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EXHIBIT 4.6
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF APRIL 22, 1999
BY AND AMONG
ORBITAL IMAGING CORPORATION
AND
BEAR, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INC.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & CO., ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LYNCH, PIERCE, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
INCORPORATED.
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This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of April 22, 1999, by and among Orbital Imaging Corporation, a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), Bear, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc. and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
& Co., ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ Incorporated (each, an "Initial
Purchaser" and, collectively, the "Initial Purchasers"), each of whom has agreed
to purchase $75,000,000 in aggregate principal amount at maturity of the
Company's 11 5/8% Series C Senior Notes due 2005 pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement (as defined below).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated as of
April 22, 1999 (the "Purchase Agreement"), by and between the Company and the
Initial Purchasers. In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to purchase the
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 Section 8 of the Purchase
Agreement. Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed
to them in the Indenture.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Agreement, the following
capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:
Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Business Day: Any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day in the City
of New York, or in the city of the corporate trust office of the Trustee, on
which banks are authorized to close.
Broker-Dealer: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.
Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities: Series D Notes that are
acquired by a Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer in exchange for Series C Notes
that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of market
making activities or other trading activities (other than Notes acquired
directly from the Company or any of its affiliates).
Certificated Securities: As defined in the Indenture.
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 D
Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (b) the maintenance of such Exchange
Offer Registration Statement continuously effective and the keeping of the
Exchange Offer open for a period not less than the minimum period required
pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof and (c) the delivery by the Company to the
Registrar under the
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Indenture of Series D Notes in the same aggregate principal amount as the
aggregate principal amount of Series C Notes that were validly tendered by
Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
Damages Payment Date: With respect to the Series C Notes, each Interest
Payment Date.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Exchange Offer: The offer to exchange and issuance by the Company of a
principal amount of Series D Notes (which shall be registered pursuant to the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement) equal to the outstanding principal amount
of Series C Notes that are validly tendered by such Holders in connection with
such exchange and issuance.
Exchange Offer Registration Statement: The Registration Statement
relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.
Exempt Resales: The transactions in which the Initial Purchasers propose
to sell the Series C Notes to certain "qualified institutional buyers," as such
term is defined in Rule 144A under the Act.
Global Note Holder: As defined in the Indenture.
Holders: As defined in Section 2 hereof.
Indemnified Holder: As defined in Section 8(a) hereof.
Indenture: The Indenture, dated the Closing Date, by and between the
Company and HSBC Bank USA, as trustee (the "Trustee"), pursuant to which the
Notes are to be issued, as such Indenture is amended or supplemented from time
to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
Interest Payment Date: As defined in the Indenture and the Notes.
NASD: National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Notes: The Series C Notes and the Series D Notes, as the context
requires.
Person: An individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability
company, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, or a government or
agency or political subdivision 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.
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Record Holder: With respect to any Damages Payment Date, each Person who
is a Holder of Notes on the record date with respect to the Interest Payment
Date on which such Damages Payment Date shall occur.
Registration Default: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company
relating to (a) an offering of Series D 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) which 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.
Restricted Broker-Dealer: Any Broker-Dealer which holds Broker-Dealer
Transfer Restricted Securities.
Series C Notes: The Company's 11 5/8% Series C Senior Notes due 2005 to
be issued to the Initial Purchasers pursuant to the Indenture.
Series D Notes: The Company's 11 5/8% Series D Senior Notes due 2005 to
be issued pursuant to the Indenture in the Exchange Offer.
Shelf Registration Statement: As defined in Section 4 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 Note, until the earliest to occur
of (a) the date on which such Series C Note is exchanged in the Exchange Offer
and entitled to be resold to the public by the Holder thereof without complying
with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Act, (b) the date on which such
Series C Note has been sold pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement, (c) the
date on which such Series D Note is disposed of by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to
the "Plan of Distribution" contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement (including delivery of the Prospectus contained therein) or (d) the
date on which such Note is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under
the Act.
Trustee: HSBC Bank USA or such other Person who may be the trustee under
the Indenture.
Underwritten Registration or Underwritten Offering: A registration in
which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the
public.
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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) General. Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permitted by
applicable federal law (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below
have been complied with), the Company shall (i) use its best efforts to file
with the Commission as soon as practicable after the Closing Date, but in no
event later than 45 days after the Closing Date, the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, (ii) use its best efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration
Statement to become effective at the earliest possible time, but in no event
later than 150 days after the Closing Date, (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 such Exchange Offer
Registration Statement to become effective, (B) file, if applicable, a
post-effective amendment to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant
to the Act, and (C) cause all necessary filings, if any, in connection with the
registration and qualification of the Series D Notes to be made under the blue
sky laws of such jurisdictions as are necessary to permit Consummation of the
Exchange Offer, and (iv) upon the effectiveness of such Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, commence and Consummate the Exchange Offer. The Exchange
Offer shall be on the appropriate form permitting registration of the Series D
Notes to be offered in exchange for the Notes that are Transfer Restricted
Securities and to permit sales of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities
by Restricted Broker-Dealers as contemplated by Section 3(c) below.
(b) Duration. The Company shall use its best 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 and state securities laws to Consummate the
Exchange Offer; provided, however, that in no event shall such period be less
than 20 Business Days. The Company shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply with
all applicable federal and state securities laws. No securities other than the
Notes shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. The
Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be Consummated
on the earliest practicable date after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
has become effective, but in no event later than 30 Business Days thereafter.
(c) Broker-Dealer. The Company shall include a "Plan of
Distribution" section in the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement and indicate therein that any Restricted 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, may exchange such Transfer Restricted Securities (other than
Transfer Restricted Securities acquired directly from the Company or one of its
affiliates) pursuant to the Exchange Offer; however, 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 any
resale of the Series D Notes received by such Broker-Dealer in the
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Exchange Offer, which prospectus delivery requirement may be satisfied by the
delivery by such Broker-Dealer of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement. Such "Plan of Distribution" section shall also contain
all other information with respect to such sales of Broker-Dealer Transfer
Restricted Securities by Restricted Broker-Dealers that the Commission may
require in order to permit such resales pursuant thereto, but such "Plan of
Distribution" shall not name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of
Notes held by any such Broker-Dealer, except to the extent required by the
Commission as a result of a change in policy after the date of this Agreement.
The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as
required by the provisions of Section 6(c) below to the extent necessary to
ensure that it is available for resales of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted
Securities by Restricted Broker-Dealers, and to ensure that the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement conforms 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 date on which the Exchange Offer is
Consummated.
The Company shall provide sufficient copies of the latest version of
such Prospectus to such Restricted Broker-Dealers promptly upon request, at any
time during such 180-day period in order to facilitate such resales.
SECTION 4. SHELF REGISTRATION.
(a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Company is not required to file
an Exchange Offer Registration Statement with respect to the Series D Notes
because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable federal law (after the
procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below have been complied with), (ii) any
Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall notify the Company within 20
Business Days following the Consummation of the Exchange Offer (the "Holder
Resale Notice") that (A) such Holder was prohibited by applicable law or
Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer or (B) such Holder
may not resell the Series D 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 C
Notes acquired directly from the Company or one of its affiliates, or (iii) the
Exchange Offer is for any other reason not consummated within 180 days of the
Closing Date then the Company shall: (x) cause to be filed on or prior to 45
days after the date on which the Company determines that it is not required to
file the Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to clause (i) above or
45 days after the date on which the Company receives the notice specified in
clause (ii) above a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the
Act (which may be an amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (in
either event, the "Shelf Registration Statement")), relating to all Transfer
Restricted Securities the Holders of which shall have provided the information
required pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof; and (y) use its best efforts to cause
such Shelf Registration Statement to become effective on or prior to 150 days
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after the date on which the Company becomes obligated to file such Shelf
Registration Statement.
If, after the Company has filed an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement which 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 shall not be permitted under clause (i), (ii) or
(iii) in Section 4(a), then the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of clause (x) above. Such
an event shall have no effect on the requirements of clause (y) above. The
Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement
discussed in this Section 4(a) continuously effective, supplemented and amended
as required by and subject to the provisions of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof to
the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for resales of Transfer
Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof entitled to the benefit of this
Section 4(a), and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this
Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as
announced from time to time, until the earlier of (A) the date that is two years
after the effective date thereof (plus any extension of such two-year period
pursuant to Sections 4(c) or 6(c)(i) below), provided that in the event such
applicable policies, rules and regulations of the Commission are amended to
provide for a period of less than two years, then such period shall be deemed to
be in effect for purposes of this Section 4(a), or (B) the consummation of the
Exchange Offer with respect to all Transfer Restricted Securities and the
expiration of 20 Business Days after the Consummation thereof if during such 20
Business Days no Holder Resale Notice shall have been received by the Company or
(C) the date when all securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement
have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.
(b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with
the Shelf Registration Statement. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
may include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration
Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to
the Company in writing, within 20 days after receipt of a request therefor, such
information specified in Item 507 and Item 508 of Regulation S-K under 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 used its best efforts to provide all
such information. Each Holder as to which any Shelf Registration Statement is
being effected agrees to furnish promptly to the Company all information
required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished
to the Company by such Holder not materially misleading.
(c) Black-out Periods. During any consecutive 365 day period, the
Company may suspend the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement on two
occasions for a period of not more than 45 consecutive days if there is a
possible acquisition or business combination or other transaction, business
development or event involving the Company that may require disclosure in the
Shelf Registration Statement and the Board of Directors of the Company
determines in the exercise of its reasonable judgment that such disclosure is
not in the best
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interests of the Company and its stockholders or obtaining any financial
statements relating to a possible acquisition or business combination required
to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement would be impracticable. In
such a case, the Company shall promptly notify the Holders of the suspension of
the Shelf Registration Statement's effectiveness, provided that such notice
shall not require the Company to disclose the possible acquisition or business
combination or other transaction, business development or event if the Board of
Directors of the Company determines in good faith that such acquisition or
business combination or other transaction, business development or event should
remain confidential. Upon the abandonment, consummation, or termination of the
possible acquisition or business combination, or the availability of the
required financial statements with respect to a possible acquisition or business
combination , the suspension of the use of the Shelf Registration Statement
pursuant to this Section 4(c) shall cease and the Company shall promptly comply
with Section 6(c) hereof and notify the Holders that disposition of Transfer
Restricted Securities may be resumed. The length of any periods during which the
Company prohibits offers and sales of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to
the Shelf Registration Statement under this Section 4(c) shall not be considered
periods of a Registration Default under Section 5 hereof. In addition, the
length of any periods during which the Company prohibits offers and sales of
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement
under this Section 4(c) shall be added to the two year period described in
Section 4(a) above.
SECTION 5. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES. If (i) any Registration Statement
required by this Agreement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the
date specified for such filing in this Agreement, (ii) any such Registration
Statement has not been declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the
date specified for such effectiveness in this Agreement (the "Effectiveness
Target Date"), (iii) the Exchange Offer has not been Consummated within 30
Business Days of the Effectiveness Target Date with respect to the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement, or (iv) any Registration Statement required by
this Agreement is filed and declared effective but shall thereafter cease to be
effective or fail to be usable for its intended purpose without being succeeded
immediately by a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement that
cures such failure and that is itself declared effective immediately (each such
event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a "Registration Default"), the
Company shall pay as liquidated damages ("Liquidated Damages") to each Holder an
amount (the "Damage Amount") equal to 0.25% per annum of the face amount of the
Notes during the first 90-day period or any portion thereof immediately
following the occurrence of such Registration Default. The Damage Amount will be
increased by an additional 0.25% per annum of the face amount of the Notes for
each subsequent 90-day period that any such Damage Amount continues to accrue,
and the Damage Amount will accrue at the rate specified above until such
Registration Default is cured; provided that in no event shall the Damage Amount
be increased by more than 1% of the face amount of the Notes. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth herein, (1) upon filing of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration
Statement), in the case of (i) above, (2) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration
Statement), in the case of (ii) above, (3) upon Consummation of the Exchange
Offer, in the case of (iii) above, or (4) upon the filing of a post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement or an additional Registration
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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 accrual of 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 will be paid by the Company on each
Damages Payment Date to the Global Note Holder by wire transfer of immediately
available funds or by federal funds check and to Holders of Certificated
Securities by mailing checks to their registered addresses, as on each Interest
Payment Date. All obligations of the Company set forth in the preceding
paragraph that are outstanding with respect to any Transfer Restricted Security
at the time such security ceases to be a Transfer Restricted Security shall
survive until such time as all such obligations with respect to such security
shall have been satisfied in full.
SECTION 6. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.
(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. In connection with the
Exchange Offer, the Company shall comply with all applicable provisions of
Section 6(c) below, shall use its best efforts to effect such exchange and to
permit the sale of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in
accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and
shall comply with all of the following provisions:
(i) If, following the date hereof there has been published a
change in Commission policy with respect to exchange offers such as the Exchange
Offer, such that in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company there is 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 Series C Notes. The Company hereby agrees to pursue the
issuance of such a decision to the Commission staff level, but is not required
to take a commercially unreasonable action to effect a change of Commission
policy. In connection with the foregoing, the Company hereby agrees to take all
such other actions as are requested by the Commission or otherwise required in
connection with the issuance of such decision, including without limitation (A)
participating in telephonic conferences with the Commission, (B) delivering to
the Commission staff an analysis prepared by counsel to the Company setting
forth the legal bases, if any, upon which such counsel has concluded that such
an Exchange Offer should be permitted and (C) diligently pursuing a resolution
(which need not be favorable) by the Commission staff of such submission.
(ii) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities 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 D Notes to be issued
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in the Exchange Offer and (C) it is acquiring the Series D Notes in its ordinary
course of business. Each Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that any
Broker-Dealer and any such Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate in a
distribution of the securities to be acquired in the Exchange Offer (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 if the resales are of Series D Notes obtained by
such Holder in exchange for Series C Notes acquired by such Holder directly from
the Company or an affiliate thereof.
(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 is 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)
and, if applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above,
(B) including a representation that the Company has not entered into any
arrangement or understanding with any Person to distribute the Series D 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 D Notes in its ordinary course of business and has no
arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution
of the Series D Notes received in the Exchange Offer and (C) including any other
undertaking or representation required by the Commission as set forth in any
no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above.
(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, the Company shall comply with all the provisions of
Section 6(c) below and shall use its best efforts to effect such registration to
permit the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in accordance
with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof (as indicated in the
information furnished to the Company pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof), and
pursuant thereto the Company 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 resale 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.
(c) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration
Statement and any related Prospectus required by this Agreement, the Company
shall:
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(i) use its best efforts to keep such Registration Statement
continuously effective and provide all requisite financial statements for the
period specified in Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement, as applicable. Upon the
occurrence of any event that would cause any such Registration Statement or the
Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain a material misstatement or omission
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 or file
appropriate documents that will be so incorporated by reference, (1) in the case
of clause (A), correcting any such misstatement or omission, and (2) in the case
of either clause (A) or (B), use its best efforts to cause such amendment to be
declared effective and such Registration Statement and the related Prospectus to
become usable for their intended purpose(s) as soon as reasonably practicable
thereafter;
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and
post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement as may be necessary to
keep the Registration Statement effective for the applicable period set forth in
Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, or such shorter period as will terminate
when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement
have been sold or exchanged; cause the Prospectus to be supplemented by any
required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to
Rule 424 under the Act, and to comply fully with Rules 424, 430A and 462, as
applicable, under the Act in a timely manner; and comply with the provisions of
the Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such
Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the
intended method or methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in
such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;
(iii) advise the underwriter(s), if any, and selling Holders
promptly 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 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, or (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
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Restricted Securities under state securities or blue sky laws, the Company shall
use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the
earliest possible time;
(iv) furnish to the Initial Purchaser(s), each selling Holder
named in any Registration Statement or Prospectus and each of the
underwriter(s), if any, in connection with such sale before filing with the
Commission, copies of any Registration Statement or any Prospectus included
therein or any amendments or supplements to any such Registration Statement or
Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference after the initial
filing of such Registration Statement), which documents will be subject to the
review of such Holders and underwriter(s), if any, in connection with such sale
for a period of at least five Business Days, and the Company will not file any
such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any
such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all such documents
incorporated by reference) to which the selling Holders of the Transfer
Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement or the
underwriter(s), if any, in connection with such sale shall reasonably object
within five Business Days after the receipt thereof. A selling Holder or
underwriter, if any, 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 a material misstatement or
omission or fails to comply with the applicable requirements of the Act;
(v) promptly prior to the filing of any document that is to be
incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or Prospectus, provide
notice identifying such document, and, upon request, furnish copies of, such
document to one counsel for such selling Holders designated by a majority of
such selling Holders and to the managing underwriter(s), if any, in connection
with such sale, 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 selling Holders
or underwriter(s), if any, reasonably may request;
(vi) subject to the entry of appropriate confidentiality
agreements, make available at reasonable times for inspection by the selling
Holders, any managing underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to
such Registration Statement and any attorney or accountant retained by such
selling Holders or any of such underwriter(s), all financial and other records,
pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and cause the
Company's officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably
requested by any such Holder, underwriter, 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;
(vii) if requested by any selling Holders or the underwriter(s),
if any, in connection with such sale, promptly include in any Registration
Statement or Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if
necessary, such information as such selling Holders and underwriter(s), if any,
may reasonably request to have included therein, including, without limitation,
information relating to the "Plan of Distribution" of the Transfer
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Restricted Securities, information with respect to the principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities being sold to such underwriter(s), the purchase
price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Transfer
Restricted Securities to be sold in such offering; and make all required filings
of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment available to such
selling Holders as soon as practicable after the Company is notified of the
matters to be included in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment;
(viii) furnish to each selling Holder and each of the
underwriter(s), if any, in connection with such sale without charge, at least
one copy of the Registration Statement, as first filed with the Commission, and
of each amendment thereto, and make available all documents incorporated by
reference therein and all exhibits (including exhibits incorporated therein by
reference);
(ix) deliver to each selling Holder and each of the
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 consents to the use
(in accordance with law) of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement
thereto by each of the selling Holders and each of the underwriter(s), if any,
in connection with the offering and the sale of the Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;
(x) enter into such agreements (including an underwriting
agreement) and make such representations and warranties and take all such other
actions in connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the
disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to any Registration
Statement contemplated by this Agreement as may be reasonably requested by any
Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities or underwriter, and in such connection,
(A) make such representations and warranties to the underwriters, with respect
to the business of the Company and the Registration Statement, Prospectus and
documents, if any, incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference therein, in
each case, as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten
offerings, and confirm the same if and when requested; (B) obtain 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 customarily covered in opinions
requested in underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably
requested by the underwriters, 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 public accountants for the
Company at which the contents of such Shelf Registration Statement and related
Prospectus were discussed, although such counsel has not independently verified,
and does not assume any responsibility for, 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 a large extent upon facts provided
to such counsel by 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
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Registration Statement, as of the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer,
contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, or that the Prospectus contained in such Registration Statement
as of its date and, in the case of the opinion dated the date of Consummation of
the Exchange Offer, as of the date of Consummation, contained an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. Without limiting the foregoing, such
counsel may state further that such counsel assumes no responsibility for, and
has not independently verified, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the
financial statements, notes and schedules and other financial and statistical
data included in any Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement or
the related Prospectus; and (C) obtain a customary comfort letter, dated as of
the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement or the date of
Consummation of the Exchange Offer, 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; and (D) if an
underwriting agreement is entered into, the same shall contain indemnification
and contribution provisions and procedures no less favorable than those set
forth in Section 8 hereof with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant
to Section 8. The above shall be done at each closing under such underwriting or
similar agreement, as and to the extent required thereunder, and if at any time
the representations and warranties of the Company contemplated in (A) above
cease to be true and correct, the Company shall so advise the underwriter(s), if
any, the selling Holders and each Restricted Broker-Dealer promptly and if
requested by such Persons, shall confirm such advice in writing;
(xi) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted
Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders, the underwriter(s), if any, 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 or underwriter(s), if any, 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 would not otherwise be required to be so qualified
but for this Section 6(c)(xi) or to take any action that would subject it to the
service of process in suits or to taxation, in any jurisdiction where it is not
now so subject; (xii) issue, upon the request of any Holder of Series C Notes
covered by any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement,
Series D Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate
principal amount of Series C Notes surrendered to the Company by such Holder in
exchange therefor or being sold by such Holder; such Series D Notes to be
registered in the name of such Holder or in the name of the purchaser(s) of such
Series D Notes, as the case may be; in return, the Series C Notes held by such
Holder shall be surrendered to the Company for cancellation; (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 selling Holders and the underwriter(s), if any, to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Transfer Restricted
Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive
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legends; and to register such Transfer Restricted Securities in such
denominations and such names as the Holders or the underwriter(s), if any, may
request at least two Business Days prior to such sale of Transfer Restricted
Securities;
(xiv) use its best efforts to cause the disposition of the
Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be
registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities
as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof or the
underwriter(s), if any, to consummate the disposition of such Transfer
Restricted Securities, subject to the proviso contained in clause (xi) above;
(xv) 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;
(xvi) 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;
(xvii) cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made
with the NASD and in the performance of any due diligence investigation by any
underwriter (including any "qualified independent underwriter") that is required
to be retained in accordance with the rules and regulations of the NASD, and use
its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and
approved by such governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to
enable the Holders selling Transfer Restricted Securities to consummate the
disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities;
(xviii) otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally available
to the Holders as soon as reasonably 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);
(xix) 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 of Notes 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 best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents
that
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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; and
(xx) provide promptly to each Holder upon request each document
filed with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or Section
15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(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)(i) or any notice from the Company of the existence of any fact of
the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof, such Holder will forthwith
discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the
applicable Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of
the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xv) hereof,
or until it 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 (the "Advice"). If
so directed by the Company, each Holder will 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 either such notice. In the
event the Company shall give any such 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 the number of days during the period from
and including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to Section 6(c)(i)
or Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof to and including the date when each selling
Holder covered by such Registration Statement shall have received the copies of
the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xv) hereof
or shall have received the Advice.
SECTION 7. REGISTRATION EXPENSES.
(a) All reasonable expenses incident to the Company's performance of
or compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company, regardless of
whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including without
limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses (including filings
made by any Initial Purchaser or Holder with the NASD); (ii) all fees and
expenses of compliance with federal securities and state blue sky or securities
laws; (iii) all expenses of printing (including, without limitation, printing or
engraving certificates for the Series D 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, subject to
Section 7(b) below, the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; (v) all
application and filing fees in connection with listing the Notes on a national
securities exchange or automated quotation system pursuant to the requirements
hereof; and (vi) all fees and disbursements of independent certified public
accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any special audit and
comfort letters required by or incident to such performance).
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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 being
tendered in the Exchange Offer and/or resold pursuant to the "Plan of
Distribution" contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or
registered pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable, for the
reasonable fees and disbursements of not more than one counsel, who 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; provided, however, that, in that case of an Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the Company shall not be required to reimburse the
Initial Purchasers and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities being
registered pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement for such fees
and disbursements of counsel in excess of $10,000.
SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless (i) each
Holder and (ii) each Person, if any, who controls a Holder within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act any Holder (a
"Controlling Person") and (iii) the respective officers, directors, partners,
employees, representatives and agents of any Holder or any Controlling Person
(any of the Persons referred to in this clause (i), (ii) or (iii) may
hereinafter be referred to as an "Indemnified Holder") to the fullest extent
lawful, from and against any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages and
expenses whatsoever (including but not limited to reasonable attorneys' fees and
any and all reasonable expenses whatsoever incurred in investigating, preparing
for or defending against any investigation or litigation, commenced or
threatened, or any claim whatsoever, and any and all amounts paid in settlement
of any claim or litigation), joint or several, to which they or any of them may
become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof)
arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or
in any supplement thereto or amendment thereof, or arise out of or are based
upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that
the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such
loss, liability, claim, damage or expense arises out of or is based upon any
such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Holder expressly for
use therein.
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(b) Each Holder, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company and any of its respective directors, officers, and any
Controlling Person of the Company, and the officers, directors, partners,
employees, representatives and agents of each such Person, to the same extent as
the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each of the Indemnified Holders, but
only with respect to losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (including
but not limited to reasonable attorneys' fees and any and all reasonable
expenses whatsoever incurred in investigating, preparing for or defending
against any investigation or litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim
whatsoever, and any and all amounts paid in settlement of any claim or
litigation), joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject
under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
liabilities, claims, damages or expenses arising out of or based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Registration Statement or Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or supplement
thereto, or arising out of or based upon the omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that
such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense arises out of or is based upon
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by or on the behalf of such Holder expressly for use
therein. In no event shall any Holder be liable or responsible for any amount in
excess of the dollar amount of the proceeds received by such Holder upon its
sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities giving rise to such indemnification
obligation.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection
(a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified
party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
indemnifying party under such subsection, notify each party against whom
indemnification is to be sought in writing of the commencement thereof (but the
failure so to notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying
party from any liability which it may have under this Section 8 except to the
extent that it has been prejudiced in any material respect by such failure to
notify by the indemnified party or from any liability which it may otherwise
have). In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it
notifies an indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying
party will be entitled to participate therein, and to the extent it may elect by
written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the
aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with
counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to employ its
or their own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel
shall be at the expense of such indemnified party or parties unless (i) the
employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by the
indemnifying party or parties in connection with the defense of such action,
(ii) the indemnifying party or parties shall not have employed counsel to take
charge of the defense of such action within a reasonable time after notice of
commencement of the action, or (iii) such indemnified party or parties shall
have reasonably concluded, upon the advice of counsel that there may be defenses
available to it or them which are different from or additional to those
available to one or all of the indemnifying parties (in which case the
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indemnifying party or parties shall not have the right to direct the defense of
such action on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of which
events such fees and expenses of counsel shall be borne by the indemnifying
parties. The indemnifying party under subsection (a) or (b) above, shall only be
liable for the legal expenses of one counsel (in addition to any local counsel)
for all indemnified parties in each jurisdiction in which any claim or action is
brought. Anything in this subsection to the contrary notwithstanding, an
indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any claim or action
effected without its prior written consent; provided that such consent was not
unreasonably withheld.
(d) In order to provide for contribution in circumstances in which
the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is for any reason held to be
unavailable or is insufficient to hold harmless a party indemnified hereunder,
the Company and each Holder shall contribute to the aggregate losses, claims,
damages, liabilities and expenses of the nature contemplated by such
indemnification provision (including any investigation, legal and other expenses
incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action,
suit or proceeding or any claims asserted, but after deducting in the case of
losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses suffered by the Company, any
contribution received by the Company from Persons, other than the Holder who may
also be liable for contribution, including Controlling Persons of the Company to
which the Company and any Holders may be subject, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the
Holders or, if such allocation is not permitted by applicable law or
indemnification is not available as a result of the indemnifying party not
having received notice as provided in this Section 8, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to above but also
the relative fault of the Company and the Holder in connection with the
statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative benefits received by the Company and any Holder shall be deemed to
be in the same proportion as (x) the total proceeds from the offering of the
Notes (net of discounts but before deducting expenses) received by the Company
and (y) the total proceeds received by such Holder upon its sale of Notes which
would otherwise give rise to the indemnification obligation, respectively. The
relative fault of the Company and of the Holders shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
relates to information supplied by the Company or the Holders and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Holders agree that it
would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were
determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which
does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to above.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8(d), (i) no Holder shall be
required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the dollar
amount by which the proceeds received by such Holder with respect to the sale of
its Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds
the sum of (A) the amount paid by such Holder for such Transfer Restricted
Securities plus (B) 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 and indemnification obligation, respectively; and
(ii) no Person guilty of
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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(d) are several in proportion to the respective principal amount
of Notes held by each of the Holders hereunder and not joint.
For purposes of this Section 8, (A) each Controlling Person, if any, of
any Holder and (B) the respective officers, directors, partners, employees,
representatives and agents of any Initial Purchaser or any Controlling Person
thereof shall have the same rights to contribution as such Initial Purchaser,
and each Controlling Person, if any, of the Company shall have the same rights
to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to clauses (i) and (ii) of
this Section 8(d). Any party entitled to contribution will, promptly after
receipt of notice of commencement of any action, suit or proceeding against such
party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made against another
party or parties under this Section 8(d), notify such party or parties from whom
contribution may be sought, but the failure to so notify such party or parties
shall not relieve the party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from
any obligation it or they may have under this Section 8(d) or otherwise. No
party shall be liable for contribution with respect to any action or claim
settled without its prior written consent; provided that such written consent
was not unreasonably withheld.
SECTION 9. RULE 144A.
The Company hereby agrees with each Holder, for so long as any Transfer
Restricted Securities remain outstanding and during any period in which the
Company is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act, to make available,
upon request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, to any 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.
SECTION 10. UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATIONS.
No Holder may participate in any Underwritten Registration hereunder
unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder's Transfer Restricted
Securities on the basis provided in customary underwriting arrangements entered
into in connection therewith and (b) completes and executes all reasonable
questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements, lockup
letters and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting
arrangements.
SECTION 11. SELECTION OF UNDERWRITERS. For any Underwritten Offering,
the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers for any
Underwritten Offering that will administer such offering will be selected by the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted
Securities included in such offering
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provided that such investment bankers and managers must be reasonably
satisfactory to the Company. Such investment bankers and managers are referred
to herein as the "underwriters."
SECTION 12. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) Remedies. The Company agrees that monetary damages would not be
adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the
provisions of this Agreement and hereby agrees to waive the defense in any
action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company will not, 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. Except as disclosed
in the Offering Memorandum, the Company has not previously entered into any
agreement granting any registration rights with respect to its securities to any
Person. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict
with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the
Company's securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.
(c) Adjustments Affecting the Notes. The Company will not take any
action, or voluntarily permit any change to occur, with respect to the Notes
that would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Holders to
Consummate any Exchange Offer.
(d) 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 the Company has obtained the
written consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or
consent to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the
rights of Holders whose securities are being tendered pursuant to the Exchange
Offer or registered pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and that does
not affect directly or indirectly the rights of other Holders whose securities
are not being tendered pursuant to such Exchange Offer or registered pursuant to
the Shelf Registration Statement may be given by the Holders of a majority of
the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities subject to
such Exchange Offer.
(e) Notice. 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), facsimile transmission,
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:
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Orbital Imaging Corporation
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Phone: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Fax: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
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; upon receipt of a
confirmation notice, if sent by facsimile transmission; when answered back, if
telexed; when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next Business Day,
if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the
address specified in the Indenture.
(f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the
parties, including without limitation and without the need for an express
assignment, subsequent Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided,
however, that this Agreement shall not inure to the benefit of or be binding
upon a successor or assign of a Holder unless and to the extent such successor
or assign acquired Transfer Restricted Securities directly from such Holder.
(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
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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.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights
Agreement as of the date first written above.
ORBITAL IMAGING CORPORATION
By:
----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
BEAR, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INC.
By:
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Name:
Title:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
INCORPORATED
By:
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Name:
Title: