EXHIBIT 4.2
Metris Companies Inc.
$150,000,000
10 1/8% Senior Notes due 2006
EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
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July 13, 1999
BEAR, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INC.
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.
BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.
c/o Bear, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Metris Companies Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
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proposes to issue and sell to Bear, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc. ("Bear, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇"), Chase
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Securities Inc., ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc. and Barclays Capital Inc.
(collectively, the "Initial Purchasers"), upon the terms and subject to the
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conditions set forth in a purchase agreement dated July 8, 1999 (the "Purchase
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Agreement"), $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 10 1/8% Senior
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Notes due 2006 (the "Notes"). The Notes will be unconditionally guaranteed
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(collectively, the "Guarantees") on a senior basis by the Company's subsidiary,
Metris Direct, Inc. (the "Guarantor" and together with the Company, the
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"Issuers"). The Notes and the Guarantees are collectively referred to herein as
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the "Securities". Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the
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meanings given to such terms in the Purchase Agreement.
As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase
Agreement and in satisfaction of a condition to the obligations of the Initial
Purchasers thereunder, the Issuers agree with the Initial Purchasers, for the
benefit of the holders (including the Initial Purchasers) of the Securities, the
Exchange Securities (as defined herein) and the Private Exchange Securities (as
defined herein) (collectively, the "Holders"), as follows:
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1. Registered Exchange Offer. The Issuers shall (i) prepare and, on
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or prior to 60 days following the date of original issuance of the Securities
(the "Issue Date"), file with the Commission a registration statement (the
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"Exchange Offer Registration Statement") on an appropriate form under the
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Securities Act with respect to a proposed offer to the Holders of the Securities
(the "Registered Exchange Offer") to issue and deliver to such Holders, in
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exchange for the Securities, a like aggregate principal amount of debt
securities of the Company that are identical in all material respects to the
Securities, and are unconditionally guaranteed by the
Guarantor, except for the transfer restrictions relating to the Securities, (ii)
use their reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement to become effective under the Securities Act within 150 days after the
Issue Date and the Registered Exchange Offer to be consummated within 185 days
after the Issue Date and (iii) keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
effective for not less than 20 business days (or longer, if required by
applicable law) after the date on which notice of the Registered Exchange Offer
is mailed to the Holders (such period being called the "Exchange Offer
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Registration Period"). The Exchange Securities will be issued under the
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Indenture or an indenture (the "Exchange Securities Indenture") between the
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Issuers and the trustee under the Indenture (the "Trustee") or such other bank
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or trust company that is reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers, as
trustee (the "Exchange Securities Trustee"), such indenture to be identical in
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all material respects to the Indenture, except for the transfer restrictions
relating to the Securities (as described above).
Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
the Issuers shall promptly commence the Registered Exchange Offer, it being the
objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable each Holder electing to
exchange Securities for Exchange Securities to do so (assuming that such Holder
(a) is not an affiliate any of the Issuers or an Exchanging Dealer (as defined
herein) not complying with the requirements of the next sentence, (b) is not an
Initial Purchaser holding Securities that have, or that are reasonably likely to
have, the status of an unsold allotment in an initial distribution, (c) acquires
the Exchange Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder's business and (d)
has no arrangements or understandings with any person to participate in the
distribution of the Exchange Securities) and 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. The Issuers, the Initial Purchasers
and each Exchanging Dealer (as hereinafter defined) acknowledge that, pursuant
to current interpretations by the Commission's staff of Section 5 of the
Securities Act, each Holder that 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"),
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is required to deliver a prospectus containing substantially 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 such prospectus in connection
with a sale of any such Exchange Securities received by such Exchanging Dealer
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer.
If, prior to the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, any
Holder holds any Securities acquired by it that have, or that are reasonably
likely to be determined to have, the status of an unsold allotment in an initial
distribution, or any Holder is not entitled pursuant to current interpretations
by the Commission's Staff to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer, the
Issuers shall, upon the request of any such Holder, simultaneously with the
delivery of the Exchange Securities in the Registered Exchange Offer, issue and
deliver to any such Holder, in exchange for the Securities held by such Holder
(the "Private Exchange"), a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities
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of the Company (the "Private Exchange Securities") that are identical in all
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material respects to the Exchange Securities, and are unconditionally guaranteed
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by the Guarantor , except for the placement of a legend setting forth transfer
restrictions relating to such Private Exchange Securities. The Private Exchange
Securities will be issued under the same indenture as the Exchange Securities,
and the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the
Private Exchange Securities to bear the same CUSIP number as the Exchange
Securities.
In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Issuers shall:
(a) mail to each Holder 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 on
which notice of the Registered Exchange Offer 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;
(d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities at any time prior
to the close of business, New York City time, on the last business day on
which the Registered Exchange Offer shall remain open; and
(e) otherwise comply in all respects with all laws that are
applicable to the Registered Exchange Offer.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange
Offer and any Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Issuers shall:
(a) accept for exchange all Securities tendered and not validly
withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and the Private
Exchange;
(b) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities so
accepted for exchange; and
(c) cause the Trustee or the Exchange Securities Trustee, as the case
may be, promptly to authenticate and deliver to each Holder, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, equal in
principal amount to the Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.
The Issuers shall use their commercially reasonable 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 used
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 that (i) in the case
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where such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto must be delivered
by an Exchanging Dealer, such period shall be the lesser of 90 days and the date
on which all Exchanging Dealers have sold all Exchange Securities held by them
and (ii) the Issuers 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 for a period of not less than 90 days after the
consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer.
The Indenture or the Exchange Securities Indenture, as the case may
be, shall provide that the Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Private
Exchange Securities shall vote and consent together on all matters as one class
and that none of the Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange
Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a separate class 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 Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid
on the Securities, from the Issue Date.
Each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer shall be
required to represent to the Issuers 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 and (iii) such Holder is not an affiliate of any of the
Issuers or, if it is such an affiliate, such Holder will comply with the
registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the
extent applicable.
Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Issuers 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 of the
Commission 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, as of the consummation of the
Registered Exchange Offer, include an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit 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.
2. Shelf Registration. If (i) because of any change in law or
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applicable interpretations thereof by the Commission's staff the Issuers are not
permitted to effect the Registered Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section 1
hereof, or (ii) any Securities validly tendered pursuant to the Registered
Exchange Offer are not exchanged for Exchange Securities within 185 days after
the Issue Date, or (iii) any Initial Purchaser so requests with respect to
Securities or
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Private Exchange Securities not eligible to be exchanged for Exchange Securities
in the Registered Exchange Offer and held by it following the consummation of
the Registered Exchange Offer, or (iv) any applicable law or interpretations do
not permit any Holder to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer, or (v)
any Holder that validly tenders Securities in the Registered Exchange Offer does
not receive freely transferable Exchange Securities in exchange for tendered
Securities (other than due solely to the status of such Holder as an affiliate
of the Company), or (vi) the Issuers so elect, then the following provisions
shall apply:
(a) The Issuers shall use their reasonable best efforts to file as
promptly as practicable (but in no event more than 30 days after so
required or requested pursuant to this Section 2) with the Commission, and
thereafter shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause to be declared
effective, a shelf registration statement on an appropriate form under the
Securities Act relating to the offer and sale of the Transfer Restricted
Securities (as defined below) by the Holders thereof from time to time in
accordance with the methods of distribution set forth in such registration
statement (hereafter, a "Shelf Registration Statement" and, together with
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any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, a "Registration Statement").
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(b) The Issuers shall use their reasonable best efforts to keep the
Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit the
prospectus forming part thereof to be used by Holders of Transfer
Restricted Securities (as defined below) for a period ending on the earlier
of (i) two years from the Issue Date or such shorter period that will
terminate when all the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf
Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto and (ii) the date on
which the Securities become eligible for resale without volume restrictions
pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (in any such case, such
period being called the "Shelf Registration Period").
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(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Issuers will
ensure that (i) any Shelf 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 of the Commission thereunder, (ii) any Shelf Registration
Statement and any amendment thereto (in either case, other than with
respect to information included therein in reliance upon or in conformity
with written information furnished to the Issuers by or on behalf of any
Holder specifically for use therein (the "Holders' Information")) does not
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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 Shelf
Registration Statement, and any supplement to such prospectus (in either
case, other than with respect to Holders' Information), does not include an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit 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.
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3. Liquidated Damages.
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(a) The parties hereto agree that the Holders of Transfer Restricted
Securities (as hereinafter defined) will suffer damages if the Company fails to
fulfill its obligations under Section 1 or Section 2, as applicable, and that it
would not be feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages. Accordingly, if
(i) the applicable Registration Statement is not filed with the Commission on or
prior to 60 days after the Issue Date, (ii) the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement (or a Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be) is not
declared effective within 150 days after the Issue Date (or in the case of a
Shelf Registration Statement required to be filed in response to a change in law
or the applicable interpretations of the Commission's staff, if later, within 30
days after publication of the change in law or interpretation), (iii) the
Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated within 185 days after the Issue
Date, provided that if such day is not a business day, then the next succeeding
business day thereafter, or (iv) a Shelf Registration Statement is filed and
declared effective within 150 days after the Issue Date (or in the case of a
Shelf Registration Statement required to be filed in response to a change in law
or the applicable interpretations of Commission's staff, if later, within 30
days after publication of the change in law or interpretation) but shall
thereafter cease to be effective (at any time that the Company is obligated to
maintain the effectiveness thereof) without being succeeded within 30 days by an
additional Registration Statement filed and declared effective (each such event
referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a "Registration Default"), the Company
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will be obligated to pay liquidated damages to each Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities, during the period of one or more such Registration
Defaults, in an amount equal to 0.50% per annum on the principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holder for the first 90 days
immediately following such Registration Default, with such liquidated damages
increasing by an additional 0.50% per annum at the beginning of any subsequent
90-day period, until (i) the applicable Registration Statement is filed, (ii)
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective and the
Registered Exchange Offer is consummated, (iii) the Shelf Registration Statement
is declared effective or (iv) the Shelf Registration Statement again becomes
effective, as the case may be; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
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obligated to pay liquidated damages in excess of 1.0% per annum in the
aggregate. Following the cure of all Registration Defaults, the accrual of
liquidated damages will cease. As used herein, the term "Transfer Restricted
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Securities" means (i) each Security until the date on which such Security has
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been exchanged for a freely transferable Exchange Security in the Registered
Exchange Offer, (ii) each Security or Private Exchange Security until the date
on which it has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and
disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (iii) each
Security or Private Exchange Security until the date on which it 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. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary in this Section 3(a), the Company shall not be required to pay
liquidated damages to a Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities if such Holder
failed to comply with its obligations to make the representations set forth in
the second to last paragraph of Section 1 or failed to provide the information
required to be provided by it, if any, pursuant to Section 4(n).
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(b) The Company shall notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent under
the Indenture immediately upon the happening of each and every Registration
Default. The Company shall pay the liquidated damages due on the Transfer
Restricted Securities by depositing with the Paying Agent (which may not be the
Company for these purposes), in trust, for the benefit of the Holders thereof,
prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next interest payment date
specified by the Indenture and the Securities, sums sufficient to pay the
liquidated damages then due. The liquidated damages due shall be payable on each
interest payment date specified by the Indenture and the Securities to the
record holder entitled to receive the interest payment to be made on such date.
Each obligation to pay liquidated damages shall be deemed to accrue from and
including the date of the applicable Registration Default.
(c) The parties hereto agree that the liquidated damages provided for
in this Section 3 constitute a reasonable estimate of and are intended to
constitute the sole damages that will be suffered by Holders of Transfer
Restricted Securities by reason of the failure of (i) the Shelf Registration
Statement or the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be filed, (ii) the
Shelf Registration Statement to remain effective or (iii) the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement to be declared effective and the Registered Exchange
Offer to be consummated, in each case to the extent required by this Agreement.
4. Registration Procedures. In connection with any Registration
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Statement, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) The Issuers shall (i) furnish to each Initial Purchaser, prior to
the 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 shall use its reasonable best efforts to
reflect in each such document, when so filed with the Commission, such
comments as any Initial Purchaser may reasonably propose; (ii) include, in
substantially similar form, 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; and (iii) if requested by any Initial
Purchaser, include the information required by Items 507 or 508 of
Regulation S-K, as applicable, in the prospectus forming a part of the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement.
(b) The Issuers shall advise each Initial Purchaser, each Exchanging
Dealer who participates in the Exchange Offer and notifies the Company in
writing that it is an Exchanging Dealer (a "Notifying Exchanging Dealer")
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and the Holders (if applicable) and, if requested by any such person,
confirm such advice in writing (which advice 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):
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(i) when any Registration Statement and any amendment thereto
has been filed with the Commission and when such Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become
effective;
(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or
supplements to any 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 any Registration Statement or the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;
(iv) of the receipt by the Issuers of any notification with
respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities, the
Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange 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 making of
any changes in any Registration Statement or the prospectus included
therein in order that the statements therein are not misleading and do
not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
(c) The Issuers will make every reasonable effort to obtain the
withdrawal at the earliest possible time of any order suspending the
effectiveness of any Registration Statement.
(d) The Issuers will furnish to each Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities included within the coverage of any Shelf Registration
Statement, without charge, at least one conformed copy of such Shelf
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including
financial statements and schedules and, if any such Holder so requests in
writing, all exhibits thereto (including those, if any, incorporated by
reference).
(e) The Issuers will, during the Shelf Registration Period, promptly
deliver to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities included within
the coverage of any Shelf Registration Statement, without charge, as many
copies of the prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) included
in such Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement
thereto as such Holder may reasonably request; and the Company consents to
the use of such prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each
of the selling Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with
the offer and sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such
prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto.
(f) The Issuers will furnish to each Initial Purchaser and each
Exchanging Dealer, and to any other Holder who so requests, without charge,
at least one conformed
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copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any post-effective
amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules and, if any
Initial Purchaser or Exchanging Dealer or any such Holder so requests in
writing, all exhibits thereto (including those, if any, incorporated by
reference).
(g) The Issuers will, during the Exchange Offer Registration Period
or the Shelf Registration Period, as applicable, promptly deliver to each
Initial Purchaser, each Notifying Exchanging Dealer and such other persons
that are required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered Exchange
Offer and have so advised the Company in writing, without charge, as many
copies of the final prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or
supplement thereto as such Initial Purchaser, Notifying Exchanging Dealer
or other persons may reasonably request; and the Issuers consent to the use
of such prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by any such
Initial Purchaser, Notifying Exchanging Dealer or other persons, as
applicable, as aforesaid.
(h) Prior to the effective date of any Registration Statement, the
Issuers will use their reasonable best efforts to register or qualify, or
cooperate with the Holders of Securities, Exchange Securities or Private
Exchange Securities included therein in connection with the registration or
qualification of, such Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange
Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such
jurisdictions as any such Holder reasonably requests in writing and to do
any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the offer
and sale in such jurisdictions of the Securities, Exchange Securities or
Private Exchange Securities covered by such Registration Statement;
provided that the Issuers will not be required to qualify generally to do
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business in any jurisdiction where such Issuers are not then so qualified
or to take any action which would subject such Issuers to general service
of process or to taxation in any such jurisdiction where such Issuers are
not then so subject.
(i) The Issuers will cooperate with the Holders of Securities,
Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Securities, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange 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 thereof may
request in writing prior to sales of Securities, Exchange Securities or
Private Exchange Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.
(j) If any event contemplated by Section 4(b)(ii) through (v) occurs
during the period for which the Issuers are required to maintain an
effective Registration Statement, the Issuers will promptly prepare and
file with the Commission a post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus or file any other
required document so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the
Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities from a
Holder, the prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
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in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading.
(k) Not later than the effective date of the applicable Registration
Statement, the Issuers will provide a CUSIP number for the Securities, the
Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may
be, and provide the applicable trustee with printed certificates for the
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 Issuers will comply with all applicable rules and regulations
of the Commission and will make generally available to their security
holders as soon as practicable after the effective date of the applicable
Registration Statement an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of
Section 11(a) of the Securities Act; provided that in no event shall such
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earnings statement be mailed 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 applicable Registration Statement, which statement
shall cover such 12-month period.
(m) The Issuers will cause the Indenture or the Exchange Securities
Indenture, as the case may be, to be qualified under the Trust Indenture
Act as required by applicable law in a timely manner.
(n) The Issuers may require each Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities to be registered pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement to
furnish to the Company such information concerning the Holder and the
distribution of such Transfer Restricted Securities as the Issuers may from
time to time reasonably require for inclusion in such Shelf Registration
Statement, and the Issuers may exclude from such registration the Transfer
Restricted Securities of any Holder that fails to furnish such information
within a reasonable time after receiving such request.
(o) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities to be registered pursuant thereto agrees by
acquisition of such Transfer Restricted Securities that, upon receipt of
any notice from the Issuers pursuant to Section 4(b)(ii) through (v), such
Holder will discontinue disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities
until such Holder's receipt of copies of the supplemental or amended
prospectus contemplated by Section 4(j) or until advised in writing (the
"Advice") by the Company that the use of the applicable prospectus may be
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resumed. If the Issuers shall give any notice under Section 4(b)(ii)
through (v) during the period that the Issuers are required to maintain an
effective Registration Statement (the "Effectiveness Period"), such
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Effectiveness Period shall be extended by the number of days during such
period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and
including the date when each seller of Transfer Restricted Securities
covered by such Registration Statement shall have received (x) the copies
of the supplemental or amended prospectus contemplated by Sec-
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tion 4(j) (if an amended or supplemental prospectus is required) or (y) the
Advice (if no amended or supplemental prospectus is required).
(p) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Issuers shall
enter into such customary agreements (including, if requested, not more
than one underwriting agreement in customary form) and take all such other
action, if any, as Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Securities, Exchange Securities and Private Exchange Securities being
sold or the managing underwriters (if any) shall reasonably request in
order to facilitate any disposition of Securities, Exchange Securities or
Private Exchange Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement.
(q) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Issuers shall
(i) make reasonably available for inspection by a representative of, and
Special Counsel (as defined below) acting for, Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Securities, Exchange Securities and
Private Exchange Securities being sold and any underwriter participating in
any disposition of Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange
Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, all relevant
financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties
of the Company and its subsidiaries and (ii) use its commercially
reasonable efforts to have its officers, directors, employees, accountants
and counsel supply all relevant information reasonably requested by such
representative, Special Counsel (as defined below) or any such underwriter
(an "Inspector") in connection with such Shelf Registration Statement.
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(r) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Issuers shall,
if requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities, Exchange Securities and Private Exchange Securities being sold,
their Special Counsel (as defined below) or the managing underwriters (if
any) in connection with such Shelf Registration Statement, use their
reasonable best efforts to cause (i) their counsel to deliver an opinion
relating to the Shelf Registration Statement and the Securities, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as applicable, in customary
form, (ii) their officers to execute and deliver all customary documents
and certificates requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Securities, Exchange Securities and Private Exchange
Securities being sold, their Special Counsel (as defined below) or the
managing underwriters (if any) and (iii) their independent public
accountants to provide a comfort letter or letters in customary form,
subject to receipt of appropriate documentation as contemplated, and only
if permitted, by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72.
5. Registration Expenses. The Issuers will bear all expenses
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incurred in connection with the performance of their obligations under Sections
1, 2, 3 and 4 and the Issuers will reimburse the Initial Purchasers and the
Holders for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm of attorneys (in
addition to any local counsel) chosen by the Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Private
Exchange Securities to be sold pursuant to each Registration Statement (the
"Special Counsel") acting for the Initial Purchasers or Holders in connection
---------------
therewith.
-11-
6. Indemnification.
---------------
(a) In the event of a Shelf Registration Statement or in connection
with any prospectus delivery pursuant to an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement by an Initial Purchaser or Exchanging Dealer, as applicable, each of
the Issuers, jointly and severally, shall indemnify and hold harmless each
Holder (including, without limitation, any such Initial Purchaser or Exchanging
Dealer), its affiliates, their respective officers, directors, employees,
representatives and agents, and each person, if any, who controls such Holder
within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (collectively
referred to for purposes of this Section 6 and Section 7 as a Holder) from and
against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in
respect thereof (including, without limitation, any loss, claim, damage,
liability or action relating to purchases and sales of Securities, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities), to which that Holder may become
subject, whether commenced or threatened, under the Securities Act, the Exchange
Act, any other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or
otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out
of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any such Registration Statement or any prospectus
forming part thereof or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (ii) the
omission or alleged omission to state therein 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, and shall
reimburse each Holder promptly upon demand for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by that Holder in connection with investigating or defending
or preparing to defend against or appearing as a third party witness in
connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such
expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Issuers shall not be liable
-------- -------
in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or
action arises out of, or is based upon, an untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement in or omission or alleged omission from any of such documents in
reliance upon and in conformity with any Holders' Information; and provided,
--------
further, that with respect to any such untrue statement in or omission from any
-------
related preliminary prospectus, the indemnity agreement contained in this
Section 6(a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder from whom the person
asserting any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action received Securities,
Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities to the extent that such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action of or with respect to such Holder results
from the fact that both (A) a copy of the final prospectus was not sent or given
to such person at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such
Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities to such person
and (B) the untrue statement in or omission from the related preliminary
prospectus was corrected in the final prospectus unless, in either case, such
failure to deliver the final prospectus was a result of non-compliance by the
Company with Section 4(d), 4(e), 4(f) or 4(g).
(b) In the event of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder shall
indemnify and hold harmless the Issuers, their affiliates, their respective
officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents, and each person, if
any, who controls any Issuer within the meaning of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act (collectively referred to for purposes of this Section 6(b) and
Section 7 as the Issuers), from and against any loss, claim, damage or
liability, joint or
-12-
several, or any action in respect thereof, to which the Issuers may become
subject, whether commenced or threatened, under the Securities Act, the Exchange
Act, any other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or
otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out
of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any such Registration Statement or any prospectus
forming part thereof or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (ii) the
omission or alleged omission to state therein 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, but in
each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with any Holders' Information furnished to the Issuers by such
Holder, and shall reimburse the Issuers for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by the Issuers in connection with investigating or defending
or preparing to defend against or appearing as a third party witness in
connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such
expenses are incurred; provided, however, that no such Holder shall be liable
-------- -------
for any indemnity claims hereunder in excess of the amount of net proceeds
received by such Holder from the sale of Securities, Exchange Securities or
Private Exchange Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section
6 of notice of any claim or the commencement of any action, the indemnified
party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
indemnifying party pursuant to Section 6(a) or 6(b), notify the indemnifying
party in writing of the claim or the commencement of that action; provided,
--------
however, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it
-------
from any liability which it may have under this Section 6 except to the extent
that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive
rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to
-------- -------
notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it
may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 6. If any
such claim or action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall
notify the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled
to participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other
similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense thereof with
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice from the
indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the
defense of such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to
the indemnified party under this Section 6 for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof other than the reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however,
-------- -------
that an indemnified party shall have the right to employ its own counsel in any
such action, but the fees, expenses and other charges of such counsel for the
indemnified party will be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (1)
the employment of counsel by the indemnified party has been authorized in
writing by the indemnifying party, (2) the indemnified party has reasonably
concluded (based upon advice of counsel to the indemnified party) that there may
be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are
different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, (3)
a conflict or potential conflict exists (based upon advice of counsel to the
indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying
-13-
party (in which case the indemnifying party will not have the right to direct
the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party) or (4) the
indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to
the indemnified party to assume the defense of such action within a reasonable
time after receiving notice of the commencement of the action, in each of which
cases the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel will be at
the expense of the indemnifying party or parties. It is understood that the
indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection with any proceeding or
related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees,
disbursements and other charges of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in
addition to any local counsel) at any one time for all such indemnified party or
parties. Each indemnified party, as a condition of the indemnity agreements
contained in Sections 6(a) and 6(b), shall use all reasonable efforts to
cooperate with the indemnifying party in the defense of any such action or
claim. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement of any such
action effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld), but if settled with its written consent or if there be a
final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action, the indemnifying party
agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any
loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. No indemnifying
party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), effect any settlement of any
pending or threatened proceeding 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 claims that are the subject matter
of such proceeding.
7. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 6 is
------------
unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section
6(a) or 6(b), then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such
indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified
party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect
thereof, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the Issuers from the offering and sale of the Securities,
on the one hand, and a Holder with respect to the sale by such Holder of
Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities, on the other, or
(ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above 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 Issuers on the one hand and such Holder on the other with respect to the
statements or omissions that resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability,
or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative benefits received by the Issuers on the one hand
and a Holder on the other with respect to such offering and such sale shall be
deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering
of the Securities (before deducting expenses) received by or on behalf of the
Company as set forth in the table on the cover of the Offering Memorandum, on
the one hand, bear to the total proceeds received by such Holder with respect to
its sale of Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities, on
the other. The relative fault 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
-14-
fact relates to the Issuers or information supplied by the Issuers on the one
hand or to any Holders' Information supplied by such Holder on the other, the
intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The parties
hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant
to this Section 7 were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other
method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable
considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified
party as a result of the loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect
thereof, referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to include, for
purposes of this Section 7, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending or
preparing to defend any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of
this Section 7, an indemnifying party that is a Holder of Securities, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities shall not be required to contribute
any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the
Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities sold by such
indemnifying party to any purchaser exceeds the amount of any damages which such
indemnifying party has otherwise paid or become liable to pay by reason of any
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.
8. Rules 144 and 144A. The Issuers shall use their reasonable best
------------------
efforts to file the reports required to be filed by them under the Securities
Act and the Exchange Act in a timely manner and, if at any time the Issuers are
not required to file such reports, such Issuers will, upon the written request
of any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, make publicly available other
information so long as necessary to permit sales of such Holder's securities
pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A. Each of the Issuers 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, without limitation, the requirements of Rule 144A(d)(4)). Upon
the written request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, the Issuers
shall deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether they have
complied with such requirements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this
Section 8 shall be deemed to require any of the Issuers to register any of such
Issuer's securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.
9. Underwritten Registrations. If any of the Transfer Restricted
--------------------------
Securities covered by any Shelf Registration Statement are to be sold in an
underwritten offering, the investment bank or investment banks and manager or
managers that will administer the offering will be selected by the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of such Transfer Restricted Securities
included in such offering, subject to the consent of the Company (which shall
not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), and such Holders shall be responsible
for all underwriting commissions and discounts in connection therewith.
-15-
No person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder
unless such 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.
10. 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, unless the Company has obtained the
written consent of Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities, taken
as a single class. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart
from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to
the rights of Holders whose Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange
Securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not
directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities, the
Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities being sold by such
Holders pursuant to such Registration Statement.
(b) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
-------
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail,
telecopier or air courier guaranteeing next-day delivery:
(i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder
to the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Section 10(b),
which address initially is, with respect to each Holder, the address of
such Holder maintained by the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy in
like manner to Bear, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc., Chase Securities Inc., ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc. and Barclays Capital Inc.;
(ii) if to an Initial Purchaser, initially at its address set forth
in the Purchase Agreement; and
(iii) if to the Issuers, initially at the address of the Company set
forth in the Purchase Agreement.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; one business day after
being delivered to a next-day air courier; five business days after being
deposited in the mail; and when receipt is acknowledged by the recipient's
telecopier machine, if sent by telecopier.
(c) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon
----------------------
the Issuers and their successors and assigns.
-16-
(d) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
------------
counterparts (which may be delivered in original form or by telecopier) 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.
(e) Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) the
-------------------
term "business day" means any day on which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. is
open for trading, (b) the term "subsidiary" has the meaning set forth in Rule
405 under the Securities Act and (c) except where otherwise expressly provided,
the term "affiliate" has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities
Act.
(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.
(h) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Issuers or by any
--------
Holder of any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the
Issuers, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all
rights granted by law, including recovery of damages (other than the recovery of
damages for a breach by the Issuers of their obligations under Sections 1 or 2
hereof for which liquidated damages have been paid pursuant to Section 3
hereof), will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this
Agreement. The Issuers and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not be
adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of any
of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agree that, in the event
of any action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive
the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(i) No Inconsistent Agreements. Each of the Issuers represents,
--------------------------
warrants and agrees that (i) it has not entered into, shall not, on or after the
date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement that is inconsistent with the
rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the
provisions hereof, (ii) it has not previously entered into any agreement which
remains in effect granting any registration rights with respect to any of its
debt securities to any person and (iii) without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, without the written consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the then outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities, it
shall not grant to any person the right to request the Issuers to register any
debt securities of any of the Issuers under the Securities Act unless the rights
so granted are not in conflict or inconsistent with the provisions of this
Agreement.
(j) No Piggyback on Registrations. Neither the Issuers nor any of
-----------------------------
their security holders (other than the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities
in such capacity) shall have the right to include any securities of any of the
Issuers in any Shelf Registration or Registered Exchange Offer other than
Transfer Restricted Securities.
-17-
(k) Severability. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and not
------------
exclusive of any remedies provided by law. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties
hereto shall use their reasonable best efforts to find and employ an alternative
means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated
by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and
declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the
remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of
such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
-18-
Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement
among the Issuers and the Initial Purchasers.
Very truly yours,
METRIS COMPANIES INC.
By: _____________________________________
Name:
Title:
METRIS DIRECT, INC.
By: _____________________________________
Name:
Title:
Accepted:
BEAR, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INC.
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.
BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.
By: Bear, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc.
By____________________________
Authorized Signatory
ANNEX A
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own
account pursuant to the Registered 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
Securities where such 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 90 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."
ANNEX B
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own
account in exchange for Securities, where such 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."
ANNEX C
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
--------------------
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own
account pursuant to the Registered 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 Securities where such Securities were acquired as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has
agreed that, for a period of 90 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.
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 Registered 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 at 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
Registered 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.
For a period of 90 days after the Expiration Date the Company will
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
Registered Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the Holders
of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any
broker-dealers and will indemnify the Holders of the Securities (including any
broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act.
-2-
ANNEX D
o 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 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.