Exhibit 4.3
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of May 15, 1998
by and among
Lodestar Holdings, Inc.,
the Guarantors named herein
and
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Securities Corporation
and
BT Alex. ▇▇▇▇▇ Incorporated,
as Initial Purchasers
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This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of May 15, 1998, by and among Lodestar Holdings, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Lodestar Energy, Inc., Eastern
Resources, Inc. and Industrial Fuels Minerals Company (the "Guarantors"), and
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation and BT Alex. ▇▇▇▇▇
Incorporated (the "Initial Purchasers"), who have agreed to purchase the
Company's 11 1/2% Senior Notes due 2005, Series A (the "Series A Notes")
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated May
12, 1998 (the "Purchase Agreement"), among the Company, the Guarantors and the
Initial Purchasers. In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to purchase the
Series A Notes, the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set
forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a
condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchasers under the Purchase
Agreement.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have
the following meanings:
Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Broker-Dealer: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.
Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities: Series B Notes that are
acquired by a Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer in exchange for Series A Notes
that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of market
making activities or other trading activities (other than Series A Notes
acquired directly from the Company or any of its affiliates).
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.
Closing Date: The date hereof.
Commission: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
Consummate: An Exchange Offer shall be deemed "Consummated" for
purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (a) the filing and
effectiveness under the Act
of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement relating to the Series B Notes to
be issued in the Exchange Offer, (b) the maintenance of such 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 Indenture
of Series B Notes in the same aggregate principal amount as the aggregate
principal amount of Series A Notes tendered by Holders thereof pursuant to the
Exchange Offer.
Damages Payment Date: With respect to the Series A Notes, each
Interest Payment Date.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Exchange Offer: The registration by the Company under the Act of the
Series B Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to
which the Company shall offer the Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted
Securities the opportunity to exchange all such outstanding Transfer Restricted
Securities for Series B Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the
aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities tendered in
such exchange offer by such Holders.
Exchange Offer Registration Statement: The Registration Statement
relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.
Exempt Resales: The transactions in which the Initial Purchasers
propose to sell the Series A Notes to certain "qualified institutional buyers,"
as such term is defined in Rule 144A under the Act and outside the United States
in compliance with Regulation S under the Act.
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 among the
Company, the Guarantors and State Street Bank and Trust Company, 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 A Notes and the Series B Notes.
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Person: An individual, partnership, corporation, 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.
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 and
the Guarantors relating to (a) an offering of Series B Notes pursuant to an
Exchange Offer or (b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted
Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, (i) 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 B Notes: The Company's 11 1/2% Senior Notes due 2005, Series B
to be issued pursuant to the Indenture (i) in the Exchange Offer or (ii) upon
the request of any Holder of Series A Notes covered by a Shelf Registration
Statement, in exchange for such Series A Notes.
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 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 Note
has been disposed of in accordance with a Shelf Registration Statement, (c) the
date on which such 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.
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Underwritten Registration or Underwritten Offering: A registration in
which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the
public.
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) Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permitted by applicable
federal law, the Company and the Guarantors shall (i) cause to be filed with the
Commission as soon as practicable after the Closing Date, but in no event later
than 60 days after the Closing Date, the Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
(ii) use reasonable efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement
to become effective at the earliest possible time, but in no event later than
180 days after the Closing Date, (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 Rule 430A under the Act and
(C) cause all necessary filings, if any, in connection with the registration and
qualification of the Series B Notes to be made under the Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions as are necessary to permit Consummation of the Exchange Offer, 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 B Notes to be offered in
exchange for the Series A 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) The Company and the Guarantors shall use their respective
reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be
effective continuously, and shall keep the Exchange Offer open for a period of
not less than the minimum period required under applicable federal and state
securities laws to Consummate the Exchange Offer; provided, however, that in no
event shall such period be less than 20 Business Days. The Company and the
Guarantors shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply in all material respects
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 and the Guarantors shall use their respective reasonable efforts to
cause the Exchange Offer to be Consummated on the earliest practicable date
after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become effective, but in no
event later than 30 Business Days thereafter.
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(c) The Company shall include a "Plan of Distribution" section in the
Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and indicate
therein that any Restricted Broker-Dealer who holds Series A Notes that are
Transfer Restricted Securities and that were acquired for the account of such
Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, may exchange such Series A Notes (other than Transfer Restricted
Securities acquired directly from the Company or any affiliate of the Company)
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 its initial
sale of each Series B Note received by such Broker-Dealer in the 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 sales 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 and the Guarantors shall use their respective reasonable
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 sales of
Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities by Restricted Broker-Dealers, and
to ensure that such Registration Statement conforms in all material respects
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 and the Guarantors shall promptly provide sufficient
copies of the latest version of such Prospectus to such Restricted
Broker-Dealers promptly upon request, and in no event later than one Business
Day after such request, at any time during such 180-day period in order to
facilitate such sales.
SECTION 4. SHELF REGISTRATION
(a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Company and the Guarantors are not
required to file an Exchange Offer Registration Statement with respect to the
Series B Notes because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or
(ii) if any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall notify the Company
within 20 Business Days following the Consummation of the Exchange Offer that
(A) such Holder was prohibited by law or Commission policy from participating in
the Exchange Offer or (B) such Holder may not resell the Series B Notes acquired
by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a pro-
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spectus and the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales by such Holder or (C)
such Holder is a Broker-Dealer and holds Series A Notes acquired directly from
the Company or one of its affiliates, then the Company and the Guarantors shall
(x) cause to be filed on or prior to 30 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 30 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 shall (y) use their respective reasonable efforts to cause such
Shelf Registration Statement to become effective on or prior to 90 days 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 applicable federal law,
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 and the Guarantors shall
use their reasonable 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 sales of Transfer Restricted
Securities by the Holders thereof entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a),
and to ensure that it conforms in all material respects with the requirements of
this Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the
Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of at least three years
(as extended pursuant to Section 6(c)(i)) following the date on which such Shelf
Registration Statement first becomes effective under the Act or such shorter
period that will terminate when all the Transfer Restricted Securities covered
by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto or are, in
the written opinion of counsel to the Company, eligible for sale under Rule
144(k) under the Act.
(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 of Regulation S-K under the Act for use in
connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary
Prospectus included therein or Prospectus supplement. 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
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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.
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, (iii) the Exchange Offer has not been
Consummated within 30 Business Days after the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement is first declared effective by the Commission or (iv) any Registration
Statement required by this Agreement is filed and declared effective but shall
thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be usable for its intended purpose
without being succeeded immediately by a post-effective amendment to such
Registration Statement that cures such failure and that is itself declared
effective immediately (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv),
a "Registration Default"), then the Company and the Guarantors hereby jointly
and severally agree to pay liquidated damages to each Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities with respect to the first 90-day period immediately
following the occurrence of such Registration Default, in an amount equal to
$.05 per week per $1,000 principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held
by such Holder for each week or portion thereof that the Registration Default
continues. The amount of the liquidated damages shall increase by an additional
$.05 per week per $1,000 in principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities
with respect to each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults
have been cured, up to a maximum amount of liquidated damages of $.50 per week
per $1,000 principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth herein, (1) upon filing of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration
Statement), in the case of (i) above, (2) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration
Statement), in the case of (ii) above, (3) upon Consummation of the Exchange
Offer, in the case of (iii) above, or (4) upon the filing of a post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement or an additional Registration Statement
that causes the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable,
the Shelf Registration Statement) to again be declared effective or made usable
in the case of (iv) above, the liquidated damages payable with respect to the
Transfer Restricted Securities as a result of such clause (i), (ii), (iii) or
(iv), as applicable, shall cease.
All accrued liquidated damages shall be paid to the beneficial holders
of interests in the Global Security (as defined in the Indenture) by wire
transfer of immediately available funds and to Holders of Securities (as defined
in the Indenture) in certificated form by mailing checks to their registered
addresses on each Damages Payment Date. All obligations of the Company and the
Guarantors set forth in the preceding paragraph that are outstanding
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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 and the Guarantors shall comply in all material
respects with all applicable provisions of Section 6(c) below, shall use their
respective reasonable 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 in all
material respects with all of the following provisions:
(i) 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
and the Guarantors (which may be contained in the letter of transmittal
contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to the effect
that (A) it is not an affiliate of the Company, (B) it is not engaged in,
and does not intend to engage in, and has no arrangement or understanding
with any Person to participate in, a distribution of the Series B Notes to
be issued in the Exchange Offer and (C) it is acquiring the Series B 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 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 B Notes obtained by such Holder in exchange
for Series A Notes acquired by such Holder directly from the Company or an
affiliate thereof.
(ii) Prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall provide a supplemental
letter to the Commission (A) stating that the Company and the Guarantors
are registering the Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the
Commission enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May
13, 1988), ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Co., Inc. (available June 5,
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1991) and (B) including a representation that neither the Company nor any
Guarantor has entered into any arrangement or understanding with any Person
to distribute the Series B Notes to be received in the Exchange Offer and
that, to the best of the Company's and each Guarantor's information and
belief, each Holder participating in the Exchange Offer is acquiring the
Series B Notes in its ordinary course of business and has no arrangement or
understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution of the
Series B Notes received in the Exchange Offer.
(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall comply with all the
provisions of Section 6(c) below and shall use their respective reasonable
efforts to effect such registration to permit the sale of the Transfer
Restricted Securities being sold in accordance with the intended method or
methods of distribution thereof (as indicated in the information furnished to
the Company pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof), and pursuant thereto the Company
and the Guarantors will prepare and file with the Commission a Registration
Statement relating to the registration on any appropriate form under the Act,
which form shall be available for the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities
in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof within
the time periods and otherwise in accordance with the provisions hereof.
(c) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration Statement
and any related Prospectus required by this Agreement to permit the sale or
resale of Transfer Restricted Securities (including, without limitation, any
Exchange Offer Registration Statement and the related Prospectus, to the extent
that the same are required to be available to permit sales of Broker-Dealer
Transfer Restricted Securities by Restricted Broker-Dealers), the Company and
the Guarantors shall:
(i) use their respective reasonable efforts to keep such Registration
Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite financial
statements for the period specified in Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement, as
applicable. Upon the occurrence of any event that would cause any such
Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain 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 and the Guarantors shall file promptly an
appropriate amendment to such Registration Statement, (1) in the case of
clause (A), correcting any such misstatement or omission, and (2) in the
case of clauses (A) and (B), use their respective reasonable 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 practicable thereafter.
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(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, or such shorter period as will terminate
when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration
Statement have been sold; 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 in all material respects with
Rules 424, 430A and 462, as applicable, under the Act in a timely manner;
and comply in all material respects 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, (D) of the existence of any fact or the happening of
any event that makes any statement of a material fact made in the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto
or any document incorporated by reference therein untrue, or that requires
the making of any additions to or changes in the Registration Statement in
order to make the statements therein not misleading, or that requires the
making of any additions to or changes in the Prospectus in order to make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading. If at any time the Commission shall issue any
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or
any state securities commission or other regulatory authority shall issue
an order suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of
the Transfer Restricted Securities under state securities or Blue Sky laws,
the Company and the Guarantors shall use their respective reasonable
efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest
possible time;
(iv) furnish to the Initial Purchasers, each selling Holder named in
any Registration Statement or Prospectus and each of the underwriter(s) in
connection with
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such sale, if any, before filing with the Commission, copies of any
Registration Statement or any Prospectus included therein or any amendments
or supplements to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including
all documents incorporated by reference after the initial filing of such
Registration Statement), which documents will be subject to the reasonable
review and comment of such Holders and underwriter(s) in connection with
such sale, if any, for a period of at least five Business Days, and the
Company will not file any such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus
(including all such documents incorporated by reference) to which the
selling Holders of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such
Registration Statement or the underwriter(s) in connection with such sale,
if any, 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 in
all material respects 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 copies of such document to the selling Holders and to the
underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, make the Company's and
the Guarantors' representatives available for discussion of such document
and other customary due diligence matters, and include such information in
such document prior to the filing thereof as such selling Holders or
underwriter(s), if any, reasonably may request;
(vi) 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 pertinent financial
and other records, corporate documents and properties of the Company and
the Guarantors and cause the Company's and the Guarantors' officers,
directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by
any such Holder, 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) in
connection with such sale, if any, 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 Restricted Securities, information with
respect to the princi-
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pal 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 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)
in connection with such sale, if any, without charge, at least one copy of
the Registration Statement, as first filed with the Commission, and of each
amendment thereto, including all exhibits;
(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 and the Guarantors hereby
consent 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 in
connection with any sale or resale pursuant to any Registration Statement
contemplated by this Agreement, and in such connection, the Company and the
Guarantors shall:
(A) furnish (or in the case of paragraphs (2) and (3), use
reasonable efforts to furnish) to each underwriter, if any, upon the
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement:
(1) a certificate, dated the date of effectiveness of the
Shelf Registration Statement, signed on behalf of the Company and
each Guarantor by (x) the President or any Vice President and (y)
a principal financial or accounting officer of the Company and
each Guarantor confirming, as of the date thereof, the matters
set forth in paragraphs (a) through (d) of Section 9 of the
Purchase Agreement and such other similar matters as the
underwriter(s) may reasonably request;
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(2) an opinion, dated the date of effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration Statement, of counsel for the Company and the
Guarantors covering matters similar to those set forth in
paragraph (f) of Section 9 of the Purchase Agreement and such
other matters as the underwriter(s) may reasonably request, and
in any event including a statement to the effect that such
counsel has participated in conferences with officers and other
representatives of the Company and the Guarantors,
representatives of the independent public accountants for the
Company and the Guarantors and have considered the matters
required to be stated therein and the statements contained
therein, although such counsel has not independently verified the
accuracy, completeness or fairness of such statements; and that
such counsel advises that, on the basis of the foregoing (relying
as to materiality to a large extent upon facts provided to such
counsel by officers and other representatives of the Company and
the Guarantors and without independent check or verification), no
facts came to such counsel's attention that caused such counsel
to believe that the applicable Registration Statement, at the
time such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment
thereto became effective and, in the case of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, as of the date of Consummation of the
Exchange Offer, contained an untrue statement of a material fact
or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or
that the Prospectus contained in such Registration Statement as
of its date and, in the case of the opinion dated the date of
Consummation of the Exchange Offer, as of the date of
Consummation, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading. Without limiting the foregoing,
such counsel may state further that such counsel assumes no
responsibility for, and has not independently verified, the
accuracy, completeness or fairness of the financial statements,
notes and schedules and other financial data included in any
Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement or the
related Prospectus; and
(3) a customary comfort letter, dated as of the date of
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement from the
Company's and the Guarantors' independent accountants, in the
customary form and covering matters of the type customarily
covered in comfort letters to underwriters in connection with
primary underwritten offerings, and af-
13
firming the matters set forth in the comfort letters delivered
pursuant to Section 9 of the Purchase Agreement, without
exception;
(B) set forth in full or incorporate by reference in the
underwriting agreement, if any, in connection with any sale or resale
pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement the indemnification
provisions and procedures of Section 8 hereof with respect to all
parties to be indemnified pursuant to said Section; and
(C) deliver such other documents and certificates as may be
reasonably requested by the selling Holders, the underwriter(s), if
any, and Restricted Broker Dealers, if any, to evidence compliance,
with respect to any underwriter(s), with clause (A) above and with any
customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other
agreement entered into by the Company and the Guarantors pursuant to
this clause (x).
The above shall be done at each closing under such underwriting or
similar agreement, if any, as and to the extent required thereunder, and if
at any time the representations and warranties of the Company and the
Guarantors contemplated in (A)(1) above cease to be true and correct, the
Company and the Guarantors shall so advise the underwriter(s), if any,
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
respective 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 neither the Company nor any Guarantor shall be required to
register or qualify as a foreign corporation where it is not now so
qualified or to take any action that would subject it to the service of
process in suits or to taxation, other than as to matters and transactions
relating to the Registration Statement, in any jurisdiction where it is not
now so subject;
(xii) issue, upon the request of any Holder of Series A Notes covered
by any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, Series
B Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate
principal amount of Series A Notes surrendered to the Company by such
Holder in exchange therefor or being sold by such Holder; such Series B
Notes to be registered in the name of such Holder or in
14
the name of the purchaser(s) of such Notes, as the case may be; in return,
the Series A 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 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 their respective reasonable efforts to cause the disposition
of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Registration Statement
to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or
authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof 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 or numbers 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 their respective reasonable 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
15
Transfer Restricted Securities to consummate the disposition of such
Transfer Restricted Securities;
(xviii) otherwise use their respective reasonable efforts to comply in
all material respects with all applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission, and make generally available to its security holders with
regard to any applicable Registration Statement, as soon as practicable, a
consolidated earnings statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158 under
the Act (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 reasonable efforts to cause the Trustee to
execute, all documents that may be required to effect such changes and all
other forms and documents required to be filed with the Commission to
enable such Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner; 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 and Prospectus contained therein 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
16
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 expenses incident to the Company's and the Guarantors'
performance of or compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company
and the Guarantors, regardless of whether a Registration Statement becomes
effective, including without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees
and reasonable expenses (including filings made by the Initial Purchasers or any
Holder with the NASD (and, if applicable, the reasonable fees and expenses of
any "qualified independent underwriter") and its counsel that may be required by
the rules and regulations of the NASD); (ii) all reasonable fees and expenses of
compliance with federal securities and state Blue Sky or securities laws; (iii)
all reasonable expenses of printing (including printing certificates for the
Series B Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of Prospectuses),
messenger and delivery services and telephone; (iv) all reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company and the Guarantors and the Holders of
Transfer Restricted Securities (subject to the provisions of Section 7 (b)) ;
(v) all application and filing fees, if any, in connection with listing the
Notes on a national securities exchange or automated quotation system pursuant
to the requirements hereof; and (vi) all reasonable fees and disbursements of
independent certified public accountants of the Company and the Guarantors
(including the reasonable expenses of any special audit and comfort letters
required by or incident to such performance).
The Company and the Guarantors will, in any event, bear their internal
expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its
officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of
any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special
experts, retained by the Company or the Guarantors.
(b) In connection with any Registration Statement required by this
Agreement (including, without limitation, the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement and/or the Shelf Registration Statement), the Company and the
Guarantors 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.
17
SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION
(a) The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally,
agree to indemnify and hold harmless (i) each Holder and (ii) each Person, if
any, who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of
the Exchange Act) any Holder (any of the Persons referred to in this clause (ii)
being hereinafter referred to as a "controlling person") and (iii) the
respective officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives and agents
of any Holder or any controlling person (any Person referred to in 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, claims, damages,
liabilities, judgments, actions and expenses (including without limitation and
as incurred, reimbursement of all reasonable costs of investigating, preparing,
pursuing or defending any claim or action, or any investigation or proceeding by
any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, including the
reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to any Indemnified Holder) directly or
indirectly caused by, related to, based upon, arising out of or in connection
with any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus or Prospectus
(or any amendment or supplement thereto), or any omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses are caused by an untrue statement or omission
or alleged untrue statement or omission that is made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information relating to any of the Holders furnished in writing
to the Company by any of the Holders expressly for use therein; provided,
however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement with respect to any Registration
Statement, preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto) shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder from whom the Person
asserting any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, actions or
expenses purchased Series B Notes, or any Person controlling such Holder, if a
copy of the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented if the Company shall
have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) was not sent or given by
or on behalf of such Holder to such Person, at or prior to the written
confirmation of the sale of the Series B Notes to such Person, and if the
Prospectus (as so amended and supplemented) would have cured the defect giving
rise to such loss, claim, damage, liability, judgment, action or expense.
In case any action or proceeding (including any governmental or
regulatory investigation or proceeding) shall be brought or asserted against any
of the Indemnified Holders with respect to which indemnity may be sought against
the Company or the Guarantors, such Indemnified Holder (or the Indemnified
Holder controlled by such controlling person) shall promptly notify the Company
and the Guarantors in writing (provided, that the failure to give such notice
shall not relieve the Company or the Guarantors of their obligations pursuant to
this Agreement unless it shall have been determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction, by a
18
final judgment not subject to appeal or review, that such failure shall have
resulted in a material adverse effect upon the Company or the Guarantors). Such
Indemnified Holder shall have the right to employ its own counsel in any such
action and the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel shall be paid, as
incurred, by the Company and the Guarantors; provided, however, that the Company
or the Guarantors shall be entitled to participate in such action or proceeding
and, to the extent that the Company or the Guarantors shall wish to assume the
defense thereof (provided that any such participation or assumption shall be
permitted only upon written notice to the Indemnified Holder which notice is
received within 10 days of the Company's or the Guarantors' actual knowledge of
such action or proceeding), with counsel satisfactory to such Indemnified Holder
(which counsel shall not, except with the consent of the Indemnified Holder, be
counsel to the Company and the Guarantors), at the Company's or the Guarantors'
expense, and after notice from the Company or the Guarantors to such Indemnified
Holder of the Company's or the Guarantors' election so to assume the defense
thereof, the Company or the Guarantors shall not be liable to such Indemnified
Holder under this Section 8(a) for any legal expenses of other counsel or any
other expenses, in such case subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Holder,
in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of
investigation; provided, further, that the Company and the Guarantors shall not
be entitled to control the defense of, or investigation by, such Indemnified
Holder if such Indemnified Holder has been advised by its counsel that there
could reasonably be expected to be a conflict of interest between the Company or
the Guarantors and such Indemnified Holder under applicable standards of
professional responsibility. The Company and the Guarantors shall not, in
connection with any one such action or proceeding or separate but substantially
similar or related actions or proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out
of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable
fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to
any local counsel) at any time for such Indemnified Holders, which firm shall be
designated by the Holders. The Company and the Guarantors shall be liable for
any settlement of any such action or proceeding effected with the Company's and
the Guarantors' prior written consent, which consent shall not be withheld
unreasonably, and the Company and the Guarantors agree to indemnify and hold
harmless each Indemnified Holder from and against any loss, claim, damage,
liability or expense by reason of any settlement of any action effected with the
written consent of the Company and the Guarantors. Neither the Company nor the
Guarantors shall, without the prior written consent of each Indemnified Holder
(which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), settle or compromise or
consent to the entry of judgment in or otherwise seek to terminate any pending
or threatened action, claim, litigation or proceeding in respect of which
indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not any
Indemnified Holder is a party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise,
consent or termination includes an unconditional release of each Indemnified
Holder from all liability arising out of such action, claim, litigation or
proceeding.
19
(b) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agrees, severally
and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Guarantors,
any Person controlling (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section
20 of the Exchange Act) the Company or any Guarantor, and their respective
officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives and agents
(collectively, "Indemnified Company Persons"), to the same extent as the
foregoing indemnity from the Company and the Guarantors to each of the
Indemnified Holders, but only with respect to claims and actions based on
information relating to such Holder furnished in writing by such Holder
expressly for use in any Registration Statement. In case any action or
proceeding shall be brought against any Indemnified Company Person in respect of
which indemnity may be sought against a Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities, such Holder shall have the rights and duties given the Company and
the Guarantors, and the Indemnified Company Person shall have the rights and
duties given to each Indemnified Holder by Section 8(a). In no event shall any
Holder be liable or responsible for any amount in excess of the amount by which
the total received by such Holder with respect to its sale of Transfer
Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds (i) the
amount paid by such Holder for such Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) the
amount of any damages which such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by
reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission.
(c) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is
unavailable to an indemnified party under Section 8(a) or Section 8(b) hereof
(other than by reason of exceptions provided in those Sections) in respect of
any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then
each applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified
party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party
as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the
Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand,
from their sale of Transfer Restricted Securities or if such allocation is not
permitted by applicable law, the relative fault of the Company and the
Guarantors, on the one hand, and of the Indemnified Holder, on the other hand,
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 fault of the Company and the Guarantors,
on the one hand, and of the Indemnified Holder, on the other hand, shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state
a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or such Guarantor
or by the Indemnified Holder and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access
to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims,
damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include,
subject to the limitations set forth in the second paragraph of Section 8(a),
20
any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in
connection with investigating or defending any action or claim.
The Company, the Guarantors and each Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this Section 8(c) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if
the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method
of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations
referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable
by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities
or expenses referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed
to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Section 8, no Holder or its related Indemnified Holders shall
be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount
by which the total received by such Holder with respect to the sale of 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. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The Holders' obligations to contribute pursuant to this
Section 8(c) are several in proportion to the respective principal amount of
Series A Notes held by each of the Holders hereunder and not joint.
SECTION 9. RULE 144A
The Company and each Guarantor hereby agrees with each Holder, for so
long as any Transfer Restricted Securities remain outstanding and during any
period in which the Company or such Guarantor is not subject to Section 13 or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange 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)
21
completes and executes all reasonable questionnaires, powers of attorney, 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 Company and approved by the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted
Securities included in such offering (which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld). Such investment bankers and managers are referred to herein as the
"underwriters."
SECTION 12. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) Remedies. Each party hereto, in addition to being entitled to
exercise all rights provided herein, in the Indenture, the Purchase Agreement or
granted by law, including recovery of liquidated or other damages, to the extent
applicable to such party, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights
under this Agreement. Each party hereto 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. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor
will, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with
respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the
Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.
Neither the Company nor any Guarantor has previously entered into any agreement
granting any registration rights with respect to its securities to any Person.
The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and
are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company's and
the Guarantors' securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.
(c) Adjustments Affecting the Notes. Neither the Company nor any
Guarantor will 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 (i) in the case
of Section 5 hereof and this Section 12(d)(i), the Company has obtained the
written consent of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities
and (ii) in the case of all other provisions hereof, the Company
22
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 and that does not affect directly or
indirectly the rights of other Holders whose securities are not being
tendered pursuant to such Exchange Offer may be given by the Holders of a
majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted
Securities subject to such Exchange Offer.
(e) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail
(registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier, or air
courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(i) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of the
Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to the Registrar under the Indenture;
and
(ii) if to the Company or the Guarantors:
Lodestar Holdings, Inc.
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telecopier No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: Chairman
With copies to:
Lodestar Energy, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telecopier No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: R. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
23
and
Cadwalader, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telecopier No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇, Esq.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business
Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt
acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next Business Day, if timely delivered
to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
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
CONFLICTS 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.
24
(k) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a
final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive
statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of
the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises,
warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein
with respect to the registration rights granted with respect to the Transfer
Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
25
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first written above.
LODESTAR HOLDINGS, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Chief Financial Officer
LODESTAR ENERGY, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
EASTERN RESOURCES, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
INDUSTRIAL FUELS MINERALS
COMPANY
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
26
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LUFKIN & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
SECURITIES CORPORATION,
as Initial Purchaser
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Vice President
BT ALEX. ▇▇▇▇▇ INCORPORATED,
as Initial Purchaser
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Principal
27