion of an unsold allotment from the
original offering) is participating in the Registered Exchange Offer or
the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall use its reasonable
efforts to reflect in each such document, when so filed with the
Commission, such comments as such Initial Purchaser reasonably may
propose; (ii) include the information set forth in Annex A hereto on
the cover, in Annex B hereto in the "Exchange Offer Procedures" section
and the "Purpose of the Exchange Offer" section and in Annex C hereto
in the "Plan of Distribution" section of the prospectus forming a part
of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and include the
information set forth in Annex D hereto in the Letter of Transmittal
delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer; (iii) if requested
by an Initial Purchaser, include the information required by Items 507
or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in
the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement; (iv) include within the prospectus contained in the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement a section entitled "Plan of Distribution,"
reasonably acceptable to the Initial Purchasers, which shall contain a
summary statement of the positions taken or policies made by the staff
of the Commission with respect to the potential "underwriter" status of
any broker-dealer that is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule
13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act")) of Exchange Securities received by such broker-dealer
in the Registered Exchange Offer (a "Participating Broker-Dealer"),
whether such positions or policies have been publicly disseminated by
the staff of the Commission or such positions or policies, in the
reasonable judgment of the Initial Purchasers based upon advice of
counsel (which may be in-house counsel), represent the prevailing views
of the staff of the Commission; and (v) in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement, include the names of the Holders, who propose
to sell Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, as
selling securityholders.
(b) The Company shall give written notice to the Initial
Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any Participating
Broker-Dealer from whom the Company has received prior written notice
that it will be a Participating Broker-Dealer in the Registered
Exchange Offer (which notice pursuant to clauses (ii)-(v) hereof shall
be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the prospectus
until the requisite changes have been made):
(i) when the Registration Statement or any amendment
thereto has been filed with the Commission and when the
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto
has become effective;
(ii) of any request by the Commission for
amendments or
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supplements to the Registration Statement or the prospectus
included therein or for additional information;
(iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that
purpose;
(iv) of the receipt by the Company or its legal
counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of
the qualification of the Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any
proceeding for such purpose; and
(v) of the happening of any event that requires the
Company to make changes in the Registration Statement or the
prospectus in order that the Registration Statement or the
prospectus do not contain an untrue statement of a material
fact nor omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the
case of the prospectus, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made) not misleading.
(c) The Company shall make every reasonable effort to obtain
the withdrawal at the earliest possible time, of any order suspending
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.
(d) The Company shall furnish to each Holder of Securities
included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge,
at least one copy of the Shelf Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and
schedules, and, if the Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits
thereto (including those, if any, incorporated by reference).
(e) The Company shall deliver to each Exchanging Dealer and
each Initial Purchaser, and to any other Holder or holder of Existing
Securities who so requests, without charge, at least one copy of the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment
thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and, if any
Initial Purchaser or any such Holder requests, all exhibits thereto
(including those incorporated by reference).
(f) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period,
deliver to each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of
the Shelf Registration, without charge, as many copies of the
prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) included in the
Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as
such person may reasonably request. The Company consents, subject to
the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of the
Securities in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities
covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto,
included in the Shelf
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Registration Statement.
(g) The Company shall deliver to each Initial Purchaser, any
Exchanging Dealer, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other
persons required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered
Exchange Offer, without charge, as many copies of the final prospectus
included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment
or supplement thereto as such persons may reasonably request. The
Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the
use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by any
Initial Purchaser, if necessary, any Participating Broker-Dealer and
such other persons required to deliver a prospectus following the
Registered Exchange Offer in connection with the offering and sale of
the Exchange Securities covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, included in such Exchange Offer Registration
Statement.
(h) Prior to any public offering of the Securities, pursuant
to any Registration Statement, the Company shall register or qualify or
cooperate with the Holders of the Securities included therein and their
respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification
of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or "blue sky"
laws of such states of the United States as any Holder of the
Securities reasonably requests in writing and do any and all other acts
or things necessary or advisable to enable the offer and sale in such
jurisdictions of the Securities covered by such Registration Statement;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to (i)
qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not
then so qualified or (ii) take any action which would subject it to
general service of process or to taxation in any jurisdiction where it
is not then so subject.
(i) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of the
Securities or to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates representing the Securities to be sold pursuant to any
Registration Statement free of any restrictive legends and in such
denominations and registered in such names as the Holders may request a
reasonable period of time prior to sales of the Securities pursuant to
such Registration Statement.
(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by
paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above during the period for
which the Company is required to maintain an effective Registration
Statement, the Company shall promptly prepare and file a post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related
prospectus and any other required document so that, as thereafter
delivered to Holders of the Securities or holders of the Existing
Securities, as the case may be, the prospectus will not contain an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
required to be
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stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the
Company notifies the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities,
the holders of the Existing Securities and any known Participating
Broker-Dealer in accordance with paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section
3(b) above to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite
changes to the prospectus have been made, then the Initial Purchasers,
the Holders of the Securities, the holders of the Existing Securities
and any such Participating Broker-Dealers shall suspend use of such
prospectus, and the period of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration
Statement provided for in Section 2(b) above and the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement provided for in Section 1 above shall each be
extended by the number of days from and including the date of the
giving of such notice to and including the date when the Initial
Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities, the holders of the Existing
Securities and any known Participating Broker-Dealer shall have
received such amended or supplemented prospectus pursuant to this
Section 3(j).
(k) Not later than the effective date of the applicable
Registration Statement, the Company will provide a CUSIP number for the
Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange
Securities, as the case may be, and provide the applicable trustee with
printed certificates for the Initial Securities, the Exchange
Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, in a
form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.
(l) The Company will comply with all rules and regulations of
the Commission to the extent and so long as they are applicable to the
Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration and will make
generally available to its security holders (or otherwise provide in
accordance with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act) an earnings
statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities
Act, no later than 45 days after the end of a 12-month period (or 90
days, if such period is a fiscal year) beginning with the first month
of the Company's first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective
date of the Registration Statement, which statement shall cover such
12-month period.
(m) The Company shall cause the Indenture to be qualified
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in a timely manner
and containing such changes, if any, as shall be necessary for such
qualification. In the event that such qualification would require the
appointment of a new trustee under the Indenture, the Company shall
appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions
of the Indenture.
(n) The Company may require each Holder of Securities to be
sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the
Company such information regarding the Holder and the distribution of
the Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably require
for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, and the Company may
exclude from such registration the
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Securities of any Holder that unreasonably fails to furnish such
information within a reasonable time after receiving such request.
(o) The Company shall enter into such customary agreements
(including, if requested, an underwriting agreement in customary form)
and take all such other action, if any, as any Holder of the Securities
shall reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the
Securities pursuant to any Shelf Registration.
(p) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company shall
(i) make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of the
Securities any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to
the Shelf Registration Statement and any attorney, accountant or other
agent retained by the Holders of the Securities or any such underwriter
all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents
and properties of the Company and (ii) cause the Company's officers,
directors and employees to supply, and use all reasonable efforts to
obtain from its accountants and auditors, all relevant information
reasonably requested by the Holders of the Securities or any such
underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, in each case, as shall be reasonably necessary
to enable such persons, to conduct a reasonable investigation within
the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act; provided, however,
that the foregoing inspection and information gathering shall be
coordinated on behalf of the Initial Purchasers by you and on behalf of
the other parties, by one counsel designated by and on behalf of such
other parties as described in Section 4 hereof. Each Holder shall be
under an obligation to, and each Holder will, keep all non-public or
proprietary information so supplied confidential unless and until such
information is generally available to the public.
(q) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company, if
requested by any Holder of Securities covered thereby, shall direct (i)
its counsel to deliver an opinion and updates thereof relating to the
Securities in customary form addressed to such Holders and the managing
underwriters, if any, thereof and dated, in the case of the initial
opinion, the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement (it
being agreed that the matters to be covered by such opinion shall
include, without limitation, the due incorporation and good standing of
the Company and its subsidiaries; the qualification of the Company and
its subsidiaries to transact business as foreign corporations; the due
authorization, execution and delivery of the relevant agreement of the
type referred to in Section 3(o) hereof; the due authorization,
execution, authentication and issuance, and the validity and
enforceability, of the applicable Securities; the absence of material
legal or governmental proceedings involving the Company and its
subsidiaries; the absence of governmental approvals required to be
obtained in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, the
offering and sale of the applicable Securities, or any agreement of the
type referred to in Section 3(o) hereof; the compliance as to form of
such Shelf Registration Statement and any documents incorporated by
reference therein and of the Indenture with the requirements of the
Securities Act and the
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Trust Indenture Act, respectively; and, as of the date of the opinion
and as of the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement or
most recent post-effective amendment thereto, as the case may be, the
absence from such Shelf Registration Statement and the prospectus
included therein, as then amended or supplemented, and from any
documents incorporated by reference therein of an untrue statement of a
material fact or the omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading (in the case of any such documents, in the light of the
circumstances existing at the time that such documents were filed with
the Commission under the Exchange Act); (ii) its officers to execute
and deliver all customary documents and certificates and updates
thereof requested by any underwriters of the applicable Securities and
(iii) its independent public accountants and the independent public
accountants with respect to any other entity for which financial
information is provided in the Shelf Registration Statement to provide
to the selling Holders of the applicable Securities and any underwriter
therefor a comfort letter in customary form and covering matters of the
type customarily covered in comfort letters in connection with primary
underwritten offerings, subject to receipt of appropriate documentation
as contemplated, and only if permitted, by Statement of Auditing
Standards No. 72.
(r) In the case of the Registered Exchange Offer, if requested
by any Initial Purchaser or any known Participating Broker-Dealer, the
Company shall direct (i) its counsel to deliver to such Initial
Purchaser or such Participating Broker-Dealer a signed opinion or
opinions in substantially the form or forms set forth in the opinion
delivered pursuant to Section 6(c) of the Purchase Agreement with such
changes as are customary in connection with the preparation of a
Registration Statement and (ii) its independent public accountants and
the independent public accountants with respect to any other entity for
which financial information is provided in the Registration Statement
to deliver to such Initial Purchaser or such Participating
Broker-Dealer a comfort letter, in customary form, meeting the
requirements as to the substance thereof as set forth in Sections 6(a)
of the Purchase Agreement, with appropriate date changes.
(s) If a Registered Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to
be consummated, upon delivery of the Initial Securities or the Existing
Securities, as the case may be, by Holders or holders of Existing
Securities to the Company (or to such other Person as directed by the
Company) in exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private
Exchange Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall mark, or
caused to be marked, on the Initial Securities or the Existing
Securities, as the case may be, so exchanged that such Initial
Securities or the Existing Securities, as the case may be, are being
canceled in exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private
Exchange Securities, as the case may be; in no event shall the Initial
Securities or the Existing Securities, as the case may be, be
13
marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.
(t) The Company will use its reasonable efforts to (a) if the
Initial Securities or the Existing Securities, as the case may be, have
been rated prior to the initial sale of the Initial Securities confirm
such ratings will apply to the Securities covered by a Registration
Statement, or (b) if the Initial Securities or the Existing Securities,
as the case may be, were not previously rated, cause the Securities
covered by a Registration Statement to be rated with the appropriate
rating agencies, if so requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of Securities covered by such Registration Statement,
or by the managing underwriters, if any.
(u) In the event that any broker-dealer registered under the
Exchange Act shall underwrite any Securities or participate as a member
of an underwriting syndicate or selling group or "assist in the
distribution" (within the meaning of the Conduct Rules (the "Rules") of
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD")) thereof,
whether as a Holder of such Securities or as an underwriter, a
placement or sales agent or a broker or dealer in respect thereof, or
otherwise, the Company will assist such broker-dealer in complying with
the requirements of such Rules, including, without limitation, by (i)
if such Rules, including Rule 2720, shall so require, engaging a
"qualified independent underwriter" (as defined in Rule 2720) to
participate in the preparation of the Registration Statement relating
to such Securities, to exercise usual standards of due diligence in
respect thereto and, if any portion of the offering contemplated by
such Registration Statement is an underwritten offering or is made
through a placement or sales agent, to recommend the yield of such
Securities, (ii) indemnifying any such qualified independent
underwriter to the extent of the indemnification of underwriters
provided in Section 5 hereof and (iii) providing such information to
such broker-dealer as may be required in order for such broker-dealer
to comply with the requirements of the Rules.
(v) The Company shall use its best efforts to take all other
steps necessary to effect the registration of the Securities or the
Existing Securities, as the case may be, covered by a Registration
Statement contemplated hereby.
4. Registration Expenses. The Company shall bear all fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under Sections 1
through 3 hereof (excluding fees and expenses, if any, of counsel for the
Initial Purchasers), whether or not the Registered Exchange Offer or a Shelf
Registration is filed or becomes effective, and, in the event of a Shelf
Registration, shall bear or reimburse the Holders of the Securities covered
thereby for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm of counsel
designated by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Initial
Securities covered thereby to act as counsel for the Holders of the Initial
Securities in connection therewith.
14
5. Indemnification. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless each Holder of the Securities any Participating Broker-Dealer and each
person, if any, who controls such Holder or such Participating Broker-Dealer
within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each Holder, any
Participating Broker-Dealer and such controlling persons are referred to
collectively as the "Indemnified Parties") from and against any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities, joint or several, or any actions in respect thereof
(including, but not limited to, any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
actions relating to purchases and sales of the Securities) to which each
Indemnified Party may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act
or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions
arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a
Shelf Registration, or arise out of, or are based upon, the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and shall reimburse, as
incurred, the Indemnified Parties for any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof; provided, however, that
(i) the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that such
loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in a
Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and
furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for
inclusion therein and (ii) with respect to any untrue statement or omission or
alleged untrue statement or omission made in any preliminary prospectus relating
to a Shelf Registration Statement, the indemnity agreement contained in this
subsection (a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder or Participating
Broker-Dealer (or controlling person thereof) from whom the person asserting any
such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased the Securities concerned,
to the extent that a prospectus relating to such Securities was required to be
delivered by such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer (or controlling person
thereof) under the Securities Act in connection with such purchase and any such
loss, claim, damage or liability of such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer
results from the fact that there was not sent or given to such person, at or
prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such Securities to such person,
a copy of the final prospectus if the Company had previously furnished copies
thereof to such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer; provided further,
however, that this indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability
which the Company may otherwise have to such Indemnified Party. The Company
shall also indemnify underwriters, their officers and directors and each person
who controls such underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act to the same extent as provided above with respect to the
indemnification of the Holders of the Securities if requested by such Holders.
(b) Each Holder of the Securities, severally and not jointly, will
indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each person, if any, who controls
the Company within the
15
meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act from and against any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities or any actions in respect thereof, to which the
Company or any such controlling person may become subject under the Securities
Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration
Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any
preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out of or are
based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in each case only
to the extent that the untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement
or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such
Holder specifically for inclusion therein; and, subject to the limitation set
forth immediately preceding this clause, shall reimburse, as incurred, the
Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or
any such controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any
loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof. This indemnity
agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Holder may otherwise
have to the Company or any of its controlling persons.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 5
of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including a
governmental investigation), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 5,
notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the omission so
to notify the indemnifying party will not, in any event, relieve the
indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the
indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. In case any
such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the
indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be
entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly
with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense
thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who
shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the
indemnifying party, and which counsel, together with one local counsel in each
jurisdiction, shall act on behalf of all the indemnified parties with respect to
such action), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified
party of its election so to assume the defense thereof the indemnifying party
will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 5 for any legal
or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of investigation, subsequently
incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof. No
indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of
which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could
have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement
includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability
on any claims that are the subject matter of such action.
16
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is
unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
subsections (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to in
subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one
hand and the indemnified party on the other from the exchange of the Securities
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, or (ii) if the allocation provided by
the foregoing clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion
as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in
clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party or
parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other in connection
with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative fault of the parties 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 on the one hand or
such Holder or such other indemnified party, as the case may be, on the other,
and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid by
an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities
referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to
include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is
the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Section 5(d), the Holders of the Securities shall not be required to contribute
any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds received by such
Holders from the sale of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement
exceeds the amount of damages which such Holders have otherwise been required to
pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning
of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from
any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes
of this paragraph (d), each person, if any, who controls such indemnified party
within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same
rights to contribution as such indemnified party and each person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange
Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.
(e) The agreements contained in this Section 5 shall survive the sale
of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement and shall remain in full
force and effect, regardless of any termination or cancelation of this Agreement
or any investigation made by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
6. Additional Interest Under Certain Circumstances. (a) Additional
interest (the "Additional Interest") with respect to the Initial Securities
shall be assessed as follows if any of the following events occur (each such
event in clauses (i) through (iii) below a
17
"Registration Default"):
(i) If by March 31, 1999, neither the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement nor a Shelf Registration Statement has been
filed with the Commission;
(ii) If by July 21, 1999, neither the Registered Exchange
Offer is consummated nor, if required in lieu thereof, the Shelf
Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission; or
(iii) If after either the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective (A)
such Registration Statement thereafter ceases to be effective; or (B)
such Registration Statement or the related prospectus ceases to be
usable (except as permitted in paragraph (b)) in connection with
resales of Transfer Restricted Securities during the periods specified
herein because either (1) any event occurs as a result of which the
related prospectus forming part of such Registration Statement would
include any 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, or (2) it
shall be necessary to amend such Registration Statement or supplement
the related prospectus, to comply with the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder.
Additional Interest shall accrue on the Initial Securities over and above the
interest set forth in the title of the Securities from and including the date on
which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the earlier of
the date on which (i) all such Registration Defaults have been cured and (ii)
the Initial Securities no longer constitute Transfer Restricted Securities, at a
rate of 0.50% per annum.
(b) A Registration Default referred to in Section 6(a)(iii)(B) hereof
shall be deemed not to have occurred and be continuing in relation to a Shelf
Registration Statement or the related prospectus if (i) such Registration
Default has occurred solely as a result of (x) the filing of a post-effective
amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement to incorporate annual audited
financial information with respect to the Company where such post-effective
amendment is not yet effective and needs to be declared effective to permit
Holders to use the related prospectus or (y) other material events, with respect
to the Company that would need to be described in such Shelf Registration
Statement or the related prospectus and (ii) in the case of clause (y), the
Company is proceeding promptly and in good faith to amend or supplement such
Shelf Registration Statement and related prospectus to describe such events;
provided, however, that in any case if such Registration Default occurs for a
continuous period in excess of 30 days, Additional Interest shall be payable in
accordance with the above paragraph from the day such Registration Default
occurs until such Registration Default is cured.
(c) Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to clause (i), (ii)
or (iii) of Section 6(a) above will be payable in cash on the regular interest
payment dates with
18
respect to the Initial Securities. The amount of Additional Interest will be
determined by multiplying the applicable Additional Interest rate by the
principal amount of the Initial Securities, multiplied by a fraction, the
numerator of which is the number of days such Additional Interest rate was
applicable during such period (determined on the basis of a 360-day year
comprised of twelve 30-day months), and the denominator of which is 360.
(d) "Transfer Restricted Securities" means each Security until (i) the
date on which such Transfer Restricted Security has been exchanged by a person
other than a broker-dealer for a freely transferable Exchange Security in the
Registered Exchange Offer, (ii) following the exchange by a broker-dealer in the
Registered Exchange Offer of a Initial Security for an Exchange Note, the date
on which such Exchange Note is sold to a purchaser who receives from such
broker-dealer on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the prospectus
contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (iii) the date on which
such Initial Security has been effectively registered under the Securities Act
and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (iv) the
date on which such Initial Securities is distributed to the public pursuant to
Rule 144 under the Securities Act or is saleable pursuant to Rule 144(k) under
the Securities Act.
7. Rules 144 and 144A. The Company shall use its reasonable efforts to
file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act in a timely manner and, if at any time the Company is not required
to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder of Initial
Securities, make publicly available other information so long as necessary to
permit sales of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A.
The Company covenants that it will take such further action as any Holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent
required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Transfer Restricted
Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation
of the exemptions provided by Rules 144 and 144A (including the requirements of
Rule 144A(d)(4)). The Company will provide a copy of this Agreement to
prospective purchasers of Transfer Restricted Securities identified to the
Company by the Transfer Restricted Securities upon request. Upon the request of
any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, the Company shall deliver to such
Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to
require the Company to register any of its securities pursuant to the Exchange
Act.
8. Underwritten Registrations. If any of the Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by any Shelf Registration are to be sold in an underwritten
offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers
that will administer the offering ("Managing Underwriters") will be selected by
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Transfer
Restricted Securities to be included in such offering; provided that the
Managing Underwriters must be reasonably satisfactory to the Company.
No person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder
unless such
19
person (i) agrees to sell such person's Transfer Restricted Securities on the
basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the
persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii) completes and
executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting
agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such
underwriting arrangements.
9. Miscellaneous.
(a) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be
amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from
the provisions hereof may not be given, except by the Company and the written
consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities
affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consents.
(b) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, first-class mail,
facsimile transmission, or air courier which guarantees overnight delivery:
(1) if to a Holder of the Securities, at the most current
address given by such Holder to the Company.
(2) if to the Initial Purchasers;
BancBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇/▇ ▇▇-▇▇-▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: High Yields Capital Markets
with a copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Swaine & ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-7475
Fax No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, III
(3) if to the Company, at its address as follows:
The ▇. ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Company, Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
20
with a copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three business
days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt
is acknowledged by recipient's facsimile machine operator, if sent by facsimile
transmission; and on the day delivered, if sent by overnight air courier
guaranteeing next day delivery.
(c) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not, as of the date
hereof, entered into, nor shall it, on or after the date hereof, enter into, any
agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights
granted to the Holders herein or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.
(d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the
Company and its successors and assigns.
(e) 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.
(f) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(g) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.
(h) Severability. If 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.
(i) Securities Held by the Company. Whenever the consent or approval of
Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities is required
hereunder, Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (other than
subsequent Holders of Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be
affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities) shall not be
counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders
of such required percentage.
21
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon
this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement
among the several Initial Purchasers, the Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor
in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
THE ▇. ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ COMPANY, INC.
by /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Title: SVP & CFO
▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, INC.
by /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Title: SVP & CFO
by /s/ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: SVP & General Counsel
THE SPEED MERCHANT, INC.,
by /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Title: SVP & CFO
by /s/ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: SVP & General Counsel
PHOENIX RACING, INC.,
by /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Title: SVP & CFO
22
by /s/ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: SVP & General Counsel
ITCO LOGISTICS CORPORATION,
by /s/ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: SVP & General Counsel
23
The foregoing Registration Rights
Agreement is hereby confirmed and
accepted as of the date first above
written.
BANCBOSTON ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
by: BANCBOSTON ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.
by /s/ ▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Managing Director
24
ANNEX A
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own
account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. The Letter
of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection
with resales of Exchange Securities received in exchange for Initial Securities
where such Initial Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed
that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date (as defined herein), it
will make this Prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection
with any such resale. See "Plan of Distribution."
25
ANNEX B
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account
in exchange for Securities, where such Initial Securities were acquired by such
broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection
with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
See "Plan of Distribution."
26
ANNEX C
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own
account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. This
Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used
by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Securities received in
exchange for Initial Securities where such Initial Securities were acquired as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has
agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date, it will make
this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for
use in connection with any such resale. In addition, until , 199 , all dealers
effecting transactions in the Exchange Securities may be required to deliver a
prospectus.1
The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of Exchange
Securities by broker-dealers. Exchange Securities received by broker-dealers for
their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time
in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated
transactions, through the writing of options on the Exchange Securities or a
combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time
of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated
prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through
brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or
concessions from any such broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such Exchange
Securities. Any broker-dealer that resells Exchange Securities that were
received by it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker
or dealer that participates in a distribution of such Exchange Securities may be
deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and any
profit on any such resale of Exchange Securities and any commission or
concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting
compensation under the Securities Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that, by
acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act.
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1 In addition, the legend required by Item 502(e) of Regulation S-K will
appear on the back cover page of the Exchange Offer prospectus.
27
For a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date the Company will
promptly send additional copies of this Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement to this Prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents
in the Letter of Transmittal. The Company has agreed to pay all expenses
incident to the Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the
Holders of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers
or dealers and will indemnify the Holders of the Securities (including any
broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act.
28
ANNEX D
[ ] CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO
RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF
ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.
Name:
Address:
If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is
not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange
Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange
Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities that were
acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it
acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such Exchange Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a
prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.