EXHIBIT 4.4
EXECUTION COPY
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF DECEMBER 15, 2004
BY AND AMONG
▇▇▇ COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
AND
THE INITIAL PURCHASERS NAMED HEREIN
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This Registration Rights Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is made and
entered into as of December 15, 2004, by and among ▇▇▇ Communications, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), and Citigroup Global Markets, ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Securities Inc. and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Brothers Inc. and Banc of America Securities LLC as
representatives of the several parties named in Schedule I to the Purchase
Agreement (as defined below) (each an "INITIAL PURCHASER" and, collectively, the
"INITIAL PURCHASERS"), each of whom has agreed to purchase the Company's 5.450%
Notes due 2014 (the "SERIES A NOTES") pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as
defined below).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated
December 10, 2004 (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), by and among the Company and the
Initial Purchasers. In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to purchase the
Series A Notes, the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set
forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a
condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchasers set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have
the following meanings:
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.
CLOSING DATE: The date hereof.
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 to be issued in the Exchange Offer and (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.
CONSUMMATION DEADLINE: As defined in Section 3(b) hereof.
DELIVERY DEADLINE: As defined in Section 3(b) hereof.
EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE: As defined in Section 3(a) hereof.
EXCHANGE ACT: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
EXCHANGE OFFER: The offer by the Company to exchange a principal amount
of Series B Notes (which shall be registered pursuant to the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement) equal to the outstanding principal amount of Series A
Notes and the issuance of Series B Notes in exchange for validly tendered and
not withdrawn by such Holders in connection with such offer.
EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT: The Registration Statement
relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.
EXEMPT RESALES: The transactions in which the Initial Purchasers
propose to sell the Series A Notes to certain "qualified institutional buyers,"
as such term is defined in Rule 144A under the Act and pursuant to Regulation S
under the Act.
FILING DEADLINE: As defined in Sections 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.
HOLDERS: As defined in Section 2 hereof.
INDENTURE: The Indenture, dated as June 27, 1995, among the Company and
The Bank of New York, as trustee (the "TRUSTEE"), pursuant to which the Notes
are to be issued as a separate series of debt securities, as such Indenture is
amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
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
relating to (a) an offering of Series B Notes 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.
REGULATION S: Regulation S promulgated under the Act.
RULE 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.
SERIES B NOTES: The Company's 5.450% Notes due 2014 to be issued
pursuant to the Indenture: (i) in the Exchange Offer or (ii) as contemplated by
Section 4 hereof.
SHELF EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE: As defined in Section 4(a) hereof.
SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT: As defined in Section 4 hereof.
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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 (A) Series A Note, until the
earliest to occur of (i) the date on which such Series A Note is exchanged in
the Exchange Offer for a Series B Note, (ii) the date on which such Series A
Note has been disposed of in accordance with a Shelf Registration Statement (and
the purchasers thereof have been issued Series B Notes), or (iii) the date on
which such Series A Note may be distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144
under the Act and each (B) Series B Note held by a Broker Dealer until the date
on which such Series B Note is 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") whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities.
SECTION 3. REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER
(a) To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law (and after the
procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below have been complied with), the
Company 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 120 days after the Closing Date (such 120th day being the
"FILING DEADLINE"), (ii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such
Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective at the earliest
possible time, but in no event later than 180 days after the Closing Date (such
180th 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 to be made under the Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions as are necessary to permit Consummation of the Exchange Offer
(provided that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do
business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any
action that would subject it to service of process in suits, other than those
arising out of the Exchange Offer, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so
subject), 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 to
be offered in exchange for the Series A Notes that are Transfer Restricted
Securities and (ii) resales of Series B Notes by Broker-Dealers that tendered
into the Exchange Offer Series A Notes 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 acquired directly from the Company or any of its
Affiliates) as contemplated by Section 3(c) below.
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(b) The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be effective continuously, and
shall keep the Exchange Offer open for a period of not less than the minimum
period required under applicable federal securities laws to Consummate the
Exchange Offer; provided, however, that in no event shall such period be less
than 20 Business Days. The Company shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply with
all applicable federal securities laws and use commercially reasonable efforts
to comply with applicable state securities laws; provided that in no event shall
the Company be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it
is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to service
of process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the
Securities, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject. No securities
other than the Series B Notes and each of the Series B Notes as defined in each
of the Registration Rights Agreements, dated as of the date hereof, by and among
the Company and the Initial Purchasers with respect to the Company's 4.625%
Notes due 2010 and Floating Rate Notes due 2007 shall be included in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement. The Company shall use its commercially
reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be Consummated on the earliest
practicable date after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become
effective, but in no event later than 25 Business Days thereafter (such 25
Business Days, together with any extension provided under Section 6(a)(i) or
Section 6(d), being the "CONSUMMATION DEADLINE"). The Company shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to the Registrar under the Indenture,
on the earliest practicable date after the Exchange Offer has become Consummated
but in no event shall such date be more than 5 Business Days after such
Consummation ("DELIVERY DEADLINE"), Series B Notes in the same aggregate
principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes validly
tendered and delivered in accordance with the terms and conditions of the
Exchanges Offer by Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
(c) The Company shall include a "Plan of Distribution" section
containing the information set forth in Annex A hereto 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 acquired directly from the
Company or any Affiliate of the Company), may exchange such Transfer Restricted
Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer. The Company acknowledges that,
pursuant to current interpretations by the Commission's staff of Section 5 of
the Act, in the absence of an applicable exemption therefrom, each Broker-Dealer
may be required to deliver a Prospectus containing such "Plan of Distribution"
section in connection with a sale of any such Series B Notes received by such
Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
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 received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, the Company 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 by
Broker-Dealers, the Company agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to
keep the Exchange Offer
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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 180 days from the effective date of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold pursuant
thereto. The Company shall provide sufficient copies of the latest version of
such Prospectus to such Broker-Dealers, promptly upon written request, and in no
event later than two Business Days 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 has 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 Consummation 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 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 acquired directly from the Company or any
of its Affiliates, then the Company:
(x) shall use its commercially reasonable efforts cause to be filed, on
or prior to 30 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, which
may be in the form of a post-effective amendment to the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement (the "SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT")), relating to all
Transfer Restricted Securities, and
(y) shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Shelf
Registration Statement to become effective on or prior to 120 days after the
Filing Deadline for the Shelf Registration Statement (such 120th day the "SHELF
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
Shelf Effectiveness Deadline set forth in clause (y).
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 shall
use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep any Shelf Registration
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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 from the Closing Date (as
extended pursuant to Section 6(c)(i)) 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 10 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 Effectiveness Deadline or the Shelf Effectiveness Deadline, as
applicable, (iii)(A) the Exchange Offer has not been Consummated on or prior to
the Consummation Deadline or (B) the Company does not deliver the Series B Notes
to the Registrar on or prior to the Delivery 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 prior to the Consummation
for its intended purpose without being succeeded as promptly as practical by a
post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement that cures such failure
and that is itself declared effective as promptly as practical (each such event
referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a "REGISTRATION DEFAULT"), then the
Company hereby agrees to pay to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
affected thereby liquidated damages in an amount equal to 0.25% per annum of the
principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holder for each
week or portion thereof that the Registration Default continues for the first
90-day period immediately following the occurrence of such Registration Default,
provided, for purposes of clauses (i) and (ii), that the failure by any Person
requesting a Shelf Registration Statement or any underwriter to be named in a
Shelf Registration Statement to provide to the Company any information necessary
to complete such Shelf Registration Statement as contemplated by this Agreement
or objects to filing in accordance with Section 6(c)(v), then a Registration
Default will not be deemed to occur until three Business Days following the last
to occur of provision of any required information or resolution of an objection
under Section 6(c)(v). The amount of the liquidated damages shall increase by an
additional 0.25% per annum of 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
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damages of 0.50% per annum of principal amount of Transfer Restricted
Securities; provided that the Company 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 clause (iii)(A) above, (4) upon the delivery the
Series B Notes to the Registrar, in the case of (iii)(B) above, or (5) 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 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 shall (x) comply with all applicable provisions of
Section 6(c) below, (y) use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect such
exchange and to permit the resale of Series B Notes by Broker-Dealers that
tendered in the Exchange Offer Series A Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired
for its own account as a result of its market making activities or other trading
activities (other than Series A Notes acquired directly from the Company or any
of its Affiliates) being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods
of distribution thereof, and (z) comply with all of the following provisions:
(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 hereby agrees to
seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision from the Commission
allowing the Company to Consummate an Exchange Offer for such Transfer
Restricted Securities. The Company hereby agrees to pursue the issuance
of such a decision to the Commission staff level, and the Consummation
Deadline shall be extended by the number of days equal to the days from
the date the Company is advised in writing by counsel that a no-action
letter will be necessary or appropriate to Consummate the Exchange
Offer until the date on which the staff of the Commission issues such
no-action letter. In connection with the foregoing, the Company hereby
agree to take all such other actions as may be reasonably requested by
the Commission or otherwise required in connection with the issuance of
such decision, including without limitation (A)
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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 (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 to be issued in
the Exchange Offer and (C) it is acquiring the Series B Notes 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 shall acknowledge and agree that, if
the resales are of Series B Notes obtained by such Holder in exchange
for Series A Notes 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 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 shall provide a supplemental letter
to the Commission (A) stating that the Company 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 has entered
into any arrangement or understanding with any Person to distribute the
Series B Notes to be received in the Exchange Offer and that, to the
best of the Company's information and belief, each Holder participating
in the Exchange Offer is acquiring the Series B Notes 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
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.
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(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, the Company shall:
(i) comply with all the provisions of Section 6(c) below and
use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect such registration to
permit the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in
accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof
(as indicated in the information furnished to the Company pursuant to
Section 4(b) hereof), and pursuant thereto the Company will 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 covered by any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated
by this Agreement, Series B Notes having an aggregate principal amount
equal to the aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes sold pursuant
to the Shelf Registration Statement and surrendered to the Company for
cancellation; the Company shall register Series B Notes on the Shelf
Registration Statement for this purpose and issue the Series B Notes 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 shall:
(i) use its commercially reasonable 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 usable for resale of Transfer
Restricted Securities during the period required by this Agreement, the
Company shall file promptly an appropriate amendment to such
Registration Statement curing such defect, and, if Commission review is
required, use its commercially reasonable 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
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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 the underwriter(s), if any, and each Holder and,
if requested by such Persons, 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 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 shall use its commercially reasonable 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) in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement, furnish
to the underwriter(s), if any, 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 and, upon reasonable written request, 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 Persons 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
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reference) to which such Persons shall reasonably object within five
Business Days after the receipt thereof. Such Person 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 omit 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 Shelf Registration Statement or
related Prospectus, provide copies of such document to the
underwriter(s), if any, and each Holder in connection with such
exchange or sale, if any, make the Company's 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 Persons may reasonably request;
(vii) in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement, make
available, at reasonable times, for inspection by the underwriter(s),
if any, each Holder and any attorney or accountant retained by such
Persons, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents
of the Company and cause the Company's officers, directors and
employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such
Persons, 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 Holder or underwriter(s) 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 Persons
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 or underwriter(s), if any, 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;
(x) deliver to each Holder or underwriter(s), if any, without
charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary
prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons
reasonably may request; the Company hereby consent to the use (in
accordance with law) of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement
thereto by each Person in connection with the offering and the sale of
the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto;
(xi) in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement, upon
the request of any Holder or underwriter(s), if any, 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
12
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 shall:
(A) upon written request of any Holder or
underwriter(s), if any, furnish (or in the case of paragraphs
(2) and (3), use its commercially reasonable 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 by the Chairman of the
Board, the President, any Executive or Senior Vice
President or the Treasurer and the principal
financial or accounting officer of the Company,
confirming, as of the date thereof, the matters set
forth in Section 7(c) of the Purchase Agreement and
such other similar matters as such Person 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 counsel for the Company covering
matters similar to those set forth in paragraph 7(a)
of the Purchase Agreement and such other matter as
such Holder may reasonably request, and in any event
including a statement to the effect that such counsel
has participated in conferences with officers and
other representatives of the Company, representatives
of the independent certified public accountants for
the Company 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 statements of officers and other
representatives of the Company) 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
13
may state further that such counsel assumes no
responsibility for, and has not independently
verified, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of
the financial statements and schedules or other
financial information or statistical 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 7(d) of the Purchase Agreement; and
(B) deliver such other documents and certificates as
may be reasonably requested by such Persons 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 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 necessary or advisable to enable the disposition
in such jurisdictions of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by
the applicable Registration Statement; provided, however, that the
Company shall not 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 Business Days prior to such sale of Transfer Restricted
Securities;
(xiv) use its commercially reasonable 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;
14
(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 its commercially reasonable efforts to
comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and
make generally available to its 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); and
(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 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 commercial
reasonable efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents that
may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and
documents required to be filed with the Commission to enable such
Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner.
(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 incurred by the Company incident to the Company's
performance of or compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company,
regardless of whether a
15
Registration Statement becomes effective, including without limitation: (i) all
registration and 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
to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of Prospectuses), messenger and
delivery services and telephone; (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for
the Company and (v) all fees and disbursements of independent certified public
accountants of the Company (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 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.
(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 will reimburse the
Initial Purchasers 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 or Series B Notes 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 ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, 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
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, its
directors, officers, employees 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 Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto)
provided by the Company to any Holder or any prospective purchaser of Series B
Notes or registered Series A Notes, 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 specifically for inclusion therein; provided, further,
that as to preliminary or final prospectus, the foregoing indemnity shall not
inure to the benefit of any Holder (or any director, officer, employee, agent or
person controlling such Holder) on account of any loss, claim, damage, liability
or action arising from the sale of Transfer Restricted Securities to any person
by such Holder if such Holder failed to send or give a copy of the final
Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, to that person and the untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of a
16
material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in the
preliminary Prospectus or final Prospectus was corrected in said amended or
supplemented Prospectus and the delivery thereof would have constituted a
complete defense to the claim of that person, unless such failure resulted from
non-compliance by the Company with Section 6(c)(viii), (ix), or (x). For
purposes of the foregoing proviso to the immediately preceding sentence, the
term Prospectus shall not be deemed to include the documents incorporated by
reference therein, and no Holder shall be obligated to send or give any document
incorporated by reference in any Prospectus to any Person.
(b) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted agrees, severally and not
jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, and its directors, 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, to the same extent as the foregoing
indemnity from the Company 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 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);
but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from
liability under Section 8(a) or 8(b) above unless and to the extent it did not
otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the
indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any
event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified
party other than the indemnification obligation provided in Section 8(a) or 8(b)
above. 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 failed
to assume the defense of such action or employ counsel satisfactory to the
indemnified party, (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
17
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) or (iv) the use
of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party
would present such counsel with a conflict of interest. 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, 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 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, 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 to reflect not only the
relative benefits referred to in clause 8(d)(i) above but also the relative
fault of the Company, 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, 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, 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
18
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 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 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.
SECTION 9. RULE 144A AND RULE 144
The Company agrees with each Holder, for so long as any Transfer
Restricted Securities remain outstanding and during any period in which the
Company (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 acknowledge and agree that any failure by the
Company to comply with its obligations under Sections 3 and 4 hereof may result
in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers 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 Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be
required to specifically enforce the Company's obligations under Section 3
hereof. The Company further agree to waive the defense in any action for
specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.
19
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company 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. The Company has not
previously entered into any agreement granting any registration rights with
respect to its securities to any Person other than those filed with the
Commission. 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 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 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, on the one
hand, and the Initial Purchasers, 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 its rights or the rights of Holders 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: ▇▇▇ Communications, Inc., ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇., ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
(fax no.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇), with a copy, Attention: General Counsel (fax
no.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇).
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business
Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt
acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next business day, if timely delivered
to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
20
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.
(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.
21
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
▇▇▇ COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
--------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Treasurer
The foregoing Agreement is hereby
confirmed and accepted as of the
date first above written for themselves
and the other several Initial Purchasers
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ SECURITIES INC.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ BROTHERS INC.
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
By: CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
-----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Managing Director
By: ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ SECURITIES INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President
By: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ BROTHERS INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
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Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Managing Director
22
By: BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President
23
ANNEX A
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each broker-dealer that receives Series B Notes for its own account
pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such Series B Notes. 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 Series B Notes received in
exchange for Series A Notes where such Series A Notes were acquired as a result
of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed
that, for a period of 180 days from the effective date of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement or such shorter period as will terminate when all
Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been
sold hereto, it will make this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available
to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale.
The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of Series B
Notes by broker-dealers. Series B Notes 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 Series B Notes 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 Series B Notes. Any broker-dealer
that resells Series B Notes 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 Series B Notes may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within
the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit on any such resale of Series B
Notes 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.
For a period of 180 days from the effective date of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement or such shorter period as will terminate when all
Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been
sold hereto, 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 other than commissions or
concessions of any brokers or dealers and will indemnify the Holders of the
Transfer Restricted Securities (including any broker-dealers) against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.